WHEEL, TYRE AND SPRING REPAIRS.
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Difficulties Met and Overcome by Our Driver and Mechanic Readers.
A N unusual difficulty was experi enced b LW." (Dewsbury) in connection with the road wheel of a well-known make of steam wagon. The drive to this wheel was by means of a claw clutch, of which the one part was formed on the inside flange of the hub of the wheel and the other on the axle. The wagon, we understand, had been in use for some years, and the working faces Of the dogs had worn to such an extent that there was considerable play between them, and starting of the wagon, either in the forward or reverse direction, was always accompanied by, numerous jerks, causing considerable vibration throughout the chassis. No particular notice was taken of this, however, beyond the opinion developing that something would have to be done at some time or other to put it right, until a more ominous symptom manifested itself.
The driver, on reversing the wagon one day over a rough piece of ground, and, looking back, as is customary when
reversing, observed that the wheel itself was wobbling to a considerable extent on its axle. This was deemed to be serious enough to call for instant investigation. The axle was jacked up, and the extent of the wobble, measured at the tyre, was la ins,, which is equivalent to play of from J in. to a in. at the axle. As this was the wheel which revolved' with, and did not rotate upon, the axle, the development of wear to the extent indicated geerned to be incorrect, and more serious trouble was anticipated.
On investigation, however, it was found that it was really wear on the axle and in the bore of the wheel, and that it had been brought about as the direct result of the wagon having been run so long with the worn dogs. The to-and-fro motion of the wheel upon the axle, permitted by this wear of the dogs, in conjunction with lack of lubrication —since naturally no provision for oiling was made at this point—had resulted in wear which might have been thought impossible.
The wheel was removed, and it was found that the axle was still round, but was tapered to the extent of a in. in diameter. The wheel was rebored and a tapered steel bush driven into it, thei bush being subsequentlyy, bored to fit the worn axle, on which, it should be borne in mind, it was not intended that it should revolve. At the same time the dogs on the wheel were lined by having pieces welded on to them until they were a good fit in those on the axle. To facilitate this operation, the welder was provided with n proper template of the dogs on the axle, so that no unnecessary chipping and filing would have to be done in order to make them fit.
The accompanying sketches, read in conjunction with this description, will, no doubt, make the matter quite clear, and it will be understood that, when the job was completed, the wheel and its axle were, to all intents and purposes, as good as new.
THOSE of our readers who have much
to do with pneumatic tyres, and in particular those whose work involves them in the use of vulcanizing apparatus, will be interested in the accompanying sketches, which have been sent to us by " S.H.B.K.," of Lavender .Hilt. They illustrate three useful fittings, intended to facilitate the operation of this type of apparatus, which will be of value even to the experienced.
• The first is what he calls a cover reverser. The method of its manufacture, as also of its use, is almost apparent from the sketch. It seems to be only necessary o state that the main portion of the tool is made from a piece of a-in. by a-in, iron bar about 18 ins. long. It is turned ove.. at the end in such shape that the angle thus formed will readily accommodate one of the reversed beads of the tyre, and it is notched beneath, as shown, le accommodate the hinge
piece of a hook, which securei the other bead. It will be noted that it is adapt able for use with any size of tyre.
The second-sketch shows a fitting for the vulcanizer' itself, and it is designed to obviate a difficulty which this corre spondeut says he has experienced, in that there is sometimes a tendency for the Mandril to slip, and as it is usually very hot when the slipping occurs it is not so easy to set it right again. To prevent that he has fitted a stop, which, as may be seen by reference to the sketch, is merely a piece of iron bar plied at one end to pass the drain tap of the mandril, and secured to the body of the vulcanizer at the other by a setscrew.
The third item is an additional support for holding tyres in the vulcanizer when tread repairs are being carried out. It is made to the shape shown from Fin. bar, and is secured in the holder for the tube hanger.
-IN a letter from "P.B.," of Dartford, a description of a. repair is given, which, we should say, was not, on ordinary mechanical grounds, to be re
commended. The writer, however, teas usthat, since carrying out this repair, the lorry has been in continuous service for three months and has given no further trouble, and on that account it seems that the procedure lie adopted is worthy of mention.
It appears -that the two top leaves of one of the rear springs of his vehicle broke through the centre-pin. He promptly drilled four 7-16-in, holes in the third leaf, staggering them as. shown in the sketch. Into these holes he fitted four stem dowel pins, long enough to engage with the second leaf throughout its full thickness. There was, he says, no need for them to penetrate the top leaf, as this was encircled at its ends by the second. Finally, he removed the bottom leaf of the spring, placed it on top, clamped them all together, replaced the spring and proceeded on his way without experiencing any further trouble from this cause.