MAKING BEST USE OF THE FORD.
Page 53
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Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport which will Appeal to the Owner, Driver and Repairer.
435.—A Neat and Easily-made Oil Gauge.
In a recent issue of The Commercial Motor we gave details of a special getup for use in connection with the Ford
engine. Details of another has been sent by a contributor, and this also is of a very simple type, which can be Made without any great trouble.
The parts required are a small brass tap of the two-way type tapped Fin. gas, an elbow to suit, a small ft-in. gas nipple, a control rod and a small knob for the end of this rod. •
In fitting the device, the existing bottom oil tap should be removed, the nipple screwed for half its length into the hole in the crankcase, and the new tap screwed on to the projecting portion of the nipple and tightly up to the outside, of the case. Screw the elbow into the other end of the tap, leaving it in a vertical position. See that the vertical position of the elbow reaches to midway between the two taps. The control rod should then be secured to the wing of the tap, the other end being passed through a hole in the valance and the knob secured to it.
When the tap is turned on, oil will flow up the elbow and commence to diiP if the level be sufficiently high, but if no oil issues the level is, of course, too low. The height of the oil should not be much above the midway line and, therefore, the flow of oil should be very slow, or the depth in the sump can be accurately gauged by gradually filling until the flow commences.
This gauge will be found to answer better than a dipper type.
436.—Making Up for Wear in the Drums.
In relining the transmission bands it is sometimes found that after using the thickest lining supplied by the agents, it is necessary to take up nearly all the adjustment. This is due to wear on the drums, and the correct procedure is to fit new drums, but in these days of keen competition it is often essential to make every, part, except those vital to safety, wear for as long as possible and, providing that the drums are not too thin or cracked, extra wear can be obtained from them by employing old transmission bands with their lugs taken off by cutting the three rivets in each and using these bands as liners for the others.
It will be found necessary to drill holes to correspond, because when one band is inside the other, the holes will not be in line. It will also be necessary to cut a small amount off the inner bands. Having carried out this work, all that remains is to rivet the lining on to the two bands, using rivets a little longer than normal, so that they will pass through the tevo and the lining. Only a little of the original adjustment will. then have to be taken up, allowing plenty for further use.
Another advantage of this method is that the bands engage with surprising smoothness.
437.—Getting Home with a Broken Rear Axle.
Many fitments, some not of a very satisfactory nature, have been devised to permit a vehicle with a broken rear axle to reach home under tow. One which would appear to have several points in its favour is shown in an illustration.
It consists of a bar of steel 3 ft. long by ift ins, square, one end of which is turned in the lathe to resemble a standard Ford front-hub spindle. The other end is forged flat, bent to clear the rearbrake band, and clamping plates riveted on. The addition of the upper clamps, by which it is attached to the axle, bolts of a suitable size and a front wheel.complete with cones and bearings completes a most useful emergency outfit.
438.—Carrying On with a Worn Slow-speed Band.
One ef our readers found himself in an awkward contretemps recently when the transmission band of his Ford gave out some miles from home and was so bad that the vehicle could not be moved under its own power, even on a hard, level road. Not only did he wish to get home, but also to finish his day's work of hawking, which involved many stops and starts and the climbing of some steep hills.
• First, he removed the inscription plate on the transmission ease and then, taking a screwdriver having a sharp point, he prised the transmission band up from the drum. Luckily, he had on the veNcle a long length of strong cord of about the thickness of plaited blind cord, and he passed this between the drum and the band. By dint of some little effort, he was able to wind the cord twice round the drum and secure both ends to the adjusting bolt behind one of the lugs on the band, pulling it as tightly as possible and knotting it securely. For the purpose it was found that the side opposite the pedals was the easier from the point of view of accessibili:y.
439.—Special Lubricants.
Those of our readers who are using Fordingoyl for the lubrication of Ford engines will be interested to hear that the manufacturers, Sterns, Ltd., have come to an arrangement with the Ford Co., whereby it is agreed that this oil shall, in future, be known under the name of "Sterns Fordingog."
Stern, Ltd., are also marketing a special compound for the back-axle lu brication of Ford ton trucks. This product—" Sterns Fordingoyl Gear Compound "—conforms to the specification laid down by the Ford Co. for the purpose mentioned.
An interesting and useful booklet, entitled "The Lubrication of the Ford," will be sent post free to any of our readers upon application to the head offices of Sterns, Ltd., at Royal London House, Finsbury Square, E.C.2.