For DRIVERS, MECHANICS & FOREMEN.
Page 29
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A PRIZE OF PEN 811.1.LLINGS is awarded each week all others are paid for at the rate of a penny a line, with an 2rublished. Mention your employer's name, in confidence, Commercial Motor," 7-15, Re
Lamps Alight.
On Saturday, June 21st, light your lamps at 9.48 in London, 11 in Edinburgh, 10.16 In Newcastle, 10.13 in Liverpool, 10.1 in Birmingham, 9.58 in Bristol, and 10.56 in Dublin.
Repairing a Broken Change-speed Gear.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 10s, prize this week.
[1,983] "H.J.0." (Battersea) writes :—" A short time ago I was taking a load of steel bolts, and on the journey experienced occasional trouble through the change-speed gear jumping out of its niche in the quadrant. As this was not altogether novel, I did not attach much importance to it until, when
approaching London, I felt the gear jump out, and felt for the lever almost automatically, only to find that it was still in its proper position in the quadrant while the gear undoubtedly was out. This at first was something of a staggerer, but of course I at once jumped down, lifted up the footboards to find "out what really had happened, and to my dismay I found that the jaw of the knuckle joint between the coupling rod and the change-speed gear shifter rod had come off the end of that rod to which it was screwed. A closer examination of the part revealed the fact that not only had the thread on the inside of the jaw stripped, but that it had already once before done the same thing, and had 'oeen temporarily repaired by being .hammered a little out of its circular form. Clearly there was no hope of any further help being attained in that manner. I had, however, to get home : of that there was no question. and I managed it in the following manner.
"I ran along to the nearest ironmonger's, and there procured an ordinary lathe carrier of the size suitable for takieg a in. bar. I slipped this on to the shifter rod, and so adjusted the screw of the carrier that when it was binding on the rod there was just sufficient clearance 'between the inside of its head and the metal of the carrier to allow of the end of the coupling link being inserted. Having got to that stage I then took off the cover of the gearbox, set the gear-change lever, in the notch for second par, and inside the box meshed the necessary gears for that speed. I then slipped the screw
to the sender of the best letter which we publish on this page ; allowance for photographs. All notes are edited before being as evidence of good faith. Address, D. M. and F„, "The sebery Avenue, London, E.G. 1.
of the lathe carrier through the hole in the-coupling link, and was about to erect my contrivance in place, when I found' myself up against another difficulty. Using a lathe carrier, I was bound to have the coupling link out of centre with the shifter rod. This meant a re-arrangement_ at the other end of the coupling link, and I effected this by putting the coupling link end, at the side of the change-speed lever instead of in line with it, as was originally the case. A glance at the sketch (which we have had redrawn.—En.) will illustrate my meaning. Having done that, I was able to slip the carrier over the shifter rod, and tighten it in place with the link, etc., and couple up. The jobwas quite a satisfactory one."
An Elusive Engine Trouble.
[1,984] "A.W." (Dewsbury). writes :—" While home on 14 days' leave from one of the repair depots of the R.A.S.C. in France, my brother spent quite a considerable portion of his time yarning to us about his experiences. There were several of them which struck me at the time as being well worthy of publi
cation in the and F. of The Commercial pages Motor for choice. The following o is an example of difficulties encountered:— "A. car came in one day, and the driver reported engine trouble. She said there was frequent popping back into the carburetter (which usually indicates mixture trouble). Her impression, however, was that the ignition was to blame. The usual examination was immediately made of the ignition and carburation departments. The plugs were taken out, cleaned, tried; the magneto, carburetter jet, petrol pipes, etc., examined, without disclosing anything out of tbe ordinary. There was no apparent possibility of a 'short' occurring in the ignition system, and every section of the petrol line was in good order. After a final look round, therefore, the car was put in running order again and passed out.
"A few days later, however, it turned up again, and the driver reported as before. She further stated that the trouble always developed shortly after starting, and grew worse as the car was kept at work. She left itiat the depot. This time, as a. preliminary, the car was taken out on the road by the staff sergeant, and he was able to confirm the driver's report. It was therefore decided to take down the cylinders and make a more thorough examination than that which took place on the previous occasion. When the cylinders were dismantled, it was .discovered, after careful examination, that number three had a very slight crack in it. Apparently with the engine cold this crack closed up, so that at the beginning of a run no trouble was experienced, • but as the cylinder got hot, the crack opened out, and the trouble developed as reported. The cylinders were replaced by new ones, and nothing further was heard of the difficulty."
How to Remove Carbon Deposit.
[1,985] "G.M.J." (Norwood) writes :—" Dirty cylinders offer a source of trouble which is somewhat difficult to cure without removal of the cylinders, and any easier method of getting rid of carbon should be welcomed. I have found that a small quantity of denaturedalcohol, squirted into the cylinders while they are hot, and the engine then run fairly fast for a few minutes until the alcohol is all burnt out, will clean out the carbon in a most effective manner. It would be as well to do this now and again to keep the cylinders in condition!'