THE FIAT ONE-TON LORRY.
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ANEW MODEL 1-ton Fiat lorry is now being marketed by Fiat Motors, Ltd.:, of Turin and Wembley, the chassis being known as the F2, and being designed to meet the demand for a medium-powered vehicle capable of carrying a gross load of 30 cwt, or an actual working load .td 1 ton. We are indebted to the Midland Counties Garage Co., Ltd., of Paradise Street, .Biriningham, for the following particulars taken from the first of these chassis handled by them in their Capacity as distributing agents for Fiat vehicles bathe Birrningham district.
The engine, which, at first sight, impresses one as being rather too small to develop the 30 brake h.p. claimed for it, has four cylinders Cast en bloc, each with a bore and stroke of SO min. by 140 mm. respectively. All Valves are bites-changeable, both inlets and exhausts being on the same side of the engine and having adjustable tappets. A neat and 'easily removed inspection plate, secured by two bo/Ls, fits over all the valves and adds considerably to the generally clean outline of the power unit. Cast-iron pistons are employed, each of which is fitted with four rings. The connecting rods are of steel, and are fitted with White-metal lined phosphor-lin:inn bearings. The crankshaft is of sturdy design and runs, in three phosphor-bronze bearings lined with white metal, the bearings being so constructed that the crankshaft is carried by the upper half of the base chamber.
Fitted to the back of the base chamber is an oil pump driven by the crankshaft, and oil is drawn up from the base by this pump, and is /circulated through the hollow crankshaft to the main bearings. A commendable feature-of the lubrication system of the Fiat F2 is the provision of automatic oiling to certain of the chassis members. The main delivery pipe is provided with a two-way union, i one of which leads is normally n constant circuit with the engine. The second pipe may be brought into work at will, by pressure of a button mounted on the dash, and delivers oil to the steering box and to the
front axle fork pivot pins. Cooling is effected by means of a centrifugal pump assisted by a radiator of the gilled tube type, ,of ample area and of substantial construction to withstand the rough wear and tear inseparable from commercial
vehicle work. In order further to minimize the possibilities of damage from excessive vibration when travelling over rough roads the radiator is mounted on special trunnion brackets. The efficiency of the cooling is further accentuated by. the action of an aluminium fan fitted behind the radiator: • Ignition is by 'high-tension magneto, and the timing wheels and worm gear for driving the magneto and water pump are enclosed in an oiltight aluminium ease, situated in front of the engin& Variable control is provided for the magneto, and is operated by a lever mounted on the steering wheel. Instead of bringing this control out from the bottom of the steering box as is often done, the Fiat co. have evolved an ingenious system of control, most of. the moving parts of which are neatly mounted on the oil base casting, in .a position where they ire less liable to collect mud splashed from the front wheels: .
: The -carburetter is a special Fiat pattern of improved twin-jet design and embodies a neat, throttle stop easily adjustable from the driver's seat. The drive is taken through a clutch of the latest improved Fiat oilles.s multiple steel disc pattern, to a gearbox' of the double sliding type; giving four forWard speeds
and one reverse. • . The gear-actuating lever is mounted on tl e off-side frame member and operates through a gate quadrant. The gearshafts are of large diameter, machined from chrome nickel steel and run on ball bearings. Hardened andd, ground forged nieltel steel. is,employecLin the mamilaeture of the gears, and all selector rods
and operating mechanism are enclosed in the gearbox, which is provided with .'a large inspection WIrei. From the gear
Lox the transmission is by cardan shaft to the rear axle. •
The el:instruction of the rear axle casing and torque tube is a favourite one with. Italian designer, and is noteworthy since the numerous joints of the more usual type of live axle easing have been entirely eliminated. In the Fiat design, T-shaped steel pressings are employed, and are bolted together in such mariner that the rear portion, or the head of.the T, forms a casing for the crown wheel, pinion and differential. The stem of the T acts as a torque tube, the forward end of which
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terminates in a forked bracket hinged to cross member of the frame.This tube contains the cardan shaft, 'which, with the' axle shafts,. -la relieved of all strains • and stresses other than the actualArive. The frame itself is of pressed steel of aneXecptionally strong -section, and is ,stipported by long semi-elliptical steel springs of ample length to 'ens-tire easy siding... It is claimed' that, in the' mannfaCtUre' of these .Spring particular care has been taken in the tempering and setting, and 'there se'enis little dotibt that, in--con junction 'With the teVin Pneurnatie tytet'employed on 'threar .wheels,this chassis should ride v-eiy, steadily under varying load and road conditions. ,
The steering gear is of the worm and pinion type, irreversible and easily manipulated. Two brakes are fitted, one being a pedal-operated external-contracting foot brake working on a drum fitted to the main shaft of the gearbox, and the other a side brake actuated by a hand lever and working on the back wheels. The side brake rods are fitted with an extremely simple form of compensation device, which ensures an even pull on both sets of shoes.
The wheels are pressed steel dished discs, detachable and interchangeable, and are fitted with 815 mm. by 105 ram. pneumatic tyres. Single discs and tyres are employed for the front wheels, and two discs and two tyres for each rear wheel. At the back of the frame is fitted a petrol tank, which holds approximately 12 gallons of fuel. The petrol is fed to the Carburetter by pressure from the ex• haust, gauze filters being so fitted as to obviate any risk: of explosion. The necessary petrol gauge and instruments are fitted to 4. dash made of pressed steel, and the equipment, as standard for every chassis includes seven detachable disc wheels and six pneumatic tyres. The price at which the chassis retails is £540, which compares very favourably with other 1-tanners at present on the market.
Principal dimensions are as follow Wheelbase, 9 ft. 4 ins.; wheel track, 4 ft. 8 ; overall length, 13 ft. 9 ins.;
space available for laody, 9 ft. 101 ;
total weight, 20 cwt.