RUNNING, UPKEEP AND OVERHAUL.
Page 31
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Interesting Contributions from Maintenance Engineers, Drivers and Mechanics.
Some Useful Tail-light Tips.
THAT the time is approaching -when all drivers will be overhauling their lighting systems is pointed out by " A.G.M.," of Haddington, who used to fit his number plate low down as shown in his upper figure, which he found to be convenient on account of it throwing a beam of light on the road which he could see by now and then looking backwards. This, however, he found to be a dangerous habit, as it took his eyes off the road. Another fault he found with this position was that a low number plate afforded an ideal step for children who hung on behind, sometimes damaging the plate and getting. him into trouble.
As a temedy, to these two evils he fixed the plate higher, as shown in the lower figure, so that it could not be used as a step. So as to be able to ascertain whether his rear light was all in order he fixed a small lamp in the circuit on the dash, as shown in the diagram at the right, the positive wire going to the dash lamp and the negative wire direct to the tail lamp. The dash lamp, he points out, can be painted red to prevent dazzle, also treated in this manner it forms a convenient spare should the tail light give out.
For vehicles that are delivered to the user complete with an electric lighting outfit it would appear to be a good suggestion that such a lamp should be fitted as a standard.
The Breakage of Radiator Bolts Prevented.
THE driver of a 2-ton Vulcan, " J.A.L.," of South Shields, appears to have been annoyed for some time by breakages of the bolts which hold the radiator to the frame. His experience appears to have been somewhat unusual, for he tells us that he line had dozens of these bolts break during the past year.
The trouble became so acute that he was compelled to devise some means whereby it could be ended. His drawing shows how he dealt with the matter. Between the frame and the radiator he placed three layers of rubber, then a longer bolt than usual was procured and a spring and washer placed under the nut. Since fitting this arrangement he assures us that he has had no further trouble.
The Prevention of Pinking. ONE of our correspondents, who tells us that he has read our page of suggestions by mechanics and drivers for many years with great interest, opens up a snbject which may prove of interest to many, namely, "pinking." There are few things more aggravating to one who has to drive a vehicle than continual pinking of the engine. It is not only annoying to the driver, but to the passengers on a bus or coach. " A.R.D." appears to have experienced this trouble when driving an A.E.C. vehicle fitted with aluminium pistons and having fixed ignition. The remedy he has adopted, which he tells
us has greatly reduced the trouble, is to raise the cylinders by placing a fibre packing under them. For a 35 h.p. he uses y-in. and for 45 h.p. he uses 2-32-in, thick packing. He assures us that the less of power is trifling and is more than compensated for by the ability to hang on longer on top gear when climbing slight hills. We do not as a rule encourage departures from the original design by those who have to handle vehicles, but in this case we believe the trouble would not have arisen had the vehicle been fitted with controllable ignition.
Overheating of a Peerless Engine. A TROUBLE with some Peerless en gines is persistent overheating, and in this connection "HR.," of Longhope, suggests that the first thing to ensure is that the strainer in the pipe under the pump is quite free. Following this, the pump itself should be checked over for excessive wear of the pinions, spindles and bushes. Grease from the pump often clogs the radiator tubes, which should be washed out with hot caustic-soda solution.
A Trouble with Single-plate Clutches Remedied.
HAVING the maintenance of a fleet of
lorries which are fitted with singleplate clutches, a correspondent, ' G.A.G.," of Leeds, tells us he found that after a certain amount of wear the single plate would wear away the material so much that the recesses formed would allow the two facings to meet at their outer edges, thus having no grip on the plate which lies between them, as shown in his sketch, and allowing the clutch to slip, with the usual results.
To remedy this defect he bevelled the outside edges of the facings to an angle of 45 degrees, so that they stood clear of each other, as shown in the drawing inset.
He does not tell us how he managed to bevel the edges, as to turn a fabric of asbestos and brass wire in a lathe is not an easy matter.