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THE• COMMERCIAL MOTOR Small Troubles with Gas-bag Cars.

6th September 1917
Page 14
Page 14, 6th September 1917 — THE• COMMERCIAL MOTOR Small Troubles with Gas-bag Cars.
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

IT MUST NOT be assumed, be-cause-the use of coalgas is such a ready-to-hand alternative in these days, that there are none of the usual small troubles that invariably attend the introduction of any new mechanical device, however sound it may be ' in principle. I For instance, a casual conversation recently with the driver of A coal-gas-driven limousine of heavy proportions revealed certain difficulties which he had not yet been able to surmount. He spoke particularly of less 'power from his engine when climbing.hills. He had also found difficulty on every -occasion in starting up. Both of these troubles, he claimed, were the experience of two other drivers whom he knew as running their vehicles on the new fuel. The gas in use was apparently not of unusually low calorific power, but was taken from the ordinary mains in certain south-coast towns. No improvement was noticeable by careful regulation of the gas stop cock, or by manipulation of the air intake ; the supply pipe was of ample • diameter. Our correspondence

columns ore available for the interchange of readers' experieri_es ; no time should' be lost in educating the user, mid this can beet be done by co-operation and the ,interchange of views of troubles and their reme dies. ,

Close the Spark-plug Gap.

A gas conipany in the West of England -has a couple of vehicles fitted up for using gas, and they have had trouble through firing back into the carburetter. Whenever petrol was used there was no trouble of any sort,latit:the moment gas was switched on instead of petrol this popping and firing-back recommenced. The trouble was very acute with one vehicle, and various efforts were made to discover the cause. The inlet valves were examined to see that they did not stick, the induction manifold was examined to see that there • were no air leakages, and it was proved that there was not too much air being drawn in Eventually it was discovered that the gaps in the sparking plugs were too wide, and it was therefore

proved that a gap which was riot too wide when petrol was being used was too wide when gas was being employed. With the narrower gap between the points of the plugs the engine ran without a falter on either gas or petrol.

In the case of the second vehicle, it was discovered that a hole was worn in the bag about 3 ins. from the gas outlet, due to wear on the bars of the cradle. When the bag was in a certain position, that is to say, when the ht le did not coincide with the bars of the cradle, air was being drawn into the gas outlet, thus rendering the proportions of the mixture incorrect. Since this hole was patched up all trouble has ceased.

Reliable and Profitable Running.

The proprietors of the Eastbourne vehicles have never experienced a mishap to the gas-bags. One or two small leaks have developed, but they were readily reparable. No vehicle has ever been stranded upon the road from fuel troubles. There are eight of these vehicles on the road, the average daily run of each being about 60 miles. The total week's run is well • over 2400 nil for the fleet, the vehicles

embarking upon such journeys as Eastbourne to.Tunbridge Wells, Battle, Brighton, Hastings, East Grinstead, Rye, and other points of attractive interest tc the tourist. • The fleet includes two Tilling-Stevens motor chars4-bancs which have also been converted to coal-gas, and this fuel appears to suit the petrol. electric system pre-eminently, the running being smooth and quiet, with economical consumption (Id fuel. It may be mentioned that the average cos. of fitting out a-vehicle is about £40, of which the gas. bag represents £25, the balance of the expenditure being-incurred in the fabrication of the tray by whicl the bag is supported, and connections. In addition. there is the t ost of tapping the gas main at the charging stations. But seeing that the saving in the fuel bill on a mileage of 2400 per week represents a matter of £20, it will be, seen that the outlay incurrk upon installation is capable of speedy recoupment, in addition to which it must be remembered that but fo3 coal-gas the fleet would be condemned to idleness.

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