A PIMA' OP TEN SIITILLINGS is awarded each Week to
Page 21
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
the sender of the best letter which we publish on tuts Ingle; all others paid for at the rate .of a penny a line, with an allowance for photographs. All notes are edited before being published. Mention your employer's name, in confidence, as evidence of good faith. Address 'D., ill. mid F., The Commercial Motor." 7-15, Ttosebery Arenas. London, B.C.
Lamps. might,
Light. your lamps: at8.33 in London, 9.26 in Edinburgh, 8.47 in Newcastle, 8.49 in Liverpool, 8.42 in Birmingham, 8.43 in Bristol, and 9.33 in Dublin.
The Pin Joints of the Pump on a Steam Wagon.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 108, prize this week.
[177I] " A.W." (Dewsbury) writes :—" I have been rather bothered lately by the extremely rapid wear of the pin joints of the drive to the pump on ray steam wagon.. These joints are of the jaw type, and while the pins did not seem to wear at all, the holes rapidly became oval. I was at a, loss to account for the trouble, as there seemed to be ample means of lubri
cation Hyowever, something had to be done, and that quickly. It. struck me that for a start I would try a different material for the bearings of the joint. This was the part Which wore the quickest, and thought that the metal uSually employed might be too. soft
" I therefore bored out the holes, and bushed them with good quality bronze. While I had the joints apart, I thought I would take steps to ensure that the lubrication was sufficient also in future. I therefore drilled the end of the ram, and fitted a syphon oiler to it. Since the alteration I have not had a moment's trouble. Other readers who are also drivers of steamers maybe experiencing the same difficulty. To them this letter will prove of interest."
Renovating the Glass of a Water-gauge.
772] W. H. O." (Worcester), writes .:7—" The
glasses of Klinger-type water gauges generally commence to leak after a time, at least, that is my experience. On taking thein down for examination, they appear to be all right emcept for slightly serrated edges. These seem to be hardly sufficient to cause leakage, but I ha73 found that their removal effects a cure,
"The method I adopt is as follows :—I fasten a
good piece of emery down OIll to a flat board, and rub. the edge of the glass on it.. If care is taken to keen the glass perfectly level, and provided the cuts in the • edge of the glass are not too deep, the surface can be made as good as new by this process. It takes from five to ten minutes, according to the amount to be removed..
"I have read in your pages lately of one or two' lengthy runs by steam wagons without taking up water. My engine is a Foden, and is about two years old. It averages about 300 miles a week, and. I have frequently managed runs of 36 miles on givet-and-take roads without ro%lling my water tank, . I once ran 40 miles on one tankful, and had a little water still in the tank at the end of the.journey. I have-travelled 60 miles, carrying five tons of flour for half the distance, using only 2?,cwt. of coal„ and not the best of coal at that,"
Taking Calliper Sizes from Micrometers.
[17731 'Toby" (Cardiff) writes I send you here
with a sketch (We have had this redrawn, and it is reproduced herewith.—En.) of a useful tool, which may interest the readers of your "D..141. and F." page. It can be used to take the size from a micrometer, and locked in any. position, from this setting the ordinary outside callipers can be set. Oft-times it can be used instea.d of inside, callipers, and a more accurate measurement obtained. The stock should be made exactly 2 ins., 3 ins, 4 ins., 13. more in length, according to the work for which it is required.. The measurement of the projecting stem can readily be taken with the rule.. The example I use is_ Constructed out of mildsteel, and the ends are casehardened.
"The following tip is worth knowing if granular brazing spelter is required and cannot be obtainag in the ordinary-'course. The usual stick spotter or yellow brass should be melted and poured through a bunch of twigs into water. When this is carried out, granulated spetter is obtained."