WAYS AND MEANS.
Page 29
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Working Methods Suggested by Our Driver and Mechanic Readers.
T AMPS, horns and other sheet-metal
aceessories often call for repair as a result of mine; accidents, and " A.E.," of Manehe'ster, offers suggestions as to methods of working.
If it be desired to avoid taking the article to pieces, solder a piece of brass or tinned-iron wire, about * in. diameter, to the centre of the dent. When the solder has set hard the wire can be given a pull so that the metal is lifted, thus removing the dent, and the wire can then be melted off. It is best to shape the wire in the form of a loop, so as to give a good grip. Sometimes the dent is not satisfactorily eliminated by this method, and a few blows with a smooth, clean, hammer around the edge of the indentation will improve the appearance.
When dealing with lamps it will often be possible to get a tool inside so as to hammer out the dent ; by placing the lamp on the tool and carefully hammering on each side of the dent, or around it, the original shape can be restored.
Often it will be found more economical to load the dent up with solder and smooth it over with a file or scraper, or to solder, a patch of sheet metal over the damaged part, after which the solder can be filed until the article resumes its original shape. When a thin sheet-metal patch is employed it should be held down during the soldering process, say, with an old file, which should not be removed until the solder has set, All traces of the soldering flux should be washed off to avoid subsequent corrosion of the surface.
When repairing motor horns where the dents are in the smaller tubes or too far from the op:fling to be accessible, the born should be taken to pieces at the joints, 'which are usually of the soft-soldered type. The indentations can thee be removed by a series of steel balls of graded sizes backed up by a taperinv, curved steel tool fixed in a bench vice. The balls should fit the bore of the horn tube which is to be
• trued. The horn is pushed over the steel tool and the indentation is forced • out from the inside by means of the pressure put upon the steel balls.
Where the dents are sufficiently-near to one end of the tube a Steel burnisher can be used to remove them. The burnisher should have the curve of its face equal to the curvature of the tube. The burnisher is used in the tube and worked to and fro over the dents until they are removed. When the job has been done, the horn is soldered together again and the surplus solder scraped
• off, In the case of polished brass fittings, fine emery cloth should be used to remove all traces of ' solder, finally finishing with rotten stone and oil. If a huff be available, of course a highly polished finish can be obtained by this means.
home and consist, of a piece of stiff steel wire bent to the form of a hair-pin, but havine' a single coil loop at the closed end. The tongs are inserted in the gap between the ends of the rings," possure is exerted, forcing the arms apart, and the ring then expands and can be slipped out of its groove over the piston.
In some cases, when the rings have been removed, they are found to have lost their spring, and if they are in generally sound condition otherwise they can be restored by a process of hammering. Take each ring and hold it upright so that the periphery rests on a metal block and tap the inside of the ring with the nose of a hammer, the blows being light and struck at equal distances all the way round the ring, the force decreasing as the gap is approached.
A WORN fan pulley sometimes
occurs on an old vehicle, the periphery being worn very thin, whereas the rest of the pulley is in good condition. To save replacement, "D.J.," of Sandbach, winds wire of about 1-16 in. diameter tightly round the pulley and across the full wittle
The end of the wire is fixed by Passing it through a hole in the flange. The next step consists of coating the wire over with solder, running the molten metal well down between each strand on to the face of the pulley, which has been previously cleaned and fluxed. A little care in finning. off the surface will give a reconditioned pulley capable of continued service.
THOSE who wish to file their copies of The Commercial Motor for reference purposes are advised by "E.G.," of Staines, to adopt the following method.
After removing any pages which are not required, for which purpose the two wire binding clips are taken out, place two succeeding weeks' issues together and make two pairs of holes through the backs of both isues, using a large needle for the purpose. Replace tbe. wire clips so that each issue is fixed to the one next below or above it. Looked at from the backs the clips will be staggered, that is, first to one side and then to the other, so that they never come immediately above each other. A little gum painted over, the backs each time a copy is added greatly adds to the strength, whilst the employment of a suitable cover will add to their useful life.
ALTHOUGH there is much uncer tainty as to the possibility of bending iron castings, A ," of Manchester, is of the opinion that it can be done, provided certain precautions are observed. Not only may the material be bent, but the principle can be used for straightening bent or distorted components.
The mechanic should possess practical knowledge of the laws of expansion and contraction, otherwise the remedy may prove worse than the disease. The metal should be brought to a red heat, provided it be close grained, free from shrinkage strains, sand holes and sponginess. If the right temperature be used the metal can be bent or straightened, as the grain of cast-iron is such as to permit rearrangement of the molecules under pressure at certain temperatures.
MUCH waste occurs in welding shops
in connection with the use of welding rods. When these become short they cannot be held without danger and discomfort; consequently, there is a temptation to throw away the ends. To avoid this " W.E.S.," of Holbeck, uses a holder which consists of a handle of stout wire to which is welded an Fin. gas socket ; a hole is drilled in the socket at right angles to the 'bore and Lapped to take a in. cheose-headed setscrew. To make this screw easier to handle a washer of the same diameter as the screw head is fiIed on one side and welded into the screwdriver slot, thus making a thumbscrew. In the absence of a gas socket a short leagth of
metal tubing may be used. {mine holder can be utilized for holding,eticks of solder when a blow-pipe is used.