For DRIVERS, MECHANICS & FOREMEN.
Page 27
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TEN SFIILLINGS is paid to the sender of may letter which we publish on. this page, and an EXTRA Fl YE SHILLINGS to the-sender of the one ,which we select as being the best each week.. AN notes are edited before beingpublished. Mention your employer's name, in confidence; as evidence of good faith.Address, D.. M. and F., "The Commercial Motor," 7-1s, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.G. 1..
Lamps Aligl.t.
On Saturday, December 4th, light your lamps at 9.21 in London, 4.10 in Edinburgh, 4.8 in Newcastle, 4.23 in Liverpool, 4.24 in Birmingham, 4.31 in BFistol, and 5.6 in Dublin.
Engine Starting in the Cold Weather.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the extra payment of 58. this week.
[2162] " F.H." (Keighley) writes :—" The cold mornings and that bugbear of heavy vehicle drivers, starting, are now with us. A ward by the way and a few hints on how to prevent, or at least diminish, the extent of our morning exercise are therefore timely.
" The first thing to consider is the class of oil which is being used. In all probability a change will be found beneficial, for it is wonderful what a difference the use of the right grade of oil will make. Get some oil for winter work lighter than habitually used in the summer. If you do so, instead of following other advice, you are well on the way to curing your sfarting troubles.
"Each morning fill up the radiator with warm water before attempting to start. I am not a believer in pouring warm water over the induction pipe. Water is best kept away from the vicinity of the carburetter' for obvious reasons. Now, suppose the foregoing advice has been taken, the proper grade of oil has been added until the gummy, stiff dram on the pistons has disappeared, there is warm water in the radiator, then flood the carburetter, set the throttle slightly open, and the ignition control lever in the best position, give a quick swing, and 'away '—or at least we hope so. . "In an obdurate case, do not waste your strength swinging; head work is what is required for starting-engines...A few-di-ops of paraffin down each compression tap will take the gum off the pistons and the next swing will be sufficient to get that hot spark that the engine is waiting for. If it is not toomuch to ask, those few drops of paraffin should be put in the cylinder over night, then, when you eome next morning, you save the-initial swing, the engine being ready for that smart, quick pull over which is the result of your morning 'freshness and a willing engine. " I know of eases where even these precautions are in vain, where the engine, due in part to a hoary old age, refuses even these kindly efforts to sweeten it. Well, now, if your machine is like this, leave the starting handle alone and try this tip.I have known it to be effective in many a. difficult case. Pick out the sparking plugs pour a, little drop of petrol into each, holding the Plugs point upward, -take them outside the garage (I usually prop them up against the kerbstone), and set the petrol afire. Let them warm up, so that when you pick them up again they will take the chill off your fingers. Be careful to extinguish any flame and bring them back into the garage and, while still warm, pour just a few drops of petrol into each plug and quickly replace them in the cylinders. Be smart if you want that easy start, for the hot plugs have caused those last few drops of spirit to evaporate, and some of it is waiting in the top of the plug, as you turn over, for the spark to fire it and thereby get the speed to carry on the cycle of operations, so get the plugs screwed home quickly. Buy a box-spanner for the job. Do not fiddle with an ordinary spanner or your efforts will be wasted. Give the plugs a good set up with the box
spanner. Grasp your starting handle with confidence, a smart, quick turn, and it is away, ' revving ' like the beat."
A Simple and Cheap Wheel Puller.
[2163] " S.H.S." (Luton) writes--" The form of dragor wheel puller which is shown on the accompanying sketch has the advantage that it is easy to make, cheap, and serves a variety of purposes. "The crossbar is of 1 in. square steel bar jumped up in the centre to form a boss 1_1ins, to 2 ins. dia .
meter.is then drilled, as shown' in the sketch, to accmmadate a 1 in. bolt 9 ins, long, and screwed full length: The jaws of the drag are made of the same material as the crossbar; they are jumped up at brie end to about 21 ins, diameter and drilled and slotted to slide on the 1 in. bar. Each jaw is 7 ins. long, andis in-turned at the end, as shown. With the crossbar 14 ins, long and the ether parts as described, it is possible to draw anything up to 12 ins, diameter, while the tool .affords a pull of as much as 7 ins."
A Complicated Matter.
[2164] " F.S." (Guisborough) writes :—" Starting an engine on a cold, •frosty morning is one of the driver's difficulties. The following method is one which I have found most effective. Before leaving the engine at night ,clean the sparking plugs, replace them, and restart the engine, afterwards turning off the petrol at the tank. Let the engine run for a few seconds, then open the throttle quickly and wide, immediately switch off and stop the engine. This has the effect of leaving a certain amount of mixture
in each cylinder. •
"Next -morning, when ready to start, -turn on the petrol, but do not switch on. Put the control levers into order and give the engine a turn or two. Take the cap off the magneto distributer and clean the carbon brush, replacing brush and cap. I.Tncover the contact breaker, test the contact breaker arm to see Ahat it is not stuck, inspect the platinum points, and make sure that they are clean, and then cover up the contact breaker once more. Inject a little petrol into each compression tap, close the latter' switch on and start. Since adopting this method I have never known it to be necessary to make more than one effort at starting.
" If there is still any difficulty in starting, a piece of rag, soaked with petrol, should be plugged into the carburetter air inlet, care being taken to see that it' does not obstruct the jet."