HINTS ON MAINTENANCE.
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How to Get the Best Out of a Vehicle, to Secure Reliability and to Avoid Trouble.
477 —Silencing Noisy Road Wheels by the Use of Fibre '1 hrust Washers.
A good substitute for the phosphor-bronze thrust washer usually fitted to the road wheels of commercial vehicles is one made from a good-quality hard fibre, which can be cut from sheet fibre obtainable from almost any accessory dealer. The wearing qualities of a fibre washer of this description are extraordinary, and if kept well greased will, it is stated, outlast three of the nhosphor-bronze type.
In addition, it has the effect of cushioning the constant side hammering of the wheels when side play develops. In order that the lubricant be spread well over the face of thewasher, it is advisable to cut diagonal grooves, which need not he deep. Our sketch does not show any dimensions, as these .necessarily differ according to the make of :vehicle.
478.—Improving a Worn Gear-type Oil Pump.
The engine of the Napier two-ton chassis is lubricated by a gear pump driven from the camshaft. In one instaiice, the pressure of the oil when the engine was at normal running temperature did not prove sufficient, and when the pump was dismantled it was found thato the wheels had developed .considerable end play._
To make up for the wear, a brass shim, similar to that illustrated; was made and fitted over the pinion spindles at the bottom of the pump. The pump was then removed, tested, and the shim filed down until the driving wheel could be turned by hand. A paper joint was utilized between the faces of the pump at the final assembly in order to give the necessary working clearance.
• Incidentally, great care must be exercised when 'bolting the pump together for the trial, as the material used for the body is a kind of die-cast white metal and may easily be broken if roughly treated. This method of repair should prove quite satisfactory for,.almost any type of gear pump.
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The same effect can also be achieved by machining the face of the pump at the joint, but this is a comparatively difficult operation, as the average garage lathe does ,not well accommodate the shape of the majority of pump bodies.
479.—Preventing Undue Wear on Stub Axle' Pin Bearings.
In the course of many years' experience in motor vehicle repair work,one of our readers has found that the greatest wear in stub axle pin bearings has been in those at the lower end. This is occasioned by the fact that usually, except in the most modern designs, both bearings are lubricated from one greaser through a hole bored down the centre of the pin. This difficulty can be overcome by drilling the lower end of the stub axle at the spot indicated in our sketch and tapping this hole for a second greaser, taking care that this is so fitted that. it does not foul anything when the steering is on full lock.
An alternative method, dependent upon the circumstances, is to continue the central grease hole, right through the pin and to tap it at its low& end for the greaser.