Chassis Maintenance Simplified by Modern Methods
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Suitable Equipment for Spectalized Lubrication Reduces the Time and Cost Factors of Regular Chassis Maintenance. Some Upto -date Apparatus Marke ted by E. P. Barrus,
THE importance of maintaining commercial vehicles at the highest possible pitch of efficiency has never been better recognized than at the present time. Regular attention is amply repaid by reduced running costs, freedom from breakdown, and longer life, and the progress made in recent years with specialized lubrication equipment has done much to simplify and reduce the cost of routine maintenance..
The provision of a pit or an hydraulic lift, in conjunction with a pressure system, enables chassis lubrication and adjustments to be carried out with ease and certainty, and with much greater convenience for the operator. As a result, it is reasonable to assume that the work will be better (lone, and inaccessible grease nipples will not he overlooked, as so frequently happens when an ordinary hand gun is used. Further, the pressure system is not only highly efficient, but is adaptable to a number of other uses, including tyre inflation, penetrating oil spraying, engine cleaning and dust blowing, etc. The Correct maintenance Of the chassis requires the use of several grades of oil and grease, and the saving in labour costs in having these laid on" does much to offset the capital outlay on a pressure installation. Many fleet owners have already installed Complete pressure systems to cover every chassis
requirement. For the small owner, however, portable and self-contained pressure outfits are also available.
A typical and up-to-date pressure installation—the Aro--is illustrated on this page and is handled in Great Britain by E. P. Banns, Ltd., 25, Upper Thames Street, London, E.C.4.
It will be seen that every required class of lubricant is instantly available
for its special purpose. Two heavyduty boosters are provided, a feature being that they accommodate the original containers and eliminate the need for transferring lubricants from the containers to special tanks.
One booster supplies chassis lubricant, and incorporates the new Aro pneumatic hammer gun, which has a controlled delivery rate of lubricant from 1 oz. to 35 ozs, per minute. This can be supplied direct from a wall panel, or from an overhead swing arm. The second booster supplies gear lubricant, and may be used either direct from the wall panel, or in conjunction with a neat stand pipe, that is suitable for installing in pits or alongside hydraulic lifts. This stand pipe carries, in addition to the oil line and gun, a flexible pipe and pan for oil drainage. It is also equipped with a double-pointer meter, calibrated in pints and fractions of a pint, with a totalizer in gallons.
On a portable service rack are guns containing specialized non-separating or fluid lubricants, and two penetrating oil sprays are provided. -Tyre inflation can be undertaken direct from the control panel, Or via a ceiling reel or air tower. The equipment is completed by the provision of 25 ft. of air hose, fitted with the Aro speed coupler, together with nozzles, whip-end hose, and an adapter for the application of the guns to every type of nipple.
Examples of Aro portable equipment are also shown in an accompanying illustration, and these handy outfits are of value where the expense of a complete installation cannot be justified. Where no air pressure is available, portable units, with a built-in air compressor and electric driving motor, may be used.
A large range of Aro guns for every purpose is manufactured, and many are of the pneumatic-hammer. type, in which the pressure is developed by a hammer action, the air pressure being relatively low. Pressures from 7,500 lb. to 10,000 lb. are obtained in normal operation, but an adjustment provides far additional pressures of 2,000 lb. to 4,000 lb. to be available as reserve
power. A further feature of this type of gun is the provision of an adjustable air port, which permits grease-delivery regulation from one or two ounces to over 2 lb. per minute. These guns may be used for single-shot delivery, or, alternatively, more than 2,000 shots per minute can be obtained.
A useful fitment is the Aro speed coupler. This device permits the use of one air hose with any number of airoperated units. A further feature is that air pressure may be maintained in the hose, the coupler incorporating an automatic shut-off valve.
In addition to lubrication equipment the Barrus concern is also the concessionaire for the British Isles for a wide range of the Bean service equipment. The range includes a braketesting apparatus, which, it is claimed, duplicates all road conditions. Other items in the range of Bean products include a wheel aligner and a battery! charging and servicing equipment.