MOTORDOM

Southland Times, Issue 18938, 11 May 1923, Page 9

MOTORDOM

(By “Self-Starter”). BATTERY IGNITION. A large number of the latest motor cars are equipped with battery ignition, as well as with electric lighting and starting outfits. Such completely electrified cars are no longer dependent on that old and trusty friend, the magneto, for the proper functioning of the engine. When cars rely on the battery for lighting and starting only, there may, perhaps, not be so insistent a demand that the battery shall be kept in tip-top condition. When, however, the battery has literally to get one home, as well as illuminate one’s path, the case assumes a different aspect—says the “Auto-Car” (Eng.) The wonderful development of the magneto into an instrument as reliable and long-lived as a good watch has rendered many thousands of motorists somewhat negleetftil of the ignition. It hardly ever gives trouble, therefore why bother about it. If the electric lighting or starting apparatus goes wrong there is not a great, deal to worry about-—at any rate, during daylight. Generally such troubles are trivial, and may be traced to a worn wire or dirt on a dis tributor; but occasionally overwork is the cause. The care needed to keep a battery in good condition is in nd way irksome. Surely every owner-driver has time once a week to take the lid off the battery box and see that all terminals are screwed up firmly, and that the batteries are free from dirt on the top and that no sulphating is taking place? Once a month, or so, a little distilled water, obtainable cheaply from a chemist, should be added to each cell, and at far longer intervals, say every six months, a little fresh electrolyte may be needed. If these simple rules be observed as a matter of routine, the life of a good battery should be measureable only by a term of years. There is one more point to emphasise. Manufacturers who design their cars to rely entirely on the battery for ignition, starting and lighting ought to take great care in the method adopted to carry the batteries. These should be housed in a perfectly waterproof box, placed where it is as little subject to vibration as possible, for vibration is one of the battery’s deadliest enemies; at the same time it should be so accessible that there is no possible excuse for the laziest owner-driver shirking a regular examination. WEIGHT AND POWER. The power-weight ratio of the modern light car is gradually being brought down by European manufacturers. A striking example is the Italian made “Chiribiri,” which has a speed record over a flying kilometre (1093yds) on the road of over 101 miles per hour, this being the average speed of a run in both directions. This light car weighs complete 10901bs. and the engine 65 m/m bore by 112 m/m stroke is claimed to give off 70 h.p. at 5000 revolutions a minute. The power-weight ratio of this car has been reduced to one h.p. to every 15Albs. weight, and the result is seen in its remarkable speed and efficiency. FOURTEEN POINTS OF CAR TESTING. A technical exchange gives the following fourteen points of car testing:— (1) Drive car to determine whether valves must be ground and carbon removed. If car has a tendency to knock when throttle is opened, and the noise is not due to spark being advanced too far, then carbon removal is probably required. A carbon knock and a spark knock are similar in sound. (2) If the engine lacks power and runs irregularly, especially at low speed, the valves may need grinding. To make sure, crank the engine over slowly by hand with all petcocks open, except on the cylinder being tested. If some or all cylinders show poor compression, valve grinding is required. (3) Examine tyres for cuts. Deep cuts should be vulcanised and lesser ones filled with tread repair compound.

(41 Clean and adjust sparking plugs. (5) Test specific gravity of each battery cell. Cells in good condition should read from 1.280 to 1.300; those below 1.200 are discharged or defective. (6) Loose connecting rod bearing is usually indicated by hammering when engine is decelerated or when idling. Loose main bearing pounds most with wide throttle.

(7) Examine starter and generator brushes for wear and commutation for smoothness.

(8) Determine play in drive mechanism by placing lever in high gear and jacking up one rear wheel. If play measured on the wheel rim is more than an inch, call on competent repairman.

(9) Go over all wiring, tightening all connections, and replacing badly insulated

(10) Jack up each wheel and shake it to'determine whether the bearing requires adjusting. If play is more than one-six-teenth of an inch, the bearing should be adjusted. Be careful not to confuse wear in the kingpins of the front wheels with play in the bearings. (ID Look at breaker mechanism. Smooth and adjust points if they are rough or pitted. (12) Adjust brakes. Reline if lining is worn out. (13) If play in steering wheel is more than an inch at the rim, it should be remedied. Note proportion of play in various parts. (14) Check tightness of fan belt, also tightness of hose connections, and pump glands. RUBBER ROADWAYS. In addition to the experiment with rubber roadways being tried elsewhere in the London Metropolis, a short street running from St. Martin’s Lane to Shaftesbury Avenue is to be paved with this material. Two distinct types of construction are being laid in the same street, with a view to exact comparison of results. One of these (says Motor Transport) consists of rubber face concrete units; the other has a base of vulcanite and a surface of rubber compound, 38 per cent, pure rubber. This is said to result in a surface that meets all possible conditions; just soft enough, just hard enough, and unaffected by rain, snow, refuse or oil. Another experimental stretch of road is being laid in Little St. Andrew Street, W.C. MOTOR ACCIDENTS. The world over it is customary to print reports of street accidents and to print them ’•nth bold headlines whenever a motor vehicle is involved (says the English correspondent of the Auckland Herald). If the true statistics of the cause, of all these accidents could be revealed the relative blameworthiness of the motor could the better be praised. I am'glad, therefore, to be able to give particulars of analytical figures for a Midland (Eng.) city. In 1921, 3134 accidents occurred, the cause of 1772 being known, and of 1362 unknown. Of those known, 548 were accidents preventable by those concerned; 572 were preventable by vehicle drivers, and 652 were not preventable by those concerned. In 1922, the figures were respectively 511 preventable by those concerned, 456 preventable by drivers, and 773 not preventable. This great improvement is attributed to better methods of traffic control. There are several re markable features about the two analyses The first is the freedom from accident under the heading of taxicab and motor-buses. The next is the large number of skidding accidents. Children running across the road is a prolific source, as are cases of horses taking fright. Drivers avoiding other vehicles lead to many misadventures, and almost as many were due to defective mechanism. The most notable fact reveal ed by the figures, however, was the small catalogue of accidents attributed to reckless driving, and the minute list of those due to glaring head-lights. From a careful study of the statistics one recognises that

the authorities, would they reduce traffic accidents, must not waste so much energy pursuing the imaginary “road-hog,” but must concentrate upon less greasy streets, child education, horse-hitching, and better traffic regulation generally. With this, traffic safety Will come automatically. 14,743,468 MOTORS IN USE. WORLD WIDE REGISTRATION RECORD. According to a 1922 census, just completed (says “Roadster” in the Christchurch Press), there are 14,743,468 motor-cars and utility motor vehicles registered as being in use in the world tO-day, of which no fewer than 12,364,377 are employed in the United States of America. This leaves 2,379,091 operating in other countries, oth erwise something under a single year’s output of the American motor industy. The gross figures represent 17.12 per cent, increase over the survey of the previous year, 1921. The percentages of registration increases are respectively: 14.12 per cent, outside the United States of America, against 17.90 per cent, within the border? of the States. The passenger cars and the utility motor vehicles used outside the United States, totalling 2,379,091, are distributed approximately, as follows: Europe, 54.8 per cent ; North (exclusive of the U.S.A.) and S''-‘h America, 30 per cent.; Oceania (inciu,. ~j Australia and New Zealand), 6.2 per cent.; Asia, 6.1 per cent.; and Africa, 3.0 per cent. North and South America (including the United States) use 88.9 per cent, of the total number of ve hides; Europe, 8.9 per cent.; Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand), 9 per cent.; Asia, 8 per cent.; and Africa, 5 per cent.' Despite unstable economic conditions in many areas, no fewer than 190, 000 new motor vehicles were sold in Europe last year, registrations being higher in nearly every country. Mr Herbert Hoover, in his statement concerning the economic situation this year, says: “Outside of Europe the world has shaken itself free from the great after-the-war slump. The production and commerce of Asia, Africa and LatinAmerica have recovered to levels above the pre-war, despite currency fluctuations, politicg] disturbances and economic stress.” SPARKS. It is announced that a private enterprise is on foot for the construction, at a cost of over £6,000,000, of a concrete motor road, 50 feet wide from London to Birmingham. The of Transport states that the project is still very much in the air, and that as yet no definite proposals have been put forward. It is suggested that only self-propelled vehicles should be permitted to use the new road, and that a toll should be charged for the right to travel along it. It is stated that 70,000 motor vehicles were sold in Canada last year, making the approximate total of 525,000 cars now in use in that country, or about one car for every 18 people in the Dominion. Canada ranks second in the list of the countries of the world in number of ears per capita, the United States being first. A Bill has been introduced in the Senate of Columbia, U.S.A., which, if passed, would compel all motorists and motor-cy-clists either to ensure against third party risks or to furnish a bond for the protection of persons who might be injured by them. After having been cleared of everything by the German forces during the war, the S.A.V.A. works at Antwerp are now once again in full swung. Two chassis will be manufactured this year, both with four-cyl-inder engines. The first, which has a bore and stroke of 85 mm. and 150 mm., being the up-to-date edition of the pre-war model, while the other is an entirely new and most attractive two-litre car, with 70 mm. and 130 mm. bore and stroke.

It is occasionally required to remove valve caps provided with internal hexagons, when a suitable key or box spanner is not within reach. In such case, by the simple expedient of taking a hexagonal nut of the correct size and placing it in the cap, putting beneath it sufficient packing to raise the nut by half its thickness above the face of the cap and applying a set spanner, the valve cap can be easily removed. The annual general meeting of the South Island- Motor Union will be held in Canterbury Automobile Association’s rooms on May 31, at 2 p.m., and will be followed by a social gathering in the evening. It is stated on good authority that a new Ford model may be expected in the near future. It is stated that great improvements in the bodywork may be expected. The anticipation will awaken much interest among private users and dealers. x The Ford Co. intend to build yet another manufacturing and assembling plant in Chicago, at a cost of 6,000,000 dollars. Emnlovment for 16,000 men will be provided.