THE MOTORING SEASON.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20384, 12 October 1929, Page 14 (Supplement)

THE MOTORING SEASON.

FORESTALLING FAILURES

, The motorist begins to tliink about tbo condition of bis car at this timo of tbo year. Few curs consistent attention throughout tbo year, ami tbo cbances mo tliat most owners havo not yet nuido 4 a serious estiinato of what tlioy will expect from their cars in 1930. Now is4ho timo to face tho question of renovation, trade-in, or exchange. It is not wise to start on nn estimated 10,000-milo year with a ear wbicb lias got deep-seated ills. 'A failure in winter may cause no inconvenience, but many drivers would not take the risk of facing a hold-up of a week or two in tbo middle ot ldeai bolldav wcatber. ~ . .it' the engine is obviously ragged, it niav be preferable to dispose of tbo car for" a new model or even for a reconditioned vcbielo wbicb promises thousands «)f miles. New pistons and bearings may not be worth while in-, some cases. 1 iston slap often stampedes a car owner to a workshop, and the engine is rejuvenated by reboring. Provided that tho gearbox, nniversals, clutch and back axlo are equal to tho work which the improved engine can do, it may bo a good investment to , bold on to tho car. Tbo unwise thing is to recondition mi engine and then have >' tho other units fail every few thousand miles, until a great deal of money has been spent and one has a car, which has always at least ouo weak spot. v 'The wear in a cylinder boro may bo „ only ,002 in. or .003 in., but it will produce slap. Tbo presence of a light tap which xvanishes when tho engine is warm need not l>o taken seriously. If oil consumption goes up substantially it is a different matter, as the leakage of power ' past tho rings will obviously bo great. Thcro are cars running in Auckland which havo covered at least 50,000 miles with ■original pistons, but tho lubricacation and speed conditions differ 'so greatly in individual cases that two "cars of tho samo make will not bo likely to show tho same cylinder wear. By running on petrol-diluted oil or continuing to use sludge instead of draining fho cvank-caso a driver can have an _ engine in poor condtion after 15,000 miles, and no amount of valve-grinding will rcstoro the weak compression. If friction has produced a pronounced oval in tho cylinder bores it is useless to compromise " l>y fitting new rings to existing pistons.

TYRE REPAIRS. Patches or gaiters in tyres should not bo used except after a bad cut as an emergency measure, and should not on any .account bo left inside tho cover for any length of time. Tho air pressure in tho tube forces the loose patch against the inside of tho casing and flexing of the cover during usa then causes severe friction; in time, a few strands of the cord casing aro chafed through, and then, as with all material having cotton foundation tho damage quickly spreads, assisted by the tension to which the casing is subjected by the air pressuro in tlie tube. SUPERCHARGED AUSTIN SEVEN. A replica of tho supercharged Austin Sevens which performed so well in the Ulster Tourist Trophy race and the International Grand Prix recently, has been imported for local track work by Seabrook, Fowlds, Limited. The car, which is a standard production of the Austin factory, is fitted with a Cozetto supercharger of the blower type, driven direct from tho timing gear and running at engine speed. Tho car is exceptionally low, the top of tho radiator being only 30in. from tho ground, and has a dropped front axle and springing system. A streamlined body is fitted, giving a racy appearance. Tho car is being tuned in preparation for racing on the Mangere Speedway by Mr. E. D. Chapman, and it will ho driven by Mr. Phil. Seabrook.

MOTOR TRADE ITEMS. Czecho-Slovakian cars are not known in sew Zealand, and although total production is negligible compared with that oi France, Germany, or Italy, three factories seem to be making headway. The names will not sound familiar, but during 1928 there were 5000 Skoda cars produced, and the I'raga concern turned out 30C0. The Tatra firm has reached an "output of 3000 cars' a year. A chart of recommendations for aircraft engine lubrication has recently been issued by the Vacuum Oil Company Pty., Limited. Tho chart, which is the first of its typo to bo issued, caters for the leading JJritish, American and Continental makes of engines. In addition to the name and model of each engine, tho .principal particulars, such as horsepower, revs, per minute, number of cylinders, and type and method of cooling are given, making tho chart of considerable value for reference purposes. Tho position regarding the Clyno assets Is now fully explained by Mr. Alfred Herbert, head of tho concern of Alfred Herbert, Ltd., tho British machine toolmakers, who states that this company lias bought from the Receiver the whole of tho assets of tho Clyno Company, including land, buildings, plant, equipment, stock, service department and goodwill, but havo no intention of embarking in tho motor trade. They ure prepared to sell the undertaking us a going concern, but, failing satisfactory offers, tho plant will ho broken up und disposed of. In tho meantime, for tho benefit of Clyno car users, tho service and repair department is being carried on until satisfactory arrangements can bo made for its continuance.