THE MOTOR WORLD.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22399, 22 October 1934, Page 4

THE MOTOR WORLD.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT. The Radiator for October, issued by the New Zealand Garage Proprietors' Association, and devoted to the interests of motor traders. HORSES ON COUNTRY ROADS. : Pointed attention has been given to this subject owing to the recent" distressing fatality on the South road, and whilst not attributing blame for this accident on .any special party, it would be a good thing if a Government regulation were brought into force making it compulsory for a bprse being led along the road to be kept on the inßide of the rider and so away from "traffic.; approaching from behind. *'' ■ v ' A rider has control of his own horse, but when any traffic appoaches a horse on a lead it is not unusual for the animal to shy and jump sidewayis. across the roadway, and so cause , a danger to all using the highway. Riders themselves should recognise the merit of this suggestion and carry it out. themselves for the benefit of all traffic on the road as well as in their own interests, MOTORISTS AND TAXATION. ' The statement on motor taxation sub-' mitted by the North and South Island Motor Unions to the Transport Co-or-dination Board reflects credit on, the or-. gani6ations concerned. ;The board is charged with the task of inquiring into motor taxation in the Dominion and the. Government will be guided in large degree by its. conclusions and: recommendations. In these circumstances it is of the utmost importance that the ease for the motorists should be plainly stated. In. the voluminous statement presented it has riot only, been plainly stated, but considerable ability has been displayed in its preparation. When it is recognised that in seven years, the revenue from motor taxation has exceeded £21,000,000 and that the total for the present year is estimated to reach £3,600,000, the national importance of the industry is plainly apparent. The statement with the graphs covers in all.. 78 pages and is divided by subject headings, which in turn are easily accessible by means of a good index.' The well-established claims for relief of taxation and its expenditure for the purposes for which it is./ levied are presented with the necessary arguments in support. The document itself. constitutes the strongest possible justification for the organisation of motorists, because it. presents in their name demands which are reasonable and In these later taxation is regarded by many politicians as a mark of progressive virtue, it may be too much to hope for the full measure of relief due to motorists, as a specially-taxed class, but if the subject is treated on its merits and due regard paid to the facts presented by the organised motorists there must be some relief granted and a radical change effected In the allocation of the huge sum now collected. GRADE GARAGES. The value of the "A" Grade Emblem (says the Radiator) is now becoming more evident, and if the decisions arrived at at the annual meeting become effective, as is very probable, the value will be greatly increased. It has been asked that in the examination and testing of brakes and headlights, where this is done on a quarterly basis, "A" grade garages should be authorised to affix an official sticker which will absolve the owner from the necessity of being stopped to produce a certificate and have a sticker attached by the Transport authority. It was pointed out by a speaker at the annual meeting that when this was generally understood a number of garage proprietors who have not yet bothered over the classification of their garages would be desirous pf doing so, and he suggested that the date for receiving applications be extended from September 30 to October 31 this year. This suggestion was agreed to and all applications received before October 31 will be dealt with, and the garages inspected during the inspectors' examination tour in November and December. It is not possible to inspect garages at any time application 1s made, as the cost of sending the examiner to any part of the, Dominion to inspect one or two garages is prohibitive. It has, therefore, been decided that applications will be received only once yearly, and no additions to the list of classified garages will be made excepting at the yearly period.

AN APPEAL TO MOTORISTS. A. A. (Otago) is carrying on a drive for new members and is urging on all motor, ists the necessity for linking up. It is pointed out that an individual has really no means of improving motoring conditions throughout the country, and that the club undoubtedly has done an enormous amount of good work and obviously will do much more as its strength is grow* ing greater every day. The following reasons are put forward in Bupport of the plea for an increased membership:— 1. Because you require someone to see that your rights and- privileges as a motorist are watched, protected, and extended. 2. Because you are bound at some time or other to require information, advice, and assistance on matters pertaining to automobilism, roads, bridges, motor vehicle laws, taxation, etc. 3. Because you are bound to travel at some time or other and will wish to enjoy the bene'fits of affiliation with organisations abroad having similar objects, and will require touring facilities which are available. 4. Because unless you do join you will be regarded by the administrative.and legislative authorities in New Zealand as opposing the policy and principles of the associations, and thus registering your vote against any representations it may put forward. 5. Because as a motorist it is your dutv to yourself and to your fellow motorists to add strength to the arm of the association which strives for just and adequate apportionment of motorists' contributions to the country's revenue, and all thp amenities, privileges, and benefits which are only obtainable by organised effort. 6. Because the many activities of the association —particularly the erection of danger and direction signs—must appeal to you. 7. Because a financial member obtains the service of our road service scheme. 8. Because you will appreciate the fact that the subscription of £1 Is per annum is more than worth while. VISITING CARS. The National Roads and Motorists' Association of New South Wales is confident that many overseas motorists will bring their cars to Australia if the Federal Government agrees to make easier the passing of the vehicles through the Customs. At the recent annual conference of the Australian Automobile Association, held iu Brisbane, it was decided to ask the Federal Government to sanction the Trip, tique and Carnet de Passages en Douanes systems, under which a visiting motorist, or an Australian tourist taking his car abroad, is not required to lodge the substantial sum for duty. These systems are in force in most European countries. MAINTENANCE OF SPRINGS. It is surprising in these days, how many motor cars and trucks have dry, rusty spring leaves, It has been proved that regular cleaning and oiling not only prevent squeaks and improve the riding qualities of the car, but is also a measure of protection against the breaking of leaves. An easy and effective method of keeping them cleaned and oiled is to paint them with a mixture of old sump oil and kerosene, applied with a stiff old paint brush. When possible, the weight should be lifted off the springs by jacking up. the chassis and erease or some other lubricant should be forced between the leaves. Also spring supporting bolts should be attended to regularly. The amount of vibration transmitted to the springs naturally tends to loosen these bolts, and the nuts should be : kept tight with a box-fipanner.

By ACCELERATOR.

(Items ef newa~-ahort description*, of tours, the st»te of the rotdt, •to* eemmtnt, or lo*ttirUa will be welcomed bj " Ac»larftte*. M j

HEADACHES. More headaches are caused by eyestrain than any other factor in driving. However strong your sight may appear to be, it is apt to suffer from long concentration on gravel roads in particular, when the sun is shining. Visors protect the eyes from the dazzle of the sun on the windscreen, but they do not shelter them from the road glare. The simplest remedy is to wear smoked glasses on long tours. When you remove them you will realise how much you have escaped. AUSTRALIAN .FATALITIES. It is an alarming fact that Australia stands third highest among the nations in the table of motor car accident deaths per 100,000 of population in 1932, according to statistics received by the National Roads and Motorists' Association of New South Wales. The table shows that the United States, with 21.9 deaths per 100,000 population, topped the list, with Scotland (13.3) secoud, and Australia (12.2) third. Other countries came in the following order:—New Zealand, 10.9; Canada. 10.6; Switzerland, 10.4; England and Wales, 9.9; Belgium. 9.5; Netherlands, 6.1; Germany, 4.9; Irish. Free State, 4.6; Sweden, 3.9; Norway, 3.G; and Italy, 3.5. These differences in population death rates are largely explained by variations in numbers of motor vehicles. At the end of 1932, for example, the population per motor vehicle in the United States was five, in Scotland 38, in Australia 12, and in New Zealand eight. DIAGNOSING BREAKDOWNS. ■ It is always handy for the owner-driver to be able to diagnose the cause of an en"ine breakdown, particularly if one should should occur many miles from a garage, and it should be necessary to send for a replacement part. Following are some of the major causes of breakdown and their symptoms:— The sudden fracture of a connectingrod is usually indicated by a loud crack, followed by misfiring of the cylinder affected, and frequently the rattling of the broken rod can be distinctly heard. This may be caused through running an engine with a loose big-end. Broken pistons usually make a noise resembling acute piston slap, but the noise depends on the position and extent of the fracture. Complete misfiring aud absence of compression may indicate the complete severing of the top of the piston from the skirt, and the piston affected can be located through the spark-plug hole in the cylinder bead. Rotate the engine by the crank, and the detached piston top will be found to remain stationary. N Broken crankshafts, though fortunately rare, usually occur through a fault in the metal, crystallisation, or undue stresses caused by excessive vibration or labouring of the engine. Such a breakage usually causes a loud, irregular knock, and considerable vibration. A quick test can be made by locking the flywheel and endeavouring to turn the engine, by the crank or hold the crapk in position and try to turn the flywheel. HYDRAULIC BRAKES. With the increasing average speeds of the modern car it has become essential in the interests of. safety that brakes should be maintained at their highest peak of efficiency. Although hydraulic brakes have been used for many years now, they remain a mystery to many owner-drivers. The following information is intended to warn such drivers of the first essentials of maintenance and t° indicate reasons for defects which may develop after sonie years of running. The most important point in the main* tenance programme is to keep the reservoir properly " topped up.' This is best left to the expert at the garage or service statiou, who should also eliminate air from the oil lines and examine them for leaks. The detection of leaks, by the way, is simplified by chassis cleanliness; in fact, the dismantling of mud-caked pipe unions renders the exclusion of dirt from the system almost impossible. Unsuitable fluid should never be used on the grounds of economy. Mineral oil, if purposely or accidentally admitted to the system, may cause serious trouble by swelling the rubber valves and cups to such an extent that they become plastic and non-resistant. If it is known that mineral oil is in the system, the only .effective way of removing it is to drain the lines, wservoirs, and cylinders, and wash throughout with methylated spirit. If the rubber parte have not been harmed they can then be refitted, but all parts must be thoroughly dried, before assembly, otherwise rust may form on metal work. When reassembling the pistons should be primed by dipping into brake fluid.

Prolonged use may also result in a gradual deterioration of the rubber parts, and such wear usually results in a gradual loss of efficiency. The piston of the master cylinder may also need replacement after considerable mileage. When installing a new master" piston or making adjustments to the plunger rod, care should be taken to ensure correct operation of the piston. The amount of its travel must be accurately set if the piston is to uncover the recuperating hole in the cylinder; failure to do so is often the cause of brakes not releasing properly. Grabbing brakes may, of course, be caused by broken retraction springs, and this possibility should not be overlooked when one hub la affected more than the others. The need of brake shoe adjustment to compensate for lining wear is usually indicated by excessive waste motion of the brake pedal. The means of adjustment, usually an external screw operating an internal cani, controls the amount of clearance between the drum and the linings. As this clearance is small, the movement of the brake shoes on the fulcrum pins ia correspondingly small, and seizure at this point should be guarded against by the use of graphite or other suitable lubricant. Leakage of fluid may cause uneven brake balance. The detection of this fault is comparatively easy, as tlje need for new fluid-retaining washers is usually fairly obvious. A badly scored drum or stiff brake shoe cams or pina can also cause unequal balance, while different types of brake linings may be a more obscure cause. When relining hydraulic brake shoes it is essential that the linings be all of the same material and that the fitting is securely and neatly done. Gaping linings are not conducive to smooth action. While if the linings work loose on the rivets fierce action may easily develop. Loose brake shoe fulcrums and pins can also produce a certain amount of grabbing, and the tendency is for the trouble to get worse until checked. Occasionally when shoes are relined lining of too high a frictional capacity is used, resulting in a very fierce action. The only remedy is to decrease the braking efficiency by tapering off the ends of the lining or to rub a little french chalk or graphite into it. Misalignment of the axles and chassis distortion may be ruled out when diagnosing hydraulic brake faults, as the flexible pipes or fluid lines can be bent in any form without adverse effect on the brakes.

THE MOTOR CYCLE A.A. (OTAGO) MOTOR CYCLE SECTION. FIXTURES. November 4.—Whole day run to Waipon. November 17.—Treasure hunt. November 20.—Monthly meeting. December 1. —Beach races at Wajkouaiti. December 9.—Run to Buckland's ford. TO-DAY'S TRIAL. The first competitor (No. 1) is due to check in at the clubrooms thig afternoon at 5.54 and the others at minute intervals, the last man being due at 6JB p.m. Members and friends are invited to be present, but are respectfully requested to stand well clear of the official, as he will be checking to split seconds, and an uninterrupted view of competitors is desired.

MOTOR CYCLE SECTION MEETING. At the meeting of the cycle section A.A. (Otago) on Tuesday evening in the clubrooms Mr C. H. Bingham presided over an attendance of about 30 members and friends. The chairman announced tnat Mr R. H. Stewart had won the trophy for the highest number of entries obtained for the Labour Day Trial, he having been responsible for the entering of seven competitors. Discussion took place regarding the beach races, to be held on December 1, the most interesting point raised being whether a mechanic could render assistance in the event of a competitors machine failing on the bends during the course of a race. After supper the draw for the semi-final of the Marychurch billiards tournament took place, Thq games yet to be played are:—Semifinal, G-. Bauchop v. R. Walker; final, R. D. Stewart v. winner of semi-final.

SPARKS Take time to be safe.—An American slogan that .should have a world-wide application. * * * There are exceptionally heavy space bookings by motor importers for the Canterbury A. and P. Show next month. The show is becoming more important each year as a substitute for Olympia. * * * " I've christened my car ' Flapper.''-' "What on earth for?' "Well, she has stream lining, smart paint work, a quick pick-up, and keeps me broke!' * * # The combined action of heat and oil will often rot the insulating materials on the electric wiring of a motor car. The best means of protecting the insulation is to paint it with shellac varnish. This can also be used to advantage for coating radiator hose connections which, being made of rubber composition, are adversely affected by heat and oil. * # * "He put on speed to cross the railway line ahead of the train." " Did he get across? " "He will as soon as the monumental mason has finished it." * # * When dealing with a choked carburettor jet the usual practice is to blow through it either with the mouth or with compressed air, and to judge the results by feeling the velocity of the air passing through the hole or holes. A very much better way is to fill the mouth with tobacco smoke and eject it through the carburettor jet. A partially choked jet call be "seen" by this method, or if any of several holes is obstructed it can immediately be detected. * * * Two men were discussing the eloquence of a politician. " You ought to hear him," said one. "I did hear him," replied the other. " I listened to him for two hours." "What was he talking about?' "I don't know; he didn't say." « * * A rattling door is a source of irritation. The trouble is sometimes caused by the rubber buffers becoming flattened by constant use. The renewal of the buffers is not a costly job, but the,rattling can oftqn be stopped by fitting a pi«ce of tin or cardboard under the rubber. A drop of thin oil on the door locks occasionally will prevent squeaks. Strange how- many motorists neglect the oiling of the doors.