MOTOR NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 237, 7 October 1938, Page 8

MOTOR NOTES

What ia probably the most costly road-making proposition in the world ia the undertaking of the U.S.A. Government to construct and finance a superhighway over the Allegheny Mountains, one of the most picturesque centres in that country. The new Toad is to provide a short cut between Pittsburg and Harrisburg, and in its 162 miles, it will cross numerous bridges, deep ravines, through forests and much country heretofore only familar to hunters, trappers and woodsmen.

It Avill cost £14,500,000 (A.) to build, the average outlay being £BO,OOO per mile. The super Toad will be of the four-lane type, each 24 ft. wide, except where it passes through niue tunnels, where it will converge into two lanes of 23 ft. each.

The route to be followed has an interesting history—loo years ago, it was surveyed for a railroad, but the scheme Avas not put in hand until 1881, when nine tunnels, at enormous expense, were partially cut through the mountains, the longest tunnel being slightly over a mile in -length. The railroad project was finally abandoned, but not before 22,305 feet of tunnelling had been blasted through hard rock. That was more than 50 years ago, and now the tunnels are to form part of this costly highway scheme, which is to be paid for in part tolls. The new road, which will be usable in all weathers, will save motor hauliers about six hours per trip as compared with the existing route, and from £3 to £7 per trip for large trucks with trailers (in the 13 to 21 ton class) in fuel and less wear and tear.

The proposed tolls will range from about 5s per car and 25s per big truck. It is estimated that the heavy hauliers along will pay in the region of £250,000 per year in tolls. It is computed that, in ten years time, the annual yield in tolls will be about £1,250,000, a large part of which will be derived from motor tourists. The U.S.A. Government has already allocated funds to carry out the project.

Motorists who find that one or both the front wheel tyres are showing signs of uneven or quick wear can be alraos*

certain that the cause is due to misalignment! Many motorists are most casual about this important feature, for even slight variations from the proper setting may have a very great effect on tyre mileage. For instance, 1-8 inch excessive toe-in will usually result in a loss ol: 40 per cent of tyro life, whilst an excess of 3-8 inch toe-in Avill account for 50 per cent, of Ibo potential mileage of a tyre. Such losses, when reduced to hard cash, are of considerable importance.

Whenever one front tyre wears more rapidly than tho other, misalignment should be suspected, and tho necessary steps taken to effect a cure. It is usually an easy matter to decide tho direction of the fault, i.e., whether tho front wheels are toeing in or toeing out. In the former, the nearside tyre usually wears more rapidly; if toeing out is causing speedy wear, it is usually tho offsido tyre that suffers. Misalignment may result from several causes, the most common of which is the concussion which occasionally takes place when a motor \ r eliicle is drawing into tho kerb. A blow may strain some part iu the front axle assembly, which will, in turn, react on tho alignment setting.

Other discrepancies may be brought a,bout as the result of wear and tear. For instance, the settling down of the springs will,-in turn, affect tho castor angle of the king pins. Worn spring and shackle bushes or a sagged axle will cause variation in wheel camber. Such a variation has an immediate effect on wheel alignment, as all three settings are closely related.

At the first sign of speedy or irregular Avear of front wheel tyres, tho vehicle should be submitted to one's service house for a check-up of the front wheel assembly. Tho trouble is usually quickly determined and remedied. ' Such attention will repay the small outlay in increased and satisfactory tyre life.

Viscount Nuffield has sponsored the building of a particularly interesting little record-breaking *‘ M.G. ;; car, with a view to ascertaining the speed that can bo got out of a 1100 c.c. engine, nominally about 10 h.p. The car has been built for Major A. Gardner, who, last year, in an M.G. sports model, attained a mean speed of 148.8 m.p.h. on a motor road near Frankfurt (Germany). That performance was accomplished with a car that had been designed and built some years ago. On this occasion, no expense has been spared, and a beautifully streamlined job has now been completed. No part of the chassis protrudes through the streamlining except the base of the wheels and the driver's head, which even then, is enclosed in a transparent plastic screen. The overall dimensions of the little gem are 16 ft. 5 ins. long and 5 ft. 3 ins. wide, the body itself only weighing 2 cwl. The wheels, which have a 4 ft. track, are shod with special Dunlop tyres —4.75 x 19 at the front, and 5.35 x 19 at the rear. A novel cooling system has been

adopted, there being no waterway between the engine block and the head. Directed flow from the water pump is used in the latter, wbile the former is copied by thermo-syphon. The engine (six cylinder) has a swept volume of 1086 c.c., and it is reported to develop considerably more than 150 h.p. per 1000 c.c. The little machine (should European International affairs permit) is to be taken to Germany in October, when Major Gardner will endeavour to lift higher the world’s record for this sized engine. The try-out Avill probably be made on a special motor road near Leipzig, which is being constructed by the authorities with a view to high speed motor tests. AUTO SUGGESTIONS Muffler at Fault. A car recently suffered trouble which from the symptoms appeared to be in the timing. The engine would idlo and run perfectly up to 15 miles per hour, but when a load was put on it or an endeavour made to speed it up, it would hunt or gallop. After carefully checking tho different units thought to be at fault, the trouble was found to be in the muffler. The rear baffle plate, having become detached from the shell, was blocking the outlet and preventing free exhaust. To overcome the trouble a neAv muffler Avas installed. Starter Switch. The plain type of starter push switch for hand or foot operation has to make and break very heavy currents, and leads should be very firmly attached to the terminals. When the switch is pushed in, the action must be definite and sharp. Upon release the knob should be allowed to break as rapidly as possible, or bad burning of tho contacts and weakening of the spring takes place. Spark Plugs. The best spark plugs will deteriorate and wear in time, so it is advisable to instal a new set at inteiwals of 12 to 15 thousand miles, even though they are doing their job apparently satisfactorily. Impartial tests have demonstrated appreciable gains in economy and power, and starting it* facilitated due tc the better conductivity of neAV elec trode metal. Take care to replace witn the correct type of plug for your particular engiue, fit new copper asbestoc gaskets if required, and set the gaps to the makers' recommended clearance, using a feeler, gauge for accuracy. Never attempt to adjust a spark plug by bending the central electrode; tho result Avill be a cracked porcelain or insulator. Always adjust by opening or closing the outer or shell electrode or electrodes. Occasional remo\ r al of the plugs, thorough cleaning of carbon, and resetting of gap is productive of better than average performance. Glow Lights. Glow-lights have been used in place of the oil gauge and ammeter for somo years, and there is, in fact, a growing tendency for manufacturers to adopt this practice. The ammeter is replaced by a red light; in some cases both ammeter and glow-light are used. When the ignition of certaiu Morris, Talbot, Yauxhall and Terraplane models is switched on, the red light should glow, and disappear when the generator cut out points close. An intermittent or

continuous gIoAV at any engine speed is indicative of a fault iu the generating system. Generator trouble, a. faulty cutout, or a bloAvn fuse, should be sought. Failure of the red light to show up when' the ignition is switched on is caused by a defective cut-out or burntout indicator globe, or a wife may have become detached. The defect should he investigated immediately, since damage may be done to the battery and genjrator if the cut-out points have become permanently locked together. Rear Axle Oil.

An air vent is often the solution of oil leakage problems in the vicinity of the rear axle. There are numerous J ypes of vent, a simple one being to drill a 3/16tbs in. hole in the topmost screw of the rear axle back plate or the differential carrier. Vacuum or pressure cannot then develop if this hole is kept free from hard grease or mud. Door Rattles.

Fitting door stop rubbers is a good method of eliminating rattles, but it tends to prevent full closing of the doors, and permits the entry of draughts and water. To achieve the desired result Avithout these undesirable conditions it is frequently possible to fit neAv striking plates for the loeks, or to adjust the existing ones further in. Sump Draining. When draining the oil from the sump it is advisable to have the engine hot. The jpb then takes less than a quarter of the time, and if the car has just returned from a run, any sludge and dirt will be in suspension and will drain off. A number of drain plugs (Ford and Dodge are examples) are placed a small distance from the lowest point, and approximately half a pint of dirty oil will remain should the draining be carried out on a level garage floor. To overcome this difficulty, the car is either driven on to a high kerb to tilt the engine towards the plug side, or the side opposite to the plug may be raised upon a high jack to achieve the same object.

Lights. Dim head or dashlights will result from a number of causes, but first of all see that twelve-volt globes are not. fitted in a six-volt system. When driving at night for any considerable distance along strange country roads, it is advantageous to direct the nearside headlamp beam towards the edge of the road.