A PRIZE OP TEN SHILLINGS is. awarded each week to
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the sender of the best letter which we publish on this page; all others paid for at the rate of a penny a line, with an allowance for photographs. All notes are edited before being publigted. Mention your employer's name, in confidence, as evidence of good faith. Address D., M, and E., " The Commercial Motor," 7-25, Itosebery Avcnue, London, E.C, .amps Alight, Light your lamps at 4.38 in London, 4.26 in Edinburgh, 4.26 in Newcastle, 4.40 in Liverpool, 4.40 in Birmingham, 4.48 in Bristol, and 4.58 in Dublin.
A Torque-rod Repair.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded" the 10s. prize this week.
[1100] " J.H." (Leyland) writes :—" I have occasionally found in the course of long repairing experience that in the case of chassis fitted with a torque rod which is attached to the axle case by set screws, these set screws break off rather frequently, or, alternatively, they are discovered with the thread stripped. I have found that this difficulty when met
with may be overcome by fitting a steel ferrule round the set screw in recesses both in the torque rod and in the rear axle case. The sketch which I include [We have had this redrawn.—En.] will assist in explaining my meaning. It will be noted that both axle case and torque rod are drilled, the holes being concentric with those for the set screws, about in. bigger in diameter than the set screw' and in. deep. The ferrules should be a good fit in their respective holes, at least as regards their diameters, a. little clearance in a longitudinal direction is admissible.
"If the thread is stripped it will frequently be found that it has gone from both screw and hole in the coating. Moreover, there is seldom sufficient. metal to allow of a larger hole being drilled and tapped. In such a case the tap may be packed out by fitting into the hole along with it a taper piece of thin sheet steel. This will enlarge the hole and thread sufficiently for the purpose, but will necessitate special bolts being made. "Both of these two hints are useful and may be applied in other parts of the chassis than the torque rods. The steel ferrules are useful where bolts are in shear and give trouble through breaking too frequently. Packing a tap with a piece of sheet metal
Is useful when a stud is too tight for a tapped hole and when stocks and dies are not available for reducing its diameter."
A Difficulty with a Steamer.
[1701] " A.W." (Dewsbury) writes I recently had difficulty on a Yorkshire steam wagon owing to the second-motion shaft heating up. A plentiful supply of oil was provided, but this apparently made no difference, and the heating-up continued. I then discovered that there was a considerable amount of play in the shaft with its bearing, and meantime ordered a pair of new bushes. On examination. however, I found that both bush and shaft were worn, the latter on one side only. It should be explained that the bush was in the wheel, which ran on the shaft ; the pull of the chain caused the wear, and, as the shaft was stationary, this took place only on the side further away from the driven chain wheel. It was, unfortunately, too late to consider purchasing a new shaft—the lorry was wanted ; fortunately an idea occurred to me, and I turned the shaft round; this was quite a satisfactory solution, and the shaft is still in use, being practically as good as new. It must not be forgotten, however, that the grooves in the shaft for grease and oil had to be altered to suit the rearrangement."