WAYS AND MEANS.
Page 61
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Useful Contributions From Our Driver and Mechanic Readers.
A Desperate Remedy for a Desperate Disease.
riNE of our correspondents, " Ef.J.O.," kJ of Ashingdon, Essex, wrote to us reeently relating how he overcame a serious trouble by most revolutionary means—so revolutionary, in fact, that we wrote to him asking for more particulars, not that we doubted his veraeiiy, but to make sure that we thoroughly under. stood him. We give the account of his experiment as he gave it to us and take ne responsibility for damage that might occur when tried on an engine of another make, as conditions may not always be so favourable as regards construction of the jackets and water pipes: While on the road his radiator gave out, splitting at the bottom in such a manner that repair was impossible, as water would not stay in it for more than a few minutes. For Certain reasons it was not possible to leave the vehicle until repairs could be effected. Something. had to be done, so our correspondent hit upon the hold plan of dispensing with the use . of water and turning his engine into, an air-cooled one. He disconnected both rubber pipes leading to the radiator and drew off all water from the jackets. He then fixed up a pipe, connecting the inlet pipe with the lower water Pipe and led it to the Main air inlet of the carburetter. By this means a constant current of air was induced through the jackets, which enabled him to finish his journey. Furthermore, he was able to drive the vehicle in this condition for a day while the radiator was being repaired.
appears to have made a further experiment by connecting the top water pipe so that all air entering the engine had to pass through the radiator, the fan working as usual, so that cooled air was being drawn into the engine. How " cooling system
Removing Spring Bolts.
DIFFICULTY is often experienced
when the holding-down bolts for springs have to be removed, as owing to the design of Many of them there is a clear space between the bolt and its hole for water and mud to collect in. This mixture soon turns to rust and, in many eases, we have actually known such bolts to resist all efforts to remove them, with the result that they have had to be drilled out.
correspondent, " T.C.H." of Putney, tells us how he deals with such bolts whenever he has to take down an axle and to remove it from its spring. His plan is to file fiats on each side of the bolt, so that when it has to be removed paraffin can find its way down the gap formed by the flat, thus loosening the rust and mud.
He assures us that this plan is gener ally adopted at the garage where he is employed. We should have thought that although there may be more room for the paraffin to enter, there is also more room for the mud and water to enter, but we must take his word for it.
We have frequently called attention to the fact that bolts which have a shoulder formed in them near the middle can be first bolted down to the axle, thus making it impossiltle for water to enter, and the spring clips
tightened down later. A plentiful application of grease to both bolt and hole will help matters.
A Useful Addition to a Lathe Chuck.
THE universal or
self-centring chuck is to be found on every garage lathe, but the independent or fourjaw chuck is not considered an essential part of the ordinary garage equipment. Apart from the errors that develop in chucks, it is often necessary to hold such an article as a gearwheel by the boss, and
to set the teeth running' true whilst a bush is bored* In many instances the boss may not be true with the teeth, so some means of adjustment for truth is needed.
The suggestion sent us by " H.F.B.," of Leicester, provides a simple means whereby a universal chuck can instantly beconverted to an independent or adjustable chuck, without removing the job from the jaws. The device consists of a plate of east-iron interposed between the. ordinary back plate and the chuck body. The ordinary hack plate should be turned in place so that its outer edge runs truly, then four flat places should be fortned by grinding or, if possible, by milling, as shown in the centre nod the right-hand view of an accompanying drawing. A casting, as indicated in all the views, should have four places, which can be bored to fit the back plate
accurately. While in place the outer part Can be turned and a projection or register made to fit the universal chuck to be mounted This plate is best secured to the chuck by bolts, as shown in the left-hand view. Four radial holes are drilled and tapped in the centre plate for screws (fine-thread hollow grubscrews answer well for this purpose). Bolts or studs hold the centre Plate to the back plate as shown in the left-hand view. Segmental slots, allowing one. eighth of a turn, should be cut in the back plate so that the centre plate can assume either of the positions shown in the centre view, where all is concentric, or as shown on the right, where eccentricity is permitted by setscrews.
A Plumb-bob Tip.
WHEN a chassis has met with an
accident and lining up has to he done, it is usual to arrange straightedges across the frame and to hang from them strings at the ends of which are weights so as to ensure that they drop vertically from the straight-edges. Trouble is usually experienced with such weights because they will swing round and take a long time to settle down. A correspondent, " W.H.J." cf lIarringay, has experienced this trouble and 'has overcome it in a very simple manner. The form of weight which he prefers is a ring, such as a large washer of a thrust bearing. This he ties to a string, so that it is just a little way above the ground, and when in place he slightly raises it, placing a pot of oil so that the washer shall rest in it without touching the sides.