The Motor World

NZ Truth, 5 October 1918, Page 8

The Motor World

I tßy "Crank.")

Before an aeroplane can be put into military service it must toe equipped with nine or more delicate aeronautic instruments, some of which are absolutely essential to exact flying, and all of which contribute to the successful operation of a plane. Without them a pilot soon would lose his location as to height and direction; he would not know his speed through the air, the speed of his propeller, the amount of petrol In his tank, the temperature of his cooling water, or if his oil was circulating. He could not tell whether he was banking properly on his turns. These comprise the necessary flying instruments, and an aviator could not fly to any great height without another valuable instrument — an oxygensupplying apparatus; nor could be operate his guns, signal headquarters, release his bombs, oi' use his camera without additional mechanisms. * * * The best advice to those motorists who habitually blame the carburetter for poor engine performance is to leave the instrument alone and look for trouble m the ignition, oiling, or some other place. Once a carburetter is installed and adjusted correctly it is not very likely that trouble will be encountered, for it stands to reaj son that when a carburetter gives good, performance day m and out, and then suddenly the engine ceases to beat regularly, that the carburetter adjustment should not be tampered with, apart from seeing that the flow of petrol is free. Too rich a mixture is the chief cause of much carburetter trouble, and yet one of the most difficult ones to locate by the average driver. An overrich mixture has too much petrol m it for the amount of air used, and sometimes can be detected by black smoke issuing from the exhaust. In addition the action of the engine is sluggish. Also, if the mixture is too rich, but not rich enough to cause smoking, there will be a pungent or acid odor coming from the exhaust. One can detect this odor every day on the streets of our cities, coming from cars that are running, perhaps, every day on a mixture that uses entirely too much petrol. Too rich a mixture causes the engine to overheat; therefore the owner whose engine overheats easily should have the carburetter adjusted to cut down the petrol a little, or increase the air supply. Other "symptoms of too rich mixture are sooting of the plugs, abnormal consumption of petrol, and diminished engine power. ft » # The American Government is making provision for providing between 50,000 and 60,000 motor trucks for every million soldiers she sends to France. T-hese trucks are required to transport goods, ammunition, etc., some 350 to 500 miles from the U.S.A. Docks, near Bordeaux, to the American lines. The largest motor plant m the world is being erected m a central French city to care and look after this huge army of trucks, the place being so' extensive that bicycles' and roller skates will bo used to get around the works.