FORD VAN• POINTERS.
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By R. T. Nicholson (Author of "The Book of the Ford").
H'ERE is a way of starting a stubborn old-style , Ford or a Ford truck when another Ford— an easy starter—is handy to give help. 407.—An Odd Way of Starting.
• From the magneto binding post (behind coil box) of the easy-starter, run a length of wire to the battery binding post (also behind coil box) of the hard starter. Connect up the running boards of the two Fords (previously brought side by side for the purpose) with a short length of wire. Have the ignition switch of the hard starter off.
Set the engine of the easy starter running. Switch the ignition of the hard starter to "Bat." position. The hard starter should now fire if the carburetter is primed and the starting handle is turned.
What happens, of course, is that the magneto current of the easy starter is passed through the coils of the hard starter, so that there is good current there passing directly the timer contacts are made by your turning the starting handle. This method is effective when the ignition of the second engine is "off colour." It is something like starting on battery current, • that also being independent' of engine speed. As soon as the hard starter is running properly, set its ignition switch to " Mag." position, and disconnect the added wiring. Of course, if the cause of the hard starting lies in carburation, this "tip" will not work. In ninetynine eases out of a hundred, however, the trouble with hard starting lies in the ignition.
408.—The Differences Between Truck and Van
I have been asked to state the main differences between the Ford van and the Ford ton truck. Quite a little confusion exists because the differences are not clearly understood. Very well : —
Lighting.--The lighting of the old-style van and that of the present truck are the same. In both cases the 'lighting current comes from the magneto, and the wiring is "in series" ; that is to say, the current passes by a circuit running through both headlamp bulbs, and is governed by a switch on the steering column. The lighting of the new-style van is different. It is run on battery current, the switch being on the instrument board. It is in "parallel " i that s to say, wiring runs independently to each bulb. On the truck the headlights can he dimmed by use of the two-way switch on the steering oolumn. (This passes the current'through a resistance on the dash, which resistance mops up some of the current and prevents its reaching the lamps.)
Brakes.—The truck back brakes are of altogether sturdier construction than those on the van. They
can be regularly used—not merely in emergencies and for holding the truck. The van back brake is an "emergency brake" only.
Wheelbase.—The truck wheelbase is 10 ft 4 ins. ; that of the van is 8 ft. 4 ins.
• Lock.—The track will turn in a 46 ft. circle, the van in a 28 ft. circle: Gear.—The truck has a high speed gearing of approximately 7 to 1, and the van is'geared 3 7-11 to 1.
Final drive.—Thist in the truck, is of the worm type ; in the van it is by bevel.
• Tyres.—The truck has 30 in. by 31 in. tyres on front wheels, 32 in. by 41 in. tyres on back wheels.
All four tyres are now pneumatic.;formerly the back tyres were solid. The van has 30 in by 3 iii. tyres
on front wheels, 30 in. by in. on back. All four wheels on the truck are fitted with demountable rims; the rims are not demountable in the case of the van wheels.
Lubrication.—The differential of the truck must be lubricated with a heavy fluid or semi-fluid oil. Light grease is used for lubrication of the van differential, otherwise lubrication of van and truck is identical.
Leaf springs.—Front springs are in both cases
semi-elliptical transverse in one piece. The back springs of the van are also semi-elliptical transverse in one piece, but the back springs of the truck are two-piece.
Carrying capacity.—Truck, one ton ; van, 750 1h., plus driver in each case.
Speed.—Truck should not exceed 15 miles an hour. Van has no " official " limit (other than that imposed by law and common sense).
Wheels.—Truck wheels are heavier than those of the van, and are, of course, constructed to take the larger tyres fitted.
Starting.—The van has an electric starter ; the truck is started "by hand."
409.—Battery Starting.
have received the following query :— "I have ordered an accumulator for starting purposes, when cold, for my Ford ton truck. Acting on the advice contained in the Book of the Ford Van,' I have ordered an 8-volt battery, but am advised that a 4-volt accumulator would be sufficient, and that an 8-volt accumulator might damage the coils. I should be obliged for your opinion on this matter."
My reply:— You can start on a 4-volt accumulator, but (as the Scotsman is said.to joke) "with difficulty." A 6-volt battery will be. far more serviceable, but an 8-volt battery still more so. The modern Ford van is fitted with a 6-volt battery and starts well enough on that.
The idea that 8 volts might injure the coils is. obviously wrong. The magneto passes far more than 8 volts when the engine is running at a good speed, and the coil does not suffer from that.
The notion that a4-volt accumulator is best suited to the Fora coils arises, probably, from the 'fact that, in the old days, when all ignition was by battery, it was usual to fit 4-volt accumulators, the coils being constructed to take that voltage and no more. The Ford coils are, however, Made sturdy; they have to be, to take the hig,h.magneto'voltages.
410.-" Bat." and "Nag. Positions of Switch.
On the old-style Ford and on the truck a " Mag." and a "Bat.." position are indicated for the switch lever on the coil box, Many drivers have the notion that the magneto will only serve the ignition when the switch lever is set to "Mag," and that a battery will only serve the ignition when it is connected up and the switch /ever is set to " Bat." This is not so. If you run your magneto wire to the battery binding post, you can then run your engine on .magnete current with the switch lever set at " Bat." position. Similarly, if you connect up a battery with your magneto binding post you can run your engine with the switch lever set to "Mag.' position: if you do this, however, detach your magneto wire ;iron' the battery, binding post, or you will send !battery current through the magneto, and are then ;likely to weaken your magnets. There must never be any way from battery to magneto. There is no magic in " Bat," and "Mag." The connections on each side in the switch are exactly similar. Your coils receive curre.nt through either binding post, according to the wiring connection, and that current may come from either magneto or battery at your choice. In some cases it 'will be found helpful to change over the magneto wire connection to the second binding post—that meant to receive battery current
-and then to set the ignition switch over to "Bat." This is helpful when the current path from the "Mag." binding post and its connections to coil box are poor, or when the switch internal connections are poor on the " Mag." Side.
If you have a hard starter it is worth while to try the effect of the change-over.