For DRIVERS, MECHANICS & FOREMEN.
Page 21
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A PRIZE OF TEN SHILLINGS is awarded each week to the sender of the best letter which we publish on this page ; all others are paid for at the rate of a penny a line, with an allowance for photographs. All notes are edited before being published. Mention your employer's name, in confidence, as evidence of good faith. Address, D., M. and F., " The Commercial Motor," 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C. 1.
Lamps Alight—
On Saturday, the let June, light your lamps at 9.34 in London, 10.44 in Edinburgh, 10.1 in Newcastle, 9.57 in Liverpool, 9.47 in Birmingham, 9.44 in Bristol, and 10.39 in Dublin.
Dummy Centres for Shafting.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the Ws, prize this week.
[1861] " Toby " (Cardiff) writes :--" When commencing to straighten a shaft recently, I found that the centres had been so badly used that they were useless ai$ such. Some other means of holding the shaft between the lathe centres had, therefore, to be devised, and I made the simple fitting as -shown in the sketch herewith (which we have had redrawn.—En.). As this 'dummy centre,' as it may be called, has proved of service on many occasions since, the following description may be serviceable to the readers of your 'D. M. and F.' page.
" Its cost is practically nil, the material being scrap ends of mild steel shafting somewhat larger in dianieter than the shaft which it is desired to centre. having selected the material, it is only necessary to bore it, the diameter of the hole being a little larger than that of the largest shaft upon which the fitting Will be used ; then to drill and tap it round the edge, as shown, for three adjusting screws. Further description is unnecessary. The reader, by reference to the sketch, will realize all that is required. This type of fitting is particularly useful when mounting pieces of tubing in the lathe. There is considerably less friction on a centre of this kind than with the usual large fitting of the same nature."
Overhauling Spring Connections.
[1862] " W.L.W." (Surrey) writes :—" When overhauling lorry chassis, it is almost invariably found, if i
the vehicle has been n any considerable use, that the spring shackles and shackle •pins are in a bad state. The direction which the wear has taken depends greatly, of course, on the design of the shackles and pins, and I think the loose-plate type of shackle is the worst offender in this class. Very frequently, in such cases, does the bolt become partially seized in the spring bush, causing the small dowel peg, whichlis nsually fitted to prevent motion of the pin in the shackle, to be sheared .off. Afterwards, of course, the pin or bolt becomes stationary in the spring eye, and rapidly wears the holes in the shackles. As a result,
it is generally necessary, in the course of the-overhaul, to renew both shackles and pins.
"When renewing,. I think the best plan is to make the bolts a driving fit in the shackles, and to braze them to the inner shackle in each case. This very effectually prevents the bolt from turning in the shackle, and my experience has shown that both shackles and pins may easily be hardened after the brazing without disturbing the work already performed on them."
The Steam Wagon as a Kettle Boiler.
[1863] " F.E.D." (Norwich) writes The following is perhaps a little bit out of the ordinary a.s a contribution to the 'D. M. and F.' page, but vehicles of all kinds are called upon in these days to undertake such unusual duties that I feel sure that it is worthy.of a place in that page. It was recently my pleasant duty to convey the materials and accessories for a sports meeting which was largely attended by convalescent soldiers. On the day of the sports it . was discovered that those responsible for the organizing matters had overlooked the necessity for hot water for the tea and refreshments which fcrm such an essential feature of a meeting of this kind.
"I was fortunately able to be of very considerable assistance, and finally solved the difficulty in the following manner. I disconnected the steant ripe from the injector and coupled it up to a length of pipe and conveyed the steam to the copper, which was fortu-nately arranged to be heated if necessary by the use of steam. I found that it was only necessary to open the steam valve very slightly, and yet was able to keep up a plentiful supply of hot water, not only for cooking purposes, but,. for washing up, etc., afterwards."