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Improved weight distribution for twin-steers
Page 42
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BETTER weight distribution is being obtained on the vehicles they are now converting into twin-steering six-wheelers, claims the Primrose Third Axle Co. This has been obtained by positioning the second axle farther back than used to be common practice.
The improved situation was first encouraged by the newer chassis such as Ford Ds and Dodge Ks which both have much longer springs than used to be the case.
It used to be Primrose practice, as on the Bedford TKs for example, to thread the front end of the second spring through the shackle of the first spring when the springs were extra long. By this means the two front axles could be kept close together.
It has now been found that more equal front-axle loading results when the simpler method of mounting the second axle fully behind the first is adopted. The second axle then bears a larger proportion of the gross weight and relieves the weight on the driving axle, where operators can very soon overstep the legal weight limit.
An example of the new arrangement is on a Dodge K800 tipper which has a 15 ft. 3 in. wheelbase in which there is 5 ft. 4+ in. between the two front axles and 7 ft. 10-in. between the second steering axle and the driving axle.
On chassis such as the Dodge where the frame is splayed near the back of the cab to suit the engine installation the rear spring bracket of the second set of springs has to be modified to suit the angle of the frame sides. But otherwise the whole secondaxle assembly is now perfectly standard and no spares complications arise.
A much safer system of providing secondary means of brake operation is being used for these latest twin-steer conversions, says Primrose. Dual brake chambers are fitted to the front and rear axles so that, in addition to the normal footbrake system acting on all the wheels, a separate hand control from the cab can be used to apply the secondary chambers on the front and rear axles. In addition to these two air-pressure systems the parking brake operates through mechanical linkage on to the rear axle.
Primrose state that for any operator whose work involves risk of overloading the rear axle on a four-wheeler the twinsteer conversion is the lightest and the cheapest method he can adopt for obtaining the margin he requires. With the new arrangement. the margin is even greater.
Chassis shortage
BUS bodybuilding by East Lancashire Coach builders Ltd. and Neepsend Coachworks Ltd. at Blackburn and Sheffield, while helped by a record order book. has been made difficult and frustrating, and production has been lost. by the shortage and late delivery of chassis from the Makers. So says the annual report of the chairman of John Brown and Co. Ltd., which owns these companies.
Cravens Homalloy goods bodywork plants at Preston and Rochford are fully employed. he says.
Busy Barbara
THE Minister of Transport, Mrs. Barbara Castle, will open this year's Commercial Motor Show at Earls Court, London; the opening will be at 12 noon on September 23. From September 24 the exhibition will be open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day (except Sunday) until October 1. Prices of admission will be 5s. before 5 p.m. and 2s. 6d. after 5 p.m. every day except Saturdays, when it will be 2s. 6d. all day.
Another public engagement for Mrs. Castle in the autumn will be to speak as guest of honour at the annual dinner of the Public Transport Association, on November 10,in London. As usual, this will be an all-male affair—except. this year, for the Minister.
Insurance wind-up
WITH the making of a winding-up order against Fire Auto and Marine Insurance Co. on July 25, all that company's motor policies become ineffective from that date.
The Minister of Transport has advised holders to take out insurance with other companies.
NCK-Rapier Move: From August 1 the new address of NCK-Rapier will be: Waterside Works, Ipswich (tel: 56383, telex: 18176, cables: Rapier Ipswich).