SPEEDING THROUGH

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 142, 6 September 1927, Page 6

SPEEDING THROUGH

Never run a car without a hub cap or if a cap is cracked. If this is done the bearing will soon be destroyed. Never use a non-skid tyre on one rear wheel and a plain tread on the other wheel. * * * Motor vehicle taxation in Europe is high, in some cases being 50 per cent, i of car cost. * * * i With ordinary driving the engine consumes about one quart of oil for every 125 miles of travel, but this amount becomes greater as speed increases. * * *

Old and worn bushings should be replaced, not only because looseness in the spring-eyes and bolts causes an annoying noise, but also because play in these parts means exceptionally rapid wear. Replacement is a fairly simple process and the bushings are relatively inexpensive. A squeaking brake may usually be stopped by applying a special brake lining compound in the space between the ends. If the squeak is due to a worn lining, so that the rivets press against the drum, they must be punched down or the lining replaced. When using a jack, care should be taken to see that it is under the axle only and that it does not catch the tie rod, if used under the front axle, or the brace rods if used under the rear axle of some cars employing this construction. The second precaution is a more complicated one. * * * When approaching a muddy, slippery or steep hill, be sure to shift into second before starting the ascent. It is advisable to do this even if the car is equipped with chains, as the spinning of wheels makes it difficult to change speed. Germany’s great new racing track, the Nuerburg Ring, has been opened to racing and the Allgemeine Deutsche Automobile Club has organised a number of races. They will be open events and include two races for motor-cycles and sidecars, one race for sports cars and one for racing cars. * * * A careful driver is one who does not turn around in the middle of the block, speed up when a driver in the rear signals for the privilege of passing, pass another car with a clearance between cars of less than two feet, or follow another car on the highway at a lesser distance than 15 feet.

The wise motorist has the gears of his transmission and differential inspected at regular intervals. Good lubrication where gears are working is absolutely essential at all times. If lubrication is insufficiet hard wear immediately sets in and it is only a matter of time before serious trouble will develop. Be sure and have the oil in the transmission and differential changed, see that the oil is thoroughly flushed out and that the housings are tight, so there will be no leakage. * * *

Hard steering is usually due to un-der-inflated tyres. They should be kept inflated at the pressure designated by the manufacturers of the car. Balloon tyres usually take about 351 b. pressure. Cords go up to 60 or 701 b. Too much pressure will cause susceptibility to hard knocks from irregularities in the road. The driving is easier, but the riding is hard on the passengers. * * * A new way to get one’s automobile repaired has been discovered- by a London man. The formula is to leave it standing alongside another one of the same' make in the hope that the owner of the other car will mistake it for his own and put it in order. Anyway, this happened at a seaside resort recently. A Londoner returned in the evening to the place where his car was parked but on getting into it found that it wouldn’t start. Thereupon he climbed out, removed and cleaned the spark plugs, tuned up the magneto and adjusted the carburettor. The car started off beautifully just as the real owner rushed up shouting, “Police.” The first man then found his own car just behind the one which he had so kindly repaired.