FORD VAN POINTERS.
Page 21
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By R. T. Nicholson (Author of "The Book of the Ford ").
MR. EDITOR has gently chidden me for devoting too much space to certain very elementary matters. My idea was to begin with the very beginners, and at the very beginning, because the Editor and I receive so many requests from beginners for advice. So I must deal with those elements in their turn because of their importance.
510.—First-aid in Driving.
The phrase, "First-aid,' may be 4. bit unfortunate, as seeming to imply that there are big risks in beginning to drive.
Personally, I believe in impressing the beginner with the fact that there are big risks in driving. The driver ought at all times to take his job seriously. He is put in charge of a mass of metal with 20 hp. behind it. Such a mass, impelled by such a force, is capable of working mischief unless skilfully Controlled.
In teaching the beginner I always concentrate on one vital point: I try to get him to make up his mind what he is going to do if he gets into a tight corner. Little else matters at first. With the engine at rest, I make him do several times over just what he ought to do if he gets into that tight corner—pull the handbrake lever right home, not more suddenly than is necessary, but nevertheless promptly.
The real control in emergencies is the hand-brake lever, which governs what is known as the emergency brake. It is the brake that is intended for use in tight corners. It throws the clutch put, and at the same time puts the back-wheel brakes hard on. Its regular use for braking the van is not to be recommended, because it wears out rather rapidly if regularly used. This caution does not apply to its use on the ton-truck, for on that it is much more sturdily made, and its use there is preferable to use of the foot brake.
In really tight corners, when the hand brake is used, it is unnecessary to depress the clutch pedal because the backward movement of the hand-brake lever itself frees the clute-h, so that the engine no longer tends to drive the back wheels, and the back brakes stop them turning, so that the vehicle is promptly brought to rest—when it is running.
But get this movement right before you start running' get into the way of it with everything at, rest. You have then to a large extent insured against tight-corner risks.
511.—On Starting the Engine.
Beginners often have a difficulty in starting the engine. In cold weather there is some excuse for this ; but not as much as there once was, for the electric starter has made all the difference. " In the old days the Ford was a poor starter ; indeed, starting was the .bugbear of the Ford owner.
. Keep cool and go quietly and systematically to work, and you will have no trouble in starting the engine. See that the petrol is turned on. (I have known eases Where oversight of that important, point was the only cause of trouble !) Have the hand-brake lever hard back. Have throttle lever full open. Go to the starting handle and give the engine about halfa-dozen lazy turns " by . hand," while you hold out the air-throttle pull wire at the bottom corner of the radiator which lies to your left hand. -While you are doing that you should hear the petrol swishing through thsecarburetter. (The effect is the same as that which you get by "flooding the carburetter" on other engines.) Get. into driving position. Sivitch on the ignition. " Set spark lever 2-3 notches back, and throttle lover abOut 5 notches back. Press the foot switch with your heel to bring the starter into action. Directly the engine fires, release the foot-switeh; and directly it fires regularly, gradually close the throttle (by pushing throttle lever slowly forward) until you have reached the point where the engine just keeps going comfortably without misfiring. There is an air-throttle control button on the instrument board, and if you pull it out the effect is the same as if you pulled out the air-throttle pull wire that ends in the ring in front of the radiator. If you give the half-dozen lazy pulls "by hand,' while holding out that ring, it should not be necessary to pull out the button on the instrument board. If, however, the weather he cold, it may be necessary to pull out the button when the starter begins to turn the engine over. But do not hold it out too long, because much of the trouble that a beginner finds in starting the engine is due to the presence of too much petrol in the engine ; and, as we have already seen, the explosive mixture consists of very little
petrol and a great deal of air. • One other point may need attentiorl at the start, although I have purposely not referred to it earlier. There is on the dashboard a carburetter control, which, if turned anti-clockwise, allows petrol to pass liberally to the engine, and which, if turned" clockwise, cuts down the passage. In starting from cold it may be desirable to turn this carburetter control say, half a turn anti-clockwise, gradually turning it in the other direction once the engine is firing regularly—turning it to the point at which the engine just does not misfire. A little experience will show where that point lies. It varies on different Fords, and under different conditions. On a cold morning it may be necessary to open up this control liberally. In warm weather, or when the engine is warm, it will be unnecessary to alter its adjustment.
The Starter Switch.
Always depress the starter switch promptly, and as if you meant it. Da not play with it. Get it right down quickly. And when the engine is firing, release it equally promptly, and take your foot right away.
In cold weather you will get an easier start if you use battery icurrent for ignition in preference to magneto current, switching over to " mag." when the engine is running well. With " bat." switched on, retard the snark lever to the utmost, or you may get a had" back-kick," and the bark-fire that can sprain your wrist can smash up your starter.