ROADSIDE AND GARAGE.
Page 31
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A Page for Drivers, Mechanics Care of the Blower. • and Foremen.
A Coach-bolt Suggestion,
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the extra payment of 5s. this week.
(2358) " S.G.F." (Eye) writes :—" I had a somewhat harrowing experience the other day in connection with the removal of the bodywork from a chassis. It was held down by six coach-bolts, the mats of which appeared below 'the chassis, the heads being inaccessible. Two of the nuts came away quite easily, but not one of the other four would budge without the head of the bolt turning, too. All the traditional methods of freeing corroded nuts wore tried without avail, and ultimately we had to cut the bolts through with hammer and chisel.
"Now these bolts wereef the stanclord type, with cup head and square shank, as shown in the first figure of the accom.. panying sketch. The intention of the design of these bolts is good, but fulfilment is rare. Everyone knows that the coachbuilder, or indeed any ordinary woodworker, is serenely indifferent to the size of any hole he may have to drill the only essential is that it shall at least. be large enough. If he has not a drill of the right size he employs one a little larger, a course which is immediately fatal as regards the attainment of the object of the square on the shank of a coach-bolt. It therefore occurred to me that a bolt made in accordance with the. design illustrated by the second figure of the sketch would he more likely to hold against turning when the nut was being screwed on or off, and I should like to put the suggestion before your rea.ders, so that they can • let me have their opinions as to whether such bolts are obtainable, and, if not, why not#,"
(2359) "A.W." (Dowsbary) writes :— " The blower' is fitted to the steam wagon so that, by its aid, the fire, when it becomes blackened, may be brightened up. Whilst the component is invariably fitted to steam wagons, the makers' advice, in connection with it, is tants.mount to instructions not to use it at all; they hedge it round with so many restrictions. Really, I suppose so much trouble has occurreel from time to time as is result of misuse of the blower that these careful instructions are necessary in order to obviate such misuse so far as possible.
"As an example of the kind of trouble that does arise, it may be pointed out that excessive use of the blower frequently causes leaking tubes, besides occasionally an excessive strain on certain of the boiler plates. I have myself come across drivers who have clearly imagined that the principal use of the blower is that of enabling steam to be raised quickly in the -morning. With that object in view, they open it wide and leave it in that position until pressure is up, 'This, of course, is merely asking for trouble, nor is it of any use to endeavour, by the aid of the blower, to overcome slow steaming, which is caused by dirty and half-blocked tubes. On the other hand, some drivers are so chary of making use of the blower that they merely employ it to blow soot out of the smokebox after they have been cleaning the tubes. Properly used, as a matter of fact, the blower is a most useful fitting. Besides the purpose which I have already named—that of brightening a sluggish fire—it is also convenient, when using smoky fuel, as a temporary smoke abater; for instance, when passing a policeman. If the blower be employed, it throws the smoke straight up and considerably decreases its density.
" To be most effective, the blower should point straight up the chimney, and care .should be taken that it does not direct the blast against either side. I once knew a driver who would insist that the blower pipe in the chimney should point downwards. A trial with it in that position however, was most effective, causing him to revise his opinion."
'Securing Exhaust Pipe Pack Nut on a Ford.
(23601 "BM." (Stockport) writes :— "Most drivers of Ford one tea lorries and vans will h.aira experienced, at one Liaise or other, trouble, owing to the pack nut which secures the exhaust pipe to the exhaust manifold working loose, which it does; in consequence of the vibration of the vehicle. Frequently, owing to the fact that this nut is out of sight, the loosening goes on until the pipe itself drops away from the manifold. It is then a bit of a nuisance, because onellas to wait until it has cooled off a little before it is possible to replace it. After several experiences of this kind .I devised a method of aecuring this nut in place, and.n6 doubt it will be of interest. to readers of your ' Roadside and Garage' page. I have, as s matter of fact, made and fitted seveval of these little gadgets to cars and lorries other than my own, and in every case success has been achieved: " The fitting inerely'consists of a dip, made from a piece of brass sheet, I in, wide and about 5/ ins, long, with holes drilled in each end to accommodate small / in. or t5g in. bolts. The pack nut is secured tightly into places the clip is then bound on the pipe., and arranged so that it fits closely against the inside of the nut. Reference to the accompanying sketch will perhaps help any reader who fails to understand my meaning.
"1 need only mention that such a clip has for two years been in place on one machine With which I am acquainted, during which time no trouble whatever has been experienced with the pack nut."
Lamps Alight.
On Saturday, rebruary 18th, light your lamps at 5.47 in London, 5.45 in Newcastle' 5.53 in Birmingham, 5.49 in Edinburgh, 5.56 in Liverpool, 5.57 in Bristol, and 6.39 in Dublin.