The Behaviour o
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A Special
Six -wheeler
One of the New Gamer Six-wheelm, Ecmipped with a Specially High Gear for Light-load Duty, Shows a Speedy and Silent Performance
ONEof the features concerning the commercial-motOr industry, which certain members of the public fail to appreciate, is the ability to provide special features to meet peculiar requirements. This versatility is worthy of greater publicity.
An interesting example of a. special machine was brought to our notice, and we took the opportunity for accompanying the vehicle on its routine tests. It was a rigid sixwheeler of the TW6-0 type, manufactured by Garner Motors, Ltd., Tyseley, Birmingham, normally Intended for a pay-load of 3 tons. The standard chassis of this class has a final-drive ratio of 6.5 to 1. As this particular model was intended for use in fiat country and for carrying a lighter load than standard at high road speeds, the actual ratio was changed to 5.75 to 1, and instead of 6.00-in. by 20-in. pneumatics (twins on the wheels of the' bogie), single tyres of 34-in. by 7-in. dimensions were used on all six wheels and the spare.
For High-speed Work.
By reason of these factors the special chassis in question is well suited to what may be termed " trunk-route " work as opposed to general duty. In the following paragraphs we give our impressions of the results of this specification and general views concerning the capabilities of he Garner model in question. , .
Before actually going into the road-performance details it would. seem opportune to draw attention to the arrangement of the underslung semi-elliptic springs, which form the suspension for the bogie. The wheel movements are compensated by means of shackled bell-crank levers held together by links ; the disposition of the two upright arms of the bellcrank levers is such that they, make an angle of less than 90 degrees with their horizontal arms, in order that their movements may follow the same law as that applying to conventional steering mechani Another feature well worth mentioning concerns the layout of the axles and the springs.
• The axles are considerably offset in a longithdinal plane, in relation to the springs, to bring the wheels as close together as possible, yet at the same time to allow long springs with low frequencies to be used. There is, besides, an additional and obvious advantage in the brake' operating mechanism.
Owing to the special gear ratios provided, the vehicle was delightful to handle, and was capable of maintaining quite high average speeds without fuss or the feeling that the driver was overtaxing the engine by forcing it to turn over at high rates of revolution. On the third gear, which, by the way, was unusually silent, both when driving ahead and on the overrun, the engine evinced a marked liveliness, and as speeds up to 40 m.p.h. could be indulged in, mainroad hills, such as are encountered in the Midlands, could be tackled at speed. The second gear, of 14.3 to 1, was most useful, and speeds in excess of 20 m.p.h. could be maintained on this ratio without distressing the power unit.
Economy of Operation.
At the present time fuel consumption is a matter of paramount importance, and in this respect we are able to record low figures for this Garner TW6-0 chassis. Naturally, many tests were taken, hut an average showed that at a mean speed of 17.6 m.p.h. on main roads fuel was consumed at the rate of one gallon per 12.6 miles, whilst at the much higher average speed of 22.5 m.p.h. the pleasing result of 11.2 m.p.g. was obtained.
Altogether, this special type of Garner six-wheeled 3-tonner proved to be a distinctly practical vehicle, refined and speedy in its road characteristics and withal capable of dealingwith bulky, loads. The suspension system obviates many of the troubles encountered with some trailing-axle designs ; it allows more generous articulation than is usual.