AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

• MAKING BEST USE OF THE FORD.

13th January 1925
Page 19
Page 19, 13th January 1925 — • MAKING BEST USE OF THE FORD.
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport, Which Will Appeal to the Owner, Driver and Repairer

IN THIS series of hints concerning the Ford light chassis and ton truck wherever they are employed for commercial purposes, we endeavour to deal with the subject from every view-point, so that the advice given will appeal to the owner, driver, maintenauce engineer or mechanic.

We shall welcome for inclusion among the hints those which have proved of value to individual users, and will make suitable remuneration for any such information which we publish. What we desire are the results of actual practice. Readers are recommended to obtain the original "Book of the Ford," which constitutes a complete manual dealing with the Ford car, the van and the truck: 2s. 9d. post free from the offices of this journal.

273.—Fitting a Foot Accelerator to the Ford.

The driver who learns on a Ford vehicle is placed at an advantage because he at once becomes accustomed to the use of the hand throttle and the absence of an accelerator pedal, but he, or she, who drives a Ford after being long accustomed to the conventional type of vehicle finds the absence of an auxiliary pedal° somewhat trying. If necessary, however, it is a fairly simple matter to fit one. The first essential is some sort of pedal which will meet the case. This must either be made by a smith or obtained from an old car ; quite a small one, such as that used for an exhaust whistle, will suffice This pedal should be fulcrumed in a slot cut in the floorboard and connected to the carburetter in the manner illustrated.

The auxiliary pedal is fitted beside the gear pedals, and is so arranged that when in its highest position the engine is running at idling speed, the amount of throttle open when it is in this position depending on the setting of the screw provided on the carburetter.

274.—The Care of the Front-axle Radius Member.

A number of accidents to Ford vehicles has been caused by displacement of the triangulated radius rod which holds the ends of the front axle in position, and, incidentally, absorbs road shocks on the front wheels.

The ball joint at the rear end of the radius rod is attached to the crankcase by two studs provided with spring-loaded nuts. These nuts should never be splitpinned, but should be locked with a piece of strong wire passing through both studs and nuts. The front ends of the forked rod are secured under the axle to the bottom of the spring perches by means of a castle nut screwed on to each perch. With constant vibration these nuts become slightly loose on their threads, and, as the threads are of a very fine pitch, the rattling soon strips them. Following this, the split pin shears off, and the radius rods may drop down on the road and possibly jam between the setts.

The front axle, then robbed of lateral support, tilts backwards, and the front wheels may be suddenly locked over to right or left and set in that position, as it is impossible to straighten them by means of the steering wheel. Consequently, the vehicle plunges to one side or the other. • It is advisable for all mechanics and drivers to , keep a strict watch on these points, and a little attention to detail will help to minimize breakdown.

It is probable that the trouble with the perch nuts occurs because the nuts are hardened and the threaded ends of the perches are left soft, and it may be found advisable to soften the nuts and to turn a little off the face of each to allow for the fitting of a strong spring washer. After making the nuts very tight, a small tapered reamer may be passed through the castellations and the split-pin holes, and ?r-in. taper pins of the split-ended type fitted, the ends being opened so that they cannot possibly fall out.

273.—An Improvised Toolbox and Petrol-ran

Holder.

The driver of a certain Ford van discovered that there was considerable wastage of space at each side of the petrol tank, and he found that, by removing the metal covers at each side of the seat and fitting partitions at the ends of the tank, he was able to make two most useful receptacles for a spare petrol can, tools, etc.

There was no necessity to fit bottoms to these chambers, as they already existed in the van with which we are actually treating. One of the spaces holds a jack, tools and pump. and small spares, whilst that at the other side is sufficiently large for a spare tin of petrol.

If necessary, lids may be fitted, either the hinged or sliding type. No dimensions are given because these will probably vary in different vehicles.

Tags


comments powered by Disqus