MAKING BEST USE OF THE FORD.
Page 19
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Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport, Which Will Appeal to the Owner, Driver and Repairer.
IN THIS series of hints concerning the Ford light chassis and ton truck wherever they are employed for commercial purposes, we endeavour to deal with the subject from every view-point, so that the advice given will appeal to the Owner, driver, maintenance engineer or mechanic.
We shall welcome for inclusion among the hints those which have proved of value to individual users, and will make suitable remuneration for any which are published. The contributions should be accompanied by rough sketches wherever possible.
Readers are recommended to obtain the original "Book of the Ford," which constitutes a complete manual dealing with the Ford car, the van and the truck, 2s. 9d. post free from the offices of this journal.
282.—A Fourth .Trough for the Big Ends.
In dealing with a number of Fords, one repairer found that they had a common trouble, this was the melting out of the No. 4 big-end, obviously due to Jack of sufficient lubricant.
In order to cure this trouble, a number of.troughs was beaten out cf pieces of sheet aluminium, and one was riveted into each crankcase, for it will be remembered that, in the Ford engine, the tray underneath the, crankshaft has only three troughs, and the fourth big-end is supposed to be lubricated by cil thrown up from the flywheel, but, as shown in these instances, apparently not, always with Successful results.
The positioning of the new trough can Le seen by referring to the illustration.
283. —Obtaining Extra Life from a Low.speed Band.
A country carrier, who is doing good business with passengers and goods, recently discovered that his low-speed band was giving out. His only free day for repairs was five or six days ahead. Eventually, the condition of the band became so bad that the vehicle could hardly be started, even on the level. This was at 2 o'clock, and the vehicle was due out at 4 o'clock with passengers. As a forlorn hope, therefore, it was decided to take drastic measures to keep the vehicle on the road until its proper day of repair. On examining the band it was found that extra wear on the lining was prevented by the closing in of the compression spring, so the nut and washer were removed from the pedal shaft, the spring taken out and shortened by about three coils, which enabled the band to be closed in to this extent.
. To prevent any risk of the nut, washers, etc., dropping into the transmission case, a piece of cloth was stuffed underneath the adjusting bolts. This is important, as a slip might have been disastrous.
The measures taken proved quite effective, but, naturally, it is not a repair which we would recommend except, as stated, in case of dire need.
284.—A Temporary Breather. ,
In cases where a breather cap has been lelst it is essential that the orifice should not be completely blocked, otherwise there may be serious troubles with oil leakage clue to compression occurring in the crankcase at certain positions of the pistons. Therefore, if a . temporary plug be employed, this should preferably be made of wood with grooves cut or filed down the sides, in order to permit the entry and exit of air.
285.—Curing a Clutch Trouble. A fault which sometimes shows itself in the transmission is the slipping off at one side of the clutchadjusting screw. This proves very inconvenient when starting up, as the driver may have left the gears in neutral, but 'lien the starting handle is turned it is found that the clutch is in, due to the screw dropping off the cam or quadrant on the handbrake lever. The trouble may often be traced to excessive endwise play which has developed in the clutch-withdrawal shaft and brass collar.
A simple cure for the fault may be carried out when the transmission cover iasoff. Ascertain the correct central position of the shaft before removal. then take it out and drill it for two i-in, taper pins, so that when these are fitted they come just inside 'the casing at each end of the abaft., maintaining the 'various parts in the correct central position.
286.—An Unusual Ignition Trouble.
In a recent ease of engine failure in a late model Ford the trouble was traced to a fault in the ignition system, but the exact location of this fault could not be discovered for some time. ft was proved that the current reached the coil box, but .wont no farther, and the loss was eventually traced to the horn switch located on the steering column, as the current passed from the terminal block to the dash switch, and from there it shorted to earth via the steering column. The insulating block, which forms part of the switch, has on it two terminals for the reception of the wires, and when the switch is assembled on the steering column it will be found that the wires lie very close to the column, so much so indeed that if the wiring be not done in a very compact manner a stray strand may cause shorting.
A remedy and, in fact, an alteration which it would be advisable to carry out even on vehicles which have not suffered in this manner is to cut two small slits in an old piece of inner tube about in. wide and stretch it over two lugs on the block through which the bolt goes which secures the whole switch in position. This will prevent any risk of the current finding its way to earth in this manner.