THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19905, 27 September 1926, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

By ACCELERATOR.

Motorists desiring information with re gard to mechanical or other cat troubles, or on any matter coming within the scope 0) the sport, pastime, or business 0) motoring are invited to send Inquiries to "Accelerator.” Special efforts will ■ be made to give the most reliable advice on all topics of Interest THE WRONG PEDAL. One now and again hears of accidents arising through the inadvertent depression of the accelerator p.edal when it is intended to apply the brake. The pedal controls of some cars are awkwardly arranged in this respect. Where the pedal comes too near the brake the danger may often be obviated by arranging some sort of shield or shroud—perhaps of thin sheet metal or bent iron-work—which will guard the accelerator when the brake is applied. Often some similar arrangement to act as a guide to guide the foot easily and safely to the accelerator may be devised, and will make for safety. Many drivers have peculiarities, personal to themselves, which may make it necessary to guard the feet against stray ing on to the wrong pedal. Some makers guard against this in the design, but often —too often—tho accelerator pedal is too near the brake and. in emergency, tho wrong pedal is pressed with, sometimes, disastrous results. SPOTLIGHTS. There has been much pointless discus siqn by a very small section of motorists in New Zealand upon the restriction of the use of tho spotlight (says a northern writer. Country motorists are most concerned, since the city driver has no excuse for using a spotlight on illuminated roads. Careless use of spotlights by a few has resulted in undeserved criticism of these excellent accessories. The spotlight is essentially an emergency lamp. It greatly increases the driver’s confidence on strange country roads and permits a higher speed to bo maintained with safety. It must be used with courtesy and the beam should be aimed at the near sido of the road rather than far ahead. Apart from its value as a driving light, the spotlight it very useful for reading road signs at night. When the Dominion’s roads are good throughout, snotlights may be dispensed with, but at present average headlights are hardly equal to all driving occasions. In some States of America spotlights aro banned, but the prohibitions applv mainly to tho roads which are wide and safe, TO CLEAN WATER JACKETS. When a motor-car has been in use for a number of years a thick fur forms on the inside of the water-jackets and in the radiator tubes. This deposit decreases tho efficiency of the cooling svstem considerably, causing overheating, and, in consequence, very unsatisfactory running. Only by chemical action can this fur be removed* First of all drain tho radiator and jackets, also the pumn if one is fitted. Next dissolve half a pound of sal-soda in five gallons of water and pour tho solution into the radiator, using some form of strainer. Then start un tho engine and run it for 10 minutes, after which period the solution should be drained out of tho svstem and roplaced with clean water. The engine is then run again for a while, after which the system should be again emptied. The radiator and jackets will now be clean and ready for use in the ordinary way. In all probability tho action of the chemicals will have destroyed the rubber hose connections and new ones should be fitted. Do not allow the solution to touch any part of the enamel or woodwork as it will leave a stain which will bo difficult to remove. CODE FOR THE TYRE USERS. The following may be recommended to tyre users as tho surest way to maximum tyre mileage:— 1 Keep lyres properly inflated. 2. Drive with the car always well in hand, and avoid frequent braking. 3. Start and stop gradually. 4. Avoid skidding us far as possible. 5. Steer clear of ruts, kerbs, and tramway tracks, which damage the sido walls. 6. Look out for sharp obstructions, and drive slowly over bumps, which, with under-inflation, aro tho main cause of blowouts. 7. Keep the wheels in alignment. 8. Give regular attention to email tread ruts, and repair these. 9. Consult an expert vulcanisor with regard to large tread-cuts. 10. Have blisters cleaned out and repaired at once. 11. Carry spare tubes protected from chafing and cutting. 12. Be careful in applying tubes. 13. Use French chalk in the cover, but avoid using, too much. 14. Examine rims occasionally for rust, and prevent damage from this cause by using rim paint. It is, a good plan to take off all tyres occasionally, and loan the rims with a wire brush, 16. Remove grease and oil from covers of tubes by using a cloth moistened with petrol. 16. Keep spare tyres covered. HINTS ON REVERSING. Many drivers seem to have a difficulty in reversing—that is to say, in steering a car easily when it is running backwards. There is no real difficulty about this, but like many other things, it requires prac tico before it can be done with oasj and certainty. Generally it is illegal to reverse for any great distance on a public road, but there may come a time when one must reverse. Then tho fact that this is forced upon the driver generally pre-sup-poses somewhat awkward conditions, as, for instance, when two cars meet upon a hill so narrow that it is impossible to pass. To reverse in a place like this requires very careful steering, since it admits of practically no error without scraping the guards. The small amount of reversing that is necessary when turning a car in a road presents no steering difficulties, but requires judgment and a rapid use of tho brake and clutch, as well as a gentle operation of the latter. To turn a car in a confined space requires a full lock of tho front wheels —that is to say, the front wheels must be turned as, far as possible in one direction. Then, when the car has been driven as far as possible forwards and the wheels are close to the gutter or wall, they have to bo turned to full lock in the other direction. Now, to force the wheels forwards imposes considerable strain upon the steering mechanism. This should never be done. It is, therefore, advisable to straighten out just before stopping, and to complete the reversal of the steering after the' car has begun to move backwards. WORM DRIVE IN AMERICA. From time to time in the automotive world there develop sudden trends or tendencies toward a certain form of design or construction. In some cases this is a brand new practice, while in others it is a perfectly well understood principle which for some reason has been neglected or attempted without success ->r has been viewed with suspicion until some bold innovator t ies it out with satisfactory results. Just a few years ago the vacuum system of feeding fuel was such an innovation. The firs’ time it appeared it found a place on just a few models. Tho next year it had made a foothold on a majority of the cars, and row it is in general use. At the, beginning o the automobile industry wire wheels were almost invariably ’snd on, cars, coining directly from bicycle practice. Then there was a change to wooden wheels of the artillery type. Then came wire .mi! disc wheels to take th !r share of the business. In America at the present time there is a feature o design which, rumour has it, is to find a place on a number of cars 'ext year. This is he worm drive rear axle, which has been in nsc some years by many car makers in England and on the Continent, but is used, at present on one nassenger ear chassis only, in U.S.A. Reports have it that at least six more cars will find a place for this type of construction next year, and some of the vehicles mentioned arc in tho first rank. Whatever happens, the student of automotive development will bo interested in watching the progress of this fea’ ire of car design.

[ltems of news—short descriptions, of tours, the state of the roads, •to., comment, or inquiries will be welcomed by Accelerator,”]

If you can wait, and not be tired by waiting. While some dub wrecks your bumper and your lights; Or, being cussed at, don’t give way to cussing. Or pull a gun and line up both the sights. If you can guess the other chap a intention. And know if he’ll turn le- cr turn to right; If you’n familiar with the fourth dunension, And know just what to do when traffic s tight. If you can watch the “Stop and Go signs flutter. Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools. If you can sass a cop without a stutter, Each time you’re stopped for violating rules. ■ If you can make a turn where there s Turning,” Or drive the wrong way in a one-way If you can smile when all your brakes are burning, And the motor baulks each ten or twenty feet. If you can keep on going without worry When you know the gasoline is getting low; If you can loaf along while others hurry, And then speed past those warnings: “School —Go Slow.” If you can drive through crowds and never falter, And miss pedestrians by an inch or two: If you can wear a smile that win not alter When five and ten-ton trucks lurch out If you can see your wheels and fenders crumpled, ... And greet the man who did it with a grin; you’ll have no trouble driving in the city— But you’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din! —Chet Johnson, in Judge. CLOSED OR OPEN CARS? There is a wide divergence of opinion as to which is the best type of enclosed car, but when the types are divided into three categories, it is much easier to come to a decision. First, take the, case of the owner-driver. In practically every instance where a four or five-seater is required, he desires a type of body that enables him to carry on conversation with the other occupants, and in this case there is not the slightest doubt that the saloon has an overwhelming popularity in this respect. Some still pin their faith to the all-weather, as it enables the car to be opened on fine days, but, taking it all round, this type is gradually going out on account of the fact that, with a few exceptions, rattles develop in a very short time. Wc therefore come to the conclusion that for the average owner-driver there is no type of enclosed car than can rival the saloon, both on the score of economy and general utility, says an Australian authority. Secondly, there is the type that is equally suitable to be driven by an owner or chauffeur. In this case opinion is about equally divided between the enclosed-drive limousine and the en-closed-drive landaulet, although as a town and touring carriage the latter would appear to be the most popular of the two. Both types, however, offer practically all the advantages of the saloon, more particularly when the glass panel forming the dividing partition is operated by a mechanical lifter, and can be wound down into the partition on the back of the driver’s seat. The enclosed landaulet, of course, also has the advantage, inasmuch as the head can be folded back. On the other hand, the extra rigidity of the limousine has much to commend it. Thirdly, there is the coupe suitable for two or four persons. The latter is really nothing more or less than an all-weather body, and although attractive in appearance, it is by no means a popular type. There are several kinds of coupe—fixed head, folding head, threequarter with fixed and folding heads, and saloon. Of these we should say that the three-quarter type with folding head, if not the most popular, is the most attractive, and will in a very short time be easily the leading vehicle in its category. Considerable discretion should be exercised in the choice of an enclosed car. Among other things, see that the doors are properly hung; pay particular attention to the mouldings; see that the windscreen is a good fit and not likely to let water into the interior; and, in the case of a landaulet and other types with folding heads maie a close scrutiny as to the quality of the material, and the design of the various joints that are likely to cause rattle. MOTOR CYCLE NOTES. It is surprising how. often machines are seen at night with their head-lamp beams directed skyward. And the riders are probably wondering why their lighting 13 so poor 1 Two members of the A.A. of Great Britain are undertaking a' world tour and left London last month. They are stduying colonial motor-cycle conditions, and will arrive in New Zealand in August, 1927. All transmission chains should bo removed and thoroughly washed. They should then be laid in liquid lubricant so that the insides of the rollers will be penetrated, A little care of this sort will prolong the life of the chain considerably. Chater-Loa machines have had their share of European victories during tho past season, and have helped to uphold British supremacy. Among tho most noteworthy wins aro: Austrian Grand Prix, 560 c.c., Erst, and also second fastest time of the day,’ including 1000 c-c. motors. Switzerland National Hill Climb, 550 c.c.. first. German Fribourg Speed Trials, 550 c.c., first. SPARKS. Sido skidding and rounding corners rapidly will cause rim cutting. Avoid driving in car tracks. When tho car is sufficiently dirty to use soap, bo sure it is the regulation automobile soap and free from alkali. For hauling heary loads long distances "Big Tree” is unequalled. More miles, more power. —Advt. Never neglect oiling and greasing certain parts ot the engine, because of their inaccessible location. “Johnny, what is a parking space? ’ “A parking space, teacher dear, is a place where you put your car to have the taillight knocked off.” Do not direct a strong stream of water when washing tho body of a dirty car. Remove tho nozzle and allow the water to flow gently over the body to soften the mud or dust. Fill your tank with “Big Tree, the double-distilled Motor Spirit. All garages. —Advt. Rear springs that allow the frame to hit tho bumper when going over an unusual chuckhole should bo examined. They probably need resetting to place them in their original condition. Automobile paint is not exclusively for appearance. Paint protects tho wood and renders it permanent in its strength and usefulness for a much longer time than could otherwise bo expected. Its principal, function is to exclude moisture, which quickly rots the wood. Motoring economy means using “Big Tree” Motor Spirit. More miles, less expense. —Advt. Based on a questionnaire circulated in 41 cities, tho Research Division of tho American Automobile Association estimates that about 250,000 motor vehicles were stolen in the United Slates last year. Tho value of these machines is put at £44.000,000, and, estimating that 80 per cent, of the vehicles were recovered, the loss to American motorists, as a body, amounted to £7.000,000, If tyres and parts aro included the total loss would probably read £10.000,000. 't'nntin orl -n S