Motor Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19990, 5 November 1927, Page 10

Motor Notes

MISFIRE: ITS CURE CAN YOU TRACE CAUSE? EASY PROBLEM ON FORDS. When the engine misfires can you trace the cause? So far as the Ford, is concerned, the problem is easy of solution, although it is amazing the number of drivers to whom a motor engine and the ills it is heir to remain so long a mystery. Misfiring in a Ford motor, or “missing,” as it is generally termed, may result from, trouble in either the fuel or ignition systems or in the valves. An incorrect adjustment of the carburettor, creating a mixture either too rich or two lean, will cause -missing or at least an irregular operation of the motor. Should proper adjustment fail to correct the misfiring it is advisable to turn attention .to the valves, and feel the compression of each cylinder with the starting handle. If there is resistance offered to the turning of the handle in only three places in two revolutions, a leaking valve is indicated. That means the removal of the cylinder head to locate the trouble, which may possibly have arisen owing to a piece of hard carbon getting in between the face of the valve and its seat. The valves should be taken out and the faces polished with a fine abrasive paste. Survey the Ignition. But quite possibly the compression test, like the first one, proves O.K. In this case make a careful survey of the ignition system, watching for a faulty spark plug, incorrectly adjusted spark eoil, or a broken commutator wire. Ii testing for ignition troubles, the top ol the coil box containing the four spark coils should be removed. With the motor running slowly, place a finger on the bottom blade of each coil in turn tc discover if it is properly vibrating intermittently. If all blades are intermittently vibrating then there can be no broker wires from the coil box to the commutator. If, however, the blade on one coil sets up a continuous instead of an intermittent vibration, one knows that the insulation is worn or broken off a commutator wire, and that it is making contact with the frame of the car.

It is easy enough to locate just where this has occurred and to effect a repair by wrapping a piece of adhesive taoe

around the defective part. Earlier in the proceedings, perhaps, one could have paid attention to the spark plugs directly. The spark plugs may be tested by pressing down the bottom blades of the coils three at a time. This prevents them sparking at the plugs. If the throttle is slightly opened, the one cylinder left should keep the engine running slowly. Test the four in turn and if there be a defective one the engine will immediately stop when its turn comes to be tested. Having discovered the defective plug it can be cleaned or replaced as may be found necessary.

TEACHING SAFETY THE AMERICAN CHILD LESSONS IN THE SCHOOLS. With the opening of the autumn term of the Californian schools the instruction of children in traffic safety commenced in close on 10,000 classrooms. The instruction is being given under a system of visual education in safety inaugurated by the State Automobile Association, which has a public safety committee attached to its organisation, and which is in co-operation with the school authorities in more than six hundred cities, towns, and school districts in California. Lessons in the hazards of modern traffic are impressed on the youthful minds by means of a series of striking posters illustrating the dangers encountered by children in their use of streets and highways. The poster lesson takes its place (says a writer somewhat graphically) alongside the ‘ Three B’s’ so that children may learn Safety with a capital “S.” The first poster of the year’s series is designed to teach the children the dangers of “jaywalking,” of running across streets in the middle of the block. The vivid lesson portrayed aims to illustrate to the children that crossing streets other than at intersections is “more dangerous than dynamite. ’ ’ Effective Warnings. “You would not play with dynamite” is the message under the picture; “crossing streets in the middle of the block is far more dangerous.” Under the arrangements made by the association with the school authorities, the poster is to remain on the classroom wall for a month. A new poster,

illustrating a new traffic safety lesson, will be supplied each month by the public safety department of the Automobile Association. Accompanying each, poster is material for a suggested talk by the teacher to the class. The following data is supplied for the use of teachers in their first traffic safety talks. “During 1926 over 4000 school children were killed by automobiles. Of this number more thun half were killed in the middle of the block. Do you see the great danger here? Let us wake it a little clearer. How many children actually cross streets in the ■ middle of the block compared with those who cross at intersections and crosswalks? No doubt fifty children will cross at intersections and crosswalks to one who crosses in the middle of the block, yet more than half the children killed in America last year wore among those who crossed streets in the middle of the block. Now do you see how dangerous this habit is?’ RADIATOR TUBING CHEAP EFFECTIVE EEPALR. The weak points in modern cooling systems are the flexible rubber connections from the cylinder head to the radiator, for, after long use, these connections are liable to erack. Should one prove defective, and a spare not be available, a quick temporary repair can be made in the following way:— Drain the radiator, and open out the edges of the crack in the rubber tubing. Scrape or rub with glass paper until the rubber Js dean, not only the edges themselves,’but for some distance around the crack, giving space enough for a rubber patch to be put over the crack. Blow any dust from the sandpaper that may be in and around the crack, then wash well with a little ben xine, and allow to dry. If you have in vour repair kit what is known as “tyre dough ’ 7 —to my mind an indispensable requisite for tyre repair and upkeep—proceed as follows: —Apply a little rubber solution to the edges of the crack, and when “tacky,” fill up the crack with “tyre dough.” TRAFFIC LANES

A “FAST” AND A “SLOW” So much traffic runs in and out of San Francisco on the Peninsula highway that, in spite of the wide thoroughfare, matters were rapidly reaching a congested state, especially on Sundays and holidays. As a consequence, it was found that something had to be done about the matter. After investigating the situation thoroughly it was decided to put in two traffic lanes for automobiles going to and from the city. P-i now when you drive toward Sau Jose or are coming from that direction to San Francisco you will find three cringe lines painted on the pavement, one in the centre and the other two on either side and equidistant from the edge of the concrete. At intervals overhead a canvas sign bears the omnibus word “Warning” in large black letters. Below it and directly above the orange line are the two phrases, “Fast Traffic ’ ’ and 4 * Slow Traffic. ’ ’ The former is in the middle lane, while the latter is on the outside, and they mean just what they say. For instance, if you want to tour along at a leisurely speed, remain at the right. But if you want to “keep moving,” stay in the middle lane, which is meant for that purpose.

DAYLIGHT SAVING

THE EVENING DRIVE HINTS FOB CAE OWNERS. With the coming into force of the extra hour of daylight-saving, many motorists will take aavantage of it tu make short trips before or after the evening meal. Better still, why not take your tea with you, and enjoy it in the open. Even i,f this it not done to any extent on week-days, the longer evening will be very acceptable on Saturdays and Sundays. Picnic lunches, and now, picnic teas, can be enjoyed to the full at the beach, in the bush, or in open fields, and still get home in daylight. A few hints on packing the hamper may be appreciated by tne laaies who are usually the provision-providers, sometimes at short notice. It is always wise to take eatables that are not sticky, partly for one’s own comfort, and also so as not to attract flies or other insects. Covered jam tarts arc preferable to open ones out-of-doors, and soft, creamy cakes are not advisable as they crush easily. Meat patties form an excellent first course. They are easy to eat and pack, and can be accompanied by tomatoes and cucumber, both of which are clean things to take. Hard-boiled eggs, with the yolks taken out and mashed with pepper, salt, and anchovy essence be-, fore being replaced, form an appetising dish, as do sardine sandwiches. This course can be followed by cakes or jam rolls, cheese-straws, and finally fruit. Tea or coffee can be easily carried in a thermos. One should make the picnic attractive. Lay the meal on a tablecloth, and take a few paper dinner napkins (especially if children are present). It adds much to the general pleasure if the “table” is prettily laid, with, perhaps, a few wild flowers in the centre, and the fruit arranged on

fresh green leaves. Always provide tins for food to be packed in; it is far. fresher and less “crumbly”— and so much tidier than if put up in paper. And last—but assuredly not least—never let your picnic spoil the countryside by its debris. If motorists realised how their litter defiled the woods and fields, they would take the | utmost care to burn or bury anything I left over.

THE SALVAGE

ADJUSTING THE BRAKES METHODS OF TESTING. Poorly adjusted! brakes are the cause of many tiro failures. When brakes are not properly adjusted, the wheel having the tightest brake band locks first when the brake is applied. The locked wheel slides along the road, grinding off the tire tread. Continued driving with brakes unevenly adjusted wears one tire out all too soon. Often the driver is unaware that his brakes are not adjusted correctly until the tire shows wear. To be sure your brakes are in good adjustment, two tests may be recommended: — Jack up the wheels and set both the upper and lower adjustments so that the wheels just run free witft the brakes off. Depress the brake pedal slightly so that the bands come in contact with the drums. In Low Gear. Start the car in low gear and observe the speed with which the wheels turn. If one wheel turns faster than the other, tighten the brake on that wheel and continue until both wheels revolve at even speed. Then release the brake pedal and make sure that the wheels turn evenly when the brakes are off. As a further test, the car should be I driven along a smooth, level road at. a

speed of about twenty miles an hour. Apply the brakes hard, lock the wheels and slide to a stop. If one wheel is talking hold before the other, the tire mark on the road will be longer on that side. If both wheels lock, loosen the brake on the side of the longer mark and repeat the test until both wheels lock and leave marks of equal length. As a final precaution, wake sure that both wheels turn freely with the brakes off and you will soon realise the saving of tires that is accomplished by proper adjustment of the brakes.