ROADSIDE AND GARAGE.
Page 27
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A Page for Drivers, Mechanics and Foremen.
A Fordson Tractor Tip.
The sender of The following communication. has been awarded the extra payment of 5s. this week.
[2,353] "R.Y." (Mickleton) writes :— "Although I have not hitherto noticed any tractor tips on your Roadside and Garage ' page, 1 take it that as you have a weekly article devoted to agricultural machinery matters, such a tip will not be unacceptable to you for inclusion in that page,
" One of the machines which are be my charge is a Fordson. With this I have had, from time to time, a considerable amount of trouble with the float of the air washer. This is made of brass,soldered at the corners, and, no doubt as a result of the vibration the tractor endures, the edges wear through, allowing water to leak into the float, thus destroying its utility. After having this repaired several times, I thought would see what could be done by way_ of making a substitute. Eventually, I procured from the local ironmonger two pieees of cork, the same size as the brass floats. These I fixed in place by means of four long'A in. bolts, assembling, them in the washers as shown in the accompanying sketch. They have given entire satisfaction, and ,I have had no trouble whatever with the floats since I made this alteration."
Steam Wagon Radius Rods.
[2,3541 "R.L." (Plaistow) writhe :— "After a time most drivers of a certain make of ovartype steam wagon find a difficulty in keeping the radius rods set right. The threads become worn and the rods twist under vibration, upsetting the adinstment. The remedy is to widen the saw-cut in the sockets, so that, by screwing up the g in. bolt, which is rap
posed to secure the-socket on its thread, a better grip can be obtained. The work can be done by using two or three or more saw blades in a siugle frame.
" It is not realized by many drivers that, when replacing the driving chain on a wagon of this type, there is an alternative to sleeking back the radius rod to its extreme minimum, which is the method adepte3 by most. If the chassis be jacked up at the rear end, this will have the effect of shortening the distance between axle and countershaft, thus making it easy to couple up the chain.".,
Re-fitting a Fan Pulley.
[2,355] " Mechanic " (Redhill} writes: —" On a certain wall-known make of commercial vehiele the fan pulley fits on to a plain parallel splined portion of the engine shaft ; it is followed by the starting clutch, then the two are secured by a setscrew. I had trouble recently with this fan pulley, and as it seems to me the sort of thing that will happen in A good many cases with this particular engine, a description of it and of the way in which I overcame the difficulty may be of interest to readers of your ''Roadside and Garage' page. " What happens, or at least what did happen in my ease, was that the fan pulley became loose on the splines; and upon examination it became clear that both shaft and pulley were worn, so that it was clear that it would be futile to fit. a new pulley, which would
be Sure to be slack. Fortunately, On examination of the pulley, [found that there was a piece of plain boss long projecting at one side; this I trued up in the lathe, and had a special collar forged ; in. thick and the same width as the boss, which collar I shrunk on, with the result that the hole hi the pulley was compressed sufficiently to make it a tight driving fit on the shaft. Having proved this to be satisfactory on one machine, we did the same with several others of the same kind which we possessed, and with equal success."
Removing Corroded Wood Screws.
[2,356] "A.M.D." (Westport) writes: —" Readers of this page will, in the course of their experience, have come up against the difficulty of removing ordinary wood screws from the bodywork of vehicles. This, from time to time, is necessary, as, for example, in the ease of those screws which fasten down the floorboards' over the gearcase or rear axle, or other portion of the transmission which needs occasional attention. In nearly all eases corrosion of the acrewa is found to have taken place. It is particularly liable to occur in connection with the running boards of vehicles equipped with electric lighting, as the batteries usuallyleak at some time or other, and the acid naturally is even more effective as a corrosive agent than water. It is not an easy matter to remove _screws which have really become corroded in this manner. It is not really a matter of efficient use of the screwdriver, for what usually happens ia that the slot in the s.crew head spreads until it affords no hold for the screw-driver, or, worse still, half the head breaks away altogether: When up against conditions like this, procure a piece of bar the same diameter as the bead of the screw, heat until red, and apply to the screw. Those who try this method will he surprised at the difference it makes."
Improving a Magneto Coupling.
[2,357] " F.11." (Holloway) writes:— " A friend of mine used to have a lot of trouble owing to his magneto coupling slipping. The coupling seas in two parts, in the form of two flanges facing one another and serrated so as to transmit the drive. The serrations were badly worn, hence the slipping. "I took oft the coupling and turned away all the teeth. I cut four slots in each flange, as shown in the-accompanying sketch, and fitted alternate slots in each with dogs made from in. square cast steel. These were made a tight fit in the slots, and subsequently were secured by pins. As the coupling has now been in use for two years, and has given no trouble, I think I am justified in claimieg it to be a successful one."
Lights Alight.
On Saturday,Febnaary 11th, light your lamps at 5.34 in London, 5.30 in Newcastle, 5.38 in Birmingham, 5.34 in Edinburgh, &41 in Liverpool, 5.44 in 13ristel., an 6.24 in Dtain.