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FORD VAN POINTERS.

15th February 1921
Page 23
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Page 23, 15th February 1921 — FORD VAN POINTERS.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

By R. T. Nicholson (Author of "The Book of the Ford ").

IN MY last week's set of " Pointers " I told the beginner how to begin. This week I am going to deal with some fine points in driving—points which-the beginner ought to know about when he has mastered the ordinary straightaway driving of the van, and has got into the way of doing the right thing at the right time without always having to think about it. Of course, the easy attitude and nonchalance observable about the qualified driver conic from his experience in motor control and in traffic driving, and can be expected to be acquired by the novice in a few weeks.

324.—Some Fine Points in Driving : Reversing.

When reversing—especially when it is a case of alternate forward and backward movement—it is best to set the hand brake lever in neutral position, and keep it there till you can go straight. forward again. Some drivers make a lot of trouble for themselves by throwing the lever forward for each forward movement of the van, and then pressing the 0 pedal into "slow;" to pick up the forward speed. This is, of course, qUite unnecessary.

The beginner usually finds it slow work to turn completely round in a road. This is largely because he does not turn the steering wheel far enough and -qiiickly enough at the beginning of each forward and backward movement ; in other words, he does not get a quick, sharp lock on the front wheels. Once the van has way on, the steering wheel should be turned 'sharply and decidedly in the required direction. If you wait till the van has travelled any distance in the turning movement, you will not alter its direction to any extent ; and then there will have to be several excursions across the road to and fro.

Another thing. Just before you have reached the end of a forward or backward movement, straighten out your steering wheel as the speed dies away. If you do not do this, it is not easy to get a quicksharp lock an the front wheels when you begin to move in the opposite direction. Remember—a Ford can turn completely round, without reversing, in a 28 ft. roadway ; yet it takes a clever driver to see that it does it.

325.— Hill-climbing.

Rush short hills—Le:, get up as good an engine speed as possible before you start up them. Long hills are best tackled thus: Keep up a moderate speed by opening the throttle as required.. When your .throttle is right open and the speed is dying away, COMe down to "slow." Do not be too proud of doing everything "on top." Highspeed running when the engine is labouring means great strain. The Ford " slow " is very slow, I know ; but_ it is Meant to be used wheneverthq " high" isnot 4trong enough to carry the van along easily. .

Toward the top of a long hill, when the engine has got very hot, you can often steal up the last. few feet by slightly closing your throttle if you do not want to come down to " slow.", This" is because your engine is so hot that the. " gas," on entering the cylinders, gets . so much expanded that it makes the compression too high. If you slightly close the throttle, you will prevent too much " gas " entering. the cylinders, and then the engine will " rev." more easily. -You will, in course of time, be able to judge this by means of the ear.

326.—Benzole and the Carburetter Adjustment for it.

Personally,I like benzoic far, better than petrol.'' It gives more miles to the gallon ; it gives a " sweeter " engine action_; it never causes knocking, even when the combustion chamber is full of carbon.

You are sometimes told that the Holley -carburetter on the Ford will not take benzoic-, that it has a cork float which gets spirit-logged if henzole is used, that it needs special adjustment, and so on.

It is true thai old-style Fords—Fords five or six years old—have carburetters fitted with floats that will not stand up to benzole; but modern Fords have carburetter floats which are benzole-proof. They give no trouble.

And, as for special adjustment, the only adjustment I have ever found necessary is the regulation of the carburetter adjuster, that loop behind the instrument board which communicates by a rod with the carburettor itself. When benzole is used, this loop can be screwed downwards considerably further than ,wheri petrol is used. This makes for. economy, of course.

327.— Low Fuel Consumption.

Adjustment • of the loop in-question is the main secret of low fuel consumption. The fmther that loop can be turned clockwise the less the spirit used. The loop should always be set at the position at which

the engine will just run without misfiring. . •

The fuel consumption of the Ford during the early miles of its life is comparatively great. After the van has run 500 miles, a well-taned Ford should give not less than 20 miles to the gallon: Much depends on the natured the road,and whether there are many stops and starts.in the" round." The more starting and -stopping there is,. the •greater the. consumption , of fuel is likely to be. I have known Fords that gave over 30 miles to the gallon of petrol—still more on benzole—but. these Fords were used on non-stop runs, extra air inlets had been fitted, and their carbursitters were tuned to a nicety. In any event, you ought to get 20-25 miles to the gallop, once the engine has been run in.

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