For DRIVERS, MECHANICS & FOREMEN.
Page 21
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A PRIZE OF TEN SHILLINGS is awarded eoch week all others are paid for at the rate of a penny a line, with an published. Mention your employer's name, in confidence,
to the sender of the best letter which we publish on this page ; allowance for photographs. All notes are edited before being as evidence of good faith. Address, _O., M. and F., "The ebery Avenue, London, E.G. 1, Commercial. Motor,'' Ras
Lamps Alight. •
On Saturday, March 1st; light your lamps at 6.7 in London, 6.23 in Edinburgh, 5.55 in Newcastle, 6.8 in Liverpool, 6.9 in Birmingham, 6.17 in Bristol, and 6.22 in Dublin.
A Dozen "Don'ts."
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the Ms. prize this week.
[1948] "H.R.P." (Manchester) writes :—" As one who is a constant and appreciative reader of your D., M. and F.' page, I have felt that there must be many of my fellow-readers in the elementary stage of driving, who would he interested in and would derive some little benefit from the enclosed, which have compiled, under the heading of 'A Dozen Don'ts in Motoring.'
"I have had, during the last 211, years, the supervision and responsibility (for repairs and mainteeanee of service) of a fleet of ten petrol Motors, for a. large firm in the North, and the various items have suggested themselves to me, as a result of my observations of both machines and drivers during that period.
"1 have suggested to my employers that three copies of same should he printed on strong pasteboard, and hung respectively in garage office, yard, and dining-room, and I pass the enclosed along to you for your approval."
(1) DON'T start up and immediately race your engine : let. it run idle until it has warmed up: and then remember this, that an engine should on no account be-raced whilst the car is stationary.
(2) DON'T forget that five minutes spent in looking round before setting out for the day-may save yourself and others hours: of labour under disadvantageous circumstances on the road.
(3) DON'T drive on the clutch. It is wrong : drive on the throttle, and thereby have secured to you your engine power for tither the propelling or braking of your ear.
i4) DON'T trust too much to your brakes ; they sometimes fail, and very often that happens at a critical moment.
(5) DON'T scorch: always run cyour ear so that you have it in hand, not only for the present, but also for future needs.
(6) DON'T choke your engine by a throttle too wide open ; this means waste of petrol and the carbonizing of your cylinders.
(7) DON'T forget your ignition control lever, if your ignition system is a variable one. (8) DON'T leave your vehicle in gear at any time ; scotch one or other of your road wheels.
(9) DON'T put water in petrol -cans. This abomin-. able practice spells trouble for someone. (10) DON'T start your engine after a Seizure without first locating the cause and remedying the fault. If you cannot locate the trouble, call assistance to 'tow your car to the garage.
(11) DON'T coast (or free-wheel as it is commonly called). Injudicious re-engagement of engine and transmission may result in a smashed crankshaft.
(12) DON'T forget that, in the eyes of others, your character as a driver is estimated not only by the appearance of your lorry, or the speed at which you travel, but also by your conduct and bearing towards pedestrians and others on the road. Civility arid courtesy on all occasions become the man at the wheel.
Tips for Drivers in Tropical Countries.
[1949] " J.R." (Khartoum) writes":—" The following' wrinkles, the knowledge of which is in the main t1-1) result of experience with Army lorries in Mesopotamia, will also be of use to civilian drivers in other tropical countries.
"The damaging effects of dry heat and light upon tyres is not widely realized. In all cases they should be covered in damp sawdust and kept in the dark. Tubes in particular ehouldzbe slightly inflated before being stored.
"A useful hint in connection with desert travelling is to keep handy two or three large-squares of strong woven wire netting. These are of great USO for dropping under the driving wheels when crossing soft sandy patches.
"In tropical districts drivers are frequently troubled with overheating and boiling of the -circulating water. This May be lessened very considerably if about a pint of glycerine be poured into the radiator. Very often it is found advisable to increase the amount of 'water which can be carried, and this is best effected by bolting or otherwise securing a petrol can to the dashboard of the vehicle, coupling it up to the inlet pipe to the cylinder jackets and, to the top of the radiator, by means of copper pipes. The rough sketch herewith shows how this was effected. in the. ease of a Ford van."
Turn Your Spare Time to AccOunt.
During the past few weeks of abominable weather conditions motor transport in some parts of the country has been kept going with difficulty. That it has been kept going at all is nothing.short.of remarkable, when one considers the heavy. falls of snow which 'have been experienced -and the flooded state of many of the roads. Particularly is this the case in north 'country districts where motor vehicles link up outlying suburbs with industrial centres. It occurs to us that during these arduous conditions of running drivers may have encountered troubles ..which they have overcome by original means. We shall .be pleased to receive in letter form a brief account of any improvised device or gadget which may have been employed. Do not forget that half-an-hour spent in, putting your experiences on paper mai earn ten shillings for you.—ED.