JOBS ON THE CAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 192, 15 August 1931, Page 10

JOBS ON THE CAR

WORK FOR EXPERTS. ADJUSTMENTS TO MAKE. Despite the facilities for performing repair and maintenance operations offered by countless shops and garages, there is still a very considerable proportion of motorists who personally attend, to their cars, not only lubricating them, but making adjustments and doing repair work involving replacements of worn or broken parts, says an English writer. Many important adjustments can be made with perfect success by any intelligent and painstaking owner who has ordinary mechanical knowledge and aptitude, and who will follow detailed instructions closely. The same is true of the less expensive replacement operations, but there are certain vital and delicate repair operations which very few, if any, owners can economically or successfully carry through. Letters frequently came to me from owners who have attempted such jobs and have met with failure, their cars being in worse rather than better condition after the work was done. Major repair jobs, involving extremely accurate fitting of parts, close adjustment, and the dissembling and assembling of complicated and cumbersome parts should be left to the service station, where special tools and labour-saving devices are available, and where highly experienced mechanics are in possession of factory data and specialised information. Examples of engine repairs which should be left to the service station may be cited:—The replacement and readjustment of bearings, which require unusual care and clearance data not readily obtainable or easily applicable; the replacement of piston rings, which calls for exact measurements and trained judgment, which the ordinary user usually has not at his command; the rebushing of valve guides, which demands machine tool equipment. Elsewhere than on the engine the following are among the operations which the owner had better not attempt:—Replacement or readjustment of rear-axle working parts; repairs to clutch or transmission which involve any extensive dissembling of these complicated and heavy units. Tyres . are so cheap nowadays, that some minor economies, formerly well justified, are not now very important, but a reasonable degree of care is well warranted, A nearly new ty«e, which has suffered a deep tread cut, may still be profitably repaired before it is too late. One which shows excessive or uneven tread wear is worthy of attention, as this may be caused by unequalised or grabbing brake action, imperfect alignment of front wheels, or a wobbly rear wheel, all of which defects can be remedied with considerable future reduction in unnecessary tyre wear. With tyres at present prices there is less incentive than formerly to run them until they have worn off their treads and the fabric has begun to show.

The use of tyres so far gone as this is extremely risky, considering the high speeds, which now are almost universal. It is common prudence to discard tyres as soon as their treads have become very thin, and it is simply foolhardy to run them on front wheels. While looking over the tyres the condition of rims and bolts should be inspected. Dents in rims should be removed, as they eventually damage the beads of the casings, as also do rims which are heavily rusted. Brightening the parts, giving them a coat of rim paint, and graphite greasing the bolt threads will greatly lighten the labour when a rim or a wheel has to be changed. . While looking at the service tyres also inspect the spare and remember that if it is not thoroughly dependable there is little use in carrying it round. Put new insides into the valves of any tyres which lose their air rapid)’’