This Week's Prize-winner
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nUR prize-winner this week is Mr.
John Bowker, of Cheadle, Cheshire. His idea concerns vehicles with air brakes; he says that a simple male adaptor fitted to the air reservoir of such vehicles cart give many advantages. When the vehicle is in the workshop for any repair requiring the air pressure to -be maintained, the usual garage air supply can be connected to the vehicle air tank. This, Mr. Bowker points out, saves the engine being run to build up the air pressure and filling the garage with diesel fumes. It also reduces the risk of the vehicle being moved while fitters are working underneath it.
The dangers of tow starting air-braked vehicles are well known; they can be eliminated if the towing vehicle's air tank is connected to the air tank of the towed vehicle through the adaptors by a rubber pipe fitted with female connectors. II a cheap tyre inflator chuck is also supplied, complete with male adaptor, an emergency tyre inflator is also readily available. A point to watch is that the tension spring should be removed from the tap before brazing—also make sure that the seat is not damaged through heat distortion. This can easily be checked with soap bubbled in the usual way.
Comments Handyman: For an air supply in the workshop with the engine out of action, I have spare air tank drain plugs with brazed on valve stems and cores from vehicle tubes—a touch of the shop air line and the system is full and blowing off_ I do not permit an airbraked vehicle to be towed unless on rieid tow bar—never with chain or rope.