New-York tribune., 1920-05-16

side, after we had stretched our leg,
little bit and picked few wild fo,g-
ers. But every little way we found
somebody who was having trouble in
getting up.
How to Climb
Now, there was no need of any of the
cars stalling on this grade, though lone
and very steep, for the cars seemed 70
De all right. The trouble was with the
oflvers,, who did not know how to
manipulate the change speed gears on
hltl, The driver who has followed the
instructions given in previous article
on gear shifting and has learned to
manipulate the gear lever on the level
may approach a hill on high with the
accelerator opened enough and the
spark advanced to speed up the car
when It begins to slow down. Before
IL gets too slow to shift the gear the
second speed shousd be taken, and this
pughe 10 take any car up an ordinary
hlIl; out occasionally, on a very steep
grade, first speed may be necessary for
a short stretch.
AT the foot of the hill open the
throttle wide. If the engine knocks or
labors retard the spark until II stons
Inns gives greater power and momen-
tum and on the short hill will carry the
car over; AS soon as the engine be-
gins TO lose speed release the clutch.
take Your foot off the accelerator and
shltt to lower speed gear without an
plying the brake. Let the clutch in
quickly, at the same time opening tie
accelerator wide. You will he able to
advance the spark after this without
causing a knock. Do not change to first
gear unless the engine shows signs of
stalllng, and remember that the gear
shit on hill must be made as quickly
as possible and the clutch let in imme-
dlately, before there is loss of mo-
lnentum, which usually means stalling
the engine.
II while you are learning to do this
the engine stalls put the emergency
brake on and the gear lever is neutral:
then put a block back of the rear
wheels before you crank the engine.
hen you are ready release the clutch,
shift the lever to first speed. accelerate.
release emergency brake and let in the
clutch, all in the same moment. The
block back Of the wheels will keep the
car from backing down Sometimes it
may help to apply the foot brake and
release the emergency brake, and then
when you engage the clutch release the
loot brake. very slowly feeding gas to
~ Sti SAAC WIN lHS mana CNrOIcie lever.
But do not try any of this until YOU
know how to shift gears easily on the
level
Shift Before You Descend
There is trick also in shifting gears
IN descending hills. The first thing
to remember is that with the ignition
shut of the engine itself will act as a
brake and the running brake can be
made to supplement this without re-
leasing the clutch. 1t is not wise to
so down the steep grade in high speed
gear. Second speed gives the engine
greater braking power and on a very
steep hill first speed is advisable. The
idea is to shift the gear at the TOP of
the hill rather than after you find YOU
are up against it. The trick, you see,
in shifting on descending hills is to
shift before you descend.
Whether your car is able to take
hills on high or not, my advice would
be, except on very slight grade, don't
DO it. The hill speedster is menace
TO timid driver, or in TACT to any
other driver. High speed on q hill
costs frightfully in gasoline consump-
ton, and it does all sorts of things to
the engine, which must be considered