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Contributions from Drivers and Mechanics.

17th August 1911, Page 18
17th August 1911
Page 18
Page 19
Page 18, 17th August 1911 — Contributions from Drivers and Mechanics.
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TEN SHILLINGS WEEKLY for the Best Communication Received, and One Penny a Line of ten words for any thing else published.

Drivers of commercial-motor vehic es and tractors, and mechanics and foremen of garages or shops, are invited to send short contributions on any subject which is likely to prove of interest to our readers. Work. shop tips and smart repairs ; long and successful runs ; interesting photographs : all are suitable subjects. Send a post-card, or a letter, or a sketch to us—no matter how short, or how written, or how worded. We will " knock it into shape" and prepare sketches, where necessary, before publication. The absence of a sketch does not disqualify for a prise. When writing use one side of the paper only and mention your employer's nomas a guarantee of bona fides. Neither your own nor your employer's name will be disclosed. Payment will be made immediately after Publication. Address your letters to The Editor, THE COMM LL1/C/AL Moron, 7-75, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.

Removing the Valves.—By An Australian Driver.

[913] "Rac..4.0 (Sydney, N.S.W.) writes :—" I have been a regular reader of the C.M.' for the last four years and I may say that I am a great admirer of the 'D. and M.' pages. I have for some time thought that I should like to send you along a tip, feeling that it would receive consideration, even although it came from such a distance as Australia.

" It is only a little suggestion with regard to the method which I adopt when I am grinding in the valves of the engine on my wagon. All drivers of petrol vans will know the difficulty of releasing the valves from their springs vkith ease. I am aware that there are a number of special devices which are supplied by the component merchants, but these do not surpass for ease of application the use of a simple tommy-bar and of a small piece of suitably-shaped wood. The latter I cut to such a length that. it will just fit between the lower valve-spring cap and the crankcase, when the valve is fully open.

" The tominy-bar which I carry is rather a long one, because I frequently get stuck in the mud in this country, and a lever of considerable length is of great use for many purposes out here. Now I first of all see that the valve which I am going to remove is shut, and I then prise up the bottom spring cap with my tommy-bar. I press it up just. so far that I can insert the small piece of wood packing, which I have already prepared for the purpose. It will then hr found that the valve can be moved slightly from the top, to such an extent that a little working will readily allow the cotter to be removed. When the valve has to go back into position again, the spring and the washer are returned to their old positions, and the performance is repeated in the reverse direction.

" I get my C.M,' every Tuesday, but, of course, it is then a few weeks behind time. I have often wished to write to your paper, as I have been driving here and up in the hush for the last three years. T am now driving a• well-known make of lorry for one of the largest companies in Australia. My employers are going in for a fleet of vans before long. I often read of things in your paper which remind me of many of my old friends whom I knew when I was driving in London."

Cutting a Left-hand Thread with a Right-hand Tap.

The sender of the following communication has been awarded the los. prize this week.

[914] " TOBY " (Cardiff) writes :—" It occurs to me that a description of the following emergency rig for cutting a—left-hand thread without the aid of a screwcutting lathe or of left-handed dies, may interest your readers, as brake-rods, radius-rods and similar ad " Toby's " arrangement in plan.

instable parts frequently are provided with right and left-handed threads.

"A presentable thread can be cut in the following manner. Take an ordinary right-handed tap, of the standard number of threads required, and run it into a nut, hard and tight. Then take it out of the nut and cut a V groove in the latter, of such a depth that, when the tap is replaced in the tapped hole, one cutting edge of it will stand just proud of the bottom of the V, The tap should then be turned upside down after it has been inserted in this specially-prepared nut, and, with the addition of a piece of copper or some other soft material, the whole arrangement. can be held between the jaws of a vice. The copper is necessary; in order that the thread which is being cut shall not. be spoiled. The part which has to be screwed should be placed into the space between the V and the copper ; the left-hand may be then cut on it by turning it towards the left downwards. Care must be taken not to let the corner of the tap stick too deep into the V, as in that case a piece would undoubtedly be broken out of the tap."

Washing Out the Boiler with Hot Water.

[915] " C.M." (Belfast) writes " The following method of washing out boilers may be of interest to owners and drivers of tractors and steam wagons. .1fany of the engines at my present place are fitted with a T piece, which is placed on the delivery pipe between the injector and the check valve. When it is necessary for one of our boilers to be washed out, the plugs are removed in the usual way. Then another engine is brought up with its tank full. The plug is then removed from the T piece which I have mentioned, and a bend is screwed into its place, whilst, the hose-pipe end is then fastened on to the end of the bend. The injector on the ' live ' engine is then started up, and the washing out proceeds in quite a normal way. The advantages claimed foi this method are: the great force which can be obtained on the water feed for dislodging muck in small boilers which have narrow water spaces ; the washing out can be proceeded with as soon as the boiler iE blown out ; on account of the water's always being at a fairly-high temperature after passing from the injector, there is no fear of causing any injury to the boiler which is being treated, such as there would be in the case of washing out a hot. boiler with cold water."

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Locations: Cardiff, Sydney, Belfast, London

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