DANGERS OF GASOLENE

Southland Times, Issue 19291, 9 July 1924, Page 8

DANGERS OF GASOLENE

"CONTEMPTUOUS CARELESSLESS.” Warning motorists that gasoline is now a greater hazard because it is less feared, the American Automobile Association, has issued a bulletin from its national headquarters in Washington that marks the beginning of a drive on what is termed “contemptuous carelessness.” Because “nothing happens,” the bulletin states, the average motorist reaches the hazardous conclusion that “nothing will happen,” and as a consequence he lets down on precaution and actually encourages trouble. "Gasoline is much more dangerous to the motorist than it ever was,” the A.A.A. paper explains, “for the simple reason that the majority of motorists take undue liberties with it. The story got out that gasoline is less volatile, and from this the motorist seems to have reached . the conclusion that he can be reckless with gasolene and still be safer.” This explanation is said to dovetail with the experience of the leading insurance companies writing automobile fire coverage. While the companies enjoyed a more profitable year than formerly, it is stated, the lasses by fire are still excessive and still far beyond the conception of the average motorist. "We are out to forestall the sort of carelessness that develops from contempt,” declares Thos. P. Henry, president of the American Automobile Association. “When a motorist reaches the point where a danger no longer looks like one to him he has reached the danger line. Knowledge of the facts is the only thing that will keep him on the safe side. “It has come to the attention of the AA.A. that one motorist actually went so far as to light a match when seated in a Ford sedan in order to read the number of gallons of gas in the tank as indicated on a measuring rod. Nothing happened, but that is just the trouble. This motorist will take further liberties next time. And that will be the end.” According to the bulletin the vapour from a gallon of gasoline when mixed with the right proportion of air, produces a hazard equal to 85 pounds of dynamite. Because this vapour does not always develop when gasoline is exposed, it is pointed out, a lot of tricks can be done with the gas tank without any immediate results. What happens, however, is that the full hazard invariably asserts itself when the motorist treats gasoline with the greatest comtempt. The A.AA. contends that contempt is the worst form of carelessness and that if motorists were as precautions as in the old days hundreds of lives would bo saved annually. FOUR-WHEEL BRAKES ENGLISH MAGISTRATE IMPRESSED. In a recent prosecution of a motorist for driving through an English village at excessive speed, it was stated that when signalled to stop, the driver, although travelliiig at over 40 m.p.h., had no difficulty in pulling up in a space of about 30 yards. Evidence was given that the car, which was fitted with four-wheel brakes, was tested to the standard of braking efficiency for the type of car concerned, this being that travelling at 40 nAp.h. the brakes should be capable of pulling up the vehicle within 22 yards. It was pointed out that this was not the minimum distance within which a car could be pulled up in case of emergency, but was the standard to which the manufacturers worked. For the purpose of comparison, it was further pointed out that a similar car fitted with the ordinary transmission brakes would require a distance of at least 49 yards for pulling up when travelling at the same speed. The magistrates were so impressed with the value of the evidence that they decided not to endorse the driver’s license, the Chairman of the Bench stating that regard had been given to the exceptional control over the car by reason of the four-wheel braking system. BROKEN SLIP-RING ' METuOD OF REPAIRING. When effecting a magneto repair one sometimes has the misfortune to break the slip-ring flange or chip away part of the distributor insulation. To save delay in waiting for a replacement part, it is possible, with the aid of sealingwax, to make an almost invisible and perfect satisfactory repair. The wax should be chosen black or brown to match the broken part, and heated to melting point, when it should be dropped so as to build up the insulating material where necessary. This rebuilding can be carried out with greater ease if a piece of metal, such as a hacksaw blade, be placed underneath it while the wax is being dropped on. When cold and hard, any surplus can be scraped or filed away and the surface polished. GEAR CHANGING A POINT WORTH REMEMBERING. In spite of the fact that to change gear on the Ford is much easier than on any other vehicle, it may safely be said that Ford drivers, as a whole, perform this simple operation in a far worse manner than drivers of gate-change vehicles. One point in particular shcukl be emphasised, ■ and that is, when changing from low to top, it is essential for the. well-being of the engine, transmission, and tyres, to close the throttle quite perceptibly. If this is not done, obviously there is a great strain on something. What generally happens if this is not done and the clutch is properly adjusted is that the machine leaps forward, which, even the most unmechanicallyminded will admit, must, at least, wear the tyres considerably. STUDY OF WHEELS RUNNING OUT OF TRACK. That many cars on the roads are running with the wheels either out of track or “wcbbling” is a fact that is obvious by careful observation from another car following directly behind. It is well known that the tyres on faulty wheels wear very rapidly, and it is very advisable to have the fault corrected by competent hands as soon as it is discovered. Back wheels in particular are to be observed running out of truth, and this defect produces a rubbing and scraping effect over the whole tread cf the tyre. The tracking or parallelism of the wheels can be tested by the wellknown method of a stretched length of string laid alongside the wheels. To test for “wobble” each wheel should be jacked up in turn and a strip of wood, placed on a box or chair and kept rigid with a heavy weight, should be brought very close up to the rim of the spinning wheel. If the rim edge touches the wood noticeably more at some places than others is shows that the wheel is out of truth. A piece of chalk held lightly against the rim will mark the rim where it is “out of place.” The wheel itself may not be necessarily at fault; it may be the axle or mounting arrangement which should be corrected.