Norwich bulletin., 1914-12-24
DOINGS IN THE AUTO WORLD
Eight Automobile Races Announced for l9l5-Annual New Years Race Will Take Place at Tucson, Ariz.-Litte Choice Between Gear and Silent Chain Drive for Ef- 6ciency.

In the consideration of the various forms of gasoline engine, camshaft and auxiliary drive, modern machine de- sign has eliminated from consideration the question of noise of operation, the designer having, through experience, demonstrated that brass gears sing, improperly formed gear teeth and Sprockets grind, and that spasmod- ically oiled contacts are not conducive to quiet running.
 From the standpoint of efficiency there is but little choice between the gear and silent chain drive. A higher efficiency is claimed by chain manu- lecturers and when the chain and sprockets are new this claim can be undoubtedly SubStantiated, but owing to the imposSibility of obtaining uni. form temper in sprocixet teeth or uni- formity in the hardness of all members of the chain, a point is soon reached through wear in which the chain has degenerated into but a simple contact point comparable with the gear drive
 The great advantage of the chain lies in the fexibility of the design per- mitted by the lack of restraint on center distances imposed by gears in order to keep them within reasonable size. 4 slight saving in weight can also be accredited to the chain drive The chain drive is less affected by bearing wear than the gear drive and LulS dQNduNd5O lS IEdl IIdIl imaginary; only the other day the writer was directing repairs on a high class engine which had failed to run, owing to wear in the crankshaft bear inss, increasing the center distances and resulting in the camshaft becom- ing unmeShed.
 The chain drive of "timed' shafts makes it necessary in breaking down to tram the sprockets in order to in- sure proper relation when reaSsem- bling, and for this reason is not as simple as the old gear form of drive.
 In the older engines of small stroke the camshaft lay well is toward the center of the engine, and in conse- quence small gears could be used, but with the modern tendency to long stroke engines the center distances are greater and the chain drive not only effects a saving in weight which is always desirable
 From a standpoint of durability, the advantage is with the gear drive, as the wear on the sprockets, links and pins is greater than gear wear.
 To summarize, the chain and gear are comparable in silent operation: the chain has 6 little the best of it on efficiency and is superior to the gear in adaptability while the gear has tha advantage of simplicity in repairs an7 durability. Each has its own field
 
 modern harmonious engine designs.
 
 Naturally, the temperature of the cooling water when the motor is in operation on a winter day is lower than in warmer weather. Therefore, if the cooling system is literally de- signed so that the water will not boil even under maximum summer tenn perature, there is a likelihood that the motor will run too cool in winter Hence the necessity of reducing the effectiveness of the system by par t1ally covering the radiator with a sheet of cloth or cardboard Ready made hood covers may be purchased at most supply stores. These may diator as required. and when the car is stopped may be buttoned up so as to stop radiation almost en- tirely, not only preventing the cool ing of the radiator itself, but also the whole motor. as the cover also ex- tends over the hood and reduces Fa- diation through it.
 Easy starting of the motor in win ter is not only a. convenience but al- tor is used. A motor which starts hard wastes a great deal of energy through the useless churning of the starting motor in endeavoring to make if run under it's own power. This is strain on the battery, which is operating under trying conditions anyway. A cold motor turns hard viScous at low temperatures, there fore an exceptionally heavy current is required from the battery. Under these circumstances it is seen that fl is desirable to make the combustion occur as soon as possible after the