1931-04-16 — Page 11

THURSDAY, APRIL 16, 1931.

CAR

LIGHTING

FAULTS AND THEIR REMEDIES.

Taking it by and large, the lighting system of the modern automobile is as reliable as most other things about the car, so that very little trouble is likely to be experienced if a certain amount of attention is devoted to its upkeep.

Apart from neglect, lighting troubles arise from too large a load, caused by the use of too many accessories or by the use of larger lamps than are real ly necessary. To ensure reliable lighting, the total current taken by all the lamps should not equal the output of the generator, so that a small surplus is shown on the 'charge' side of the ammeter. Using higher candlepower lamps

melied, and the fuse or the

The Ammeter.

This

The ammeter is a valuable guide to the efficiency, or other

wise, of the lighting equipment.

THE CHINA MAIL.

ed water if the level gets low. Once a month check the level of the solution and at the same time examine the battery connections, making sure that they are tight and free from corrosion. If the lighting circuit is of the frame return or one wire type, see that one terminal of the battery to the the copper strap that connects frame is in good order.

Poor Contact.

Poor lights may be caused by

of all the lights, due to either the fuse

or the flaments of the lamps blowing." Should this happen, the cause of the trouble should be found first, and re-old and blackened lamps, and if lampa replaced. If it should hap- this is the cause they should be renewed. Another renson is pen that no spare fuses are avail- mostable, a piece of tin or lead foil, that the generator may not have such as is used for chocolate been giving its proper output and the consequent discharge of wrappers. should be wrapped round the old fuse body and the the battery has run it down, or, again, the terminals in the lamp fuse inserted in the clips. type of repair is quite safe, and socket itself may have become. dirty, so creating added resist- will last for some time,

ance to the line. If any of the a bad lights should be jumpy

may be suspect- contact ed. It may occur in the holder, due to the Suppose, for example, when all lamp the lights are switched on and spring contact plunger having the generator is running normal struck, or it may be an ill-fitting ly, the ammeter shows a heavy lamp that is making noor con- discharge, the inference is that tact. Another cause may be a the generator is not charging; and this is probably caused by A test for this can be made with the fuse in the generator having new piece of wire connected between the lamp terminal. block blown, or to the contact points in the cut-out being badly pitted or burned. Another trouble, that of the charging rate falling well below normal so that the battery Instead of receiving, sny, 12 amperes is getting only four or five, is usually caused by a dirty commutator or by worn-out brushes. Either of these causes is very harmful in that sparking is produced at the brushes, causing rapid deterioration of the

In order to prevent troubles of commutator and brush gear this kind it is good policy to get The cover plate should be re-exactly the same type and power- moved from the generator every ed bulb when replacements be 5,000 miles, and the commutator come necessary. In any case, and brush gear cleaned with a rag moistened with petrol.

than the normal is likely to cause a discharge of several amperes from the battery,

and if it should happen that this is in a state of poor charge, due to ex- cessive starter use or old age, the lighting will drain the battery in a short time, and the light given by the lamps will not be nearly as good as would be the case if the normal lights had been used. Modern headlights are so de. signed that a brilliant driving light is obtained from a minimum of candlepower, and the use of larger lamps than those supplied by the maker will simply waste current without creating a better driving light.

Owners of cars who do a lot of night driving should make a point of going over the lighting system occasionally with the ob ject of both cleaning it und find- ing the location of the vulner- ahle points in its circuit. The fused particularly should be found, and their positions memorised. (Usually there is one under the dash and one in the generator itself, but the actual positions may be found from the

illustration in the instruction book.)

tery has become disconnected,

The Battery.

There are

two muin factors that should be kept in mind as regards the lighting that the generator is delivering its pro- per output and that the battery is always well charged, but not overcharged for any considerable

broken wire inside the insulation.

and the connection in the lamp

holder.

Correct Lamps,

Another cause of poor lighting

is bad focusing. If the lamp is out of focus a black spot will ap pear in what would otherwise be

This

the centre of the beam, not only causes discomfort to the driver but is a nuisance to other. drivers, because the glare from auch a lamp is excessive.

the focus of the headlights should be tested before the car is taken on the road. The time taken for this job is, at the most, five minutes, and it may be the means of avoiding a bad accident. Nothing is so important in night driving as good lights, and as very little time need be devoted to keeping the lighting equip-.

Sudden excessive brilliance of period (on long runs it is good. the lights indicates that the bat-practice to keep the lights burn- ment at its best there is no rea- ing, to reduce the rate of charge son why every motorist should or partially so, at some point in of the battery). Keep the elec- not, enjoy the feeling of safety the circuit. This effect is likely trolyte (the acid) level above that good lights give. to be followed by the extinction that of the plates, adding distill-

BUYERS' GUIDE

MOTOR CARS.

ARMSTRONG SIDDELEY.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's

Road. Tel. 24759.

BUICK The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd., 33, Wong Nel Chung

Road, Happy Valley. Tel. 30228. CADILLAC.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel. 24759. CHEVROLET.Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tol.

21759.

FIAT MOTOR CAR.-A Goeke & Co., China Bldg., 7th floor.

Tel. 22221. MARQUETTE, The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd., 38, Wong Nel

Chung Road, Happy Valley. Tel. 30228. MORRIS-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tal. 24759, OLDSMOBILE.-The Dragon Motor Car Co., Ltd., 33, Wong Net

Chung Road, Happy Valley. Tel. 30228. ROLLS-ROYCE.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel.

24769.

Tel. STUDEBAKER.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Rond.

24759. WILLYS-KNIGHT & WHIPPET MOTOR CARS-Gilman & Co.,

Ltd., da, Des Voeux Rd. C. Tel. 28011.

OUTBOARD MOTORS.—Rudolf Wolff &'Kew, 54 Queen's Road

C. Tel. 22178,

MOTOR TRUCKS AND TRACTORS, CHEVROLET.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road.

24759.

Tel.

G.M.C.-The Dragon Mator Car Co., Ltd., 33, Wong Nei Chung

Chung Road, Happy Valley, Tel. 80228, DODGE-South China Motor Car Ca, 33. Des Voeux Road. C.

Tel. 25644.

MORRIS.-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road. Tel. 24769. STUDEBAKER-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's Road, Tel.

24759.

WILLYS-KNIGHT & WHIPPET TRUCKS-GUlman & Co., Ltd.,

4n, Des Voeux Road C. Tel. 28011.

MOTOR CYCLES.

B.S.A.The Sincere Co., Ltd.; Des Voeux Road. Tel. 27767. NORTON--The Sincere Co., Ltd., Des Voeux Road C. Tel

27767.

MOTOR OILS.

Tel.:

GARGOYLE MOBILOIL-Vaccum Of Company, King's Bldg. SHELL-Aslatic Patrolsom Co., (9.C.), Ltd., Anlatle Bldg.

TYRES AND ACCESSORIES. ACCESSORIES.-Hongkong Hotel, Garage, Bueen's Road.

24759. ACCESSORIES The Duro Motor Co., Nathan Road, Kowloon.

Tel. 56226. FISK TYRES-Gilman & Co., Ltd.. 4a. Des Voeux Bd. 0 Tel.

28011.

INDIA TYRES W. R. Loxley Co., York Bidge. Tel. 22286. MICHELIN TRES, A Gooke & Co., Chinh, Bldg., 7th floor.

Tel: 22221 D

PRESTOLITE BATTERIES-Hongkong Hotel Garage, Queen's

Fond: Tel.: 247591795 WILLARD BATTERIES Gilman & Co., Ltd. da. Des Voeux Rd.

-0. Tal. 28011.~~-

QUERIES ANSWERED.

Even if you paid considerably more you could

not get more satisfying motoring, or ownership,

than you are offered in this new Buick !

In all Buick's twenty-five years of achievement it has never produced a series of cars of such outstanding beauty, comfort, performance or value. On this reputation Buick owners are buying the new Buick with the same confidence with which they have purchased preceding Buicks.

In this space we could not possibly enumerate the many features and advantages that contribute to the remarkable popularity of this new Buick. You must see it and ride in it — to appreciate why Buick is the car that satisfies so completely,

114" Wheelbase Buick Models . H.K.$6,955 to H.K.$ 7,525 118" Wheelbase Buick Models H.K.$8,275 to H.K.$ 8,775 124" Wheelbase Buick Models. H.K.$9,820 to H.K.$ 9,980 132" Wheelbase Buick Models

H.K.$9,820 to H.K.$12,295

THE DRAGON MOTOR CAR CO., LTD. Telephone 30228.

33, WONG NEI CHUNG ROAD, HAPPY VALLEY.

The BUICK 8

W.B.M. Is it likely that an addue to the oil. Is this right, and justment of the gap in the plugs how may I overcome this difficulty? could have any effect on petrol con- Should there be some mechanism to sumption? Recently I found that I prevent the clutch from spinning had been running the car with the while it is out of engagement? * plug gaps too wide, and after ad- It is possible that your trouble is juating them was surprised to caused by the use of too heavy an notice that the petrol consumption oil or that you have not been chang- was much better. Could this be due ing the oll with the frequency re- to the plug gaps? My car is a olx commended by the manufacturers. cylinder Pontiac. So far as actual As you know, the clutch plates are running is concerned I noticed very of the cork Insert type, and run little difference.

immersed in a bath of engine oil, Ordinarily, so long as the plug this oil finding its way in from a fires, the size of the gap should not passage through from the crank make any difference to the petrol case. If the oil is too heavy, or is consumption; it is possible that allowed to run so long in the engine what happened in your case is as that it becomes gummy, there will follows:-The six cylinder engine is be a marked tendency for the plates so smooth in its running that an to stick, and, consequently, for the occasional miss, which would pro-clutch to spin. If you are using bably be caused by too large a gap, the correct grade of oll you might would pass unnoticed. This miss try flushing out the clutch housing. would naturally have an adverse There is a drain plug located under effect on the petrol consumption. this housing by means of which it When the gape were adjusted to la possibia to drain off the clutch their correct opening the trouble oil. Drain this off while the engine! would probably be overcome, with a is hot, and preferably when you are consequent improvement in the con- changing the engine oll. Remove sumption,

the cover plate from the top of the clutch housing, and flush the clutch G.R.G.-What is the easiest with a mixture of kerosene and oil,! method of removing the starter-washing this mixture out with clean generator from a 1923 Dodge car? engine oll, Allow both washes to The first thing to do is to take completely drain out, and then fill the driving, chain apart. This can the clutch housing, through the be done by turning the engine over clutch cover hole, with clean engine slowly by hand while you watch the oil of the correct grade. Replace chain until you can see the place the cover plate, and then fill the where a small wire, something like engine sump to its correct level. a cotter pin, is used at one elde of Attention to this detail should cor the chain. You will find that this rest your trouble, as normally the wire goes through two of the pins. Morris clutch is very sweet, en- After you have removed this wire it gagements," as a rule, being very is advisable to take another wire easy. No clutch stop is fitted to the and run it through the portion of Morris clutch, and as the engine is the chain above the sprocket, and of the high speed type, it is essen- then use another piece of wire, and tial to pause for a while in neutral run it through the chain below the when changing up. sprocket. This will bold the two

ends of the chain. You can now

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★

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C.W.H.-"Just recently I por remove the link which holds the two chased a Morris Cowley which is ends of the chain together, and fitted with four-wheel Internal ex- after the chain has been taken apart panding brakes. These are quite you can readily remove the starter satisfactory except that when 'I generator.

apply the brakes there is a bad squeal. I have tried binding the LJM-There is a little matter drums,, having been told that this regarding a Morris Cowley car on would cure the trouble, but this has which I would like some informa-) had no effect. Is there any way of tion. This is a 1928 model (11.9 stopping this trouble?" h.p.), and for some time I have been The method that is used on later having trouble while changing models of the Morris is to bolt a. gears. As a matter of fact, the tight-fitting steel band around the gears clash while changing into any brake drum. This dampens out the speed position, particularly first vibrations> (which" "cause the speed. The clutch atop adjustment squeal), and is effective as long as le adjusted to let the clutch springs the brake lining is in good order. ba compressed to their utmost when If the binding you have installed is the clutch pedal is depressed, that a good tight job, the trouble is is, until the pedal cannot be de probably with the brike dinings. pressed any furthero. In spite of These are possibly worn so that the this I usually clash the genre. One rivets are exposed, and these com thing I might say is that if I pause ing Into contact with the drum for rather a long period in neutral would cause a bad squeal. Check up before changing pp 1 may get a for this condition, and either, drive allent change, but not always. I the rivet heads, below the surface of akve an iden that this trouble, le the Ining or Instal new Unings caused by an over-spinning clutch, ↑ Bzx,

The Eights with Buick's Prestige

,

B-9

ARRIVING SHORTLY

SEE THIS CAR BEFORE YOU BUY

AN ENTIRELY

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484-486 QUEEN'S ROAD, WEST.

TEL. 25674

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