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What to Do in Emergencies.

24th September 1914
Page 19
Page 19, 24th September 1914 — What to Do in Emergencies.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

During the present state of affairs, we shall substitute this new feature for our usual " Drivers' and Mechanics' Contrebution,s"; these we shall resume when more normal circumstances rule in our industry, We repeat our recent statement, that we are desirous of assisting the "new man at the wheel," of whom there are many at the present time for one reason or another. Our usual " D. and A. "pages have included many tips as to workshop procedure, etc.; some of these we are temporarily dropping, and are selecting more appropriate suggestions

Contributions from Drivers and Mechanics.

We notify readers this week of our intention shortly to resume the publication of our much-appreciated "D. and M." pages. All communications utilized will be paid for at the same rates as hitherto.

For the benefit of new readers, we may mention that each week a prize of 10s. will be offered for the best contribution sent in by either a driver or mechanic. Any other letters published will be paid for at the rate of one penny a line of ten words. Communications must relate to some special incident or experience on the roadside, garage or workshop, and must be of general interest to men who are directly employed in connection with commercial vehicles. When required a rough sketch may accompany the letter ; this will be redrawn if necessary.

Attending to Trembler Points.

Intermittent firing of engines which are fitted with coil ignition is often caused by the looseness of the platinum points on the trembler blades. To cure this, the defective blade should be detached and laid with its face downwards on a hard surface, and the loose point riveted over. It should be ascertained that the faces of the platinum points make good contact and are square one with the other.

When wear sets up in the platinum itself, and the point becomes pitted, it is advisable to file the metal flat with a watchmaker's file, a more economical method, however, being to make it square again with carefully-applied blows from a small hammer. The points in contact may be cleaned by drawing a thin piece of visiting card or strip of paper between them, slowly pressing the points together whilst the card is being withdrawn. A spot of oil applied to the points is advantageous, but care must be taken not to leave sufficient to cause dirt to collect.

H You Lose the Starting Handle. Starting handles are not often lost, especially those of the fixed type, but such instances do now and then occur, and unless the machine is standing on a fairly steep gradient, starting the engine without a handle is a very difficult job. The illustration shows a method by which the difficulty can be overcome. A plain nut must be screwed

on to the end of the starting-handle shaft by means of a shifting spanner. A piece of suitable tube should then be bent at right angles and fitted to the handle of the spanner.

When a Boiler Stay-rod Fractures.

The fracture of a horizontal-boiler stay-rod sometimes makes itself known by a leakage of steam into the smoke-box end of the boiler. Even though the wastage may not be considerable, the wagon shanla not be run any length of time in this state, otherwise distortion of the 'ittibe-plate will follow which will entail a costly repaif tnd much delay. The sketch we show herewith depicts a speedy repair to a boiler with a broken stay-rod, and which will enable the wagon temporarily to be kept in service until the rod can be replaced. The fire should be drawn, and the pressure allowed to get low. The fractured end of the rod must then be knocked back into the boiler, and in its place should be fitted a form of plug shown in the sketch. The plug comprises a short piece of copper pipe which has to be a force fit into the tube-plate. Into the piece of tubing is threaded a mild-steel plug, one end of which is machined taper and the other screwed to suit the nut which has been taken from the end of the stay-rod.

When the plug is in position, it can be made a steamtight fit by screwing the nut home tightly, and the harder this is screwed the more is the tubing expanded. It will then be found that 140 lb. or 150 lb. of steam can be held without signs of leaking: As before stated, the boiler should not be allowed to be under steam in this condition for any length of time.

A Fractured Union Can be Repaired with Insulation Tape.

When a copper pipe of comparatively small diameter, such as the main petrol or oil supply, breaks off near to the union, a quick repair can be effected by using a small piece of insulation tape. The fractured end of the pipe must be filed off level and a coarse groove cut round the end. The insulation tape should then be wound tightly round the tube and pressed well into the groove. Upon screwing up the union nut it will be found that the tape temporarily acts as a substitute for the nipple.

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