The Motor Drivers News.
Page 17
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Jointing Material.
" E.J.II." (Chepstow) writes :—" I am writing with reference to a letter from R.O.,' which appeared in your issue of 7th December, asking for information as to the best packing to use for cylinder and steam-chest covers. I have been driving a steam wagon of a well-known make for the last four years, in this district, and, as most of your readers know, it is a very hilly one. For the first twelve months after I took charge of the vehicle, I had a great deal of trouble. I could never complete a journey without some of the joints giving way,. and, speaking generally, it was the blowing out of the joints on the cylinder covers which gave by far the most trouble. After a lot of experimenting, I hit at last upon the following dodge, which I have always used since that time. I cut two thin sheets of asbestos exactly the sam.e in every detail, and I then lay between them a similarly-shaped piece of fine brass gauze. When joints arc made in this way, and the nuts subsequently screwed up, the wire gauze becomes embedded in the asbestos, thereby making it almost an impossibility for the jointing to be blown out. It is, in addition to its other advantages, a most economical plan, as the jointing will last intact for years. The asbestos in my cylinder covers is over three years ,ad, and, whenever T have to take the covers off to look at the piston, or rings, I replace the cover with the same joint. I think that, if R.O.' will try my method, he will find it very successful."
A Broken Driving Chain.
" A.A.N." (Tottenham) sends the following letter :— " The incident which I herewith relate will, I think, he of general interest to drivers of motor vehicles. I had to make a journey to East Grinstead a short time ago, and, on my return journey, after passing through Godstone, my nearside driving chain broke in two places. To add to the general unpleasantness of things it was raining hard. I carried the broken chain to a milestone which happened to be only a few yards away, and I there chiselled away the broken links. I was, fortunately, able to find some good links in my repair box, and with these I repaired the chain. So far, so good. .1 was getting along at a good pace through Purleywhen the chain again broke in three fresh places. It was now very late, and I had no spare links nor could I buy any at that hour of the night. I was, thus, left to my own resources. I had noticed that the chainless sprocket rotated, when the car was in gear, whilst the one on the opposite side remained stationary, being locked by the chain, so I utilised this point in the following manner : slipped the broken chain over the teeth of the near side sprocket and bound the two free ends around the radius rod; this prevented the sprocket from rotating. I started up the engine and let the clutch in gently, and, eventually, reached home, having depended entirely upon the off-side chain. I also made up for lost time as I• did the journey from Purley to the east end of London in one hour.
"1 enclose a list of journeys which I made upon my petrol van, fitted with a 16h.p. engine. The average load carried is one ton, and some of the journeys extend to a hundred miles. I start away about so a.m. and arrive home as near 8 p.m. as I can manage to do."
No of
Journey. Oct. Nov. Dec.. 1, Hatfield, Welwyn, Knebworth, Stevenage, Hitc.hin, Letchworth, Baldock, Royston, Buntingford, Harlow, Epp
ing, Bishops Stortford ... 17 14 12. 2 Walton-on-Thames, Weybridge, Addlestone, Chertsey, Byfleet, \Yoking, Ripley, Guildford, Godalming, Cob
ham, Esher, Thames Ditton ... 18 13 -13: 3 Eltham, Sidcup,Chislehurst, -St. Mary Cray, Orpington, Sevenoaks, Ton.
bridge, Tunbridge Wells ... ... 15 12 10,
4 Barking, Rainham, Purfleet, Grays, Tilbury ... 23 20 18. 5 Billericay, Wickford, Rayleigh, Roch-' ford, Southend, Prittlewell, Leigh on-Sea, Westcliff ... 11 8-19 6-17 6 Romford, Hornc.hurch, Brentwood, Ingatestorte, Chelmsford, Witham, Colchester 25 22 !lo.
7 Finehley, Barnet, Potter's Bar, Little Berkhamstead — 1-29 27 8 Purley, Kenley, Coulsdon, Merstham, Reigate, RedhilI, Horley, Crawley... 5 3-31 9 Stanmore, Bushey, Watford, Boxmoor, Hemel Hempstead, Rickmansworth,
31 28 26
10 Carshalton, Wallington, Sutton, Ewell, Epsom, Ashstead, Leatherhead,
Bookham, Dorking 2-30 21:1
11 Maidenhead, Twyford, Wargrave, Henley, Marlow, Wycombe, Bourne End,
Uxbridge, Yiewsley, W. Drayton ... II It
12 Harlesden, Wembley, Harrow, Wealdstone, Stanmore, Pinner, Northwood, Bushey, Watford, St. Albans, Har penden, Luton ... ... 24 7-21 5-19 13 Bexley, Erith, Dartford, Greenhithe, Northfleet, Gravesend, Frindsbury, Strand, Rochester, Chatham, Gilling ham, Brompton 26 23 21 14 Feltham, Ashford, Staines, Egham, Windsor, Slough, Eton, Caversham, Reading . ... 23 -20