ROAD AND WORKSHOP by HANDYMAN
Page 82
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Glass-fibre in General Haulage
I T is not my intention to discuss methods and techniques in the application of glass-fibre to manufacture or repair. but to look back a little way and examine from experience two rather important and, at the same time, controversial aspects of the material on the road and in the workshop.
First, I would refer to accidents and driver safety and let the facts speak for themselves. On the driver being introduced some few years ago to the vehicle equipped with glass-fibre cab, wings and even the bumper bar, his immediate reaction was one of concern for his own personal safety in the event of arty frontal impact. His distrust of this new material 'spread quite rapidly, and for a time there was some concern amongst operators as to the wisdom of stepping into this new field. Also, it is true to
say that at that time, following any collision—even with a light car—the appearance of the ripped. and torn glassfibre cab did not bestow confidence in its ability to take a good punch.
However, the vehicles were accepted, if rather grudgingly. and time and experience lengthened --though when questioned in those earlier days, the driver would indicate that he was watching out for himself and taking no chances. Nevertheless, accidents happened—as they must—from travelling in too close company, jack-knifing. thirdparty collision or just bad weather, with cab damage plentiful.
Yet a rather outstanding feature was taking shape from the records: driver injury was falling. No longer was the driver being cut and hacked around feet and legs by torn metal that changed shape and locked him irt—and no longer did a serious crash mean a fight to cut a trapped man free. In many instances the glass-fibre material took a terrific blow and caved in. as one would expect. But as the impact thrust ceased, so did the glass-fibre relax elastically, easing away from the driver—the only items taking a new shape being the metal stays and supports.
Ambulance men, when questioned, also expressed their views on this feature, invariably confirming that they could expect less trouble and reduced injury where a glass-fibre cab was concerned. Therefore, from records covering many millions of miles. there is considerable satisfaction in finding that, like the crash helmet, glass-fibre is also making a contribution to road safety.
From the works'hop side, there was a similar bad start as glass-fibre repair work was tackled. Experience was lacking; mixtures varied, there were delays with hardening, grumbles about the state of the repairer's hands, fears of skin trouble and all-round objection whenever the sander was used to level and trim up. Again, time and experience sorted and smoothed out these problems, and from it all there has emerged something of a new look from the bodybuilding side. Now, after a crash, when stays and brackets are being unbolted, much of the damaged area springs back into its original position.
Where portions are missing—a good example being the windscreen aperture— once the damaged tie stays and so on are freed, the aperture, or even what is left of it, invariably will return nearly to its true position. And, With any damaged section, no time need be lost in gaining access to some obscure bracket or bolt; the material is simply cut away and replaced later.
Comparison job sheets of past cab accident repairs, between metal/wood and glass-fibre construction, show in favour of the glass-fibre cab by as much as 100 man hours saved in accident repair turn-round.