The Motor World

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17245, 11 January 1924, Page 3

The Motor World

NOTES AND NEWS BY “RADIATOR"

A piece of broom-handle or an old window blind-roller should be uaed to wrap your side curtains around when they Are not in use. It stops them from getting creased and the celluloid from becoming cracked through being folded under the seats.

A Sydney man fitted extra air on his ’bus recently as follows : Removed the induction pipe and drilled a 7-16 in. hole at top centre-. Took the pipe to the nearest garage and got a thread tapped in the hole. Screwed in a piece of iin. gas pipe over which he fitted a piece of rubber tube to the dash. A half-inch gas cock on the dash completed the attachment which acts admirably. Total cost 5s 9d (drill cost 3s 6d, sold again for 3s).

A crack or split in the petrol-pipe can be repaired by slipping a piece of rubber tubing over the affected area. Gas tubing is as handy as anything for this job.

Begore going through deep water, stop the fan from working by unscrewing the stud regulating the arm, and loosten the belt. This will prevent water being thrown over the engine.

Cover the radiator with a rug, and if you are sure the road is free from holes, drive at a fajr paco. Should the engine be very hot. Jet it cool down before rushing into very cold water.

If you do a. big end miles from any where, fit a piece of,leather about 1-8 of an inch thick round the crankshaft, and after burning all the metal out of the bearing, bolt it round the leather. A motorist once did 800 miles on a repair of this kind.

Oil. unless applied frequently, is of hitle lasting use as a spring lubricant Grease with a little graphite i s the best, and the easiest way to apply is to tap the blade of an old table knife under the end of the leaf and into the apace gained force a screw driver, which will giro plenty of room for tho lubricant to be inserted on the blade of tho knife. A gs>od idea is to cover the spring with canvas and keep soaked with oil.

To stop a leal: in a petrol pipe rub seccotine smoothly over some strong paper and wrap this round the pipe. Seccotined paper will stop a leak in a petrol tank also, and unless it is a big leak it is not necessary either to empty tho tank or to plug the hole. [ se a small piece of seccotined paper first, and cover this with a larger piece. The job is done in five minutes uud will last six months or more.

The following was first put into practice by an automobilist to keep the carbon down. A simple lock-washer wns put on the valve stem, just be- ; low the valve; and as the valve moved j up and down, this washer was brought j into contact with the bearing surface j ©vary time the valvo rose. The result , was a valve always free from carbon, j Mr Boyd Edkins appealed successfully against liis Police Court fine of 115 for allegedly driving to tho public danger along the Toni Ugly’s Point Road, sayp the Sydney •* Referee.” Mr Edkins had all along stated that his speed was thirty-five miles per hour, but he contended that in view of the road and tho traffic the speed was perfectly safe in the locality. His Honor Judge Cohen made a personal inspection of the place where • the offence was alleged tt> have been committed, and, in company with representatives of the prosecution, drove in Mr Edkipjr car over the road and at a speed in excess of that admitted when the alleged offence took place. Hi 9 Honour also tested the visibility of various sections of tho road from tho point- where the alleged offence was stated to have been wit-nessd by | ■ the police. The retarding capabilities of j ■ the car were also tried out. On the following day, his Honour j I being satisfied that in the oircum (stances Mr Edkins had not driven to the public danger, quashed the magistrate’s conviction.