ROADSIDE AND GARAGE.
Page 31
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A Page for Drivers, Mechanics and Foremen.
Improving Radius Rods.
The sender of the following communicaiion has been awarded the extra payment of 5n this week.
(2288) " 171.J.0." (Chiswick} Writes ;— "I have had a lot Of trouble one time and another on account of the breakage of tho radius rods of my chain-driven wagon. Generally they break in the threads, and there is apparently a weakness.there, which manifests itself in times of exceptional strain. At any rate, after
several such breakages, I was compelled to try and improve the design myself, and eventually I made some new rods after the fashion which is depicted in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying sketch.
"Fig. 1 shows, one of the old rods, and Fig. 2 the other. On both, it will be observed, there is a considerable length of thread exposed, and apparently these are subjent at times to a bending stress which they cannot successfully withstand.
" The new rods may be made of malleable castings or from forgings. One half is a solid piece, except for a portion near the butt end, where it is bored to accommodate the projecting screwed end of' the remainder. The other end of the rod is a plain bolt screwed at one end, and drilled at the other as an eye end to take hold of the pin on the axle or chassis as the ease. may be. This bolt is surrounded by the sleeve shown, which not only protects the threaded portion, but also supports it and thus takes any bending stress which may be imposed on the rod. The sleeve, and the solid part, of the rod are flanged and fitted with bolts so that the sleeve is prevented from rotating, but may 'be manipulated if necessary to alter the length of the radius rod when adjustment of its length is desirable in order to tighten or slacken the chain."
A Daimler Tip.
(2289) " N.N." (Holloway) writes :— " Tbe following tip is one which will be useful a little later on in the year when one has to anticipate occasional cold snaps and when it is necessary, on. evenings when a lorry has to be left out in the cold, to take the precaution of drawing off all the water which may lie in the
cylinders or radiators for fear of a frost occurring which would involve a burst in one or other of them. In the ease of the Daimler there is sometimes a little difficulty in emptying the water out of the cylinder heads, and as these are as liable to suffer from frost as any other part of the engine the matter is not one that may be overlooked. " I use a .piece of rubber tubing in. or 5-16 in. diameter and about 18 ins. long. If the brass plug which is at. the' top of each cylinder head be removed the end of this piece of tubing .may be dropped down to the lowest part where water is likely to lodge and the water syphoned nut; After having removed the water put back the brass plugs, turn off the petrol at the tank, and start the engine up, thus using up what petrol is still left in the carburetter. While the engine is /miming, inject a little clean paraffin oil into the cock in the induction pipe, this will clean off the thick oil on the piston and make the engine much easier to turn over in the morning. Having got the engine running do not forget to inject a small quantity of lubricating oil down the cock in the induction pipe."
Removing a Rear Road Wheel.
(2290) ." G.M." (Strood) writes :— " There is anather easy method of removing and replacing heavy rear road wheels of commercial motor vehicles, besides those which have been from time to time described in your columns. The driver who attempts the job Singlehanded should proceed as follows :—Commence by jacking up the rear axle sufficiently high to allow of a stout plank, ott small rollers, the same diameter as a broom handle, being placed under the rim of the wheel. The axle may 'then be lowered until the wheel rests on the plank. Then pith a pair of substantial scotches on the plank, one before and one behind the wheel. Withdraw the driving shafts from the wheel, ivhen it will be found possible, aided by a little mameuvring of the jack so that the weight of the wheel is just taken off the hushes on the axle, to allow the wheel to be gently rolled away on its plank. When the operation which is contemplated is finished the wheel may be re. mounted in the. same,way."
Repair to a Broken Exhaust Valve Tappet.
(2291) " J.S.B.'! (Peckham).-_' The accompanying sketch illustrates how ,on one occasion I repaired a broken .exhaust valve tappet on the engine of a wellknown make of chassis. The breakage occurred on a country road, and the only materials available. were a few miscellaneous nuts and bolts which happened to be in my spare parts box. The tappet was actually screwed ,4 in. Whitworth at the part where it was broken, and therefore, taking a couple of 4 in. nuts, I screwed one on to each broken piece of tappet far enough over to allow the ends to project. I then placed the two ends firmly together in correct relation one with another, and screwed the upper nut down until it embraced the broken part. The other nut I then made use of as a lock nut." • [This is, as many readers will recognize:, an old and oft-tried tip. We pill-dish it in the sure and certain expectation ttat there will be many new readers, nevertheless, to whom it, will come as a novelty.---En.] Lamps Alight.
On Saturday September 24th light your lamps at 7.24 in London, 7.31 in Newcastle, 7.32 in Birmingham, 7.39 in Edinburgh, 7.37 in Liverpool, 7.34 in Bristol. and 8.20 in Dublin.