HOLIDAY SEASON.

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 289, 7 December 1936, Page 5

HOLIDAY SEASON.

PREPARING THE CAR. Very little preparation, apart from careful cleaning and attention to the oil supply should bo necessary before the car goes out on tho road for touring, if when it was stored for the winter reasonable steps were taken to prevent deterioration. The wheels would presumably have been jacked up so that tho tyres were clear of the ground, bright parts greased, and -the various chassis points lubricated. If these have been neglected, there will obviously be much more work to do.

Sparking plugs should be taken out, cleaned, dried and tho points re-set if the engine has not run for some time. An egg-cupful of engine oil should then be introduced with a syringe into each cylinder and the engine rotated by hand to ensure a film of oil on the walls. The engine sump should be drained and filled with new oil and the supply in the gearbox and axle “topped up.’>

While the road wheels are clear of the ground the brakes should be checked and adjusted and the tyres examined. Any stones should be removed from the treads, the tyro valves cheeked, and if any leaky or defectivo valve centres are noticed, new ones fitted. Serious cuts should be properly vulcanised; the complete wheel should be handed to a garage for this purpose. If the fabric casing is badly cut or fractured, a new cover is indicated. Inflation pressures must bo checked with an independent gauge and corrected.

The battery will need to be “topped up’’ and re-charged by a local battery service station if it has not received periodical attention during the winter. Its terminals should be carefully leaned and coated with vaseline.

Filters in the carburettor, petrol supply pipes and float chamber might be inspected and cleaned of dirt or obstruction. If an Autovac is fitted, any sediinent should be drained out through tho drain tap. If it is accessible, the oil filter should be cleaned.

Starting difficulty with an old typ-j of engine may mean that the magneto contact breaker is stuck up, due to a swollen fibre bush in the rocker arm. A light dressing of the bush with a “pencil’’ of fine sandpaper will free it. Tho windscreen wiper blade—and in the case of suction-operated wiper the rubber tubing—will probably need renewal. Lamp bulbs and wires should be carefully inspected and replaced if necessary. If the headlights need refocussing this can be undertaken in the garage and the working of any “dim and dip” mechanism checked at the same time.

Decarbonisation, if considered necessary, should bo put in hand immediately so that the parts settle down and valve tappets can be adjusted before tho holiday tour. Moreover, if the car needs any specialised attention or repair, arrangements should be made at once. For some days before the touring season most garages will probably be overwhelmed with work and unable to complete all the jobs in hand. The tool kit, pump, etc., should bo inspected and deficiencies made good. Spares or. extra equipment aro seldom needed on tour nowadays, but two useful items are a good repair outfit and a reliable torch or inspection lamp. Tho picnic basket equipment and stovo will probably need cleaning and overhauling.

Finally, if the insurance policy is still valid, be sure it does not expire during the trip I