Drivers and Mechanics.
Page 22
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Trueing Up the Clutch and Gearshaft.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the Ws. prize this week.
[999] " R. T. " (Andover) writes:– "I send you particulars of a method for ascertaining the alignment of the clutch and the gearshaft. It sometimes happens that clutch-facings are condemned when the real fault lies in the displacement of the engine or gearshafts. When a clutch takes up the drive unevenly, and causes
the van to rock violently on starting, it is an even chance that either the engine or the gearbox are out of line. It is difficult, however, to detect which part is in error. By means of the scriber shown in the sketch [We have had this redrawn.—En.] the trouble can be located. First of all remove the clutchshaft and fix the compound-scriber on to the forward end of the shaft, by means of a slip similar to the one shown. Bend one point over until it is lightly touching the face of the wheel. A turn will then show if the face of the flywheel be true n ith the gearshaft. The outside scriber, bent to the outer surface of the wheel, will indicate whether the engine and gearbox are in the same horizontal plane. Once the fault is located, a few strips of packing under the engine lugs will quickly cure the trouble. This method can be successfully applied to nearly every kind of clutch."
Trained Drivers and Others.
[1000] " \87.P." (Balham) writes:—" Possibly some of my conclusions and experiences as a guaranteedriver of steam wagons may be of interest to you. /t is my opinion that steam wagons, in many cases, do not get a fair chance after delivery to show what they are capable of. Makers are as much to blame as drivers, for they state in their catalogues, and when endeavouring to effect. a sale, that their machines are absolutely fool-proof. The consequence is that many stupid and incompetent men are placed in charge of machines costing anything between £400 and £600. This is in direct contradiction to ordinary engineering practice, for if a man apply to a steamwagon manufacturer for a job to fire ordinary Lancashire boilers he is expected to produce references as to his ability. Yet any inexperienced man can secure a job to look after the more intricate boiler on a wagon. I was sent away with a new wagon, with instructions to show the purchaser's selected driver how to handle the machine. I gave this man a fortnight's tuition, and he then felt fully competent to take sol. charge. _happening to be in the district some litt12 Lime afterwards, I called in to see how he was getting on, and he complained that the engide groaned and squeaked, and was not giving the satisfaction that his employers had expected. I went over the oil-feed pipes on the engine, and found several of them were stopped up. You can best imagine what unnecessary wear and tear must have taken place when several bearing-surfaces were running dry.
About 12 months ago, I handed over the charge of a wagon to an unskilled and untrained man. During the six months following delivery something was always going wrong and needing repair. His employer eventually complained to my firm, who advised him to try a new driver. This he did, and the repair bills quickly showed a big reduction. It seems really absurd to expect a man who is devoid of any mechanical knowledge to become thoroughly acquainted with all the duties which driving a modern wagon entail, in the course of a week's or a month's training. The difficulties of the man who is coaching the novice are considerable. He has to give demonstrations of firing and the cleaning of fires ; of the keeping of proper levels in the gauges ; of oiling ; and of the general hang of the working parts. Following this, he has to explain the functions of the injector and the pump ; later he must instruct the novice in the using of the wheel. These duties are quite important enough in themselves, but when, in addition, the guarantee-driver is expected to show off the fine points of the wagon and the various advantages it possesses, to the owners, he has his hands full.
" The ignorance of drivers is responsible for man.1,, repair bills. An unskilled man opens the throttle fully, and the wheels fly round at a high speed, tearing the road and banging the tail of the van on the kerb. Again, when the wheels slip in going up hill, the man who is not up to his job throws down a sack, but instead of laying it flat in order that the wheels may secure a grip, he throws it in a heap, and makes it a very effectual scotch.
" I think that manufacturers who wish their machines to give the greatest satisfaction to the purchaser should train their own men. They could then make a, point of supplying skilled drivers whom they could guarantee to do credit to their machines."