For DRIVERS MECHANICS & FOREMEN
Page 21
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A PRIZE OF TEN' SiiIILLINGSjis awarded each week to the eyttier of the best letter which we 'publish on this page; at? others are paid for at the rate Of a penny a buii, with an allowance for photographs, All notes are edited before being published, Mention ?lour employer's name, in corifitlen,ce, as evidence of good faith, Address, D., 31._ and F., " The Cononercial Motor," 7-15, Rosebery Avenue, London, E.C. _1.
Lamps Alight— On Saturday, the 611i July, light your lamps at 9.46 in London, 10.55 in Edinburgh, 10.12 in Newcastle,. 10.8 in Livrpool, 9,58 in Birmingham, 9.56 in Bristol, and 10.41 in Dublin,
An Emergency Ford Stub Axle.
The sender of the following communication has been awarded the Ws. prize this week.
[1874] "E.O.W." (Smetliwick) writes :—" In our garage we have to deal with a considerable number of Ford delivery vans. The number of broken rear axle shafts has caused us to find something more suitable and speedy than all ordinary hand truck for towing purposes. A marketed device was first tried, but it
seized up where it turned in the axle shaft roller 'bearing sleeve, and was therefore not persevered with. We set to work to make something to answer our purpose. A piece of 2i in:steel was procured and turned to the shape of the centre piece in the sketch enclosed (We have had this re-drawn.—En.). A piece of 21 in. by in. steel was used for cross-piece and fitted with a crimp at each end. A standard herd front wheel and hub completed the article. All that was necessary was to jack the car up and clamp the attachment to the rear axle housing flange, and the van could be towed any distance at a far greater .speed than if mounted on an ordinary truck, also without risk of damage to any part of the axle."
Bearings, Lubricators and Sparking Plugs.
. [1875] " T.N.T." (Lancashire) writes :—" I send you a few tips which might with advantage be more widely known amongst drivers. I have often heard of eases wherea machine has been held up for want of ,common-sense methods which every driver can apply without trouble if he wishes to do so.
'"'" Sometimes it happens that a bearing which is supplied with a lubricating cup begins to squeak. Of course, any engine driver should at once realize that the cup is empty. Rather than run for any length of time without a further supply of lubricant, a little grease should be taken from the gearbox or through the drain coek of the crankcase..
" Iteis always as well when fitting new sparking plugs to make sure that the engine is -Warm before screwing the nut 3,113 tight. If this job is done when the engine is cold, it is. quite likely that the expansion of the metal, due. to heat when the engine is running, will crack the porcelain, especially if the screw is very tight. On the other hand, if the plug is placed in position when the engine is hot, the contraction may crack the shell of the sparking plug.
" I have known drivers who occasionally turn a .stream of water from a hose pipe on to a bearing which is overheated. This, to my mind, is a very serious thing to do, especially if the bearing is of bronze. If gunmetal or brass bearings be heated to a high temperature, and then plunged into water, they are softened and made useless."
A Spring-eased Clutch.
[1870] " C.B." (Surrey) writes :—"I have been driving a van of well-known make for several years past and experienced during this period of running very little trouble of any sort. Recently, however, the clutch has given considerable trouble. Some . drivers appear to have a happy knack of using a clutch 'gently, and, in consequence, a -considerable number of miles can be covered without trouble of this kind occurring. Other men, no matter how 'care_
fully they have been trained, seem quite unable to develop this clutch sense or feeling. Consequently, they are continually troubled by the burning and tearing of the leather, due, I fancy, to letting this component, part drop fiercely into position when starting.
"I have thought out the following idea: I propose inserting a small helical spring between the lower part of the clutch .crank lever and a pin, which is driven through the clutch shaft. :This would help to avoid the stidden dropping in and taking out of the clutch, and would, to sonic little extent, ensure the drives being taken smoothly and easily when start-. ing. The exact arrangement of this spring ..can be decided on. by each individual driver,
"Perhaps some of my fellow mechanics and drivers have had some similar device brought to their notice, and if this be the case they may be inclined to give their opinion as -to the practicability of the device, which would be for the benefit of all drivers."
How to Refit Bearings.
[1877] " N.P." (Surbiton) writes :—" When ,overhauling a petrol engine, and it is found necessary to lap in the crankshaft and connecting rod bearings, I find a powder which will leave a dead smooth .Sur face is a fine grade carborundum, which should be thoroughly mixed with thin oil... If. alapping tool be not available, a satisfactory substitute is FY. grade emery cloth—also well oiled during use. The method to be adopted is to tear off the cloth in strips of about 1in. in width, a piece should be once wrapped round the journal and each end given a steady, alternate pull, working the strip from end to. end of the bearing. When refitting the brasses, care should be taken to ensure the correct amount of clearance, otherwise the bearings will seize for want of lubricant. A good test for judging when the connecting rod big-ends are properly fitted is to give the rod a short, sharp, push with the -hand, when it should revolve round its bearing about 1-k times."