A New Maudslay Passenger Model
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The Marathon, a Light Chassis for 39-seater Bus or 32-seater Coach
WELL kNOWN as a maker of highVic quality individually built commercial vehitles, the Maudslay' Motor Co., I.td.; Coventry, is introducing for 1.938 two new passenger chasgis and a new goods model. Of these, particulars of. • only one machine are as yet available. This is the Marathon, a chassis designed to form the basis 'of a 32-seater coach or a 39-seater bus.
A forward-control model,it has a petrol engine with four cylinders measuring 114 aim. by 130 mm., rated at 32.5 h.p. and developing 81.5 b.h.p.,
and it weighs, in chassis form, only 2 tons 17i cwt.
The frame comprises side members of Maudslay girder section, kicked up over the rear axle and braced by tubular cross-members supplemented by a sturdy, specially shaped member at the front and a deep pressing which carries the propeller-shaft centre bearing. Supporting the engine and gearbox at thite points there is a .chatmel-section sub-frame, rubber mountings being employed to isolate engine vibration, Throughout the structure bolts are exclusively used.
Running in five bearings, the largediameter crankshaft is dynamically and statically balanced. Tubular rods connecting the crankpins with die-cast light alloy pistons of unusual length. These have hollow gudgeon pins retained by cirdips.
An enclosed vertical shaft at the front of the engine drives, through bevels, an overhead camshaft. Provision is made for easily breaking this drive when it is desired to lift off the single casting that forms the cylinder head. In the valve gear there are no rockers, operation of the valves, by the wide cams, being through hardened and ground steel dash-pots running in oil.
Pressure lubrication is used to the main bearings and big-ends. In the system is an Auto-Klean filter, interconnected' with the clutch pedal so that it is automatically cleaned in driving. A magneto is employed for the ignition system and the carburetter is acces
sibly placed on the near side of the power unit.
Four speeds are afforded by the gearbox, , which has sturdy shafts and hardened and ground gears. The final drive is by underslung worm gear, incorporating a hardened steel worm and phosphor-bronze wheel, thread and teeth being polished.
Braking is by Dewandre triple vacuum servo, the lever working on only the rear wheels. Marks steering gear is employed, and long, flat, graduated springs ensure smooth travel.
A choice, of tyre equipment is offered: the wheels may be shod with either 36 x 8.25 or 22 x 210 tyres. Fuel is drawn by an Autovac from an off-side-mounted 96-gallon tank. The constant-voltage dynamo is very accessible, and driven by an easily adjusted silent chain, An Exide battery is specified.
The main dimensions are as follow:— Wheelbase, 17 ft. 7f ins.; overall length, 27. ft.; back of driver's seat to rear of . frame, 23 ft. Of in.; frame height, 26f ins.; frame width, 3 ft. 41 ins.; and width over tyres, 7 ft. 5 ins.