THE MOTOR WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16749, 2 June 1922, Page 3

THE MOTOR WORLD.

NEWS AND NOTES. (By “RADIATOR.”) That th© petrol consumption of a car may vary .as much as 50 per cent in the course of a day’s run, has been proved by recent tests in which the consumption was measured at frequent intervals. It was also found that atmospheric changes bad much more effect on petrol consumption than had been expected, all of which goes to prove how difficult it is to estimate correctly th© effect of any change in the equipment of an engine on tho consumption. There is little doubt that the twostroke type of engine offers a wide field for development to the inventor, and on© of the most remarkable productions introduced during the past year is the four-cylinder air-cooled two-stroke engine which has been made in th© laboratories of n well-known firm In Middlesex, England, says a writer, in “ The Light Car and Cycle Car.” The j engine is of half litre (-500 c.c.) capacity, the four cylinders having a bore and stroke of 52 m.m. and 58 m.m. respectively. They are cast ©n bloc in cast iron, and cast iron pistons also are used Th© crankcase is of aluminium, the inlet and exhaust manifold being combined for th© purpose of obtaining correct carburation. r l lie engine builds up with an enclosed clutch housing and gearbox, to form a compact assemblv for fitting into the chassis of a cycle-car or runabout. Battery ignition is fitted, the contact breaker being driven by a -skew gear, while the dynamo is positively coupled up to the engine to avoid any belt or chain transmission troubles. Imbrication is entirely automatic and the combination of a multi plate clutch and a three-speed gearbox of the constant mesh type tends to make gear changing foolproof and very easy. r l he level works in a gate. A method” of straightening a front axle that has been bent in a vertical plane is to take two lengths of four by four inch joist, long enough to resell from the upper side of the axle, just outside of each spring plate, to a cross timber of the ceiling or roof of the garage. Then if the jack is placed beneath the axl© at tho bend enough pressure may be applied by means of it to force th© axl© back into shape. In Paris, passenger automobiles, according to the present fad, are being labelled like Pullman ears and yachts. Imposing ears are seen on the highways bearing on the radiator or side. : names such at Paulette, Suzanne. Yvonne, etc. If the mixture is suspected of be irig too rich, shut off tho fuel in the tank and open the throttle. If the mixture passing into th© cylinders is to rich, the engine speed will increase as the level of the gasoline in the flcao chamber is lowered, since the operation weakens the mixture considerably. Tf the mixture is thought to be too weak, the fio-at chamber can be flooded while th© engine is running, and ( if this causes the motor to speed up, it may bo accepted as an indication that the mixture is not rich enough. New York lias an automobile to every fourteen of it? residents and a licensed chauffeur to every three cars. The usual method of inspecting the brake system is altogether too perfunctory for this essential part. As a matter of all parts of the brake system ought to be tested every two weeks. Th© pins and clevises should be examined and it should be ascertained that none of the bearings have frozen because of rusting. The condition of the brake lining should be examined and it, must b© ascertained that the action is uniform on operation of pedal or lever. See that all pins and nuts arc properly secured by cotters or «ome other locking means. Likewise the bearings should be oiled.