MOTOR & CYCLE

Taranaki Daily News, 5 January 1924, Page 14

MOTOR & CYCLE

“DIMMING” CONDEMNED IN BRITAIN.

In view of the controversies in the Dominion on the subject of dimming headlights, the following from the London Times of October is of interest: — “As there is a divergence of opinion among motorists as to the advisability of switching off powerful headlights when meeting other motor vehicles, similarly equipped on the open road, the Royal Automobile Club has been naked to express its views on the subject. I Every one is agreed that uniformity in ' this matter is desirable, as the absence I of any fixed practice leads to confusion | and greatly increased danger, not so much to motorists as to pedestrians and cyclists. The committee of the Royal Automo- | bile Club and the general committee of | the clubs associated with the R.AjC. have given this question exhaustive consideration, and have come to the conclusion that switching off electric headi lights when meeting other vehicles with 1 powerful headlights is a dangerous practice, which they urge motorists to discontinue.” LOCATING SQUEAKS. Squeaks are sometimes a hazardous undertaking to locate. A body resting on the frame unevenly will in most instances cause a creaking sound. By placing strips of leather between body and frame (preferably where body bolts pass through frame) this often overcomes this noise. A rubbing or rattling noise can most frequently be attributed to the edges of doors rubbing against their frames. Another annoying noise which often occurs is a sharp, dry squeak coming from springs shackle bolts, brake rod, cleves, pin«s. steering cross connections, etc. Many owners and drivers become discouraged in their attempt to obliterate such squeaks. Examine oilers or grease cups attached to spring bolts, etc. to determine that same have free passage. Probably some of the above connections are too tight or paint may be keeping the lubricant from reaching the vital points. Squirt a superfluous amount of oil around all moving parts. See that brakes are released completely and free from dragging. AUTOMOBILE AVERAGE LIFE. Two years ago figures were published tending to show that the average life of automobiles was about 5 1-3 years. A compilation just completed in America shows the life of the cars that were manufactured from the fall of 1911 to the fall of 191 bto be about 61 years. The statistics on which this result was predicted tnay be regarded as fairly accurate. The increase in average age is attributed to the fact that there has been no striking development in body design or important changes in mechanical features since 1912, with the result that there is a smaller tendency to retire a car before it has worn out. Other causes are—the improvement of roads, the multiplication of repair shops, the introduction of the flat-rate system of car repairing, and the general education of automobile drivers. DRUNKEN DRIVERS , The problem of the drunken driver is one that needs serious consideration, and it is interesting to note that a correspondent has supplied a London daily paper with some particulars of the way in which motorists convicted of drunkenness are dealt with in Denmark. He points out that, in accordance with the Danish law of 1921, the trial of a motorist accused of drunkenness is preceded by an exhaustive medical examination, made as soon as possible after arrest. He is taken into a room for a talk with a police surgeon. The driver may be sober, but nervous, exasperated, or upset by the accident. Finding himself in a calm atmosphere this non-alcoholic state of confusion usually passes off soon. On the other hand, he may be drunk, but of juch a temperament that an accident and the prospect of losing his license may have temporarily sobered him. This state of artificial sobriety is difficult to maintain for long. .As the surgeon quietly passes from one subject to another, eliciting an account of the occurrences leading up to the accident. the drunken driver i«s sooner or later likely to betray himself. The system by which the surgeon examines the driver was recently devised by the Danish Medico-legal Council, and nothing is left to chance. When, as the result of the testa, tjie driver is definitely proved to be intoxicated, the penalty is deprivation of a driving license for ever.

AID TO BETTER TYRE MILEAGE. Avoid ruts and scraping curbstones and save the side walls of the tyres. Do not drive on tram lines. Do not allow grease or oil to stay on a tyre —clean it off at once with petrol as oil will soften the rubber. Keep the rims painted and free from rust. <Keep all the cuts in the tread rubber well filled so that water cannot enter and damage the fabric. Keep spare tyres covered. Apply chains loosely enough to allow them to “creep.” Do not allow hot exhaust gas to strike the tyre or back of the car too close to hot pipes in the garage. Change the air in the tube twice each season as stale air has a deteriorating effect on the tubs. Use enough talc in the casing to lubricate the tube, but not enough to accumulate in one place and “burn” the tube or to set and harden in cakes. Carry spare tubes in a bag to avoid chafing. Have tyres big enough to carry the

load. Do not store extra tyres too long. Do not store tyres in too light a place. z One of the most important points to remember is that the fabric must be ' protected as it is the backbone of the 1 tyre. ' Carelessness on the car owner’s part has led many manufacturers to. abandon the definite mileage guarantee. But the quality is there, in most oases, and • with just a little care and attention real 4 tyra sei'vice can be had* <

BREAKING STRAIN. It is quite a common occurrence to find cars laid up with broken axles or stripped gears in transmission —crown or drive pinions in differential. Such mishaps take place genenllly when the full power of the motor is suddenly applied to the driving wheels through the lowest gears, when the machine happens to be in a difficult driving -position, such as deep sand, pot-clay, etc. A clutch fierce in the take up, with a powerful engine in front of it, can throw a tremendous strain on the rest of the transmission, and when the critical limit of resistance is reached some part, the weakest, is bound to give way. A broken axle or a sheared key is usually the result. Almost Invariably some gears in the transmission will he stripped when the car is coasting in one direction and the change gear lever is wrongly engaged in the opposite direction.

These serious breakdowns could be almost entirely eliminated if a safety device, or rather a safety coupling, could be inserted in the driving mechanism for its protection against sudden and destructive oter-loads, just like a fuse or circuit-breakeY is placed ir. an electrical equipment.,. For obvious reasons, should be very easily attached or detached, the removal of not over four bolts being necessary. Also a supply of three or four extra couplings should always be carried in the car for emergencies.

These safety couplings should be so calibrated in strength as to give ample protection to the driving parts and yet be resistant enough to handle every case of moderately severe application of power. Wheh a safety coupling gives way, the motorist should, of course, immediately realise that the driving mechanism is being strained, and that before starting on a fresh coupling, he should ‘‘ease ’er up a bit,” according to the circumstances, that is, dig around some, if stuck in the sand, or remove part of the load if climbing a steep hill. GENERAL. Good roads are an indication of progress - .... In negotiating dangerous corners motorists- should do so with the idea that everybody else on the road is doing the wrong thing. They usually are. “Name the things.” said the teacher, “which we often see in the country, make a booing sound, and have horns.” “Motor cars!” chorussed the whole class. To assist and direct tourists, the police department in London has six young men each speaking several languages, stationed at the city’s main traffic centres. * * • » If the engine throws off considerable I beat, appears sluggish, and pinks vio- ! lently, stop at once. Probably the rad- ! iator water will boil furiously, which will indicate the cause. Many motorists in England take wireless sets camping with them. Aerials are readily rigged up on trees, and tyre levers hammered well into the soil and watered make a good earth. A useful addition to the tool kit is a -piece of galvanised binding wire and a pair of wire pliers. In replacing a missing bolt for which a duplicate is not available, a wire lashing will often make a passable substitute until a repair . shop is reached. A handy man with a bit of wire can often do wonders in effecting a makeshift roadside repair.

The entire water circulating system should be flushed out occasionally. To de this the radiator inlet and outlet hose should bo disconnected and the radiator flushed out by allowing the water to enter the filler neck at ordinary pressure, whence it will flow through the tubes and out at the drain cock and hose. The water-jackets may be flushed out by allowing the water to enter the cylinder head connection and to flow through the water packets and out at the side inlet connection.

A noisy bonnet can be cured by threading some fabric belting through the holes provided in the radiator shell. Often tlie rattle is caused by the old fabric becoming rotten and breaking away. To thread the new padding in take out the tickler wire and remove the two nuts holding the radiator to the frame, and lift off the shell. Then thread the new cord or fabric through the holes provided, after having first removed all traces of the old material. Some fabric can also be tacked to the dash where the bonnet fits on.

Two bibulous gentlemen were motoring in an uncertain way home from a home-brew party, so the story runs. “For goodnesii shake be careful, old timer, or we’ll land in the ditefl,” observed one.

“Me.” said his astonished companion, Svhy, I thought you were driving.”

There was a large crowd gathered round the overturned motor car, while the excited driver was trying to right things. ‘‘Halloa!” suddenly called the voice of a new arrival. “What’s the matter. Robbins —car turned ‘turtle?” Robbins smiled with expressive sweetness. “Oh, no, not at all, old chap,” he replied. “These kids have wanted to see how the machinery worked, so I had the car turned upside down just to please them.”

“You admit you were speeding?” “Yes, Your Honour.” “A frank confession goes a long way in this court. What excuse have you for exceeding the speed limit?” “A man in a little old rattle-trap flivver drove up behind me and bawled to me to get out of the way and let somebody use the street who could get more out of one cylinder than I could get out of six.”

“Umph! I do a little motoring myself. I’ll let you off with the minimum fine this time.”