RUNNING, UPKEEP AND OVERHAUL.
Page 67
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Interesting Contributions from Maintenance Engineers Drivers and Mechanics.
Broken Magneto Rocker. arm Springs..
SOM time back the subject of 'broken R rocker-arm springs was opened in this page, with the result that we had a great many letters suggesting a number of remedies which can be carried out on the road. Pieces cut from old tin pots, rubber bands, etc., were mentioned as means that had been used for temporarily bringing the magneto back to a useful condition. So numerous were these letters that one sufferer took the matter up with some of the makers of such machines, suggesting several useful means whereby the trouble might be avoided or more easily repaired on the road. The result was a denial that the springs eves broke, and a suggestion that the trouble existed only in the imagination of the very numerous writers who had taken the trouble to tell us of their misfortunes.
One suggestion which struck us as beiug particularly practical was that every magneto should be turned out -with a spare spring attached to it by means of screws or spring clips, so that in the event of a breakage the renewal would only be a matter of a few minutes.
In the present case a correspondent, " C.A.B.," of Woodbridge; Suffolk, tells us that in one instance with which be had to deal a driver had had six of these springs break A. :thin a fortnight Knowing that there must be some unusual cause for such frequent breakages, our correspondent took the magneto from the engine and examined it. He found that the fibre block in the rocker arm had worn considerably. To preserve the correct distance between the platinum points, the i.djusting screw had been screwed back as shown in his sketch. Although the spring was not touching the Cams, he considered that the wear of the fibre block was putting an unusual strain on the spring, so he renewed the block, which appears to have brought matters back to normal, as up to now there has been no more trouble with broken springs.
Experience with a Steam Roller.
ONE of our correspondents, " A.H.," of Tamworth, who drives a steam roller, says that many people look upon a steam-roller driver's life as an "allhoney job "; we cannot, however, say that we ever shared this opinion, Fourteen years of steam-roller driving have, however, shown him that there are a few little troubles connected with the life.
His roller is, like many others, fitted with a scarifier, which, when not in use, can only be raised about 3 ins, from the ground. When crossing a channel Or depression the wheel may sink in so deeply that the scarifier will sometimes catch in the ground and stop the engine from moving forward, as the driving wheel may be lifted clear. This trouble, he tells us, may be overcome by wrapping a sling chain, which all drivers of such machines carry, around the rim
of the wheel, thus causing the scarifier to let go its hold of the ground.
He tells us that one of his mates was killed some time back through the scarifier catching in the ground just as he was entering a yard, thus leaving his living van acros6 the road on a dark, foggy night, and while the driver was trying to signal to an approaching motorcar with his red lamp the car ran into him,
A Tip for Electrical Rork.
A USEFUL tip is sent us by " of Highbury, who points out that many of the electrical troubles from
which motor Tehicle,s suffer are due to a wire corning loose through the vibration moving it first in one direction, then in another, eventually loosening the net which secures it to its terminal. Even Iocknuts do not entirely overcome the tendency that nuts such as those used for holding wires have to come loose.
Trouble is often experienced with nuts working free in electric devices that are not subjected to vibration, so how can we expect the electric equipment of a motor lorry to be trouble-free unless some special care be taken to secure the nuts? His plan is extremely simple, and is one that he has seen used in other branches of mechanical work. It consists of making nuts of either hard sole leather or vulcaeised fibre. One of these nuts, he tells us, will, if screwed down on the top of an ordinary nut, absolutely prevent any looseness from occurring,
Saving Oil on Steamers.
THE lubricators which are generally
used on steam wagons for introducing oil to the bearings are usually of the kind where a worsted " trimmer, ' either of the syphon or the pl. ; type, is employed. These lubricators work well, but, as pointed out by " .W.," of Dewsbury, they work equally well at night as by day.
The oil being used up by the bearing only in the day, an accumulation collects during the night and at week-ends. This he finds wastes oil and makes a mess in the place where the steamers are kept. He points out that these trimmers may be taken out at night, but this is a long job, and dirt can easily be introduced.
To overcome this difficulty and to provide a means whereby the flow of oil can be stopped in all such lubrica
A Piston Assembly Tip.
THE following tip is sent us by " G.G.G.," of Norwich ;—That type of gudgeon pin which is secured by a setscrew which tightens the small end of the connecting rod is in some cases difficult to position accurately.
When new bushes have been fitted to the piston and no screwdriver slots are provided on the ends of the gudgeon pin, lining the machined slot with the two holes in the rod, so that the setscrew will enter, is a tedious job. If a couple of short setscrews, with leads slightly smaller than. the gudgeon pin, be slipped into each end of the gudgeon pin, the latter can be held in a vice.