The Oil Engine Not a Chassis-life Reducer
Page 35
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We Investigate the Case of a Perkins-engined Bedford with 230,000 Miles to its Credit BEING much interested in the experiences of Messrs. Goddard and Deliar, yston, hauliers and removers, as nitlined in their letter published in our ssue dated August 11, we personally risited Mr, A. W. Goddard with the rhject of learning about the methods ie adopts that result, apparently, in uch remarkable vehicle longevity. This irm have in their fleet a Bedford 3onner which has covered 230,000 miles n just over four years and is still going trong.
-Originally powered by a standard ietrol engine, the machine was overiauled and equipped with a Perkins P6 ompression-ignition unit when it had ompletecl 120,000 miles. This has mow been running for 110,000 miles vithout one involuntary stop on the oad, averaging 19 m.p.g. and consumng lubricant at the low rate of 5-6 lints per 1,000 miles, Big loads, morever, have been carried.
Briefly to trace the history of this ledford, it was purchased in March, 935, and operated on petrol until )ecember, 1937. That month, as a esult of frost, the cylinder block eveloped a crack, and in view of the ge of the engine its replacement was ecided upon.
Mr. Goddard had been much ttracted' by the Perkins P6 at the .ommercial Motor Show that Novem,er, at which it had made its first ublic appearance, and immediately pproached F. Perkins, Ltd., for the ipply of a unit. He was, in point of Let, a. little too early, but in 10 days a engine was available—actually the rat " production " P6 to be built.
A, fine testimony to this machine is 3nstituted by the small amount of ork involved by the chassis overhaul, taring which every part was checked. naong the operations carried out were facing the brake shoes and fitting new shackle pins and new chrome-steel' bolts to the engine mountings. In addition, the axle ratio was raised from. 6.78 to 5.26 to 1 and 7-ton springs and 34 by 7 tyres were substituted for the original equipment.
Other renewals made then or prior to the change-over included swivel pins, centre bearing and clutch disc. It is of note that the original Hardy-Spicer universal joints are still in use and that no work of any importance needed to be done on the gearbox.
We asked Mr. Goddard if he had experienced any trouble, during this long period, with wheel studs or nuts. He replied in the negative, ascribing his freedom from bother to the fact that special wheel spanners were carried on his vehicles and used in preference to the ordinary brace.
Reliable Despite Overloads.
With regard to the class of work on which the Bedford oiler is engaged, we were informed that it travels all over the country carrying loads varying, as a general rule, from 6 tons to a maximum of 8 tons. Shortly after the installation of the Perkins engine it was making two journeys a week to Milford Haven, and was never behind schedule through mechanical trouble.
No doubt the success of the vehicles in the fleet of Messrs. Goddard and DeIlar, particularly in the case of this specific machine, is largely due to the firm's maintenance methods. Mr. A. W. Goddard's brother is the engineer responsible, and the welfare of the vehicles is in his clearly competent hands. A casual inspection of his workshop revealed that it is one of those places where, with no surplus space and the minimum of equipment, excellent work is done.
Our attention was drawn to one item
which was described as having paid for itself many times over. It is a Bristol portable air compressor with greasing attachment—a product of Bristol Pneumatic Tools, Ltd.—and it is used on every machine, for greasing and .tyre inflation,
Normally, Saturday is the day reserved for running repairs, cleaning and washing, but, of course, many operations of maintenance are effected immediately the need arises. We understand that Shell oil, fuel and lubricants are used practically exclusively.
Four vehicles comprise the Goddard and Deliar fleet which is shown in the accompanying picture. They are a Seddon and three Bedfords, one of the latter being the only petrol vehicle. The other Bedford oiler has now done 45,000 since it was bought new, equipped with a Perkins engine, in September, 1938. It was supplied by Caring (1929), Ltd.
The Seddon is the latest acquisition and Mr. Goddard told us he was very well satisfied with it.
One interesting reason for his liking for it is that he frequently carries loads of asbestos sheet measuring 8 ft. by 4 ft. The exceptionally long platform of the Seddon-16 ft.—permits these to be arranged in two piles, so that the weight is evenly distributed.
Before leaving Royston we went for a run on the big-mileage Bedford, which was equipped with a large liftvan body, and tried it (unladen) up a. 1-in-7 hill. Although the trip was short, it was sufficient to show that the vehicle was in excellent mechanical condition, and evincing nosigns of senile• decay. Externally, too, it has been well kept. Both its performance and its appearance are a credit to the operators. The machine certainly constitutes a telling reply to those arguing that oil engines shorten chassis life.