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WAYS AND MEANS.
Page 109
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Useful Contributions From Our Driver and Mechanic Readers.
An Improvised Humidifier.
1\TOTICING that the engine of his II lorry always ran better on damp days than on dry days, and that on hot days he always obtained better results when the dew had formed, "112.0s" of Rochford, Essex, decided' to try and produce an artificially humid atmosphere in his induction pipe, and to add dampness to his mixture by drawing off steam from the radiator.
To carry out this idea he drilled a hole in the air inlet pipe, not between the engine and the carburetter, and fitted a pipe from here to the end of the overflow pipe of the radiator. A tap was provided in the pipe so that the degree of humidity can be regulated.
We have slightly altered his sketch by turning over the end of the overflow pipe to prevent water from passing down it while filling up. A drain cock in the lowest part of the pipe nft.ht add tothe usefulness of the device, as it would enable any condensation to be cleared out.
A Simple Home-made Inspection Lamp.
ALL who have had experience in
garage work know the difficulty of keeping the lamps used for inspection in order. When working underneath a vehicle a lamp usually lies on the floor, with the 'result that it soon becomes so dirty that half its light is lost.
In this connection " W.G.F.," of Reading, sends us a simple design for a lamp, which he tells us he has found most useful.
The base consists of a piece of wood 8 ins. by 8 ins. by 1 in., and has a standard ceiling-lamp holder fixed to it with screws. Two or more loops made of -11-in. wire are riveted and soldered into an old rear-wheel washer, which is screwed down to the wood. Finer wire is wound round and soldered to the larger wire. A piece of .4-in. by 1-in, steel makes the handle, which also acts as a hook for hanging up the lamp.
As the wires of inspection lamps often get broken by persons catching their feet in them as they lie on the ground, it is a good plan to cut the wires so that one is longer than the other where they separate, thus in the event of their being accidentally pulled away they do not make contact and so burn the fuse.
Metal Linings for Brake Shoes.
WE give details of a letter received from " E.F.F.," of Bermondsey, not because We agree with him, but as a warning that brass—or what is commonly known as gunmetal—is a very dangerous material to use for brake shoes. It is well known to most workers in metal that both these metals become brittle, and will crumble `when heated to a certain temperature.
• Our correspondent points out that there are many lorries still running in which iron is used as a lining for the brake shoes which work on steel drums on the transmission shaft. He points
that on a Wolseley lorry he has cured this by filing the worn part until it is even, and then lining it with a strip of phosphor-bronze or even brass. He appears to have had no trouble, but in all probability he does not realize the risk he is running, as should the heat generated reach the crumbling point of the yellow metal he would find his lining turn to granulated brass and fall out in small particles, leaving him without a brake.
We were present at an inquest on 14 passengers who were killed on a hill through this very cause; the brass shoes simply crumbled to pieces, small particles of blackened brass being picked up on the hill where the runaway had occurred. Copper can be used foe this purpose, but even this is not looked upon with favour by those who have had large experience of its use.
A Tool for Removing Balls from Ball Valves.
BALLS are used in the valves of many parts, such as boiler-feed pumps, forced lubrication systems, hydraulic tipping gears, etc., and it is sometimes necessary to remove them for inspection and other purposes. A correspondent, of Letchworth—who has omitted to send his name.—En.—has experienced difficulty in removing such balls, and has made a tool which, having found of use to him, he thinks might benefit others if he gives a description of it.
The tool is very simple, consisting merely of a piece of metal tube of a convenient size, which is split up at one end by making two saw-cuts along it, thus forming four prongs. This tool he forces over the ball, and, having sufficient spring in it, it grips the ball and lifts it out of the pump. In some cases he has found that smearing the tool -with thick yellow grease will help to lift a ball where it is . not easy to get a good grip with the tool.
A Very Practical Suggestion.
A VERY practical suggestion is made by " J.K.," of Glasgow, and it may be of value to drivers. He says, "As lorries and buses sometimes break down on the road it is best to carry a handbook containing get-you-home tips. A very good one can be made up by taking the 'Ways and Means' page from The Commercial Motor every week and separating the, tips into different subjects, pasting them into a school exercise book. A complete index could easily be compiled from time to time, so that the various remedies for things that may happen on the road can be looked up instantly."
A further suggestion from the same correspondent is that drivers might compile for themselves a small book (4 ins. by 2 ins., is suggested) in which they could make diagrams of the change-gear operations of various lorries and cars, so that should they be called upon at any time to drive a strange vehicle they could instantly look up the movements necessary for the changing of gears.