A NEW FRENCH CHASSIS For Dealing with 2-ton Loads
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• A Speedy Renault 2-tonner. Changes in Certain Other Models.
ELIVERIES of a new Renault _L./ chassis, designed to carry 2-ton loads, or gross loads of 21 tons including the body, and having a sixcylindered engine will commence in the near future. The total weight of the vehicle will be approximately 4 tons 3 cwt. complete with load. It can be used as the basis of fast 20-seater coaches or buses and in general outline it follows the well-known design adopted by its maker, Renault, Ltd., Westfields Road, Acton, London, W.3.
It is known as the SX type and is priced at £388 in chassis form. The following are its leading dimensions :— Track (front), 5 ft. 01 in., (rear), 5 ft. 3 ins.; overall length, 17 ft. 51 ins.; overall width, 6 ft. 21 ins.; wheelbase, 12 ft. 5/ ins.; available body space, 12 ft. 81 ins. by 2 ft. 101 ins.; overhang, 3 ft. 61 ins.
Details of the Engine.
Underneath the familiar type of Renault bonnet is the six-cylindered engine, the R.A.C. rating of which is 21 h.p. The cylinders are cast monobloc with a detachable cylinder head, and the bore and stroke are 75 mm. and 102 mm. respectively. A forcefeed lubrication system is employed and ignition is by distributor and coil. A two-jet carburetter incorporates an automatic air inlet, whilst cooling is on the thermo-siphon principle and a multi-tubular radiator situated behind the engine is employed. The fan is built into the flywheel. • Power is transmitted from the engine to the gearbox by a single-disc clutch. The gearbox provides four forward speeds and reverse, and two sliding pinions are employed. The gear-control lever is operated by the driver's left hand and the gearbox is suspended on the torque-tube ball joint from a cross-member of the frame. At 2,200 r.p.m. the road speeds are as follow :—First gear, 10.6 m.p.h.; second gear, 19.9 m.p.h.; third gear, 26.1 m.p.h.; top gear, 43.5 m.p.h.
A single universal joint is employed in the propeller shaft and the thrust is taken by the torque ball in front of the gearbox. The rear axle consists of two cast-steel casings housing a bevel pinion and its crown wheel, together with the differential gear. Worm-and-wheel steering is employed and is, of course, mounted on the right-hand side of the frame for models supplied for use in this country. An 18-in, steering wheel is fitted and the turning radius of the vehicle is 21 ft. 31 ins. The pedal-operated brakes work on all four wheels, whilst the hand-applied set works in drums in the rear wheels. Semi-elliptic springs are employed fore and aft, and the wheels are of the metal-disc type, carrying 33-in. by 5-in, single tyres at the front and 34-in. by 7-in, single tyres at the rear. In the case of goods vehicles, however, the tyres are 835 mm. by 135 mm., singles on the front wheels and twins of the same size at the rear.
Changes in Other Models.
Recent changes in the 'other Renault models include the fitting of an enclosed driver's cab on the OS 24-cwt. boxvan ; the price remains at £292. In the ease of the SF 31-ton chassis the frame has been lengthened, a detachable head is now fitted to theengine and the gearbox is mounted farther back in the frame. The two last-named features are also incorporated in the latest type. oe. SGI 5-ton chassis and, in addition, the double-reduction gear is now housed in the rear axle.