FORD VAN POINTERS.
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By R. T. Nicholson (Author of "The Book of the Ford").
' A READER of these Pointers has done a bit of pointing. A certain " G.H." sends me a:tip which is quite good. Truth to tell, I was il, bit doubtful about it at first, but further cotaideration and correspondence have made me a convert.
389.—Black and Comely. .
" G.11." told me that blacking would give an excellent body finish, if first applied with a rag and then polished up with another—the whole of the paint workhaving been previously hosed, cleaned free of grease with warm water in which a little soda had been dissolved, and dried.
I was a bit scepticahlabout the tip. I knew perfectly well what happens to my boots when I go out in the rain ; so I put it up to "G.H." to say exactly what happened when he took his car out in the rain with its nice coat of blacking. Further, I reminded " G.11." that there are blackings and blackings, and I surmised that what he had used was one of the waterproof blackings, with a wax base, not a sugar or treacle blacking. Here is " G.H.'s " reply :— " I do use Cherry Blossom, as you surmise. "As to the lasting effect, showery weather makes little or no difference; whilst a pouring wet day leaves the enamel spotted. .However, when the enamel is dry,again, a brisk rub all over with the polishing rag will completely restore the appearance.
"I really wrote you in the first pla,cebecause your page in -the 'C.M.' is undoubtedly read by a good many drivers of Ford vans, the majority of whom, whilst they would not mind spending lid., and a little time in dazzing ' their enamel, would never think of paying out 4s. 13d. or so.
"There is one/thing I forgot to mention in my last letter, and that is, how far a smaTtin of polish will go. The first time the enamel is cleaned it will take the wholegtin, but afterwards a tin contains sufficient for two cleanings.This, is for the' Ford ton truck, but no doubt the light van will take a little,.more."
-To " G.H.'s" recommendation.I will add-one further word. I have tried the blacking treatment. on a scratched mudguard, and got quite good results. ' No, I have not been able to see what effect a shower would have on the blacking, because (at the time of writing) we have not had a drop of rain in these parts for over a month. I have, however, experimented :with a garden-hose -over the-mudguard, and was-surPriseel to find that "G.H.'s " claim is quite in order—" the polishing rag will completely restore the appearance."
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390.—The Present Ford Radiator.
While the present type of radiator 'can hardly be described as new, inasmucn as a has been standard since 1917, drivers of old models should know that the latest form of radiator has many advantages -ever the brass-bound article.
It does not, perhaps, look quite as well, being allblack, but, it stands up to its work much better. The brass facings, formerly so conspicuous, have a way of coming unsoldered from the main body ; and once a Slip of edging has got loose, it is almost impossible to persuade it to stay out. The outside of the present radiator is really, not part of the radiator at all ; it is merely a shell surrounding the radiator proper. It, therefore, cannot come loose-except by mechanical removal. If it gets damaged, it is a simple matter to substitute a new shell. While the brass or the old-style radiator looked very well when properly tended, -it was too often not properly tended, and then looked simply awful.
The present all-black radiator. always looks decent, even when neglected, arid,-Can 1e made to look as • good as new" it is given an occasional wipe over..
The old-style radiator is now, obsolete and unobtainable.
39I.—Treading on the Foot-switch.
The question is often raised whether it does any harm if you accidentally. tread on the foot-switch when the engine is running.
It certainly does not do a lot of laarm, because what happens is thatthe Bendix pinion tries to engage the teeth on the rim Of the flywheel, and cannot. It is thrown off directly -it tries.
Nevertheless, do not tread on -the poor foot-switch • unnecessarily, because, when t1ie engine is running, there is boundf,to be a 'certain amount of gnashing •
and clashing of teeth. • 392.—'Ware Burning :Rubber. Odour. If at any time whenyou. are -running you amen burning rubber, get out and find out its why and wherefore, -Of course, if you are near a rubber factoryl you need not. worry about the smell; but otherwise, find out alliabout it at once.
Usually, it comes from the scorching of some of the wiring insulation by the engine, or exhaust pipe, or from a had short, where the current is getting away to a conductor and burning up what remains of the insulation at the "Part affected.'