Transport Notes for
Page 30
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Those Who Run Bedfords
By F. S. Groom
Editor, "The Bedford Transport Magazine."
I MENTIONED, last month, the little 1 handbooks produced by Vauxhall Motors, Ltd., to help the fellows in the Services who are driving Bedfords. A day or two later I received scores of requests for copies.
I am not complaining. It is nice to know that these notes are being read, but it is a bit embarrassing to be faced with private requests for a publication which is intended for official use.
The handbooks were drawn up for Army and R.A.F. drivers. They are being supplied through unit headquarters or tuition centres. One of these days we hope to issue a revised edition for ordinary commercial drivers, but that may not happen until the " smalls " are fluttering on the Siegfried Line.
FROST PRECAUTIONS NOW In the meantime, we are heading straight into the winter, and owners of Bedfords with a thermostat in the cooling system should fill up with an anti-freeze solution—now.
Draining the radiator overnight and filling up again in the morning is not sufficient. The thermostat isolates the water in the radiator until the engine reaches normal working temperature. The object is to promote rapid warming up, but while this. is happening the fan is doing its best to turn the isolated water into a block of ice.
In other words, if you have a thermostat in the system, you must use anti-freeze when the temperature drops below zero. No amount of draining and refilling will reduce the risk of a freeze-up during the first few minutes of running.
When you put in the anti-freeze, don't forget to hang the card supplied with it on to the tie-rod under the bonnet. Otherwise a well-meaning mechanic may drain the radiator—and bang will go several shillings'-worth of glycerine or other fluid.
STEERING-COLUMN FLOAT
Now for a maintenance tip which may be useful to Bedford owners— especially to those whose vehicles have run up a considerable mileage.
One of the evidences of wear that may have become apparent after a hard life is vertical movement of the steering column. It is one of the easiest of faults to diagnose—if you've got it, you know it—and it is equally easy to rectify with the aid of a spanner.
The three points which need attention are all accessible, and they are all shown in the accompanying sketch. Slacken off the clamping bolt (1) which holds the steering column support, and the adjusting-sleeve clamp bolt (2) which is located in the top of the box, 428 With these two bolts loosened, screw down the adjustment-sleeve nut (3) until the movement in the column has been taken up. Don't overdo it. If the nut be screwed down too tight the steering will be stiff, and that inevitably means more wear.
Tighten the two clamp bolts (1 and
2) when the adjustment has been made, and test for undue stiffness, either on the road or by jacking up the front wheels and "feeling" the load on the steering.
CLUB STILL GOING STRONG The Bedford Drivers' Club, which, incidentally, is five years old, is still going strong. Members who are now with the Forces have been transferred to honorary membership, and renewals are coming in as regularly as if the War had never started.
One or two of the Club's activities have been curtailed. No new resthouse appointments are being made, for instance, but the employmentregister scheme is still active, and every effort is being made to secure jobs for those members who are out of work.
SOME POINTERS ON TYRES Another precaution, almost as neCessary for winter running, is good tyres. That may savour of stating the obvious, but the reason behind it is this: tyres are scarce. Huge demands for emergency purposes have swallowed up most of the available supplies and are still engaging the attention of most of the manufacturers. If you are likely to need tyres soon, order them now. You may have to wait, but if you get what you want right away, so much the better. A lot can happen to prices in a short time.
If you can't get what you want— and that is the more likely alternative —remember the "stitch ,in time" proverb. Take as much care as you can of your existing tyres by filling up cuts and changing the wheels around from time to time to equalize the wear.
JOTTINGS OF JOCK Vogue " Thank you kindly, lady, but my wardrobe is literally bulging with trousers—couldn't you find me an overcoat before the radiator covering season finishes? "
A Moral Maybe you carn't stop worrying—but it doesn't help make things better anyold-how, Literature Ted 011iphant has got a grievance against the Press. He was driving through a town what shall be nameless when he observed a collusion between a farm lorry an' a milk float, Thinking he was a-rendering a useful service to the local editor he penned with his pencil on the back of two record forms the following interesting account of the occurance: "Dear Editorial Gents: What might have proofed a nasty mess in front of the Town Hall took place about the middle of this morning when a lorry with a calf driving in the direction of London had trouble with Miss Filbert what was driving a milk float in a red hat. The lorry crashed into Miss Filbert's rear end what was sticking out in the road about twO feet. Luckily she escaped injury and she can be remedied with a rub down and a new coat of paint." Old Ted sea Editors ain't got no enterprise these days. This one 'adn't, nohow.
No Parking Bill Gudgeon has joined the local hikers club. He got the idea through looking for sumwhere to park his lorry.
Open Wider Heard about that dentist what was mending his car an' when he had to use the pliers, said "Now, I expect this is going to hurt a little "?