MAKING BEST USE OF THE FORD.
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Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport which will Appeal to the Owner, Driver and Repairer.
.553.--An Unusual Cause of Misfiring.
A very uncommon fault occurred recently during a long run to a Ford in the charge of one of our readers. The engine began to splutter and back-fire ; • it then appeared to clear itself for a time, but soon the trouble recurred.
Many efforts were made to trace the trouble, at first without result. Finally, the inspection cover was removed from the gearbox. It was then found that pieces of thel wire used to . hold the six setscrews, which fasten the driving plate to the brake drum, had broken away and fallen into the sump. The motion of the flywheel had caused these pieces te be thrown about and occasionally to cause a short across the pole pieces of the magneto, this naturally resulting in the irregular firing. The wire was replacM by long splitpins carefully opened out and since then no further trouble has been experienced.
It is pessible that the fault was originally due to excessive use of the footbrake, this causing the drum to become so hot that it overheated the copper wire and caused it to become brittle on cooling.
554.—Removing the Clutch Drum.
A tool for the removal of the clutch drum can be obtained from any Ford Service depot. It is listed as part No.
5Z314 and is priced at 2s. 2d. Another tool of a stronger pattern and somewhat different design can be obtained from Lake and Elliots, Ltd., of Braintree, Essex. As a matter of fact, this com pany manufactures a complete range of tools and equipment for Ford service stations.
The most satisfactory way to deal with transmission units is to let them be handled by a proper service station.
The correct methods of treatment involve the use of special and somewhat expensive jibs and tools. It will be necessary to remove the flywheel and transmission unit from the engine block by taking out the four flywheel cap screws, using for this work wrench part No. 5Z2I0, price 2s. 6d.
If the unit be taken to a proper service station it will be overhauled, the drums re-bushed, etc., at the standard charge of 30s. for labour, plus the cost of any parts used as replacements. If, however, the reader be determined to do the work himself, the following adviee may be useful Remove the cylinder block and' transmission from the crankcase. Take out the split-pins from the dutch finger screws and run out the screws to release the clutch spring pressure, If this be not done, breakage of the driving plate may ensue when removing the six studs which bolt this plate to the footbrake drum.
The driving plate studs should come out quad easily and each should be unscrewed gently in turn. Next, pull
off the driving plate, remove the clutch plates and take out the setscrew which will be seen in the side of the inner clutch disc-drum. • The disc-drum is keyed on to the transmission shaft ; that is why a puller is necessary. Centre the screw of the puller in the end of the transmission shaft and insert the two studs of the puller legs in the two holes in the side of the disc-drum.
Operation of the screw of the puller will then remove the drum, but if the• drum be obstinate, give the head of the screw a sharp blow with a hammer. This will usually cause it to start. It is immaterial whether the fly-wheel be removed from the block or not, when only the disc-drum is wanted.
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When replacing the clutch plates, a large plate must be the last to be inserted.. If a 'small plate were put in last, it might drop over the rear end of the inner clutch drum and it,would then be itepossible to put the gear into neutral.
555.—Starting in Cold Weather.
Now that colder weather is drawing nigh, starting troubles will also come_ It usually happens that a tow rope is not available, so that a refractory engine can not be started in this manner :but, provided another Ford vehicle be to band, there is another solution to this difficulty.
A length of insulated wire should be connected from the magneto terminal on the running car to the terminal post on the engine to be started, but before doing this it is essential to remove the connecting wire from the magneto of the engine to be started to prevent reducing the power of the magnets.
• Another wire should be used between the radiator support rods of the two vehicles, this forming the earth and completing the circuit. The running engine should then be allowed to, turn over at good speed, when half a turn of the stationary engine will often be sufficient to make it run. After a few minutes to warm up the engine, the wires may be disconnected, the magneto wire refitted and the engine started up under its own power.
Another point is that one of the main difficulties in starting a Ford engine arises through stickiness of the oil between the clutch plates. This ,prevents sufficient engine speed to be obtained by cranking. Therefore, it is essential that the lubricating oil utilized has a good " cold " test.
556.—Removing the Swivelpin Bushes.
A useful tool which will facilitate the removal of the bushes from Ford frontaxle swivel-pins can be made by cutting with a hack-saw a slot about 3 ins. deep in the end of a piece of half-round steel. Tool steel is preferable, because it can then be hardened and tempera but, before doing this, the slotted end should be sprung open about it in., as shown in the illustration.
To employ the tool, the small end is inserted first through the bottom bush and tapped upwards until the slotted end has passed completely through this bush. rhe cut allows it to spring inwards sufficiently for this purpose, but once past the bush it springs out again immediately so that it bears on the inner end of the bush. A few sharp blows on the top of the punch will be found to move the tightest of bushes.