Evening star., 1939-04-23

smart with tools tried to adjust the
pinion OF his car and promptly got
into difficulties. It happened to be
one OF those cases where even the
advanced home mechanic is no match
for the service station because he
does not have what it takes In the
way OF equipment to do a good Job.
For his particular make and
model Of car 1t is necessary to use
a special type Of micrometer depth
gauge. Without this 1t is not posi-
BILE to do a good Job Of adjusting
the pinion mesh with the rear axle
ring gear"
Why Throttle Safety?
If the hand throttle control of
your car, Is so rugged up that it
returns to the closed position with
out your pushing the button in flush
with the dash, consider 1t a for
tunate arrangement. Many acci-
dents have been caused, or at least
accelerated, by having the throttle
control part way out when an emer-
gency stop is In order. Usually the
hand control does not return the
throttle to the closed position auto
matically, as in the case Of the
accelerator pedal, but it can be
equipped with a return spring that
will give this action. I know a lot
Of drivers who feel that such a plan
Is highly desirable.
Toward the Future.
Passing by lookout tower In the
woods I was reminded of the pos
sibility that some day the speed
OF our cars will be controlled by
special police who will look down
upon the highway to pick out the
non-conformers and exercise needed
control over them. Conditions can
be observed so much better from
such an excellent point of vantage.
Perhaps the observed driver Is
merely running a little too fast for
conditions. In that case the official
observer will touch a button and
cut off the ignition in the car,
utilizing a form of radio control
that leaves the driver no alternative
but to comply with regulations. Or
the driver may be genuinely reck-
less, in which case the observer may
simply relay message to the ofiicer
in the next watchtower, who will,
in turn, cut off the cars ignition
when 1t approaches a convenient
place to have him arrested.
In the Motor Mailbag.
@. How is excess air removed from
shock absorbers when they are re-
filled while on the car? K. D. D.
A. After the absorber unit is filled
with the aid of an oil gun replace
the filler plug and rock the car up
and down by standing on the near
est bumper. This will remove any
trapped air. Remove the plug, COM
plete filling the shock absorbers and
then replace the plug tightly again
@. When hydraulic brakes are
overhauled is 1t necessary to re-
move all of the old fluid? am
going to have this work done and
don't want to invest more than nee
essary. D.S.
A. 1t is not necessary but GER
tainly advisable. One advantage
lies in the fact that opportunity is
afforded for removing cheap or in
correct fluid which should never
have been put into the system.
O. Kindly advise me why in
cranking the engine of my car there
is slight kickback every once in
a while. Had the valves ground,
motor tuned up and other work done
recently Shall be pleased to have
you advise me how this reverse kick
may be remedied JIG. K.
A. There are two likely reasons
for this. First, I think that the
ignition is advanced a little too far.
Mixture fires before the pistons are
near enough to upper dead center.
thus encouraging them to 60 down
before they are fully up. That re-
verses the engine. The other is
that with the valves ground and
compression higher, the battery may
not give the engine a fast enough
spin. 1t is like hand cranking, where
kickback follows failure to spin
over the shaft for a complete quick
turn.
Mr.. Russell 1Dtll dnsUer ques-
tions regarding the safe care and
operation OF your car. Just ad-
dress him, care of The Washing
ton Star, and inclose stamped,
selt-addressed envelope for per-
sondl reply.