ROAD AND WORKSHOP by HANDYMAN
Page 57
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Speeding-up Cleaning
VEHICLE time out of service for maintenance reasons invariably Will include some portion spent in chassis cleaning, and unless closely watched. hours can mount up before the work of repair or overhaul begins.
Oil thrown up from weak oil seals. universal joints, and so on will settle in chassis members and channels and attach itself like glue around dill, and gear casings. Add to this general road debris and the result is a cement-like coating that defies paraffin, the highpressure hose and many . chemical cleaners, and has to be scraped off laboriously by hand.
Thistask is a thankless one, particularly in winter time. Even with a -covered wash, progress can be -slow and the; finished job far from satisfactory.
There are many chemical mixtures and additives that can be brushed or sprayed on the dirty chassis. I know at least 15 that perform quite well, but need the hosepipe to finalize the job or neutralize the chemical action. Yet the end product is still the same; the chassis is wet, cold and sticky and none of the repair team is particularly keen or enthusiastic when it comes to starting work.
This particular feature or situation is a noted time waster and it can be several hours before the normal working tempo is reached, unless the chassis can be moved into a warm area. In many garages_ the wet chassis is moved over a pit, and unless a strong line is taken, the team can be moving so gingerly that little or no progress is made.
From experience of most of the solvents, solutions and the like----Land there arc, of course, many good ones that do everything claimed—there is still only one answer to a quick clean up turnround.This is steam via the portable steam cleaner. Certain of the solution! can he added to the Water-supply, or applied 'first and then steamed • off, although it is amazing just what the steam can accomplish unaided: . With the operator suitably ,clad in oilskins and waders he will roar and blast his way around thevehicle quite happily, . and in a short while the job is done, with. all corners cleared out. Aboveall, you -will now have a chassis that is 'clean, dry and warm enough to work on, with the
old money-wast irig delay feature removed. for good.
The initial outlay may appear on the high side and such an outfit considered a luxury, but with a fleet of 25 vehi,:les and upwards, time out of service is real money down the drain. When taking . into consideration that around 20 per cent of repair time is consumed in cleaning vehicle and parts, any equipment that can halve this time can be considered .a good investment.
—MONEY FOR YOU ?
Have you an idea that is worth passing on to other readers? It must relate to maintenance practice. If a panel, on which Handyman sits, considers your idea worth publishing you will receive 3 gns. when it is printed. All entries should he addressed to The Editor, whose decision will be final. Every entry must be accompanied by a signed statement that the. idea is not copyright, 'patented or somebody else's idea. Rough drawings will be adequate. It is up to you. We have the money. Do you have any ideas?