FORD VAN POINTERS.
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By R. T. Nicholson (Author of 'file Book of the Ford ")
ISAID in a recent Pointer that it is possibleto turn a Ford van completely round, without reversing, in a roadway 28 ft. wide. I said also that only an expert driver would be able to get it round within those narrow limits—it being largely a question of getting on the " lock" smartly.
332.—Turning in a Roadway.
In a roadway of less than 26 ft. width, it is impossible to turn the van completely round without re veraing. The expert will, however, get it round with far fewer to-and-fro movements than will the novice. This, again, is a question of getting on the " lock " quickly at the beginning of each forward and backward movement: but there is something more than this " to it."
Dealing, however, first. with the' lock," I will lay stress once more on the fact that you roust get your steering wheel well turned and quickly turned, directly the van begins to move forward or backward. It is because most novices do not see to this that it takes them so many forward and backward movements to get round. The novice seems td be afraid that, if a sudden sweep is made, the van may turn over. It will not.
You Must Have Way On.
It is altogether wrong to turn the steering wheel at all until there is some way on the van. To turn the steering wheel with the van at rest strains the whole steering gear badly. But with the slightest way-on the van the steering wheel inay—sintPshould —be turned sharply ; and such turning will then strain nothing.
" Lock " on a Crawl.
When, therefore, you have got way on the van, do not let that movement be anything but a crawl until you have the steering wheel turned to its limit in whichever direction it is necessary to turn it. This holds good equally at the beginning of any backward or forward movement. You then steer the van sharply and decisively in the direction in which you want to go. Remember that, after starting the van, either forwards or backwards, yea can keep the speeddown to a crawl (by throwing out the clutch and throttling down) till you have got the steering wheel right round.. Do so.
"More To It."
But, as I have said, there is more to it than that. Towards the end of each movement, whether forward or backward, again reduce your speed to a mere crawl, and turn your steering wheel round to the opposite "lock "—that is to the opposite position in which you•have been holding#it. While the van is thus crawling, you are preparing for the next sweep across the road ; and when_you start on it, your front wheels Will be turned in the right direction. This seems all wrong when you first. try it: it seems as if you lose turning ground by locking over towards the end of any track. Trial will, however, show that you do not lose ground to any considerable extent while you are crawling ; that, on the other hand, you gain ground directly you alter your direction. It is because the novice does not change the " lock " in the crawl that he takes so much time to get round. The " lock " is the key to the. situation.
The tips here given ought to be grasped by every traffic driver: otherwise, he will certainly make. a
nuisance of himself in any crowded thoroughfare in which he has to bring the van round. His idea ought to be to create as little obstruction as possible. If he takes several forward and backward movements when he ought to take only one of each, he must notbe surprised if some other driver suggests that he had better take the old bus home and practice in the back yard!
333.—A Personal Touch.
I hope I am not given to the sin of self-glorifica, tion ; because I hate it in other people. I simply must tell you, however, of a comforting experience I had the other day.
I was lunching in a City restaurant, when I noticed that another man at the same table was. -courting indigestion by reading over his meal. He was, in fact, reading The Commercial Motor. Curiosity prompted me to peer over and see what he was reading. He was busy with my "Ford Van Pointers."
I did not at once let on that I was responsible for them, but—apologizing for the interruption—asked him if he found them interesting.
He said he did not care whether they were interesting or net (one against me !)—he said he read them
because they saved him money. He went on to tell me that he had several Ford delivery vans running, and that it paid him therefore to read my " every now and again over his lunch. Further, he told Me he 'saw to it that his drivers also read the"Pointers "—not that they wanted arly persuading ; they seemed to like them. _ He always bought, for distribution among his drivers, three or four -copies of any issue of The Commercial Motor in which " F.V.P." appeared.
• Tie was good enough to add that the. price of the copies was a cheap investment—that the tips given had Saved him a pound for every !penny he bad spent on them.
He said that he had got most benefit from the economy tips—the " Pointers " dealing with the saving of-spirit and oil. Since he had got his drivers to think ian the lines of my tips, he had found his outlay on these expensive luxuries considerably reduced.
Further, he told me that his repairs bills were much less than they formerly were. Not only did the vans .call for Jess mechanical attention, but ethe drivers themselves had learnt to do most of the running repairs. When I admitted that I had a modest share in pointing the way, he almost blessed me! Of course, I appropriately blushed! So, it seems, I have not lived altogether in vain. I hope there are many .other masters and men in like ease with my lunching friend and his drivers. Mr. Master and Mr. Man—there is a hint for you in this. Copy my lunching friend, and buy copies.
Inquiries Welcomed.
Once more, let me say that I welcome inquiries on any point of general interest connected with the running of the Ford van or truck. I am here to give the benefit of my Ford knowledge to any reader who cares to ask for it.