. For DRIVERS, MECHANICS & FOREMEN.
Page 27
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TEN SHILLINGS is paid to the sender of any letter which we publish on this page, and an EXTRA FIVE SHILLINGS to the sender of the one which we select as being the best each week. All notes are edited before being published. Mention your employer's name, in confidence, as evidence of good faith. Address, .D., M. and F., "The Commercial Motor," 7-16, Bosebery Avenue, London, E,C. 1.
Lamps Alight.
On Saturday, September 11th; light your lamps at 7.53 in London, 8.13 in Edinburgh, 8.4 in Newcastle, 8.18 in Liverpool, 8.1 in Birmingham; 8.3 in Bristol, and 8.51-in Dublin.
Rescrewing a Valve Cap Hole Without a Tap.
The sender of the following communication has been. awarded the extra payment of Sr. this week. [2133] " A.L." ( Notting AM) 'writes:—" A short time ago we had a cylinder returned from what Barimar would call a 'botcher.' It had been smashed near the valve pocket, and the welders returned it to us with the thread for the valve cap all awry. The job which was set me was that of renewing the thread without.going to the expense of buying a, new tap fonthe purpose. Itdid it by adopting an expedient which I had found quite useful on a previous occasion, when I had to repair a wheel hub which had also, gone in the thread for the hub cap. I append a rough sketch, which-shows, in plan, elevation, and in part section the apparatus' which I used and which I made myself out of easily obtained and cheap materials, and it was certainly far cheaper than would have been the case if I had bought a new tap for the job.
Part B is a piece of ,plain flat bar, of a convenient size, drilled near one end for a bolt which I fastened in the sparking plug hole of the inlet valve plug. Near the other end it is similarly prepared for the reception of a bolt which is secured to any convenient part of the cylinder casting or the crankcase. These holes are, both clearance holes, and oval, with the long akis of the hole in the direction of the length of the bar, thus allowing for a little adjustment. In the centre is a piece of five-eighths or threequarter inch round steel bar, screwed the same number of threads as the hole which is to be tapped. The fiat bar is tapped to reoeive 'this screwed piece. Lower down the bar is reduced. in diameter so that it nh take a bearing in the valve guide, and also in the tappet guide, which Will, in-all probability, have to be specially bushed for the purposeAt a suitable point in its length -it istprepared for th&tool, which is made as shown in the sketch, and secured in the bar by means of a set-screw. After one traverseof the hale) the tool should be marked: on its upper surface, using a half-round/file, and withdrawn while the bar isheing lifted for the second,cut. If this be not done thdre is a risk ofthe point of the tool breaking the threads already cut. When lifted it'may be reset in accordance with the marking, giving, of course, a little more cut."
Removing a Seized Steering Pivot.
(2134] " aver) writes :—" It is sometimes found, when dismantling the front axle of a chassis, that the steering,pivotpins aredirmly rusted or-seized in,!place and, since the use of a hammer, on the screwed end is strongly to,be deprecated, it becomes something, of a problem as to how,the parts.are going to be. se rated. I have found that the best way is : jack upgtherfrout aide, and place under the offending pivot a blockrof hard wood on the top of which is a soft metal plate. Let the pivotdown on this, and the mere weight will frequently be found to be enmigh to start it moving in the right direction. If it;is not, give the top of the stub axle a0.3harp. blow with the hammer at the poiiit indicated,om-the.sketch. I have never known,that,dodge. to fail. In the event of the pin being still stubborn when,the end has disappeared inside the hole in the stub axle, it will he necessary to find apiece of bar which will slip inside the hole after it, and' repeat the process with the bar beneath the end of the pin."