Useful Hints.

Progress, Volume II, Issue I, 1 November 1906, Page 15

Useful Hints.

By " Accumulator "

Unless the brakes are water-cooled, care must be taken that they are used alternately on a long hill, otherwise they are likely to fire and become useless Befoie trying to ht new piston nngs make sure they will enter the cylmdei Great caie should be taken that no grease 01 oil be allowed to get on the tyres as it will cause the lubber to perish Should the front tyres show abnoimal weai, the front wheels should be looked to, as possibly they are out of alignment Shortening or lengthening the tie rods may be necessary The best place to stoic petiol is in a metal drum undergiound , it takes up no valuable space, and is quite safe fiom fire.

Occasionally drench the cylinders with paraffin ; it will free the piston rings and improve the compression. This is best done when the engine is warm. To learn to change gears properly is the ambition of all motorists, and a very good way of obtaining practice is to lift the back axle so that the back wheels are some two inches from the ground. This must be done very carefully, so that there may be no risk of the car jumping down ; then, if the engine is started and throttled down a fair amount of practice can be obtained. A car should always be kept perfectly clean, the body work should always be washed before it is put away. The engine should be cleaned externally with paraffin and a stiff brush. The exhaust pipe should be looked at if any overheating occuis that cannot be located. A stone may have been thrown up and made a dent and this causes back pressure. Always keep a fair quantity of French chalk between the cover and the tube ; it acts as a lubricant and so saves friction and consequent heat and wear. If too much chalk is used it is liable to form into hard lumps on the cover and to increase friction thereby. To clean out the radiators and pipes thoroughly, empty out the water, and fill with boiling water and a little washing soda ; tins will be found to remove scale and grease it it is left in for a few hours.

The universal joint of the cardan shaft should have a protection of some sort to keep it quite clean and properly lubricated. A good plan is to cover it with a glove of pliant leather of ample size. First thoroughly wash the joint with paraffin, then cover thickly with grease, then put the glove on. A suitable glove can be made by a handy chauffeur or any saddler. The best water to put in tank and radiator is filtered rain-water. Many cases of overheating can be traced to the deposit of mineral matter from hard water. Should a grease pipe require cleaning out, the best way is to push a stiff wire down the pipe. After making a path through it, lay the pipe m petrol till all the grease is dissolved. Warming it over a flame effects the same purpose. The tyre valve should always have a cap on, otherwise grit may get in, and this will be nearly certain to cause a leakage. If a cap is lost when on the road, a piece of rag should be tied over the valve and well secured. To test a valve for a leak, turn the wheel so that the valve is at the top, then place the valve in a glass of water. Should it be thought that the back-wheel tyres are wearing too quickly, the cause may be attributed to using the brake too harshly. When approaching traffic, or a corner, take the clutch out in plenty of time and apply brakes gently.