Contributions from Drivers and Mechanics.
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TEN SHILLINGS WEEKLY for the Best Communication Received, and One Penny a Line of ten words for any thing else published.
Drivers of commercial motor vehicles and tractors, and mechanics and foremen of gara!zes or shops, are envit.d to send short contributions on any subject wh.ch is likely to prove ol interest te our readers. Workshop tips and smart repairs; long and successful runs ; interesting photographs all are suitable subjects. Send a post-card, or a letter, or a sketch to us—no matter how short, or how written, or how worded. We will "knock it into shape" and prepare sketches, where necessary, before publication. The absence of a sketch does not disqualify for a prize. When writing use one side of the paper only and mention your emPloyer's name as a guarantee of bona fides. Neither your own nor your employer's name will be disclosed. Payment will be made immediately after publication. Address. your letters to The Editor, THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR, 7 15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C.
Plugging the Tubea of a Boiler.
[602] " E.S.S." (Plaistow) submits the following letter for inclusion in these columns.--" I am sending you an account of the method I used recently to repair tethporarily some tubes in the boiler of a well-known make of steam wagon. The boiler in question hasi been in constant use for about three years, and the uppei portions of some of the tithes have corroded away very badly: in fact, in the case of two of the tubes, I had previously stopped them up, from each end of the tube, by means of a long bolt in each, holding a washer and some asbestos jointing in position, so that the tubes became steam-tight. (This method has previously been fully explained in your columns). I knew the boiler really wanted re-tubing, only I have been instructed by my employers to keep the wagon running as long as possible, owing to the great amount of work they have on hand.
" I was recently required to do a journey on a Saturday, but I had great difficulty in coppleting it through shortage of steam, and I knew at once that some more tubes had commenced to ' blow.' When I got hack to the yard. I examined the boiler and found that three more tubes had corroded completely through, and were blowing very badly. I was at a loss to know what to do with them, as there were no-more bolts available to stop them with, and there was no means of getting them made, as everybody had left work for the day. I knew the wagon was urgently wanted on the following Monday. I had almost given up hope of being able to do the job, when an idea occurred to Inc which proved to be the solution of the problem. I caught sight of a pail full of fireclay standing near my wagon, and I resolved to try an experiment with this, although I must admit I felt a trifle dubious as to the result. I got a quantity of the fireclay, and with my finger rubbed it well into the fracture in each of the tubes. I then filled them up completely with fireclay for a space of about 6 in. from the top tubepiate, so that the fracture in the tubes came about half-way between each end of the fireclay. When I came to work on the following Monday, the fireclay had set hard, and I gradually got steam up to the full pressure, and found there was not the slightest leakage. The wagon has been running under these conditions for three weeks, without giving any further trouble. in fact, the boiler has steamed splendidly, and, should any more tubes go, I shall certainly use the same method of stopping them. I hope this will be interesting enough for insertion in your ' D. and M.' columns."
Running Home on Acetylene.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 103. prize this week.
[603] " R.W." (Durham) sends the following letter for inclusion in these columns;--" Perhaps a tip or two I picked up while I was driving an Albion bus last year may interest my fellow-readers of THE COMMERCIAL MOTOR. On one occasion, I was stranded on the road for want of petrol, three miles from anywhere. Some time before this happened, I had tried carbide in place of petrol, and I thought I would put my previous experience to a practical test. I therefore fixed a pipe from the acetylene generator up to the carburetter, and the ear went splendidly on acetylene gas. I was so pleased with the result, that I wrote to Mr. Blackwood Murray, of the Albion Co., at Glasgow, with a view to his adopting acetylene instead of petrol, but he said it was too expensive. On another occasion, one of the chains on the machine broke when I was about two miles from home; so, instead of troubling to try and patch this up, I put the broken chain over the sprocket and fastened it round the spring. This kept the sprocket stationary, and allowed the other chain to drive the car.
6 Another tip worth knowing is that, with a Castle nut, you can often cut a thread as well as with stocks and dies. [Our correspondent does not give details of this tip.—En.] " I am at present driving a catwhich has epicyclie gear, and I have a lot, of trouble through having to reline the bands so frequently. They are lined with fibre, and the fibre wears away very quickly, as we frequently have to use the bottom gear as a brake. I, personally, would suggest that the drums should be recessed at certain points on their surface, as I have an idea that this would ease the wear on the clutch. Theoretically this looks as if it would cause the drum to act as a very fierce clutch, and to come into contact with a jerk, but I think, in practice, this could be overcome."
[With regard to " R.W.'s " experience with acetylene, it may here be useful to remind our readers of an account of some experiments with alcohol and acetylene as a fuel, which appeared in our issue of the 2nd May, 1907.—ED.] [haul Advice by a County Authority.
[604] '' T.D." (Keighley) sends us a copy of " Rules and Courtesies of the Road," which are instructions-is.siied by the County Council of the West Riding of Yorkshire for the guidance of motor drivers. We reproduce these hints below in extenso.—
COUNTY COUNCIL OF THE WEST RTDINC OF YORKSHIRE.
RULES AND COURTESIES OF THE ROAD.
TAKING CORNERS :—A corner should not be cut close On the right or off side ; it is especially dangerous to take a corner on the wrong side when it cannot be seen that the road is clear; therefore, in taking blind corners to the right hand, always keep to the extreme left or near side, no matter how much slowing down this may involve. Main-road traffic has the priority, therefore, when entering a main road from a side road, always do so at a slow pace.
SIGNALS.—When about to alter speed or direction the following indications should be given :— (a) Stopping or slowing down : the driver's right arm extended horizontally from the shoulder with the forearm held up vertically. (b) A turn to the right : his right arm fully extended. (c) A turn to the left: his left arm similarly extended. On no account should the driver extend his right arm when a turn is to be made to the left: nor should any passenger extend his left arm when a turn is going to be made to the right.
The right band held downwards by the side of the car and waved forwards gives a useful signal that following traffic may pasa.
It is well to make these signals habitually, whether there is traffic or not. It is often quite as important to communicate any change of direction Or speed to persons
in front of you as to those behind. A signal should also be given at a facing junction of forked roads, so as to indicate which road is to be taken.
P.ETLNG 01e. OVERTAKING :----All traffic should be met or overtaken on its proper side, and as much room as possible should be given to bicycles. Whenever conveniently passible, motor drivers should keep their right-hand or off-side wheels near to the centre of the road. On approaching a bridge with a sharp rise, keep well to the leit or near-side of the road.
Avoid passing another vehicle at any bend of the road, or at a cross-road. When about to pass a vehicle going the same way as yourself, if a third vehicle be nearly approaching from the opposite direction, let the latter pass von first before you overtake the former. When passing a man riding in charge of two horses, keep, if possible, on the side furthest from the led horse. When overtaking another vehicle, especially a motorcar, be certain that your presence is recognized before attempting to pass.
When meeting or passing any horse-drawn vehicle, or anyone riding or leading a horse, slacken your pace to 10 miles an hour or leas.
IN TRAFFIC, keep a reasonable distance from the vehicle in front.
IN DESCENDING HILLS, give way to ascending traffic.
THE Hoax nit BELL should be used with discrimination, each signal ha Ning its own special purpose, and 8ounded not more loudly, nor more frequently, than is quite necesSA ry. -WHEN PULLING UP OR STOPPING, do so in a suitable and convenient place. Never stop near a corner.
ACCIDENTS :—Be prepared for any emergency, and always stop in case of accident. AVOID SPLASHING PEDESTRIANS WITH MUD.