Some Notes for the Running Shed.
Page 14
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The following lines will be found useful by owners of steam vehicles whose business is not large enough to warrant the keeping of a mechanic or foreman on their premiscs, and the hints will assist their drivers. As a matter of fact, steam vehicles have been brought to such a high state of perfection that, given a suitable type for the work to be done, and the addition of a careful driver, it is barely necessary to do more than give the wagon a thorough cleaning down periodically. At the same time, there are details which ought to be adjusted occasionally, and any driver worthy of the name should make it a habit to go round his machine now and again during running hours in search of loose nuts, etc. The old saw that " a stitch in time saves nine" is perhaps more applicable to motors than to any other form of machinery, and it is an undoubted fact that the makers are often blamed for an accident which is brought about by the carelessness of the man in charge who prefers to run the wagon until something occurs rather than take the trouble to make occasional examinations, either after coming home at night or before going out in the morning. For the boiler to work efficiently the following details should be attended to :—(a) The tubes must be brushed through frequently, say, three times a week, to keep them clear of accumulations of ash or grit. This occupies a few moments only and involves little effort. (b) The boiler should be washed out about twice a week. There is no difficulty about this, as all the driver has to do is to unscrew the wash-out plugs at the top and take out the mudplugs at the bottom, then to insert a hose pipe at each of the top holes in rotation, and let a good flow of water run into the boiler, which will wash out all deposit or loose scale that may have found a lodgment inside, and which, if allowed to lie, will, after a time, have a detrimental effect on the steaming capabilities of the boiler. In other words, failure to attend to this matter of cleanliness means that more fuel than would be required in a clean one will have to be used to keep up the same head of steam and unequal expansion due to lack of conduction will loosen joints. (c) The water in the boiler ought to be kept as nearly as possible at a constant height in the gauge glass when running the wagon, since a continually-altering level is not desirable. Fuel ought to be fed on the fire frequently and in small quantities, not heaped on as is sometimes the case, which necessitates the use of the steam blower to draw the fire up and causes a waste of steam.
The water tank must be kept scrupulously clean; it is generally fitted with a manhole at the top, and screw-out plugs at the bottom, so that it can he cleaned in the same manner as the boiler. It must be remembered that the water flows from the tank into the boiler through either the feed or auxiliary pump, as the case may be, and that any grit carried along with the feed water damages the cylinder and plunger of the pump, causing wear, and in some cases foss of suction. Where a pump is above the normal water level in the tank, care should be taken that all pipe connections and couplings between the pump and water tank are screwed up tight, as otherwise air will be drawn in and will interfere with the proper flow of water to the boiler. Wheels should have regular and careful inspection, as hub bolts occasionally come loose. Certain makes of wheels have screwed hub caps; these should be inspected, and, if necessary, tightened up. All mud should be cleaned off the inside of the wheels, as, in vehicles driven by chains off a countershaft, dirt is liable to fall on the chains and foul them up. The same care is needed when the machine 1,4 gear driven by means of a pinion meshing into teeth on thi: inner face of a gear ring bolted to each driving wheel, as, although the brake drums, and sometimes plates, protect the gears to a certain extent, yet dust and grit will accumulate on these if not wiped or brushed off. Wheels which are, with the exception of the hub, made wholly of wood may, during the dry season, require to be pressed or tightened up, owing to the shrinkage of the spokes and felloes after the wet running of the winter months. If the wagon is regularly cleaned down at night the mere fact of the wheels being washed will keep them in good order. Chains should be taken off and cleaned when this is required. Perhaps the best way to do this is to put them bodily into a pail with enough paraffin to cover them, leaving them all night to soak : on the following morning lay them on a piece of board long enough to hold them one at a time, and give each chain a thorough scouring on each side with a stiff brush, afterwards rinsing in the bucket and then drying. They should then be greased by steeping in thick oil or melted tallow mixed with graphite. When replacing them in position on the wagon do not forget to allow an up and down play of about sin. in the centre, as a chain stretched too tight causes undue friction on the bearings. Lubrication is important and must be attended to; all grease and oil cups should be filled up before going out in the morning. The engine 135c1 should be cleaned out occasionally and refilled with fresh oil to the test cock or to some height mentioned by the maker of the vehicle, and this level should be made up at least every other day. Steam glands should have every particle of the old. packing withdrawn before putting in new, as, if any of the old is left, it will become hard, and, sooner or later, will score the piston or valve rods.