The Motor World

NZ Truth, Issue 571, 27 May 1916, Page 12

The Motor World

(By "Self- Starter.")

The causes of street .accidents are many, cine of .the principal being through, machines emerging from side streets into a main thoroughfare at too high'a rate of speed. Theoretically, all main street traffic has the right of way, and the machine emerging from the less frequently used streets should drive slowly and keep a proper look OuL Legally, however no notice is taken of the rule, though if it were, and notices were placed m the side streets fewer accidents would occur, whilst, at the same time, greater speeds could be safely maintained on the main roads; In some cases it would be difficult to determine which was the most important thoroughfare, but the police determine this. -■'" - ' •■■" •-':".-■■♦ ' ■ * • " The following: \ should serve as good pointers for motorists: The wheels Of a car should always run. exactly parallel. Anything which prevents this Will cause tyre trouble. Too much play I m the axle-end bearings, too great a | freedom m the steering joints, or possibly a bent spindle or axle-end, Invariably exacts its penalty. Brakes, too, when they are out of order "do damage to tyros. Should only one or the back wheels lock when applying the brakes, the tyre on the slipping wheel will surely be Injured. Another kind of tyre trouble arises from weakened springs. Every time the car jolts badly the^upper part of the tyre, rubs against the mud-guard and as a result the envelope is damaged. Driving chains also are often the cause of injury to tyres. If the chains are slack, the swinging motion produced by the car m running will cause the lower part of the chains to strike the sides of the tyres. When the chain line is too close to the tyres or when the chain bolts are too long, they rub the envelopes, making obliquescratches on the rubber. These cuts or scratches on the inner side walls of the tyres are crossed at regular intervals, first when the bolts pass on the upper ajid again when they pass on the lower part of the side walls. Oil or grease from leaky or over- filled tank^s should not be permitted to reach the tyres, because oil and other fatty substances are most injurious to rubber. • .' • • ■ By keeping tho engine of your car clean and free from grease and oil, you get a chance to inspect tho wiring, car- j burettes, spark and gas controls, and, at the same time, lessen the danger of a lire, which sometimes will start through back-flre of tho engine, which will shoot tho exhaust through the carbur^ttesmanlfolU and ignite gasolene or oils around the carburettes. ' ■.-.'"■•"■ • : • There is hardly an adjustment within fifteen or twenty miles of careful driving that the owner cannot make. Don't tear down tho engine or transmission unless there is real reason, for it is doubtful Indeed that you will get it together anywhere near as well as it was before. Save yourself tho useless labor and expense. The main adjustments that tho owner can make, and should make, are m tho wheel bearings, rear wheels, make tight rakes, radius rods, springshackles, and tho removal of carbon and grinding valves. Flush the radiator out occasionally and be sure to use an. antl- freezing solution when the cold weather seta m. © . • : ■ ' • Tho finest fire extinguisher writer has ever ee<m Is tho "Pyrene" and he would ad viso every owner of a motor or motor cycle to get a copy of the agents booklot, "The Vital Five Minutes." By carrying one of those handy HtUo extinguishers on your car or lorry tho m Huranco premium is reduced by 10 per cent.' It's effect on a petrol fire is something to wonder at.