MAKING• BEST USE OF THE FORD.
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Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport which will Appeal to the Owner, Driver and Repairer.
589.—How to Replace the Fan Belt.
Fitting a new belt to the fan of the Improved-model engines, owing to the relatively small adjustment, is often a fiddling and tedious job. On the oldtype fan mounting, the sweep of the bracket carrying the fan gave a wide range of adjustment. On the improved model the fan-centre bolt passes through a circular boss, which is held by a clip formed by an extension of the flange of the cylinder-head water outlet. As the bolt passing through this boss is out of centre, it allows the fan to be tightened by swinging the boss around in the clip.
With this type of fan mounting it Is often found that when the fan is arranged at its lowest point, the belt requires stretching before it will ride on the fan-drive pulley of the crankshaft. The quickest way to lead the belt on the drive pulley is to position the crankshaft so that one of the pinholes of the fan-drive pulley is situated near the belt—in the direction of travel—and loop a piece of string around the belt and through the pinhole. Turning the crankshaft will then pull the belt on to the pulley.
590.—The Fitting of Transmission Bands.
Probably the workshop operation which has caused more annoyance and frayed tempers than any other in connection with the Ford is that of fitting new transmission bands. How many transmission covers have been bolted up and finished off and then found to leak oil at the inner corners?
In connection with this, a reader sends a few tips which may prove useful. In fitting the new-pattern band with detachable lugs, it is quite easy to remove them, but during replacement it is usually found that when the free end is pulled half way around the case it will insist in fouling the longitudinal stop at the bottom of the case. It then slides towards the flywheel and refuses to come up into view.
To overcome this difficulty, find a scrapped shock absorber from a Morris. The inside of this is made of fabric and a long band of thin springy brass about 1 in. wide. It is only this strip which is required, and the longer it is the better. Bend one end of it into a loop and insert two rivets. A piece of fin rod can then be used to form a T handle. The other end of the loop should be softened and cut to leave a fin. tongue, this tongue being bent over so that it will engage with the square hole in the band proper. The brass sirip should then be pushed around the interior of the transmission ease until it appears at the other side and, being very flexible, this opera
tion will be found quite easy. The band is then attached and the tongue pressed up tight with the pliers. Then by pushing the band and pulling the strip the former will slide quite easily into place, after which the strip can be removed and the proper lug replaced.
3338 In the case of the older type band with non-detachable lugs, the cover must be removed, and when replacing this the usual difficulty is that the felt strip moves towards the rear just as the cover is finally dropped into posi tion. Before fitting the felt, obtain
two pieces of wire' such as those from the core of an old Ford coil, bend each into a loop at its end and fix it to the
felt in. from the end. When the cover is dropped on, these wires must be held. Before bolting down the parts thoroughly examine them to make certain that the felt has not moved; if the felt tends to move at all, the wires can than be used to bring it to its proper position. There is no need to remove these wires, as when the ease is tightened they are merely pressed into the felt.
As regards the rivets for holding the friction material to the bands, these should only just protrude through the fabric and can then be opened out sufficiently with a special tool made from an old half-round file ground as shown in one of the illustrations.
591.—Further Hints on Transmission Bands.
When relining the transmission bands of the Ford car or lorry, always use a non-metallic lining such as that supplied by the Ford Company.
' If metallic linings be used, the brass wire may leaves the bands in small pieces during, and owing to wear, and these will find their way to the main terminal plug, where they will cause misfiring and erratic running, or may stop the engine altogether.
Thoroughly soak the linings in either castor or collan oil before fitting. This simple process will considerably lengthen their term of service and render them more efficient in action.
While on the road use the brake and reverse bands alternately for braking purposes. "You will thus avoid burning the brake lining.
Should you he unfortunate and accidentally drop a nut or other small article into the transmission case during repairs, try this method to recover it First remove the sparking plugs. Then obtain a piece of smooth (i.e., not fluffy) material about 18 ins, square, and wire it securely to one of the magnet-support bolts. Turn the engine slowly and the duster will collect the foreign article and bring it to the top again.
592.—Lighting the Tail Lamp of the Ton Truck.
Defective oil tail lamps and lack of sufficient illumination from them have been the causes of many drivers being summoned, and one suggests that it is cheaper in the end to fit an electric tail lamp obtaining its current from the dynamo. This should, of course, be used as an addition to the oil rear lamp, which is essential if the engine be stopped as, of course, no current is then available in those vehicles not fitted with Special lighting dynamos. The lamp can actually be fitted for something like 5s.
Our correspondent tried connecting the lamp with the horn switch for use during the day time ; it then acts as a warning signal to the rear.