STARTING HANDLES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 17756, 17 September 1927, Page 11

STARTING HANDLES.

Although probably the majority of motorists, only use their starting handles when compelled to do so by the failure of the self-starter, still it is a necessity on a car. It is advisable, in fact, even in raids of New Zealand with a mild climate, to relieve the strain on the self-starter by turning the handle a few times with the ignition switched off when starting first thing in the morning, °» after a prolonged stop; while, it the car is not being used, it is also beneficial to the engine to do so every day, in order to relieve the strain on the valve springs by releasing those which have been in compression tor some time.

One of the great drawbacks to the use of the starting handle, apart trom the labour of turning it against the compression of the engine, is the danger of a backfire. When using the handle the spark should always he well retarded, and even then it is Letter to start with a small pull up 0 f the handle front the bottom of the circle. Then, if the fingers are merely hooked around the handle instead of gripping it tightly a backlire will only pull the handle out of the hand, and leave time to avoid a nastv blow, which may break the wrist or arm. To ensure safety from backfires, a handle has been patented by Mr F. E. Lindsay of Birmingham, which it is claimed makes a kick back impossible, as lmmediittely the engine backfires the hand, e is disengaged. A coil dutch embodied in the handle is either brought to engagement or released by its own direction of ro ation. At though the handle may be bent before slip takes place, the amount ol reversal to cause release is imperceptible.

New motor regulations introduce! in Switzerland prohibit yellow pain schemes for private cars, as this col our has been chosen for goveinm motors.