Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-09
MILADY'S MOTORING
BY FREDERICK c. RUSSELL.

The cynic observes that women know
their own minds when they prefer men
to teach them to drive.
Anyhow, it's q rare thing to see one
woman teaching another the art Of ma
nipulating an automobile. The feminine
mind doesn't appear to appreciate fully
the idea that the best way to learn Is to
teach. When 1t comes to teaching the
debutant to drive one Of the family
cars. 1t probably would be a good idea
to remember the popular phrase, Mo-
Their knows best Dad may be asked,
but he often makes an awful bluff at
knowing.
Just because tine car has stop light
at the rear is no reason to fail to give
hand warnings for each and every stop,
even II the ammeter shows by its flick
ering that the rear signal is working
each time the brake pedal Is pressed.
II the sun is shining on the rear OF the
car, the stop light is very difficult to
see and collision can be averted best
by supplimenting the light with hand
signaling.
If you have two or more cars in the
family and drive them alternately, 1t is
possible that one of them may not carry
steering gear that enables the wheels
to straighten out themselves following
turn. It is important to know just
how the steering handles work before
you take the wheel and to vary your
methods when going from one make OF
car to another.
Driving around the city in a closed
car at night is a safer process II both
h. ,tvAd
eliminates much of the reflection of
lights, which is not only a sources Of
annoyance to the driver, but hazard
as well.
In addition to being Smart there is
q practical reason for driving the car
with the left elbow reclining on the
window sill. With the elbow and arm
in that position it is possible to make
sudden change In steering without risk
of getting the arm cramped between the
rim of the wheel and the inside Of the
door. Often too, there are the window
litter and the door control to endanger
the elbow IL the arm is kept inside the
car.
"The universal joints are worn out.
madam" runs a familiar phrase in car
ownership. Probably you have heard 1t
before And what did it mean to you
other than a repair bill? Picture, II you
will, the rotating transmission shaft
connected to the long shaft which
transmits power to the rear axles. This
shaft is so long that it has to be
equipped with at least one joint, other
roads it would not stand the strain. The
Joints are designed so that movement
up and down or sidewise is allowed
hence the designation universal"
If these joints are of the fabric type
the ends of the rotating parts are bolted
to a heavy fabric disc. This variety
needs no greasing, but eventually needs
replacement when the weakened mate
rial allows the propeller shaft to get out
of alignment. The metal variety OPP
crates something on the order Of two
links of a chain Such joints must be
fabricated, and rafting is heard VIXEN
they start to wear out.
Either type Of joint may break If the
car is driven hard when they are worn
out. The metal kind is especially likely
10 give out If driven without lubricant.
However. a shrill squeal from the joints
warns of the approach of this condi-
ton.
When it is necessary to press little
on the clutch pedal to stop a clicking
SOUND IN the clutch, the chances are
that there is some trouble with the
collar that is connected to the pedal
and which serves as means OF pulling
The clutch plates apart so that the
gears can be shifted. When you press
on the pedal a little, you simply ap-
ply pressure to this collar and its bear
ing, and thus check the noise. The
trouble may be due TO number OF
things, ranging from improper lubri-
cation to wear or misalignment OF the
collar bearing.
Don't leave the car in reverse gear
for parking II 1t is equipped with
backing light. II the spark con-
troll is in the instrument board. occa-
sionally look to see If it is fully pushed
in. Don't coast in neutral unless
you are an expert in getting back into
high gear while the car in in mo-
ton. Go slower around curves
and have fewer mysterious" pune
lures Have oil changed when
the engine is warm and remem-
Der that acceleration always wastes
gas.
Copyright, 1920