AIDS TO SOLVING FORD PROBLEMS.
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Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport, which will 'Appeal to the Owner, Driver, and Repairer.
IN THIS series of hints concerning the Ford light chassis and ton truck wherever they are employed for commercial purposes, we endeavour to deal with the subject from every view-point, so that the advice given will appeal to the owner, driver, maintenance engineer, or mechanic. Valuable sources of information are I;eing tapped for this purpose, and it should be understood that the information given will be derived from those with an intimate knowledge of the subject.
We shall welcome for inclusion among the hints those which have proved of value to individual users, and will make suitable remuneration for any published. What we desire are the results of practice.
85.—Strengthening the Ford Magnets in Situ.
It appears to be a general belief that the magnets of the Ford flywheel magneto cannot be strengthened without removing them from the engine. This is not the case, as at !east ane device for remagnetizing them in position has been placed on the market, but we will now describe a method by which the veriest tyro, if he take the necessary precautions, can conduct the operation successfully.
The materials required consist of four or six-volt accumulators wired in series to give a minimum. E.M.F. of 24 volts and a maximum of 30 volts ; and a small compass, which must be accurate as regards the polarity of the needle, and this must be tested to see that it has not been reversed by any means.
Dealing with the method employed, first remove the plugs from the cylinders and thus free the compression. Release the low-tension wire from the magneto binding post on the transmission cover. With a sharp instrument draw a line running exactly parallel to, but 1/ ins, to the left of, a line running longitudinally through the centre of the binding post.
After placing the compass centrally on the scribed line and a little to the rear of the binding post, as shown in the illustration, turn the engine over very slowly by means of the starting handle until the north point of the needle is directed straight to the front, barallel with the scribed line. The effect of this is to put the magnets and stator coils into Opposite polarity.
Before going any further, check everything again, as any mistake here will result in the magnets being demagnetized, and, possibly, reversed. If everything be found correct, attach the positive end of the wire from the accumulators to the magneto binding post. Now flick the negative end of the wire against the transmission cover ; the contact in any case must not exceed two seconds. A heavy knock will ensue and considerable vibration may be felt. These are caused by the stator coils acting as electro magnets and drawing the whole flywheel assembly forward. If this curious action does not take place, it may be taken for certain that the windings of the stator coils have broken down, and that the point of weakness has now been ascertained.
If the knock be heard, repeat the flicks 20 or 36 times, checking the compass before each. See that the wire is properly insulated, and do not hold it near the bare end, as a large spark and considerable heat are generated at the moment. of breaking contact.
86.—The Folly of Overloading.
The remarks of Mr. R. T. Nicholson with regard to the loading of one-ton Ford vehicles are particularly opportune at the present time, when many influences tempt the haulage contractor to overload these vehicles. The one-ton Ford is a popular vehicle with the." small man," owin:cto its low price, but owners must realize that their Fords are apt to become very expensive indeed if run without due regard to their limitations.
We have come across several instances lately which illustrate the folly of overloading the Ford. The large engine is quite capable of coping with a largo load, but the frame and axles are just about capable of carrying their one ton and no more. • One run with a loa.d of 1 tons or more may cause irreparable damage to the frame ; even if immediate breakage does not take place, the parts are liable to be so weakened that failures are almost certain to follow. It is an obvious truism that high maintenance and replacement charges may easily nullify the low first cost of a vehicle.
87.--A Reason for Failure of the Electric Horn.
It is quite surprising to note the number of Ford vehicles in which the electriehorn cannot be worked. The usual trouble is a faulty connection to " earth," and this can very simply be overcome by running a piece of wire from one of the bolts holding the horn to the dash to one of those holding the steering column, or perhaps, better still, to a cylinder head stud.