THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19010, 5 November 1923, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

Motorists desiring information with regard to mechanical or other car troubles, or on any matter coming within the ecope of (ho sport, pastime, or business of motoring are invited to send inquiries to '* Accelerator.” Special efforts will be made to giro the most reliable advice on all topics of interest. Dear “Accelerator,'’—Per medium of “Motor Notes” in the Otago Daily Times, could you explain the principle of the sleeve-valve engine and its particular advantages —if any — over the ordinary tappet valve engine?—l refer to car engines.— I am, etc.. “Tovlot.” Opinions on the merits or demerits of sleeve-valve engines, as on other innovations in engine design, ■vary considerably. Sleeve-valve engines operate with the' sliding sleeve controlled by small eccentrics and connecting rods and the sleeve covers and uncovers parts in the cylinder walls in much the same way as the niston operates on a two-stroke engine. The advantage of sleeve-valve engines is that they are silent in operation and do away with all the small valve parts, such as springs, cotters, etc. It js claimed by some that the disadvantages are the friction caused by the sleeve in the cylinder and the liability of the sleeve to warp with consequent loss of compression, A certain amount, of hca* is absorbed by the sleeve, and as heat is power the result is a loss of power It is alleged in some eases that sleevehave shown a. liability to crack. Dear “Accelerator,”— J f'ould yon give me a little information in connection with a motor engine. I have a little 6-6 h.p single-cylinder engine, 3),in diameter. I have not got the exact, size of stroke fair cooled) fitted with a very old Brown and Barlow carburettor, which I think is not giving the results it should do. Do you think an ordinary Ford carburettor would suit. The diameter engino is about the same size as a Ford. The trouble I am experiencing now is the engine knocking badly. The magneto and valve arc timed correctly. I have just had a, new piston fitted. The same piston is a little heavier ami about i longer from the centre of the gudgeon pin to the (op of piston than the old one. The knocking sometimes cease? when the spark is fully retarded, but the power is not there. I don’t think the, engine get? overheated, as it is cooled with two fans driven by friction from two flywheels. If you could give me this information and pun-ply a little advice. I ■would be very grateful —I am, etc., “Perplexed.”——The trouble is probably due to piston having insufficient clearance above the top ring. All .pistons should be smaller at the top as the head, qu account of having much more metal, will expand more than anv other part of the piston. If the cylinder of your engine has not been re-bored it is probable that the old piston has left a slight ridge in the cylinder at top of stroke, and as the new piston rises higher in the cylinder the piston will knock when it comes in contact, with the ridge. This knock would not be noticeable when the engine is turned over by hand, but would be present when the engine is running. The probable cure would be to give the piston more clearance above the top ring, say, to at least (he second ring groove, otherwise it will be necessary to have the cylinder re-bored. You also see that the gudgeon bearing is tight, also the big-end bearing of the connecting rod A Ford carburettor will suit. TO'stop THIKVING. The epidemic of motor-car thieving has resulted, at last, in the invention of a contrivance which, if it will not suppress it altogether, should go a long way to lessening the practice. It is a novel and effective device in the form of a protruding tongue of metal fastened on to the rim of the wheel and projecting beyond the tyro. It will give tbo man who appropriates someone else’s oar and endeavours to get away with it (he surprise of his life. Immediately he attempts to drive off, such a noise will bo created as must command the attention of the police or public, and make the thief’s position decidedly perilous. A GOOD PERFORMANCE. One of tile most severe tests to which any car could be subjected was that imposed upon Mr C. J. Hey wood s V\ illya Knight sedan, which was engaged to convey Mr F. B. Smith, the agricultural adviser to the Overseas Settlement Delegation, round Southland (says the Southland Times). During the three days’ tour no fewer than 430 miles were covered, and in only one single instance, when a puncture occurred on the Mossburn road, was the party held up and then only for a few moments. Throughout the journey the car demonstrated in every respect all that was claimed for it by the manufacturers and (he easy and comfortable riding, ns well as the up-to-date appointments, made the journey anything but tiring—in fact, the members of the party were otherwise than tired at the completion of each day’s trip. EVERY 1000 MILES. Lubricate steering gear, universal joints, and brake linkages. Tighten bolts and mils, such as spring clips ami body-bolts, and replace missing cotter-pins. . Wipe out collection of carbon dust in the ignition distributor and carefully oil the circuit-breaker directly beneath. Tighten or replace worn dins on demountable rims, and have badly-worn or cut tyres replaced, as they may blow out and cause a bad skid. Inspect brakes, jack up the rear axle, and test the clearance of the bauds. The lining should be free from oil, dirt, and glaze, and the bauds so adjusted as to give the brakes an even, steady, and certain application. TOWING RELIABILITY TRIAL. The winner of the Sydney-Brisbane reliability towing test was Mr E. W. Greenham. who previously won the one-day contest from Sydney to Kurrajong Heights and back. On this occasion Mr Greenham. a member of the Queensland Automobile Club, met on equal terms most of the finest drivers in the commonwealth, and his achievement, after a little over 12 months’ experience. wa s distinctly creditable. He drove a similar 9.45 h.p. Fiat car in tbo two events. Second place was secured by M r A. G. Barnard in the same Fiat with which he won the inter-State contest last year. Miss M‘Leod, a Queensand lady competitor, finished in twenty-fifth position, and completed the arduous journey of nearly 890 miles without the loss of a point for reliability. Mrs Jones, of New South Wales, who drove her husband’s car, also completed the journey without loss of points on this score, and was placed twenty-ninth. THE MOTOR IN AMERICA. It is estimated that the requirements of the automobile manufacturers of (ho United States of America for their outrun of motor cars for one year includes 468 million feet of wood, 2.374,723 tons of steel atid non. 363.530 tons of aluminium, 525,000 tons of copper. 7,600,000 gallons of paint and varnish. li square miles of glass, 10 g square miles of canvas, etc., for hoods and curtains, and six square miles of leather. An idea of the growth of motoring in America can be gathered from the fact that in 1900 there was one car for every 5500 people in the United States: in 1905 one car to every 1060 people; and in 1922 one car to every eight people. In California there is one car to every four people. All fold, there were registered in 1922 in U.S.A. 12,239,114 cars. There are more cars in the State of New York (U.S.A.) — namely, 1,002.293 than in any country outside of America. Canada comes next with 509.670, then Great Britain with 498.271 motor vehicles. POWER ALCOHOL Mr “Pussyfoot” Johnson's first lecture in South Africa was delivered ro the wine_ farmers at Worcester, and a question was raised a? to the use of power alcohol in the United States. Mr Johnson replied that the industrial use ot alcohol in America has been growing rapidly and added that lie did not sec why there should be any decrease in production. At. the present time about £1,000.000 per annum is paid by South Africa to America for petrol imports. South Africa has developed power alcohol to a greater degree, anyway in tile motor world, than any other country, and a large ipuiiber of vehicles, including those of the Government. is running on natalito or a similar spirit. If sufficiently big interests are concerned in the production of power alcohol in the United Slate? an alcohol car will soon bo on the, market. Already experiments have proved that alcohol is very successful in the ordinary car, but far more successful with n specially-constructed engine with higher compression.

[ltems of news—short descriptions of tours, the state of the roade, cto., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by ‘‘Accelerator.’ I

A NEW STYLE IN TYKES? Important expovimcnka carried out by n lending American trye company may Jienild approaching changes in the future development of pneumatic tvres. Tyres so large and thin ns to be called “balloon tyros were the subject of the experiment, and a car normally equipped with 55 xasiu eight-ply cord tyres was fitted with 34 x '■'in four-ply cord tyres. When these Were 'nflated to a pressure of 201 b per square inch it was found that the car would, at quite low speeds, and without any appreciable jolt roll over a baulk of timber of a section of 2 x din. Tin the other hand, when the 33 x sin tyres were fitted, the car pushed the obstruction along the road surface without rolling over it, unless the speed was quite high, when a- severe foil was experienced. It is further stated that these “balloon” tyres do not affect the driving characteristics of the car. There was no increase in fuel consumplion or decrease in the ease of steering, while in addition iu-c-'oased brake efficiency and much better non-skid and tractive qualities were observed. It is stated in the Motor Press That much work has yet- to be don© before the new tyres can Ire perfected. FONT?-WHEEL brakes. Four-wlicel brakes, which are to be introduced on a number of British cars next 'i, v.ill mean a further complication in traffic conditions in busv street*. With brakes cn all four wheels, a car ,can null up very quickly in an emergence hut following cars with ordinary braking will ot be able to do so. - • ’ collisions will result, with damaged petrol tanks in one case, and dented radiators in the omer. Such a. state of affairs will doubtless lead owners of existing ears to desire front wheel brakes for them also. The Autocar states that already English makers are anticipating such a demand. The job is not so simple as it looks, for the mere addition of front-wheel brakes is not in itself sufficient. A specially strengthened front axle is necessary; further, the spring pads are so in my two different makes of oar; this entails m adjustable bed for the axle, which must hp supplied with the brakes. - Then, of coarse, the rake of the steerin'* pivots lifters with the wheelbase and design of the various cars so that He tilt of the axle must Ire variable, while, to cap all this, the brake drums sometimes cannot ho installed except with special hubs and special wheels. Doubtless a way out. will bo found if the desire for extra braking becomes general. MOTOR CYCLE VOTER. An American paper publishes a photograph of an eight years old rider taking his brother, aged six, out lor a ride on the carrier ‘ Tlio cost of the Motorrad,” a German motor cycle paper, is 2000 marks. The pre-war value of this would represent a gum of £IOO. R. N. Judd has established two new standing-siart records on Brooklands the mils and the kilometre. He used a 6 horse-nowor Douglas, the records applying to the 750 c.c. class. In four months the —’'„,. a bij t) 0 f the Pioneer Snorts Club (Christchurch) has been increased by 115 new motor cyclists. The members have entered into the campaign with rare rest. Care should be taken that coat-tails are not left flying loose as they mav become tangled in the hack wheel, and, besides hopeless injuries to a good garment, may cause a nasty accident. Two English manufacturers, George Drought (Brough-Superior) and J. V. Prestwich tI.A.P.) have been seriously injure© in tests during (he past season. Both ere recovering satisfactorily. Practically all the biV events of the 1923 motor cycling season in Europe have resulted in a sweeping success for British machines over makes rcuvnsenfin" Switzerland. Franco, America, Belgium, Italy, and ■ Germ am*. A Bill is to be introduced into the House of Commons providing for the compulsory use of a red rear light on bicycles. The movement has the support the Ministry of Transport and the Royal Automobile Association. The successes of British motor cycles in .Continental racing has resulted in the decision of French motorists to build a (rack which will he opened next Faster. It is hoped that with the facilities thus provided for testing and experimenting that French machines will be much improved and will be able to compete on equal terms. The question is often '-’--ft. “Does the ultnr-light-woight -motor cycle stand up to severe wear and tear, and is it in fact a satisfactory investment?” These and similar questions can probably best be answered bv noting the recent performances of several of the most popular ultra-light-weights in classic runs recently held in the Cnhed Kingdom. One cun hardly fail to notice the unfailing regularity with which manufacturers of this type of machine enter their products in all (he most severe competitions and otten against almost impossible handicaps, and if they do not always emerge with gold medals, special points are always noted, which Pad one to believe that these are the coming solo machines of the future, at any rath, for the man of average size pocket. SPARKS. The “Birch”—a 16 horse-power light car, produced in Chicago, has made its appearante in Auckland. Eighteen different American manufacturers, making cars of all classes, have the hydraulic four wheel brakes under test. A Gisborne engineer is introducing an English process for waterproofing roads at a cost of a farthing a square, yard by a spray of bituminous and other oils. A mistake frequently made is in washing the tyres with a mixture of kerosene and ■water used for washing the running gear of a car. This is extremely harmful, as kerosene is one of the solvents of rubber, softening it and causing it to wear all the faster. In the Otago Central Hill Climbing Contest at Black Point Hill. Austin cars won distinction. For the two-mile climb the Austin Seven was awarded first place, the Austin Twelve being second. The fallowing is a nublished list of registered sales over 1000 for new American cars sold in New York City and suburbs for the first, six months of 19?3t —Buick, 69 Q 5; Studehaker. 5549: Dodge. 2979; Nash, 1734; Star (Rugby). 1578; Durant. 13(7: Maxwell. 1236; Overland, 1060; Hudson, 1055. ... , An instrument for timing speed records to within 1-IOOOth of a second has been successfully lasted at Brooklands. The English A.C.U. intends to purchase one foiMiiriiur to chits holding speed trials at places other than Brooklands. The conclusion arrived at regarding headlights by the Nelson Association is that in ordinary circumstances, when motor meets motor, it is safer not. Jo dim, hut (hat on narrow roads the driver on the inside should stop and dim until the other P< lMroublo with a slipping clutch bo experienced a cake of common soap may be used as a remedy. Simply shave off thin slice? of soar), and put on the face of the clutch. This make? an excellent temporary repair when miles from home. This method applies to both disc and cone clutches. ,