MORE HINTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 836, 3 December 1929, Page 6

MORE HINTS

The Care of the Car DRAGGING BRAKES j A 1919 model had its brakes adI justed three times without eliminating dragging. It was found that the brakes were so tight the' car could not be moved with brakes off. The tvheels were removed and it was found that the bearings were nearly cut out. This was the cause of the trouble CURE FOR BUCKING Bucking of the ear is often due to an irregularity of the ignition. When the car is in the best of condition there should be no bucking at low speed, the engine pulling slowly but steadily. When a cylinder is “missing” the slqw and irregular operation of the engine causes bucking. In such a case the engine pulls the car and then the car runs tlie engine for the period that, the “missing” cylinder 's supposed to take its share of the load. As the ignition system is often the cause, a check-up of the breaker mechanism is advisable as ■ the hreake'points which are worn or out of adjustment will generally be found to he the cause of this condition. STOPPING A SHIMMY Occasionally cars have too much castor effect in the front axle, which causes “shimmy.” The remedy for this, as most mechanics know', is wedge-shaped shims between the axle and spring, to reduce the slantback of the king pins. The difficulty, however, is to procure wedge-shaped shims. There is a simple solution. Cut a strip of tin the width of the spring and about a-quarter of an inch longer than the axle pad. Then cut four other strips each a half-inch shorter than its predecessor. Assemble these strips to form a wedge, and drill a hole through them for the spring centre bolt. Attach to spring, and bolt spring to axle. . REFILLING BATTERY Much is said and written about keeping the storage battery filled with distilled water, but seldom anything about overfilling the battery. Overfilling leaves no gassing space in the cell above the plates, and this, when the temperature of the electrolyte is increased, causes the acid to spray out of the vents in the filler caps on the top of the battery. This ■causes excessive corrosion. The proper level for electrolyte is just above the plates. RAILWAYS USE BUSES Another interesting development in railroad transport has just taken place by the placing into service by the Great Western Railways, of a number of Guy “OND” type 20-seater buses for use as a conection from Paddington to Victoria for the Great Western Railway through Southern Railway Continental Service. The chassis which has formed the basis of this vehicle is one which has proved its value as a. business getting bus not only in England, but in many parts of the world, including New Zealand.