Cyling & Motor Notes

Otago Witness, Issue 3309, 15 August 1917, Page 42

Cyling & Motor Notes

BY DEMON. Practically all the leading British motor cycio factories are at the present time turning out machines on a large Russian military or.der. It is worth while noting that the motor cycles are all of the heavy twin typo, indicative of the fact that, while light-weight military models predominate on the western fronts, the heavy-weight machine evidently comes into its own in the eastern war field. Besides holding bicycle track raco meetings in Paris, one or two long-distance road events are still being held despite the war. One. big contest recently held was a 155 miles road race from between Paris and Tours, which was won by the Belgium crack P. Thys in 7hr 14min. Two French riders finished second and third. France has 14,000 touring cars in the 1 service of her army, which cost approximately about £6OO a year each to run for spares, tyres, petrol, oil, etc. The United States Government recently called for tenders for the supply of a largo number oi touring cars for the use of her army in France. As illustrating the immense output of some of the big American carmakers, it is interesting to note how some of the concerns are prepared to deliver. The Overland Company, 110 cars a day; Dodge, 200 a day; Studebakor, 950 per month; "Scripps-Booth, 100 per week; Saxon, 40 per day, etc. Most of tha manufacturers quoted the Government 25 per cent, off list-price. Many erroneous impressions have gone out with regard to the work armoured cars have been doing on the French front. So far as light armoured cars are concerned there has scarcely been a single case of their being used on the western front, because the ground is so torn up, due to shell fire, that it is impossib l * for so large a target as a light car to share in manceuvering work. The protection of such cars is very limited even to _ the smallest ammunition. This lack of their use on the western front can c-carcely be considered an indication of their lack of usefulness, how- j ever. Rather it must be considered a re- I striction on their use duo to unfavourable conditions. On the other hand, the motor trucks fitted with anti-aircraft guns have \ been doing steady consistent work all the time. These trucks aro operating in con- j nection with fleets of tanks, protecting the i advance of tanks from hostile aeroplane ob- j serration and control fire. These trucks are

also assisting in repair -\rork on tanks. Wherever the tanks are the anti-aircraft trucks are near at hand. ing- motor cars from America of a vaiue of £47,470. In the same month England imported 11, worth £6125; but she bought 418 motor trucks at a cost of £258,110. Tha American car reports for April alone show a decline of £200,000. The use of ball and roller bearings for main shafts and connecting roda in-

creases the freedom and liveliness of mi engine, and, indeed, anything tending to remove friction has. as might be expected, the same result. When the bearings have been in use for long periods the engine

generally has become somewhat sluggish, and tho effect produced on its speed by rlushing out with paraffin is remarkable. It seems to infuse new life into the engine, and the response to the opening of the

throttle, no matter how slight the hitter may bo, is noticeably improved. The clogging effect of the stale, thick oil has been removed, and the frictional or braking effect which such entails overcome. This Ib, of course- reflected in superior running when the machino is on the road, and if the process were repeated more often than is the case on the average wo should hear lees of fallings off in speed and power. superior to nor own, France has mounted all of her military motor cyclists on the British-built machines.

At the rate the price of high-grade potton is advancing, almost immediate rises fn cose of motor and cycle tyres must necessarily follow. Latest "advices from America show a further hardening in the cotton market, and canvas is now more than double the prico it was a few months back. What with increased cost of potrol and increased cost of tyres, the outlook for motorists is not too bright. Remarkable developments have taken placo in the construction of aeroplane engines in England since 1914. One of the finest aero engines now made is a 475 b.h.p. 18-cvlinder Sunbeam. This power unit is made up of three rows of six cylinders, all operating on tho one crankshaft. Two carburettors are used to each row of cylinders, each of which is provided with four valves, two exhaust and two inlet. Six magnetos are used. This is tho typo of engine that is enabling the British aviators to maintain the air supremacy on tho western front. In this connection it is interesting to note that some of tho recent air fighting has taken place at an altitude of over 21,000 ft, or four miles high. ists to tho extent of a further sum of £26,000 over and above the £50,000 now collected in licensing foes, etc. Tho additional money sought to be raised from car-owners is a sum equal to more than half of the total now paid in taxes by them under the Country Roads Act. Tho money, as is known, is spent on the roads by the Roads Board to the advantage and benefit of all units of traffic. Hence it is unreasonable that only one class of road-users should be asked to pay a further tax while all others are exempt, bearing in mind that motorists, as ordinary citizens, also pay the usual rates and taxes. —— In a recent discussion with P. J. F. Battenburg, chief engineer of the Four Wheel Drive Auto Company of Clinton ville, Wis., the subject of overloading of motor trucks came up when a photograph was displayed showing a three-ton truck hauling an 18-ton load on trailers. "I want to go on record right now as being absolutely opposed to the practice of overloading," said Mr Battenburg. "In my opinion overloading of motor trucks beyond their rated capacity is ono of the principal detriments to the motor truck industry. This photograph is authentic, and it is not unusual. We have records of throe-ton trucks hauling as high as a 35-ton load with trailers. Nevertheless, a three-ton truck is built for a threeton load, and, while built with a generous margin over its rated capacity, for extreme emergencies, many drivers, some dealers and sometimes even factory salesmen are altogether too ready to subject a truck to a.far greater load than it was ever meant to carry." Henry Ford and Sons (Ltd.) was the name of a company with £IOO.OOO capital registered at Cork, Ireland, on April 17. The objects of tho company are to manufacture motor-driven agricultural machinery. There are now more military cyclists in Toronto (Canada) than at any time since the start of the war. The number of riders is exactly 400, and they arc attached to the Divisional Cyclist Depot for training purposes. The riders hav© been brought from all parts of the Dominion, from Vancouver to Quebec. —— The motor dealers in America have established a kind of mutual and confidential clearing house, where track is kept of all car-owners and their financial position. One car-owner of unlimited bluff and scanty means was shown to bo over £SOO in debt to various dealers in one town. New Zealand could do with a motor dealers' clearing house, from which confidential information could be obtained. The finish on the bodies of tho cheaper American cars rarely lasts a season, while that on pood Engb'sh cars has practically permanent wear. Tho secret is in the paint-shop treatment. American oars usually receive four coats of paint and two of varnish. English cars invariably got 24 coats of paint-and e ; ght of varnish. Each coat of varnish is rubbed down with pumice before the next is applied. The weather soon destroys two coats of varnish, which is the reason why American cars quickly lose their bright appearance. After the varnish is destroyed the paint cracks.