Contributions from Drivers and Mechanics.
Page 19
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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 vehic es and tra:tors, and mechanics and foremen of garages or shops, are invited to send short contributions on any sullect which is likely to prove of interest to our readers. Wvrk. shop 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 wri!ten, or h,w worded. We will "knock it into shape ' and prepare slietches, where necessary, before publication. The absence of a sketch does not disqualify for a prize, When a-riling 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 wal be disclosed. Payment will be made immediately after publication. Address your letters to The Editor, T H COMMERCIAL MOTOR, 7-15, kosebery Avenne, London, E.C.
Lifting a Crankshaft.
[0E4] " J.P." (Leicester) writes :—" It is sometimes found necessary to lift the crankshaft of a steam wagon or tractor when there are no blocks and falls available. I have found, in such circumstances, that it is always best to use two short lengths of stiff wood, together with two pairs of slow-taper wooden wedges. I fix the two uprights in position under the ends of the crankshaft, and then carefully drive up the pairs of wedges so as to lift the crankshaft evenly at both ends. It is possible to get the latter quite clear of its bearings in this way by wedging up a little bit at a time and fixing as you go."
A Lathe in a Vice.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the 100. prize this week.
[Ns] " (Sandbach) writes :—" I should like to draw your attention to a, small workshop or garage rig which I have found very useful. There are, of course, many such establishments where a lathe is quite an unknown quantity, and yet, in the course, of the business which is handled there, it is frequently found necessary to contrive some means for the re-seating of valves and for the carrying out of similar small jobs.
"Although 'grinding-in' may be sufficient in many of these cases, in others it is not, the valves being far too badly pitted, and the indentations far too deep
to be dealt with in this way. I rigged up this little arrangement with the aid of a vice fixed to an ordinary shop bench. I made a little headstock of cast iron, and bored and bushed it to receive a centre piece. I find it is best, when making this little part, to arrange coat it has a loose cap, so that I may readily make adjustment on the steel tube on which the whole thing is mounted. The main spindle shown in the sketch carries an ordinary drill chuck of the self-centring pattern. It will be seen that the tail stock, which can be conveniently made from a forging, is clamped into position. The method of using this device will readily be understood from an examination of the sketch. It is, of course, perfectly obvious that it can only be used for work of a very light description, and nothing in the nature of a heavy cut must be attempted with it. Nevertheless, it will be found, as I have already said, to be extremely useful for such jobs as skimming up valves when the ordinary and more usual means are not readily available."
Dispensing with the Governor.
19661 " II.J." (Pimlico) writes : " Your correspondent NOT CONVINCED,' in your issue of the 25'th nit., says much with which I agree. During the past ten years, I have driven many types of governed engines, and, like your correspondent, I am of opinion that they yield considerable disadvantage to a competent driver, especially in negotiating hills, and in the course of long journeys. I have, wherever possible, dispensed with the governor, and on several occasions have managed to reduce the petrol consumption considerably as the result of such alteration.
I was driving Albion cars for'2.12 years, and on one of this type I covered 28,000 miles without having the engine down, and that mileage was amassed over some of the worst roads in England. I personally think that Albion cars are very hard to beat as a type, but I do contend that the governed Albion engine is a considerable disadvantage to an experienced driver who has over 100 miles a day to run.
"I quote herewith a typical week's work which I have carried out frequently on an Albion. From the Monday to the Wednesday I covered 250 miles through the Derbyshire Peak district, starting from Birmingham. On the Thursday I started from Birmingham to go to Aberystwyth, making the return journey on the Friday, coming over the mountain roads viA Llandilo—a pretty hefty ' week's running, I think you will admit " I do not blame motor manufacturers for sticking to the governor, so long as they find it expedient to advertise that no skilled mechanics are required for their maehines, but I pity any duffer of a driver who might have such a, journey as that I have mentioned above to carry out with a governed engine."