HELP FOR HAULIERS.
Page 24
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On the Choice of a Commercial Motor. The Call for the Perfect Vehicle and How the Requirements are Met.
IT IS hardly within my province to advise a haulier as to the make of vehicle which he ought to buy. Generally, the size having been decided upon, there is little to choose amongst a dozen or so, and any selecfion would be more likely to be made as the result of circumstances extraneous to the design or construction of the machine, such as the presence, in the vicinity of the buyer, of a good agent .capable of rendering efficient service.
That, at least, is the sort of thing which would influence me. If, for instance, out of three makes of machine—A, B, 0—A was unrepresented in my district, B was represented by an agent whose principal • clients were knuts of the cap-peak-to-the-rear variety, . and C was offered by an agent who was clearly, from the style of his garage and equipment, laid out to cater for the commercial vehicle) user, I should certainly, in the absence of other disadvantageous conditions, buy a C.
I should, too, having in mind the somewhat straitened circumstances of trade in this country and the unfairness of certain foreign competition, arising either as a result of exchange conditions or by reason of output facilities, buy a British raachi ne.
Essential Requirements in All Commercial Vehicles.
This, at any rate, is the general advice which I feel I can give to a London correspondent, who evidently, from his letter, knows something about the subject, but still does me the honour to assume that
I know more than he does. The questions he asks— or, more specifically, the requirements which he thinks should be met in a commercial vehicle for haulage work—are so much to the point that I make no excuse for bringing them to the notice of all readers of this page. There are seven main features, and some subsidiary ones, as follow :— (1) The machine must have the ability to haul 5 ton loads over long distances, negotiating steep hills without difficulty, i.e., without having unduly to strain the mechanism.
(2) It must be reasonably economical in fuel and oil.
(3) It must have a cooling system adequate efficiently to keep the engine at a workable teme perature under all conditions, particularly those mentioned in Clause 1. This qualification calls for a radiator of ample size, liberal water capacity, and a reliable fan.
(4) The engine lubricating system must include a reliable indicator which will not only show when the lubrication is proceeding satisfactorily, but will warn the driver at once when anything goes wrong. The whole of the details should be accessible for cleaning, examination and repairs.
(5) The construction of the chassis should be such that running repairs and adjustments may easily and quickly be effected. In this connection the following parts are of particular importance :—Magneto and its coupling, the valves and timing gear, the brakes and brake shoes.
(6) Adequate protection should be afforded to all moving parts so that they are safeguarded from the effects of dirt and moisture.
(7) The durability should be such that, given reasonable attention and allowing for occasional V4
replacement or worn parts, the vehicle can be expected to give continual service over a period of ten years.
The following qualifications are supplementary; they are not regarded as absolutely essential, but are certainly desirable :—(a) Live axle ; (b) steel wheels ; (e) both brakes should operate on drums in the rear wheels; (d) spare parts should be readily obtainable.
There's perfection for youl Now, much as I admire British commercial motor vehieles—and they are the best in the world—even they cannot, in any individual machine, meet all the requirements of eur friend. The designers and manufacturers of them all try to, and they all believe that they succeed. The failure to do so results from difference of opinion, and not from any lack of realization of the wants of the user. Taking the points raised in the order in which they are given :—
How the Requirements May Be Met.
(1) Ability to haul a 5 ton load.—This merely calls for a lorry which is really a 5-tonner, and not one which was originally designed as a 3-tonner and has had the gear ratio altered to make it suitable (l) for a heavier load. If my correspondent buys from a firm which has regularly made a 5 ton model for many years, he will find this requirement met.
(2) Fuel economy.—This is almost entirely dependent upon the driver. There is it is true, sometimes a thought that one make is a little more extravagant in this respect than another, but, as a rule, close investigation goes to "show that good management may reverse the decision.
(3) Adequate cooling.—I was at first, inclined to state that, in this clause, my correspondent sonic ignorance, so
e for most modern motor
vehicles are over-cooled. I think, however, it should be read in conjunction with Clause 2. Faulty carburation and indifferent oiling are more frequently productive of overheating of the engine than insufficient radiator capacity. Let him get a good driver, keep a watch on fuel and oil, and use reasonable precaution to keep the radiator and cylinder jackets clean and free from deposit, and he will have no trouble on this account. I should, however, specify pump circulation. The thermo siphonic system is no good for commercial vehicles. A pinup is quite as important and necessary as a fan.
(4) Lubrication, protection of moving parts, and durability.—All modern lorry engines are equipped with a lubrication system which, in the view of the manufacturer, meets these requirements. The best advice I can give the correspondent is that he should personally investigate this matter himself on the vehicles amongst -which he proposes to make his choice. Precisely the same can be said as regards requirement No. 5. No. 6 will, I imagine, be met by any chassis of first-class make, as also No. 7.
Of the supplementary requirements, (a), (b), and (c) can generally be obtained, although I cannot call to mind a 5 ton chassis in which both brakes are applied direct to the rear wheels ; (d) most emphatically calls for a machine of British make.
I wish now some other correspondent would came along with his ideas about bodywork.
TffE SKOTCH.