MAKING BEST USE OF THE FORD.
Page 22
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Valuable Advice on Every Phase of Ford Transport, Which Will Appeal to the Owner, Driver and Repairer.
IN THIS series of hints concerning the Ford light chassis and ton truck wherever they are employed for commercial purposes, we endeavour to deal with the subject from every view-point, so that the advice given will appeal to the owner, driver, maintenance tenance engineer or mechanic.
We shall welcome for inclusion among the hints those which have-proved of value to individual users, and will make suitable remuneration for any such information which we publish.
Readers are .recommended to obtain the original " Book of the Ford," which constitutes a complete manual dealing with the Ford car, the van and the truck. 2s. 9d. post free from the offices of this journal.
212.—A Fault in the Clutch.
Incorrect adjustment of the clutch fingers, which causes them to be too tight, has often been responsible for difficult starting.
An engine recently dealt with had this symptom coupled with clutch slipping on hills. . Examination of the unit with the engine dismantled revealed ridges in the largo disc guides in the transmission brake drum, thus preventing easy sliding of the discs and causing them to stick.
A few minutes' work with a square file will rectify the trouble.
Investigation brought te light the fact that the driver of this particular vehicle was in the habit of letting in top gear too suddenly, the thrust thus caused imparting a twisting motion to the discs, causing them to cut into the guides.
213.—Improving the Rear Axle.
In a certain 7-cwt. Ford the crown wheel and pinion did not seem, from the appearance of the teeth, to remain properly in mesh for very long, even after the axle had been overhauled. This was traced to wear on the thrust washers at each side of the differential case, and, in order to overcome the trouble, two washers were made from red fibre, and it is found that these give three times the life of the original washers. There -are also no small particles of metal to wear and damage other bearings in the axle.
Axle shaft breakages were also frequent, and this was traced to the axle casing having been bent, probably due to overloading at some time. The exact ,position of the bend was located, and it was deemed cheaper to obtain a new half case than to straighten the part in question. For the purpose of test, two special bushes were turned to fit the roller bearing sleeves and bored to take a new axle shaft. The shaft was inserted into the bush at the wheel end of the case, and when the other bush could be pushed into place without straightening the shaft, it was assumed that the casing was straight.
Incidentally, a truss rods obtainable from certain accessory dealers, assists in keeping the casing in line.
The best way to tighten such a rod is to place a block under the centre of the axle, lifting the road wheels clear of the ground, and then tighten the rod until slight resistance can be felt on the spanner. If this be not done, it is quite easy to have the rod so slack that it does not take any of the weight. On the other hand, if done carelessly the rod may be so tightened that it bends the axle casing in the reverse direction.
214.—The Care of the Magneto.
Of all the troubles which befall the Ford magneto those due to the accumulation of dirt are, perhaps, the most common.
The magnets pick up oily and dirty particles of metal and throw them against the coils, and sooner or later a short circuit oceurS.
In this connection it may be mentioned that the most likely place for a short circuit is the collector terminal, which is located on the top of the flywheel cover, as dirt gathers around it, thus causing the " short."
215,—Repairing the Crankcase Front Support.
The four rivets which secure the front support bracket to the crankcase on a certain ton truck had worked loose, with the result that the boles in the crankease had become worn owing to the constant movement. The fauit was discovered one day when starting the engine as, when the handle was swung, the engine moved up and down on its bed. This movement was even more apparent when three of the coil vibrators were 'helddown, as is commonly done, to find the missing plug. The resultant unbalanced firing of the engine showed that the bracket had become very loose indeed.
To effect a repair the water was drained off, and the radiator, fan, fan pulley and starting handle removed. The crankcase was packed uP at its front end by means of blocks of wood, and the four rivet heads were cut off with a sharp chisel. After this had been done the rivets were punched out and the support bracket removed'. The four. holes in it Were then drilled out to take four Ford engine bolts, and on fitting these. with spring washers under the nuts, and assembling the other components, it was found that a very satisfactory, repair had been made.