HINTS ON MAINTENANCE.
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How to Get the Best Out of a Vehicle, to Secure Reliability and to Avoid Trouble.
599.—Further Notes on the Foden Water Pump.
Following the publication of Hint No. 583 dealing with the care of the Foden water pump, another eontributor writes to point out that the eccentricspindle device is only of use if old type cutters be
employed, and that another type of cutter, which is a considerable improvement on the old and which may be used without the eccentric spindle for clearing the top of the valve seat, has now been placed on the market.
This cutter is larger than the hole through which it has to pass, but two flats are milled opposite each other so. that the cutter can be tilted to allow it to fall face downwards on the seat, the face being either the flat or that on the angle, as required.
A similar cutter is made for the boiler check valve and one spindle only is required for the two.
Our contributor also points out that noadjustment to alter the lift of the valves isprovided by the makers, as it is considered that the valves will be the worse for wear by the time their stems have worn, and that new ones should be obtained with long stems, which can be cut off to suit.
600.—Freeing the Foot Brake on the Morris • Van Chassis. Some Advice on the Clutch.
Trouble is sometimes experienced with the foot brake of the Morris van owing to the shoes not freeing themselves after being applied. This is usually caused through lack of lubrication of the bearing brackets which carry the brake cross-shaft.
The best manner in which to overcome the difficulty is to remove the brackets and drill a hole through the top of each. A few drops of oil now and again at these points will prove quite an effective cure.
The Morris has a beautifully smooth clutch, but if this be allowed to slip for long periods it will burn the cork inserts, which will have to be renewed. If the clutch takes up the drive in an uneven manner, or begins to slip, examine the springs to ascertain if any are broken.
There is no adjustment on the clutch, but only on the pedal fulcrum. Attention should be paid to this first, to make certain that the clutch pect41 is not fouling the bottom of the slot in the floorboaAl A cure forthe clutch, if this be slipping only slightly, is to put one or more washers (part number CAH76) on each driving pin, thus further compressing the clutch springs.
• 601.—The Care and Adjustment of the OldType Toggle Brake on the Foden.
Few drivers of Foden steam wagons appear to know the correct method of adjusting the old type toggle brake, and they constantly experience trouble which could be easily overcome if they knew how the adjustment should be effected. If carefully attended to, the toggle brake will hold a heavy load and be equal in efficiency to any other on the market. The mistake made by most drivers. is to adjust the side rods running along the chassis. These are undoubtedly the easiest to treat, but adjustment at these points proves the least effective. The correct method is as follows. First, unlock the bolts on the brake radius rod or guide which runs under the axle radius rod ; turn this by means of the adjusting nut until The toggle plates are parallel to the channel side members of the frame. Remove the toggle pin and lengthen the two toggles until the points of the brake band are 1-32 in. clear of the drum in which they work. Refit the pin, and if the plates be parallel with the channel the brake may be considered as correct. If, however, the plates have moved slightly, throw them into the correct position by another turn or two of the radius rod.
Having completed the adjustment, again secure the I.-in. bolts of the brake radius rod. It is advisable to set the brakes when the wagon is fully loaded, as the axle is then slightly farther back than when the vehicle is empty. Consequently, if the adjustment be fine binding may be caused.