A New Low-priced 30-cwt. Chassis
Page 63
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for the
British Market
WITHIN the course of the next few weeks Morgan Hastings, Ltd., 42, Sussex Place, London, S.W.7, which is the sole coneessionnaire in Great Britain for the Stewart range of commercial vehicles, will be marketing a new light, low-priced model which, it is expected, will prove popular on the British market. It will be sold as a 30-cwt. model, and a point of outstanding interest is that the chassis will be available with a four-cylindered engine or with a sixcylindered power unit—both of Lycoming make; in the case of the former it is expected that the price will be in the region of £245, whilst for the latter approximately £265 will be charged. The company expects to be in a position to undertake deliveries in the early part of next month.
Engine Details.
As the four-cylindered unit is the main product we will give a few details of its chief characteristics. It has a bore of 31 ins, and a stroke of 4-i ins. and develops 50 b.b.1). The crankcase and cylinder block are cast integral and the cylinder head is removable. The cooling water is circulated by a pump and a thermostat is incorporated. The carburetter is of the latest Stromberg pump type, features of it being a fuel economizer and an air cleaner. A Delco-Remy unit is relied upon for ignition and the distributor is accessibly mounted above the Cylinders. Both the generator and starter are of Delco-Remy make, the former being direct gear-driven. In passing, we might mention that the six-cylindered unit has a bore of n ins, and a stroke of 4i ins.
The engine power is conveyed through a single dry-plate clutch, which is equipped with a vibration damper, and thence to the gearbox, which forms a unit with the engine.
The gearbox provides four forward speeds and a reverse and is bolted direct to the bell-housing of the engine unit. The shafts are carried on annular bearings.
In the case of the standard chassis, -which has a wheelbase of 10 ft. 10 ins., the propeller shaft is in one piece and has a Spicer universal joint at each end, but in the case of the chassis with an 11-ft. 8-ins, wheelbase a third joint is employed to give added support to the slightly longer shaft.
The rear axle is of the spiral-bevel pattern, with straddlemounted pinion and the shafts, which are 2 ins. in diameter and of the semi-floating type, are carried on Timken roller bearings. The rear axle is unusually rugged in construction and is designed for dual wheel equipment; the standard final gear ratio is 5.6 to 1. The front axle is an I-beam drop forging and the hubs are equipped with Timken roller bearings.
In the design of the chassis special attention has been given to the question of braking and the Bendix service equipment, which is controlled by the foot, takes effect on all four wheels. Incidentally, it can be mentioned that the -brake drums are 14 ins. in diameter. The hand brake is of the external-contracting pattern and it takes effect on the transmission, at a point immediately behind the gearbox. The frame is 6 ins. deep.
So far as springing is concerned the assemblies at the front are 381 ins, long and 21 ins. wide, whilst those at the rear are 50 ins, long and 21 ins. wide.
The steering gear is of the Ross cam-and-lever type, which makes for easy control with both low and high-pressure tyre equipment The steering column is well raked and ensures a comfortable driving position. Tyres of 32-in. by 6-in, dimensions are used on all wheels.
Good Range of Equipment.
Standard equipment includes , an electric starter, generator, horn and battery, speedometer, vacuum tank with booster and filter, tool kit, jack, thermostat, stop light, Alemite grease gun and rear tyre carrier.
The loading space which is available on the chassis with a wheelbase of 10 ft. 10 ins. is such that a body 8 ft. 6 ins. long can be accommodated, whilst one of 9 ft. 6 ins. can be carried on the chassis with a wheelbase of 11 ft. 8 ins.
We are informed that the four-cylinder model has a maximuni speed of approximately 40 m.p.h., whilst the sixcylinder edition is capable of approximately 50 m.p.h.