NEW GOODS CHASSIS ON PNEUMATIC TYRES.
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Two New Models, the Reo-Major Three and the Reo-Major Two, Just Introduced by Harris and Hasell, Ltd.
NODERN conditions of traffic in Ilacity, suburb and country demand the employment of vehicles having better acceleration, higher average speeds and more adequate hill-climbing abilities, whilst the braking must be rapid and powerful.
With a view to catering even better than formerly for those heavier classes of transport, which have, in the main, previously been dealt with by solidrobber-tyred vehicles of a slow and cumbersome type, Harris and Easel, Ltd., has brought out the Reo-Major Three, which is designed for a gross load, including body, of 31 tons, and a net load of 55 cwt., thus giving a body allowance of 15 cwt.
This chhssis embodies an improved six-cylindered engine with .combustion
heads of the turbulent pattern, giving over 50 b.h.p. The bore and stroke are 31-3, ins. and 5 ins. respectively, giving an R.A.C. rating of 24.3 h.p. The valves are arranged in the familiar Reo manner. with the inlets of chrome-nickel steel overhead and the exhausts of sillchrome steel at the side. Even running is assisted by a balanced crankshaft and al timinium-alloy pistons. Lubrication
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is effected on the combined force-feed and splash system.
Engine, clutch and gearbox are built as a unit. A. single disc is 'employed for the cl etch, and the gearbox provides four forward speeds; it is con trolled by a central lever. The clutch is light and enables rapid gear changes to be effected.
A two-piece prepeller shaft with a central bearing .-conveys the drive to spiral-bevel gearing in a floating axle,
permitting withdrawal of the axle shafts without jacking or removing the wheels. The shafts are spliued and are of heattreated molybdenum steel.: Taper-roller bearings are utilized for the differential and the road wheels, whilst twin pneumatic tyres are standard at the rear.
A KB. vacuum-operated servo device assists the foot brake in its operation on all four wheels, and an emergency hand-brake controls internal-expanding shoes in the rear-wheel „drums only.
Suspension is effected by long semielliptic springs, those at the rear being underslung.
Although tapering to front and rear the pressed-steel frame, which is 7 ins. deep at the centre, is quite straight. • It is reinforced by powerful channel. section cross-members with unusually strong gusset plates, and there is a cradle at' the rear to house the spare tyre.
Many refinements are included in the equipment: There are, for instance, • thermostatic control of the temperature of the cooling water and an air filter for the carburetter ; even the headlamps are of the type known as Tilt Ray, :these hbadlights preventing the dazsling 'of . other drivers and, at the same' time, 'obviating the dangers of blacking oat. An instrument board carries the speedoMeter, ammeter, ignition-control lock, air-choke control and dash lamp.
As regards the lubrication of the chassis, patent reiervoir Oilers are provided for the universal joints.shackle bolts and springs, and use is made of the Tecalemit high-pressure grease gun.
The Roe-Major Two embodies the same type of engine, but the chassis is designed to carry a gross load of 52 ewt. or a net load of 2 tons, with a body allowance of 12 cwt.
The main details of the construction closely resemble those of the larger mddel, except that the gearbox gives three speeds instead of four, no servo is provided for the four-wheel brakes, and the parking brake operates on the transmission ; the axle also is, in this case, semi-floating instead of full-floating, and the tyres are single all round, being 32-in. by 6-in, at the front and 34-in. by 7-in, at the rear. In the heavier model cast-steel wheels with curved spokes are utilized, but in the
lighter model pressed and, welded-steel wheels with tubular spokes are employed.
• The main dimensions of the two models are as foil ONV : —Rea-Major Three : wheelbase, 13 ft. 3 Ins.; track, 5 ft. 7 ins.; overall length, 18 ft. ins.; overall width, 6 ft. 11/i ins.; dash to rear of frame, 14 ft. 81 ins.; frame height (loaded), 2 ft. 5/ ins. Tyres, 32-in. by 6-in. front, and twins of the same size at the rear. The price of this chassis is f 635.
Reo-Major Two: wheelbase, 12 ft.
4 ins.; track, 4 ft; 8 ins.; overall length, 17 ft. 73 ins.; overall width, 5 ft. 8 ins.; dash to rear of frame, 13 ft. 4 ins.; frame height (loaded), 2 ft. 4i ins. The price of this chassis is £515.