ROADSIDE AND GARAGE.
Page 31
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A Page for Drivers, Mechanics and Foremen.
Handling Sentinel Boilers.
The sender of The following communication has been awarded the eztra payment of 58. this week.
[231.41 "1117.M.0 ." (Frampton-on Severn) writes :—" Dropping -a Sentinel boiler for cleaning purposes is not the simple operation which some people -would like you to believe. At least it is not simple, unless you have the proper tackle for the job. In the ordinary way, when dropping the boiler, there is a difficulty in getting the chain exactly central; consequently, as the boiler is top-heavy, it swings, and the chain fouls the tubes. This is difficult to prevent, even when an assistant is in the pit below trying to steady it. With the apparatus shown in the accompanying sketch, however, this difficulty does not arise.
"Briefly, the rig-out may be stated to be made up of a piece of 6 in. ,1?y 3 in. timber, marked (a) in the sketch, and having a hole drilled in the centre to receive the hook (b), which, in my case, was made from a piece of 41in. round iron. This thither is rounded off at the ends so that it fits snugly on the bottom flange of the boiler, but just clears the studs on the internal shell. The pieces of wood marked (c) act as guides and are made to fit the internal shell comparatively tiglvtly, being pulled into place by the pulley block. The-piece of wood marked (d) near the top of the boiler is 10 ins, wide by 2 ins, thick. It acts as a guide for the sling chain, and is so rounded at the ends as to be a driving lit in the inside shell of the boiler. The hole drilled in its centre has just sufficient clearance to allow passage of the sling chain, and this pro-. vents the boiler from swinging whilst it is being dropped.
" I have shown the stoke tube in position in the sketch, although as most readers will know, this will have been lifted out some time•before the boiler is ready for being dropped."
A Stearn Wagon Steering Pivot Repair.
[2315] " 1-1.31." (West Bromwich) writes ;—" When hauling timber recently with a well.knoWn make of steam wagon the front axle pivot broke at the point illustrated in Fig. 1 on the accom. panying sketch. A new bracket was immediately ordered, but we were given to understand that delivery could not be effected for a few days It was, th.qe fore, decided to try to mend the broken one se as to enable us to Carry on. The bracket was mounted in a lathe and the pivot bored up and tappecbas shown in Fig. 2. A piece of nickel steel was then procured, turned down, and screwed at one end to fit into this hole, eareabeing taken to allow a good.fillet at the junction
of the thread and the main portion of the bar. The work of effecting this repair did not occupy more than 44 hours and daresay that when it was finished the bracket was stronger than it was before it was broken."
A Leaky Ford Axle.
[2316] " (Brortisgrove) writes I used to have a lot of trouble at one time on account of grease exuding from the end of the axle of my Ford onetanner. This continued notwithstanding the application of several new felt washers, and the grease was not doing yfty tyres any good. , On " one occasion, however, when about to fill the rear axle case with grease—and, by the way, this was an operation which was, on account of the leakage, called for'far too frequently—I noticed that on removal of the plug, a hissing sound came from it as of rapidlyWescaping air. I at once came to the conclusion that it was compressed air that wasTforcing the grease down the axle housing. I therefore removed the cover at the back end of the worm shaft, drilling a Aths in. --hole in it and fitting it with a short piece of copper piping bent at right angles. This acts as a breather, allowing expansion of the air, and I have now no trouble on account of escaping grease."
Lamps Alight.
On Saturday, November 12th, light your lamps at 4.44 in London, 4.36 in Newcastle, 4,48 in Birmingham, 4.39 in Edinburgh, 4.49 in Liverpool, 4.54 in Bristol, and 5.32 in Dublin.