The New Fordson as a Six-wheeler
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IN our. issue dated July 19 we published a full description and roadtest report on a 4-ton rigid six-wheeler, incorporating the Ford 2-ton chassis, converted according to the Longframe system by Scammell and Nephew, Ltd., Fashion Street, London E.1. We have now had an opportunity for inspecting the new Fordson 2-ton chassis con
verted in the same way, but incorporating one or two minor modifications.
In the new outfit the Fordson semielliptic springs are employed, these being reinforced by six-leaf helper springs bolted up to the Fordson springs by means of longer U-bolts ; the auxiliary springs make contact under load with pad brackets riveted to the sides of the main frame members: The bronze-bushed shackle, which connects the rear end of each spring to the front of the balancer arm, has been improved, and the roller bearings of the cross-shaft carrying the two balancer arms are 12 cm. instead of 10 cm. in diameter. A fabricated bracket member, riveted to the frame, holds the cross-shaft at each end, and a Fin. bolt, passing through this bracket as well as through the crosstube and the short shaft threaded into it, secures the assembly.
Bowden flexibly enclosed cables are, as before, employed for the final stage of brake-power transmission to the trailing wheels' but these now have centrally disposed lubrication nipples and extra brake-pull-off springs. The compensator device between driving-wheel and trailing-wheel brakes is now omitted and standard Ford brake adjustments are relied upon.
The company is specializing in an inexpensive drop-side body for vehicles of this kind. Having an overall width of 6 ft. 3 ins, and a length of 12 ft. to 15 ft., according to requirements, the body costs £25, the specification including ash frame, cross-bearers, etc.