THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18999, 23 October 1923, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

Motorists desiring information with regard to mechanical or other car troubles, or on any matter coming within the • scope o( tho sport, pastime, or business of motoring are invited to send inquiries to “ Accelerator.“ Special efforts will bo_ mado to givn the most reliable advice on all topics of Interest. NEW TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. A revolution in the motor-car industry ia threatened by an invention of Constantinesco, tho famous Rumanian inventor of the oil-impulse synchronisation gear, which enabled airmen to fire through tho blades of whirling propellers. He now 7 claims to have evolved a new system of transmission dispensing with the clutch and gear-box and the conventional back axle, and providing an infinitely variable gear, which will automatically adjust itself to the load and the gradient, and eliminate friction and noise. A LAME EXCUSE. “I have now been throe whole days dealing 'with cases arising out of motor collisions.” said Mr J. S. Burton. S.M., at the Hawera Court (states the Taranaki Daily Nows). ‘‘They seem to be remarkably frequent in Taranaki.” -Mr P. O’Dea agreed that this was tho case; in fact, ho believed quite half the reported collision cases in the New Zealand law reports were of Taranaki origin. This was due, he thought, to tho temptation to travel fast, on the miles of excellent tarred roads in'the province. Ti.ECLAI MING T.URRIC A NT. Tho United States Bureau of Standards has been carrying out a series of experiments, with a view to finding tin efficient process for reclaiming a proportion of usable lubricant from the quantity of dirty oil which collects in the sump of a motorcar engine. The oil was heated by steam injection to expel any petrol which it might contain, and soda ash was added to coagulate with the carbon particles and form a sludge. After settling had taken place there was three layers; water at the bottom, then sludge, and clean oil at tho top. CAR COMFORT. On many cars, particularly those which are admittedly produced to sell at a low figure, badly-fitting floorboards are often the cause of discomfort by allowing hot air to come through. In such cases a distinct improvement may be effected by using a thick mat over (hem. In some dosed cars discomfort is sometimes caused by the odour of burnt oil from the crankcase breathers being wafted up inside the car. A recent English writer advises attaching a pipe in such cases to the breather outlets and carrying it to the side of the chassis. IGNITION. Tho golden rule about ignition is that it should never be advanced so far as to occasion “pinking,” but that it should be advanced always, as far as possible short of that position. Of course, “pinking” can occur, besides, by labouring overlong on a high gear. This should never be done by process of keeping the accelerator pedal down and retarding the ignition. On tho, contrary, the proper way to proceed is to “burn as much spark and as little petrol as possible.” It is not merely economical; it also enables the engine to achieve the host efficiency and tho car to make the best progress EQUITABLE TAXATION. Enthusiastic support is forthcoming fror% a Nelson motorist for the view of the taxation proposals of the Canterbury Automo bile Association under the Main Highways Bill. In writing to the association, Mr 11. G. Berryman states that the proposals made by the association provide the most logical and simple scheme for the collection of the tyre tax, and would provide a more stable revenue than the provisions already enacted. Mr Berryman states that the method proposed by the association will mean that all tyres will be taxed according to size and irrresnective of the price of rubber. With the association’s scheme the road users would pay a fair share for upkeep and construction. It would be unfair to tax a oar only on the road once a month on the same basis as one on the road every day. The writer hoped, as a private owner and member of a county council, that the flat tax proposals on all cars would be opposed successfully. MR GODWARD’S SUCCESS. The Eclipse Petrol Economiser Company has received a cable from Mr E. R. Godward, dated Toronto. October 13, as follows :—“Tests demonstrated the superiority of the vapouriser over anything else, in a scries of trials extending over a month, conducted by tho engineers of the Willys Overland Company of Toronto. The_ resuite were a surprise beyond expectations. The former averaging 28 miles to tho gallon (American measure) and the latter 34 miles to the gallon when fitted with the vapouriser, as against 23 and 28 respectively without. These were 100 mile tests.” The cable states that “the engineers were highly pleased with the results and strongly recommend adopting.” The manager of the General Motor Corporation, New York, is anxious that Mr Godward should visit their works at Dayton as soon as possible, while the Nash Motors have also expressed a wish for Mr Godward to visit their works at Kimsha to demonstrate the vapouriser. “MOTOR DO’S AND DON’TS.” Mr Harold Pemberton, the motoring correspondent of the Daily Mail, has just written a new book full of good advice for the owner of the “first” car. It sets out to give the amateurs useful help in a bright and intelligible way. One important question touched on by Mr Pemberton is garaging; If there is room, and he has the means, tho intending buyer of a car should build hi s own garage. It is more satisfactory to have your car close at hand, and it saves money in the long run. ... It is often tho case that a man will spend over £looo—or the pre-war price of a, good house —on a motor car and keep it in a shed which would be more suitable for cattle. There are some interesting estimates of the yearly cost of running a car. A £IBO two-seater works out at £67 Os 6d, but this depends upon the milcagp of the car during tho period. “It is worth while for your own safety, and for your own satisfaction, to become a skilled driver,” writes the author. It is a fallacy to believe that good driving is simple. Safe driving is by no means 8° The following are some important driving Do’s and Don’t?: — Do not learn to drive on yonr new 1 car. Do not start down an unknown hill at speed. Give way whenever possible to the man who is driving uphill. If you block his way you may spoil one of the motorist’s most pleasant thrills—that is, a good topgear hill climb. Do not pass any vehicle on the road Unless you can see beyond a peradventure that the road ahead is clear. A final word of advice is the following:— “When in Doubt, Slow Down.” GIRL’S MOTOR CYCLE TRIUMPH, Amid rousing cheers there came roaring up the lest hill at Brooklands recently a motor cycle covered in dust and dirt and with a slender figure perched in tho orthodox racing position on tho saddle. A few seconds later (writes “A Motor Cyclist”) the rider. Miss M. Cottle, an ate tractive young woman, of Liverpool, was surrounded by admiring friends, who congratulated her on one of tho finest motor cycling performances ever accomplished bv a woman rider. She had come through the Auto-Cycle Union’s six clays’ trial with flying colours. She rides purely for enjoyment, and is not in any way connected with the industry. ’Phis trial is the classic test of the year for both machine and riders, including, as it does. 800 miles over a largo number of tesl hills, mountainous tracks, and deep water splashes. Most of tho expert riders of tho day took part. Subject lo the judges’ confirmation. Mis* Cottle, riding a 3.48 h.p. Raleigh, has not lost a mark. She has gained the coveted honour of a gold medal and a bonus of marks for skilled riding. She received live marks bonus on Arms TTill, Henley, for what the judges considered one of tile mo.-t skilful climbs of the day. In the rpeerl trials on Brooklands track she also received a bonus of marks for exceeding an average speed of 35 miles an hour over ihe 67 mile? course. Miss Cottle, in spite of the physical strain of such a trial, looked very at when she took her machine to the nfHeiaU to bo examined by tlte-m {oi condition.

By ACCELERATOR. [ltems of news —short descriptions of tours, the state of the roads, etc., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by “Accelerator.”]

“Tho only time I was nervous was during the speed trials,” she said. “After the six days on tho road without losing any marks I was naturally most anxious not to lose any on the last test. I nursed my machine all the way, but I believe that in spite of this I averaged 40 m.p.h.” HUNTING BIG GAME BY MOTOR. A unique piece of work for n motor cai was that given it by an American party in equatorial Africa in hunting big game. The Oakland (California) Museum wanted African zoological specimens; and Mr H. A. Snow, of Oakland, was their man. In America he used cars in hunting grizzly bears, mountain lions, and the like. So off ho went; to Africa with five family buses and a caravan motor truck —this last, was to be a movie laboratory on wheels. Arriving at Mombasa, on the African East Coast, Snow found that there were petrol stations on tho main and beyond that —in the trackless, semi-arid wirllds— there was the bare possibility of establishing advance depots by native carriers. Fie applied to the British and Portuguese Governments and native chieftains, and obtained their co-operation. Apart from the gruelling task of driving over elephant tracks and unmarked plains, and being hauled through rivers by teams of natives, Mr Snow bad innumerable adventures with wild animals, and on one occasion engaged in a batlte with a watrhog. tho hog and the car charging each other until tho former withdrew in disgust. A butting rhinoceros was also attacked and disabled. Once Mr Snow was driving alone when a ’lioness leaped up and at him out of the bush. Thanks to the speed of the car. the unwelcome passenger landed in the back seat and became entangled with the cushions. Tho driver, trying to steer with one hand and cocking his pistol xvith the other, saw out of the tail of his eye the lioness free herself. Crash, clatter of tin and cracking splinters. The faithful flivver precipitated itself against a tree, throwing out the jungle cot. The hunter finished the stunned animal with a bullet. His car was n hopeless, twisted scrap pile, but Mr Snow was safe. Mr Snow’s method of photography was simplicity itself. Men in other autos and the natives drove the wild creatures into ipen spaces, when Snow and his son Sidney. the photographer, took up the chase : n their own flivver and “got” the animals is they pleased. The Snow expedition—father and son .corking alone much of the time, except for the natives —was in Africa from 1919 to 1922. In less than three years tho Snows -overod 60,000 miles of travel, obtained several hundred specimens. It would have been the work of a lifetime under the old conditions. MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. Hard starling can often be traced to incorrect lubrication. Back wheels out. of line or with a slight buckle cause excessive wear on tyres to say nothing of sprockets and chains or belts. To obtain a more brilliant light with acetylene add one or two fluid ounces of hydrogn peroxide to one pint of soft water in the generator. Gear boxes cannot run forever without oil or grease. It is not uncommon on looking for grinding noises that make themsohes apparent to find that the box and gears are quite dry. An effort is being made to standardise the controls oV motor cycles. This will no doubt be a move in the right direction, and will greatly simplify matters when a change of mount is made. Toil and roar lights are now compulsory. The traffic department has been lenient with offenders, giving ample time for supplies to be obtained. In tho Port Elizabeth-East London (South Africa) Road Race of 191 miles out of 20 starters only 10 finished. The winner, 11. B. Loader (Harley-Davidson) rode the last 60 miles with a broken collarbone sustained by a bad spill on an awkward corner. A common error made by motor cyclists is the lack of intelligent appreciation of the harmful results caused by using a grade of oil unsuited to their engines. All brands have many grades, and to ensure perfect lubrication the right grade must bo vsed. The motor cycle of to-day can be silenced until scarcely audible. Riders who persist in the use of the open cut-out are only bringing trouble on themselves, and if the nuisance is not abated somewhat, the City Council will be forced to take action for which all must suffer. Most British engines are invariably tested in the factory 'and proved capable of developing well over twice their rated horse power . before being passed; in fact, three times the normal horse power is often obtained. After the teat, every engine is completely pulled down and a close inspection made, so that any risk of sending out an imperfect job is eliminated. SPARKS. The power behind the throne is often concealed under the bonnet of a motor car. The news owner’s future impression of the entire organisation depends on the result of his first call for assistance. Before placing a gasket in position, give it a coat of shellac. This will make it stick to the surfaces between which it is being used. ' Give the valve stems a drop of oil occasionally. They are subject to severe duty and wear badly unless* lubricated. Occasionally one of them squeaks, which is as plain a call for oil as could be imagined. An electric torch is almost a 'necessity for night driving, not only as a warning signal should tho lights fail suddenly, but also for the execution of any adjustments required on tho road. To prevent tyres from sticking to the rims make the surface of tho rims smooth with emery cloth, then apply graphite to the rim and the bead of the tyre, and your tyres will never stick. A tip for preventing coach bolts from turning is given in tho Motor. Hammer the circular head on an anvil until it assumes a rectangular shape. Then out a slot in the wood to receive the head; this will form a strong and effective lock. America now has one oar for every eight people, while the richest State is California, which has one car for every four people. Tho State of Alabama is the leanest with one car for every 38 people. A handsome present in the shape of a luxurious touring car, wag made by the diocese to tho Bishop of Peterborough, England, when he recently celebrated his silver wedding. The presentation took place at Glen Manor, Leicester. Mr G. W. Hutchison, secretary of the Auckland Automobile Association, proposes to leave at tho end of the year on an extended tour of Great Britain. At the meeting of the association Mr Hutchison was granted tho necessary leave of absence. Measures to close during the month of August every refinery in the central continental oilfield, a.s a stop toward reducing the present surplus of petrol and crude oil, was approved by a group of representatives of (ho western refiners and the American oil asosciations. It is reported that over a score of refineries agreed to this suggestion. “He who drives a motor car on a dark night over a railway crossing of whose existence he was unaware, without stopping in observance of tho statute, or who in the daytime finds himself unexpectedly so close to an unknown crossing that ho cannot reduce hi? speed or stop in time, ia not guilty of contributory negligence, merely because of his failure to obey the stautc.” —Mr Justice Sahnond, when giving judgment. in a railway accident case at Wellington. Continued on opposite page.