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Systematic Maintenance IV Is Good Transport Service

23th June 1939, Page 36
23th June 1939
Page 36
Page 37
Page 36, 23th June 1939 — Systematic Maintenance IV Is Good Transport Service
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How Bouts-Tillotson Transport, Ltd., Takes Pains Over the Upkeep of Its Vehicles, A Well planned Depot Where No Time is Lost AN extensive road-transport organization, such as the well-known company of Bouts-Tillotson Transport. Ltd., depends for its success upon a properly organized system of vehicle upkeep. Without that no amount of goodwill or good service can keep the business on its feet. A lot of time and money must be spent on maintenance to get economy and profit in the long run.

In the case of the company mentioned, which operates a vast network of services over England, maintenance is tackled with forethought and pre

vision. Every Bouts-Tillotson transport vehicle and every vehicle operated by its several subsidiary companies receives regular detailed attention, this being controlled by the chief engineer, Mr. G. E. A. Disturnal, at the central workshops situated in Waterden Road, Stratford, London, E,15.

Condition reports, together with other important returns, are received daily from over a dozen depots situated in all parts of England. From the information obtained from these returns comprehensive records are compiled and programmes for docking, overhauling and unit requirements are made out weeks ahead, thus preventing wasteful delay.

All trunk vehicles are heavy docked or overhauled at the central workshops, the local vehicles of the northern depots being dealt with at the Bradford depot, under the supervision of Mr. N. Jones, the stores and units required being requisitioned from the B2 London stores. All docks and overhauls are on a mileage basis. Regular rautine inspection, including greasing, is carried out fortnightly and charted up in a systematic manner.

The chief feature of the workshop is the compact layout, which affords maximum output with relatively small floor-space, the total area, including stores, being only 8,600 sq. ft. It is, therefore, obvious that this is ideal for obtaining the maximum supervision at the lowest possible cost, thus reducing overheads to a minimum, also saving men's time.

In describing the workshops let us begin by making clear the location of the various sections. In the main area, which is clean and well-lit, are three pits, also the overhaul bay, engine hay and unit benches. To one side of this space are found the stores, welding shop, machine shop and fuelpump test room. Adjoining the stores is the dismantling and degreasing shop_ On a floor over the stores is the chief engineer's office and stores and records office. A full view of the workshops can be obtained from the office of the chief engineer.

The maintenance system is as follows :—Each vehicle receives a fortnightly two-hour routine inspection, whatever its age or condition. This inspection is carried out on Pit No. 1, which accommodates five trunk vehicles per day and a corresponding number of local vehicles by night. The work consists of greasing, cleaning, and detailed examination and attention (to the extent at 40 items) and is done by a greaser, fitter, cleaner and body man. On the wall near the pit is a list of the jobs to be done, and a chart to be filled in for each vehicle.

Pit No. 2 is used by the running shift for any major running repair work as reported from time to time, whilst Pit No. 3 is employed by the dock gang. .

Now it must be explained that the. docking system is the same for all vehicIes, except in the matter of mileage. As an example, let us suppose a vehicle clues 60,000 miles before needing a complete overhaul. Under Mr, Disturnars system it has an ' A " Dock at 10,000, when valves are reground, sump dropped, big-ends examined, brakes refaced, etc. At 20,000 it has a similar dock (the " B " Dock), but one which is more intensive. These two docks are each carried out in a working day.

Dock " C" (at 30,000 miles) is a heavy dock, occupying three working days the pistons and block are given the necessary attention, brake drums are probably relined or reground, and springs rec.am bared whilst the body is touched up and varnished. Docks

" D " and " E " correspond with "A' and "B," whilst Dock " F " is the grand overhaul, at 60,000 miles.

The overhaul bay accommodates two vehicles per week, and has a 2-ton runway for unit lifting. Chassis are stripped, and reconditioned units are fitted, meanwhile the body is given a new lease of life by the workers in the body shop. Three days is the usual overhaul time.

At present the company is converting all its petrol-engined trunk vehicles to oilers, by fitting Gardner 6LW engines. These conversions are done in three lo four days, which is remarkable work, considering the dismantling and alteration involved and that only a fitter and an improver are on the work.

In the dismantling and degreasing shop, engines, etc., come in and are thoroughly cleaned, dismantled and inspected on a special bench. Then they go into porti.ble bins along with

the required spares from the stores, thus there is no delay., They are then received by the workers on the engine bay and unit benches.

The stores are unusually clean and systematic. There is a large, easily

read chart, so that any part can be found at once under its bin number. The bin assembly was made to Mr. Disturnal's design and saves a great deal of time. Requisitions are made by the foreman and costs allocated accordingly under vehicle sections, but not under separate vehicles.

In addition to the larger shops there is an electrician's department, where magneto and dynamo repairs are carried out. Radiator and tank repairs and mudguard work, however, are carried out at the Bradford depot of the company. The machine shop, already mentioned, contains small and large lathes, drilling and milling machines, cylinder borer, connectingrod aligner, etc. There is also an electric welding plant.

In the body shop work is made easy by the employment of large highlifting jacks, which lift the body well clear of the chassis without removing the mudguards. The fuel-pump test room is extremely businesslike and neat, and the whale of the apparatus was made on the premises, with the exception of the motor.

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Locations: London

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