STEAM WAGON IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS.
Page 31
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Suggestions Resulting from the Experiences of Our Driver and Mechanic Readers.
THIS week we include one item which is an improvement in some respects to existing steam wagons; the remainder are points which have occurred to our readers during the course of repairs necessitated by service.
The lubrication of live axles on steam wagons is not, in some cases, as efficient as might be desired. " J.N.A.," of Woodston, suggests a. simple method of Converting some existing systems to one in which capillary action is used ; for this the weekly prize of 15s. is awarded.
In the bottom oil box an aluminium plate is arranged, which rubs on the axle shaft at all times. This plate has the same radius as the journal of the shaft, and it is held up against thelatter by means of a light coil spring. There are many boles drilled through it, and pieces of string (or worsted) are threaded through the holes, whilst portions of the string dip down into the oil well. Thus, when the wagon is running a large area of contact is available between the axle and the oil-soaked string, ensuring a certain supply of lubricant.
kLOOSENFIP flywheel on .a steam
wagon is net a very common occurrence, but it is always useful to know a simple method of handling the emergency in question. " G.T.," of High Wycombe, was held up on one occasion by the flywheel of his steam tractor becoming loose, due to the slipping of a key. The flywheel slid outwards along the crankshaft until it came into contact with the road wheel, which jammed it on the shaft. The difficulty arose in freeing the wheel in order that it might be refitted on the shaft. The key was taken away, but no amount of human effort could release it.
Paraffin was poured along the keyway and the engine was then started and stopped stveral times rather sharply. The jolting action so caused proved effective in loosening the flywheel. After wiping away all traces of paraffin, the flywheel was soon replaced and a piece of fine packing placed under the key to prevent a recurrence of the breakdown. FROM time to time many suggestions
have been published in The Commixciad Motor in connection with the -removal of fusible plugs from the fireboxes of steam vehicles. " ViT.J.H.," of Hammersmith, W.6, sends details of a device which he has made for the purpose and found effective.'
In some instances it is necessary to draw the ashes and remove the firebars in order to obtain access to the plug. With this device it is claimed that it is not necessary to remove the bars at all when undertaking the job. Two " feet " are made to go into the firebox at rightangles to each other to form a stand upon which the box-spanner may take a bearing. Each of the feet is drilled to permit a bolt to pass through ; in operation they are placed in the firebox, and a 1-in, bolt is inserted in an upright position. This bolt has a hexagon nut fixed in the centre, which bears on the upper side of the feet, and a free nut placed on the upper portion. of the thread, so that it may be screwed up and down to support the box-spanner when in use. The box-spanner is placed vertically, with the plain end over the top of the bolt and the squared end over the fusible plug. By screwing up the free nut on the bolt the spanner is pushed upwards until it obtains a firm grip.
In this way there is no fear of the spanner slipping off the plug when the tommy-bar is used to turn it. As the plug unscrews, the supporting nut most be screwed down little by little in sym
pathy until the plug comes right away from the firebox. The device occupies very little space and can easily he carried upon the wagon.
A PRACTICAL repair to a water-feed
pump is described by " S.E.F.," of &rood. The plunger and barrel were both badly worn; the latter was trued up by reamering oversize. To make a new plunger was not possible at the time, as there was no bronze available for the job. Phosphor-bronze bush metal was at hand, and this was made use of in the following way :— The old plunger had the top cut off, that is, the end which is connected to the eccentric rod. This eye-piece was used for forming part of the new plunger. It was turned down and screwed to fit into the new plunger rod, which was a piece of phosphor-bronze drilled and tapped at both ends.
The bearing metal being hollow, it was necessary to plug the end apposite to the eye. The corresponding end of the old plunger was cut off, turned down, screwed taper and fitted into the new plunger. To ensure that the joint was sound, the plug was cut off at the top of the shank and the exposed end soldered over. A three-part plunger resulted, and this has worked satisfactorily.
DRIVERS and mechanics display a wonderful amount of ingenuity hi many instances in effecting improvements to the vehicles under their care and in repairing them, often in difficult circumstances. We are always pleased to receive letters from our readers describing, and, preferably, illustrating also, any item which they consider may be of interest to others engaged in hauling and carrying.
If a file be carefully compiled from these pages it will serve as a valuable fund of information, as both direct and indirect help may he obtained therefrom.