Carburettor.—The apparatus for regulating the rate of evaporation of the petrol and the proportions of its mixture with air. It consists generally of a float chamber and a mixing-chamber.
Chain.—In motor-cars chains are sometimes used, as in the bicycle, for the transmission of power from one part of the mechanism to another.
Change-speed Gear.—The arrangement of shafts and toothed wheels by which the speed of the road wheels is altered without alterations in the speed of the engine.
Chassis.—The entire framework and mechanism of the car—engines, wheels, axles, &c.—without the body or seating accommodation.
Clutch.—A device for connecting the motive machinery with the driving-wheels at the will of the driver.
Coil.—See Induction Coil.
Commutator.—An appliance for enabling the driver to advance or retard the spark which ignites the mixture in the cylinder.
Compression.—This word in motoring invariably applies to the compression of the gaseous mixture in the cylinder. The efficiency and economy of the motor depend greatly upon the degree of compression at the moment of ignition.
Connecting-rod.—The rod which connects the piston with the crank of the engine.
Cut-out.—A device for diverting the exhaust gases directly into the air instead of compelling them to pass through the silencer. The “cut-out” is seldom used except in racing. It accelerates the engine at the cost of an appalling noise.