HINTS AND HELPS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17999, 9 November 1926, Page 11

HINTS AND HELPS.

MOTORING PROBLEMS. AN INSURANCE POINT. There are more points in insurance than there are on a porcupine. When a private car is insured as such there are many pitfalls for the unwary. How many insured motorists know that if they accept money (in however small sums) from passengers they automatically render their policies null and void ? After a pleasant trip into the country, a passenger friend may “hand over something” towards the expenses. If the money is accepted, the passenger has legally paid for his ride, and the vehicle has not been used “solely fer private purposes.”

A prominent Melbourne solicitor quoted the following case the other day:—A car insured for private purposes with a firm of underwriters was destroyed by fire in circumstances which suggested intent. The legal mind, tinable to frame a police court case of fraud against the owner, despite certain evidence,, directed inquiries along very different lines. The outcome of these inquiries was that indemnity was refused by the insurance company on the ground that some considerable time before the owner had accepted money from passengers. The legal mind truly 7 has remarkable capacities. CHANGING WHEELS. Replacing a wheel needs care. Too many owners run the nuts up with their fingers, lower the car off the jack, and tighten up with the wheel on the ground. This is wrong. If the wheel is slightly canted on its studs the weight of the car may prevent it from bedding correctly 7, and sooner or later it will work loose. The best plan is to put the nuts on the studs and then, while tightening them with the fingers, slowly revolve the wheel. In this manner the weight settles equally' on all the studs. The brace should then be applied, the wheel being held by the brake or the knees as the case requires. When it is seen that the nuts are truly 7: home, the wheel can be lowered for the final turn or two. A wheel so replaced will rarely be found loose. A TYRE HINT. It is a good plan always to run the tyres in. the same direction, then the strain on the casing is always in the same direction. Naturally, when the tread of a tyre is pulled around, or driven by; the bead, the casing of the tyre is in tension, and tends to become stretched. If the tyre is then reversed and driven .in . the opposite direction, the tension is in the opposite direction, and, naturally, the tendency is to cause looseness of the cords. EMERGENCY FUEL FUNNEL. Practically every owner carries a spare can of petrol in his car, but the number who carry a funnel also is very small. In the case of cars which have the orifice of the petrol tank under the bonnet it is usually 7 an easy 7 matter to fill up from a tin without the use of a funnel, but where the orifice, is situated in the scuttle a very different state of affairs exists. It is impossible to transfer the contents of th* tin to the tank without splashing the body 7 work badly, and the finish may be spoiled. It is well to remember, therefore, that should it be necessary to fill up without the aid of a funnel, a good substitute can be made by 7 rolling a newspaper into the desired shape, several thicknesses, of course, being used. SPRING LUBRICATION. Few drivers give much thought to the lubrication of the suspension. In fact, some authorities suggest that the springs should be kept dry. The argument for this contention is that the friction between the leaves should not be reduced. Certainly, if a spring has been tempered to the car’s weight and allowances made for the damping effect of the dry leaves, there may be a rather lively movement if lubricant is then used. Motorists with many years’ experience have had satisfaction from running with dry springs. Nevertheless, the majority 7 of opinion is in favour of spring lubrication. If lubricated springs give undue flexibility it is tip to the car maker to effect the necessary correction. Dry springs must suffer from rust, and it is an admission of very poor designs for a car manufacturer to encourage drivers to depend on a rusty film for the correct spring tension. Un lubricated springs are a sure source of squeaks. The latest, custom of enclosing the springs in gaiters has come to stay 7, as effective lubrication is impossible with a spring exposed to the dust and damp. Gaiters retain the lubricant, and the springs can be left for months without attention. If the car is not equipped with gaiters, the springs should be lubricated by 7 jacking up the car until the leaves separate. A screw driver or metal wedge may be used to part the leaves. The lubricant should contain a fair proportion of graphite. This should ,be introduced between the leaves with a table knife. PASS—ALL’S WELL. Posted to guard the entrance to a. road which led to an old and unsafe bridge, Pat was can-vine 7 out instructions with conscientious exactitude. Presently a large touring car came along and Pat held up his hand. “What the matter?” growled the driver. . , , . At, that moment Pat recognised him as the local magistrate. “Oh! it’s yelself, yer honour!” said the Irishman genially. “Yes, it is!”' was the snappy rejoinder. i “It’s all right then,” returned Pat, I stepping aside politely. ‘‘l’ve got orders not to let traffic through because of the rotten bridge, but, seeing as it’s . ver honour, who. o r) right ahead, sorr!”