MOTOR NOTES

Wairarapa Daily Times, 3 December 1926, Page 2

MOTOR NOTES

Watch. Your Steering Gear. Tiie steering nieelianism ot a eai slmulil lie frequently inspected. Tin steering column should he solidly anchored to the main frame. The l»oml at which they join receives much of tin steering strain and the shock when flu front wheels meet obstructions in tin road. Loose or broken rivets or 'bolt? at- this point are frequent causes ol serious accidents. When adjusting, it is best to turn wheels to extreme right Parts are worn less at this positioi than when straight ahead. -A good adjustment at. straight-ahead position may bind at the angle position. Part: should not be allowed to wear excess! velv, nor should adjustments be so pool that there is too much lost motion in this steering operation. There shouli be approximately one-half inch to out inch, play (lost: motion) on rim of steeling wheel. Never tarn the steering wheel while the car is standing still This puts a severe and unnecessan strain on all steering gear parts and i: 'bad for tyres. Proper lubrication of the steering mechanism is essential. * * * * How to *Wash the Car. Cold or hike warm witter should al ways be used for washing a ear. Jlol water is injurious. If you -use a host let the water run slowly. If it conies out with force, the finish .of the eai will be ruined as the dirt will be driven into the varnish. Grease and oi: should be removed with petrol. Aftei most of the dirt lias been washed off clean the surface with Juke-warm water and a mild grade of laundry soap or linseed-oil soap. Rinse with cold water, r.u'b dry and polish with I chamois skin. To add to tiie lustre ol the finish you can use a good grade ot automobile or furniture polish. The nickel parts of the car can be polished with a*hy good metal polish which does not contain too much abrasive matter, and a soft cloth, which will not: scratch, should be used for th-s purpose. * * * * Points When Touring. The increasing popular.!*y tf closed cars has created a demand for a type of side-curtains for open cars which tend to give protection against weather conditions similar to the dosed cars. For those owning cars it is possible to secure a winter top arrangement which provides something of a substitute for a, closed car. One item which can be recommended when touring is a strong piece of rope, half an inch thick and about fifty feet in length. If the car gets stuck and needs to lie hauled out of some ditiicult I place or towed, this rope doubled, makes a very satisfactory two-line. Wound round the tyres, it. can be used 1 in place of, or as a. supplement to -chains, as occasion may require. It is likely, also, to come in handy in strapping on various pieces of baggage, especially when on tour. If the motorist is touring with the idea of comping out en route, such necessities as a. camp stove, folding table, folding chairs, folding cots, mattress, eating utensils, ice box, food containers, and tents may be considered. Sonic motorists have a tendency toward an excess of accessories, loading down their ears with things that are hardly over used. Others fail to provide for emergencies. There is a happy medium in tins matter of securing such items as will make an automobile well equipped to meet the general needs of the owner. * * # * Enam e Uing the Car. Those of us who regard the motor as a utility rather than a social adornment are not averse to undertaking the week-end painting of the body or mild guards since this will avoid the rather high cost, of a job by the coach painter. Only the very dexterous amateur will be able to achieve results which compare favourably with the work of the skilled professional painter, but with a little care any ordinary handy man can make quite a good list at the renovation of his “old bus.” Some time ago we explained in these notes -the precautions which should be taken in regard to preparing the old surface to receive the new paint, and laid stress on the need for rubbing down the old coat until a uniformly level matt surface was left on which the new coat would How freely and evenly. To-day we wish to refer to tho excellent effects which can he produced by applying one or two coats

of good e;tr enamel, in many ways enamel is preferable to paint and \aiisli and certainly its application is a more simple process for the layman, 'provided lie understands the main facts which must guide him. l>o not try to paint the body with an enamel which is of lighter hue than the undeilying old.coat. Much depends on the choice of a brush. It is far better to spend a few extra shillings on a high quality brush than to be “penny wise, pound foolish” and to attempt to work with one of poor quality, for then hairs come out of the brush and spoil the finish of the coat and coarse brush marks are difficult to avoid. A,, new brush should not be used without some preparation, since there are bound to be some loose hairs and dust in it. The easiest course is to pour out a little of the enamel to be used into a separate dish and then after rinsing the 'brush in turpentine to work the enamel well into the bristles. After this the brush should be drawn to and fro vigorously across it piece of smooth ■board or galvanised iron until all loose hairs ami dirt have been worked out of it. Something too must be said concerning the preparation of the enamel, for the success or failure of the job will depend on its condition when .applied. Enamel is a good deal heavier in body than ordinary paint and it is only in the hottest weather ‘hat it will remain sufficiently liquid without the application of heat. A tin containing enough of all the work to be done should be bought and after it has been thoroughly stirred and mixed, half a. pint should be poured out into a clean tin which is stood in a saucepanful of very hot water. By this means the enamel is kept at a temperature which makes it: flow readily and so there will 'be no or “tackiness ’ in the surface as it is applied. Before refilling the small pot, the water in the saucepan should be heated again.