CYCLING AND MOTORING

Northern Advocate, 21 March 1921, Page 6

CYCLING AND MOTORING

WHEEL ALIGNMENT Wheel alignment is often neglected, usually because the motorist doesn't know how to check it up himself. The process is so simple that it only takes about: three minutes and the results, are often an eye-opener. Place the car on a level floor and set the front wheels straight. Next fasten a piece of string or cotton thread to a rear wheel spoke (on the inside at rear of wheel) and bring string round back of tyre to tho front wheel around front tyre and tie it to one of the front spokes on the inside. Now note that the tyres must, touch the string at four points the same to the other side and note results A prolific source of tyre wear is caused by the rear axle being off the squafte, but the two pieces of string will readily show this up In many cases when tried on one side of the ear it will be found that when the string is touching front and back of rear tyre that- it is two in eh 09 away from the sides of the front tyre This donates that the rear axle has slipped back on one of the springs. If the trouble is on the front axle, lengthen or shorten the front tie rod connecting the stub axle arm;* until are dead in line. When this is done, it is advisable to lengthen 'the tic rod (if behind the axle, shorten if in front) about half a turn which causes the

front wheels to "toe in" about quarter of an inch to half an inch, which assists/ the steering. If 'a rew thousand more miles on the tyres are gained, by aligning the wheels, the ultimate saving to the motorist is well worth the few minutes' work done periodically in checking the alignment. The average notorist wlio complains that he never ■>eeni.-< to have nny luck with his tyres lsually has a rude awakening when the "string" test is put on fhe wheels.

• SHAFT-JOINT WEAR Many makes cars, which otherwise are not very expensive in the matter of upkeep, have the objectionable peculiarity of developing excessive wear on the Cardan shaft joints, when the latter are of the metallic variety. It is a very well-known fact amongst repairers that the moving parts conccaled beneath, the chassis seldom receive the proper amount of attention when oiling in. being performed, and the universal joints are often one of the worst sufferers from this kind of neglect. Lack of proper lubrication, fierceness of clutch engagements, careless manipulation of the accelerator and brakes, may be enumerated amongst other causes responsible £6r excessive wear on universal joints and should bo carefully avoided by the motorist who studies econ- . oiriical operation. Two - other important factors in this class of Wear are apt to be overlooked, even' by experts, and a reminder of this point may not bo without interest and value. We refer, firstly, to inaccurate alignment of the rear axle, which imposes unnecessary degrees of angularity upon the tnivcrsal joints; and, secondly, to the seizure of the spring chairs on axles provided with torque members.

SEVEN* MILLION VEHICLES Most people arc under the impre'ssion that motor cars are mostly used for pleasure pui'poscs, an idea that is very far from the truth. Whatever figures are available jt has been- demonstrated that the average car is used more for business purposes:. An interesting announcement has recently been made in America where the National Automobile Chamber of Commerce issued a lazge number of question cards to motorists resident in ten different, states. The motorists names were selected at random from the million*, or owners out of the 7,000,000 -"motor vehicules registered in the United States. The answers received in reply to the first 10,000 cards sent out are very instructive, since the results, may be considered to bo highly authoritative and reliable. The returns showed that ten per cent, only of the cars arc used exclusively for pleasure i>ur-

poses, and that 90 per cent of them

arc u?ed more or less for business. Further that (iO per cent of the average, car mileage, and 110 less than 7S per cent, of the farmers' car mileage is to be credited to business, also that 34 per cent of the average mileage represents the substitution of the automobile for the railroad, .anil the use of the car where there is no othor means of communication, Most, important of all it was found that the average ear owner according to his own testimony adds 57 jper cent, to his output through the us? of the automobile and -that the farmer adds (58 per cent to his efficiency. These are illuminating figures and similar conditions apply to the use oi the motor car in Australasia.