THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19277, 15 September 1924, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

Motorists desiring Information with regard to mechanical or other oar troubles, or on any matter coming within the scope of the sport, pastime, or business of motoring are invited to send inquiries to “ Accelerator." Special efforts will be made to give the most reliable advice on all topics of interest. FREEDOM OF THE ROAD. The greatest joy of motoring is the freedom it brings. If the going is dull, one can put on speed until tho scenery changes, when you can slow down to a crawl; if one town is devoid of hotels that look inviting it is an easy matter to move on to the next; if yon arc picnicking you can search out. tho best site for your alfresco meal. All motorists aro not “hustlers.” Bui the speed is there if you want it and it is sometimes very useful. Probably the most peacefully-minded person is the fisherman, yet tho fishermen aro now using the motorcar as a means of searching out new streams. WHEN THE PETROL PIPE BREAKS. If tho petrol pipe breaks anywhere except near the union, a short length of rubber tube cut from the generator tubing will make an excellent repair, provided the tube is secured to tho pipe with string or twine. If, however, the break occurs just below tho union—a common happening—a useful temporary repair is made by removing the. nipple from tho socket (leaving the nut on tho pipe) and winding a few turns of string round the broken end of tho pipe. Then, by bending the pipe so tiiat the broken emi enters the socket in the position formerly occupied by tho union, and lightening the nut on to the string, the latter will be expanded into tho socket, and will make a reasonably satisfactory 1 joint. Incidentally, when a broken pipe calls for a short piece of tubing, and there is no generator on tho machine, it may be possible to substitute tho pump connection. A TYRE HINT. Drivers when backing their vehicles in a confined roadway or street, for the purpose of turning, should be careful to avoid using the kerbstone to arrest the movement of their vehicles, as this proceeding will occasion very serious damage to the fabric of the tyre, which is none the less serious because the damage is not visible. Once the fabric is ruptured the tube will force its way into the cut and will be caught between the two edges. It is only a matter of time until the tube gives way through tho chafing of these edges, and a blow-out will be the result. Where such damage has been done to the cover, a layer of fabric should be solutioned over tho area where the cut extends, so that no damage will be occasioned to tho tuba. STUDY THE BOOK. As each year passes so do motor-cycles become more reliable, while the attention they require encroaches still less on their owner’s spare time. But, while the modern cycle needs very little attention, there is not a single make which will remain trouble-free if its mechanism be neglected. With every new machine tlrat is sold there is usually handed to tho purchaser the makers’ book of instruction. It would be impossible to over-estimate tho importance not only of reading the book and of keeping it handy where reference to it can bo frequently made, but also of memorising the principal points with which it deals. Too many experienced riders either throw away their instruction books or leave them in a corner of the tool-box, where they are soon' reduced to tatters. Presently some small! trouble arises, and they begin to abuse the machine, whereas they aro really to blame themselvei. It is not fair to accuse a motor-cycle of unreliability when a precaution which the makers emphasise in the instruction book is neglected. FRENCH SPEED MANIACS. 'file speed n.ania in France gets worse from day to day, says, a Homo paper. A new motor club has just been formed in Paris among wealthy members of the classs known ns ‘“sportsmen.” Tho club has only 25 members, and no member is allowed to travel on any road (not in a town)' at less than 50 m.p.R. Loitering at a lower speed than this entails immediate ejection from the club. In order to qualify for membership, tho prospective candidate must take out two members of the committee in his car and got them to admit in writing that he lias actually frightened them by nis driving. Needless to say, the typo of “sportsman” who belong to such a club as this are very much like the prewar Knut, but probably more idiotic, and certainly far more dangerous. The president of tho club has a number of serious accidents to his “credit,” during the past few years. On© might expect that “La. Corrida” will rapidly become extinct'owing to the death of all the members in trying to observe the rules. BALLOON TYRES. ‘There is still some confusion regarding the small diameter balloon tyre and tho interchangeable sizes,” says a writer in tho Goodyear News. Tito confusion thereby arising is quickly dispelled onto everyone clearlv understands what a balloon tyro is. A balloon tyre is merely an oversize tyre, and because it. is over-size, it will carry a given toad .with less air pressure, and hence with greater riding comfort. If a car now equipped with 32 x 4 lyres is fitted with 33 x 4.95 tyres, you have a single oversize. Inflation can be. reduced and greater cushioning will result. If body and fender clearance will permit, these same 32 x 4 rims can be fitted with 34 x 5.77 tyres, and you then have a double oversize. Inflation pressure can then be further reduced and additional cushioning or “balloon effect” accomplished. Now by changing wheels and rims this same car, now equipped with 32 x 4 lyres, can be fitted with 31 x 5.25 tyres which are slightly Larger than 35 x 4.95 —specifically three-tenths of an inch larger. ROUND THE WORLD TN TEN DAYS. According to aerial experts, 10 days of actual flying is (ho aerial time-table predicted for the 19,000 mile journey round the globe. Tho two big gaps in such a service would ho London to New York, SCOO miles, and Vladivostock, 4‘CXX) miles, and American aviators, trained at the famous Goodyear aerodrome at Akron, will pioneer these two gaps shortly. International stopping places are now being arranged by the League of Nations, says the Goodyear Nows. Tho expenses of such a trip are not expected to be much in excess of the ordinary passenger fare aboard an ocean going liner. Another noteworthy aorial voyage will shortly be made by the Goodyear airship Shenandoah, which is now being fitted for an extensive cruise over the North Polo. Of course, passenger accommodation on this flight will be strictly limited. MEETING CATTLE ON THE ROAD. One frequently meets such objects as led horses, flocks of sheep, and droves of cattle while driving along country roads, and every consideration should be shown by tho motorist both, to the animals and to (he man or woman in charge of thorn. Remember that your ear is much more controllable than is a sheep or cow. Horses, when they are being led, should keep to the right of the road, the person leading them being between them and other traffic. This rule dates back almost to time immemorial (says the Motor). Due allowance should be made for the fact that the horses may he restive, and when meeting led horses in a narrow country road avoid compelling the man in charge of them to halt his animals even if to do so means taking to the right-hand side of the road. This means (hat first and foremost the horses ho allowed the right of way. When meeting a herd of cattle or sheep, ns we frennentlv do about locally, it is generally best to stop the car until they have passed. This will often be found as quick as Irving to pick your way through a moving herd, and obviates the possibility of anyone accusing you of driving into tho sheep. With cattle it is generally belter to kreo moving slowly, booting frequently, or, better still, shouting at them to get out of the way. TO STIMULATE- EMPLOYMENT. In tho interests of (he British working man, declares tho British Autocar, it is to bo hoped that tho Ford plan to construct works on tho Thames, at Dagenham, in Essex, will materialise. In the past, until comparatively recently, ho Ford has properly been regarded as a foreign ear, but for long it has been tho ideal of the heads of the vast, parent company to do more and more of the actual manufacture of their production for tho British market in Groat Britain. Tho Dagenham scheme was recently explained in some detail by the managing director of tho British company, and from his remarks it was apparent that one of the

{ltems of news —short descriptions of tours, the state of the etc., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by “'Accelerator.

main ideals ot Mr Henry P’ot'd is the relief of unemployment by steadily increasing the output of his ears. . ~, , . , If the Dagenliatn plant is fully developed it will, the paper understands, mean that the car produced will be of all-British manufacture, and that 10,000 men ■uni he employed. The importance of such a project requires no emphasis, having regard to the groat amount of unemployment which there has been of late in the East End ot London. This reserve of employable men can bo easily tapped at Dagenham, and for the benefit of British industry as a whole it is to be hoped that no unforseen dithoulties will be encountered in maturing the scheme. THE A.A.A. SECRETARY ABROAD. Mr G W Hutchison has found little need to 'fall back on his optimism—except as regards the weather during his motor tour in Britain. In the course of an enthusiastic letter he writes: ‘T have pist completed my tour of England, and Scotland—have covered 2600 miles, including all the large cities. Have devoted special attention to the traffic conditions. London is easily the best regulated and Glasgow the worst. , There, neither the drivers nor pedestrians seem to. pay the slightest regard to the most elementary traffic rule. (Ed. note; Will irate Scots please defer their visit to this office until Mr Hutchison returns?) England is a huge park, the beauty of which cannot ho realised from* a mere description of it. Scotland is beautiful also, but distinctively so, presenting as it does great areas of barren moorland, The English roads are in fine order, and the Scottish very little inferior. The impression left ou my mind is thafc_ there seem to be more road rollers in England than we have motor cars in New Zealand. . “And if ihero is a more efficient organisation in the world of any description than the A.A., I have yet to come across it.” lam sure that the British A.A. greatly appreciates tho unsolicited testimony of the A.A.A secretary. The fact that Empire motorists are eligible for British membership for a nominal sum is worth recording in these persents. BRITISH DESIGN. Signs are not wanting that we are to see a great change in the design of Ameri-can-made motor vehicles in the near future (says The Autocar). It is thus early apparent that 1925 will see the introduction -of a batch of cars from the States tho keynote of which will be “style.” Ever since the introduction of the automobile in this country, quality and individuality have stamped the British-made article, America having paid more attention to the mass-produced vehicle by reason of the vastly bigger market with which that country has to deal. Now, however, a revulsion of feeling is evident across the Atlantic, where designers and manufacturers are following the British lead. Quito apart from the now accepted four-' wheel braking systems, our American friends are affecting large section balloon tyres for quite good-sized vehicles, and many leading makes will be standardised with this equipment next year. Moreover, some of the specialists in high-powered chassis are clearly demonstrating a leaning toward the straight eight-cylinder car, with the result that, inclos'd of the obviously branded mass-produced car possessing little variation from a dozen or so other makes hailing from tho same country, we see a wide variety of models embodying many of the best points in car construction audl exhibiting in unmistakable fashion the new American outlook and tho desire to break away into more original channels and individuality. That, Americans are coming round to the British way of thinking is no small compliment to our designers. MELBOURNE MOTOR-BU&ES. Gravely concerned at the inroads made upon its traffic by the competition of motcrbuseß, the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board has stated the case for the retention of the trams. ’• On lines where competition is keenest the loss of tram traffic is as much as .25 per cent, already, and there is indication that it will soon be greater. It is pointed out, that if Mho tramways should be jettisoned an annual revenue of some £400,000 must be found from other sources to meet the necessities of St&te and municipal government, and a plea is made that tho burdens of trams and buses should be made approximately equal. In relief of Government and municipal expenditure e'yery tram at present pays £3OO a year, as against an annual payment by the larger buses of only £7. All this special pleading, however, disregards the fact that the buses have come .in response to a public demand which the Tramways Board lacked the foresight to anticipate. The only businesslike response the board can make to the competition of the buses is to improve its services, reduce its fares, or, if it think fit, conduct bus services itself, or, indeed, do all these things. The public has suffered from tho board’s virtual monopoly of street traffic in tho past. Now new methods of street transportation have come to the relief of the public. Instead of endeavouring to provide the public with a better service, the board, with the aid of the Tramways Union and other interested organisations, has confined itself to an endeavour to sustain its monopoly and destroy competition. Various means of achieving (his end are suggested. One is that the board should control all means of transport. Another is that the buses should be taxed off tho streets. It is clear that tho public will have none of them and that, the hoard must devote its energies to a constructive solution of the problem (states tho Ausralasian). A HANDY TOOL. Among the tools which the motorist who makes any pretence to being a mechanic should have, the hacksaw should undoubtedly be one. The number of different occasions ou which it will come in useful is legion, but tho user will find it an advantage to remember the following “Don’ts”:— I. Don’t order or use saw blades too thin for the work which they are intended to do. 2 Don’t try to work a saw when its teeth are broken. 3 Don’t run a hacksaw blade close to the end of your vice jaws. 4. Don’t saw a piece of steel nearly through from one side only, and then break it the rest of tho way. 5. Don’t ever give a twisting motion to a hacksaw when in use, or tho teeth will quickly snap off. 6. Don’t forget that one of the most likely things to ruin a blade is the practice of starting against u keen edge, the shock of which fractures the teeth. 7. Don’t attempt to cut thin tubing with a coarse pitched blade; it is decidedly better t 0 use on one of the fine pitched 24 to 22 teeth an inch. 8. Don't forget a new blade will wear rapidly if used on oast-iron or steel first, especially it the material is hard or contains hard spots. It is advisable for the blade to be first used on brass or bronze. 9. Don’t use a lubricant when sawing, for it is generally more nuisance and hindrance than it’s worth. 10. Don’t throw a blade away if it fractures when rather new; utilise it in a short frame for cutting small metal parts. 11. Don’t forget mat, while fine teeth are best for sawing thin tubes, they have no advantage on material which is not thin, and if the majority of blades have 16, 18, or oven 24 teeth an inch, this is simply because they are not strong enough for a coarser pitch 12. Don’t forget that there are definite relationships 'between width, length, and thickness of a hacksaw blade and between thicknesn and number of teeth an inch. Endeavour, by careful usage, to bring out the best capabilities of the saw blade.

By ACCELERATOR.

MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. A icfcor Horsman, the Triumph rider, has boon establishing- more records on Brooklands in the sidecar classes. Estimates of Italian imports of motor cycles in 1923 place rhose from Great Britain at about 13C0 and those from the United States at about 1200. Mr W. Ilarley and Mr W. Davidson, of the motor cycle bearing the names, after a wide-world tour studying conditions and likes and dislikes of their agents, have returned home to Milwaukee. Many motor cycles which have been laid up for the winter months are now beginning to reappear on the road. Most of them have been overhauled and cleaned, and in quite a number of cases a fresh coat of paint has been applied. In answer to a question in Parliament recently, it was stated that the Army has now only 849 motor cycles and side cars compared with 34,865 at the time of the armistice; the Admiralty 10 against 92. and the Air Force 399 against 1922 motor cycles and 2622 side cars. A particularly "hot-stuff" 2| horse-power was seen on the road last Sunday. Mr A. J. Ro.ycroft has secured a Massey-Arran O.H.V , and from reports ho will take a lot of beating on the track. His machine is a T.T. model, and has actually competed in the Isle of Man classic. Perhaps the most common abuses to which the modern motor cycle is subjected are overloading and trying to "do it on top." The average owner seems entirely oblivion? to the strains imposed and the consequent damage to his engine and excessive tyre wear. Gears aro provided to enable n rider to save his engine, so why wait unti' the machine starts to knock and laboui beforo changing down. CORNERING. Take a corner rather faster than your usual speed, advises a northern scribe. You will note a certain stiffening of the jaw, a wriggling of the spine, a tickling at the back of your neck, a sensation as ot vacuum in the stomach, a watery feeling around both knees. See a crack rider on that same corner, showing, how far it can be taken, and then try again. You will shut your throttle and brake hard twenty yards short of you: rush at it, but no matter. You will begin to perceive what fast cornering is really like. Repeat the tost, this time on a series of corners, preferably on a road which you know well, at a standard touring paw of 25 miles per hour. Speed up over that same stretch to 30 or 35 miles per hour You will discover, that what you regard as a pleasantly meandering lane is converted into a succession of highly perilous corners. Get a genuine speed merchant to pace you over that same section. You will be hope lessly left. That goes without saying. Bui if you aro half a man, you will stick at your amateurish efforts till you can take it a great deal faster than you ever did before, though not yet in the Coleman style.

SPAEKS. A bumper is an accessory before the fact. Hie monkey wrench and the screwdriver are amongst the most essential tools in the kit. Friend : “So you say you lost control of the car?” New Motorist: “Yes. 1 couldn’t keep up the instalments.”A new occupation for women is indicated by the announcement of a Wiltshire (England) doctor calling for the services of a “disponser-chauffeuse” for a country medical practice. Sydney is full of rumours that Henry Ford will shortly make his cars and trucks in Australia. It will be a rattling good thing for us if he does (says a Sydney paper). Exception is taken by the Wairarapa Automobile Association to the cause in the Motor Vehicles Bill exempting Government and local body, vehicles from motor taxes. The colour scheme for marking the main Ch rist church-Dun edin-Invercargill road is progressing, and at all points where roads intersect a branch off the main road is being indicated by yellow and black rings on the telegraph poles. The Wanganui Automobile Association has decided to oppose the Wellington remit to the N.Z.A.V. that a North Island organiser be appointed. A tax on cars according to their weight instead of the proposed flat rate of £2 a car is favoured by the Taranaki County Council. For the first four months of the present year 3223 cars were imported into India, as compared with 1608 in the corresponding period of 1923. A specimen main highway direction-post is being erected in the Public Works yard, Wellington, for the Main Highways Board. In the post a substantial iron pipe embedded in concrete is used with the sign clamped on to it. Tire Safe Drivers’ Club is the name of a now body recently formed’ in the U.S.A. the members of which bind themselves to drive carefully at all times, keeping in mind the rights of pedestrians and other motorists, and generally to aid in the reduction of the number of accidents. During a race meeting at Brooklands recently a miniature Austin covered 60 miles at an average speed of 77.7 m.p.h. This is better than the existing record in Class I (760 t-.c-.j, which stands at 76.51 m.p.h. and was set up also by an Austin. Although Great Britain continues to be the largest individual market for German pneumatic tyres, British purchasers of covers declined from 28,469 in the first four months of 1923 to 11,490 in the corresponding period of the present year, and those of air tubes from 13,508 to 8355. A driver of a car shpuld always keep his eyes straight ahead when driving forward and look back when in reverse. He should be on the constant look-out for traffic coming from side streets which may block his path. When making a turn his eyes should be kept on the course the car will follow. Do npt bo annoyed if a valve spring should break and no extra spring be available. A metal washer with a hole larger than the valve stem should bo placed between the two parts of the spring. This prevents their coiling around each other, and so will serve until a new spring can be obtained “It seems to me that if ICO typical Invercargill pedestrians were let loose on the streets of a busy city like Christchurch or Wellington, half of them would be run over in 24 hours,” said a, visitor to Invercargill, Don’t believe it. There are thousands of the same pedestrians in Christchurch and Wellington. They are all dyed-in-the-wool, and some are more courageous than others. The Automobile Association (Groat Britain) has published a reprint of the official report of a very interesting debate which took place earlier in the year, when a resolution, supported by all parlies in the House was passed in favour of a system of motor spirit taxation instead of the existing lump sum tax per vehicle. This association has a membership of more than 200.000. Since May 20 of this year the “mindyour car” men appointed by th 6 Boyal Automobile (Bub or Australia have taken charge of 24,000 in and around Sydney. There are 18 men stationed at various places. Tito club endeavours to ensure that these men arc thoroughly reliable and suitable for the work, and issues uniforms and numbered tickets to thorn, hut, does not. pay them. They receive their remuneration from the persons to whom they render service, the majority of whom are not members of the club. It is sometimes nuzzling to trace the cause of a sudden “miss” in cold weather. If the magneto is fitted with the spark gap type of distributor, moisture may have formed inside the distributor, and so bo preventing the proper discharge of the spark. If the distributor is thoroughly dried the trouble should disappear. The influence of the late President Wilson is said to have had much to do with the original exclusion of automobiles from Bermuda. When he was a professor in Princetown and a sojourner in Bermuda in ihe winter of 1908. he drafted the petition to the colonial Parliament, which resulted in the enactment in April of that year of the present law forbidding ihe operation or importation of any form of motor vehicle, including motor-cycles, in Bermuda.