A TWO-TONNER FROM A FAMOUS WORKS.
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Notable Features of the Chassis are Its Simplicity of Design and Its Low Price. Other Original Features:— Cross-member Brackets, Certain Engine Details.
CORRECT OFFICIAL information concerning the Model2 'la/chassis manufactured by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., to deal with 2-ton loads, has been released within the last two or three days, and we have been privileged to examine the vehicle, which strikes us as representing a material advance in chassis design, economical production having been considered to be equally as -vital as economical maintenance by the user.
With an entirely clear board in front of them, the designers have had a, completely free hand, because it has not been found necessary to consider etocks of parts or components and, after all, this is the correct way in which to start designing a new vehicle. Thus, as will be seen from our illustrations, the chassis is extraordinarily clean. There is an absolute minimum of parts and details andl in consequence of the advantages thus provided, the chassis can be sold at £495, its equipment including solid tyres and a complete electric lighting outfit of generator, batteries and five lamps.
This is for the 12-ft. model, the one with 13-ft.' 6-in. wheelbase (which, by the way, gives 13 ft. 6 ins, as the length of platform behind the driver's seat, and thus makes it eminently suitable for a passenger vehicle) is sold at £550 with seven detachable wheels (including the spare wheel) equipped with 955 mm. by 155 mm. pneumatic tyres and electric lighting. Considering the quality of the vehicle and the lave prices, the new A.E.C. model 2 is very sure of a good reception when it makes its appearance at the Show.
It is described as a 2-tonner, being designed to carry a load ' ' of 2 tons 15 cwts., including the body, with an ample overload reselve. frame is 7 ips. deep by 21 ins, wide, and it is mounted on extremely substantial springs. Features of the frame design are tubular cross-members welded into very substantial brackets, to which the side members of the frame are bolted. As will be seen from one of our illustration, these brackets carry the pins upon which the springs are mounted. The engine is a very clean piece of design, being monobloc in construction, with the cylinder jackets and crankcase in one piece the cylinder liners and also the cylinder head being detachable. The crankshaft is carried in two heavy ball bearings, and is unusually stout. The bearing diameter of the white-metal-lined big-end bearings is 2i ins. A very interesting feature is the method of carrying the valve tappets. They are supported in a separate casting which, .on the removal of the tappet covers and the loosening of four bolts, can be entirely removed. The tappets and valves, when covered, are enclosed in the crankcake and thoroughly lubricated. Ignition is obtained by means of the Delco coil set-and, whilst therm°. siphonic water circulation is adopted, provision has been made for equipping the engine with a pump to circulate the water, and with a magneto when specially ordered. The big-ends dip into troughs for lubrication of the cylinder walls and bearings, and the engine is suspended at three points in the frame, and is very readily accessible. The power is taken through an inverted cone clutch with adjustable clutch stop and thence through flexible fabrie cowlings to the gearboA.
1The gearing is of the spur type, each component being ot
• 17iThust proportions. Four speeds forward are provided, .the change-speed and hand-brake gearTheing mounted on the gearbox to be operated by the left hand of the driver, whilst care has been taken to keep the brake lever to the right-hand side of theieentral line' of the vehicle, 69 that should it be desired entirely to separate the driver from the passengers in the front sect this can be effected without loss of room. Provision is made'for a power take-off from the gearbox, the whole 30 h.p. output of the engine being rendered available for tipping or any other required purpose.
The whole of the hand-brake mechanism is contained within ' -1339 the gearbox easing, and it can be quickly dismantled without disturbing any part of the transmission, whilst the brake shoes acting on • a drum behind the gearbox can very quickly be „ removed for relining without dismantling the gearbox or the cardan Shaft. -This cardan shaft is tubular and of large dimensions, and has Spicer joints at each end. The rear axle is a Kirkstall Forge Co.'s stamping, and carries the worm transmission gear mounted in a separate detachable casing, the overhead worm shaft. runningon roller bearings, and, with the differential gear, being of substantial construction.
The driving Shafts conveying the power to Hie road wheels
• run on floating hushes 4itb -replaceable bearing -sleeves. The brake drums are of large diameter, with internal-expanding
['hoes operated by the pedal. V.
The illustration of the chassis taken from the rear will show that the steering gear has been mounted on the -outside of the frame, whilst the brake gear is aIso_mounted outside the frame and i3 of the simplest. possible construction. There are only three brake rods on the chassis—an instance of the reduction of parts in the interests of economy.
A feature which will appeal to the coachmaker is the fact that the footboards are made extremely wide, with the idea that they should be cut down by the coachmaker to suit the type of body being fitted. This saves the usual patching and filling that, inevitably take place. The petrol tank is mounted by four setscrews on brackets behind the dashboard, and has a capacity of 13 gallons.
The dashboard, being of kin. steel, calls for the minimum amount of 'alteration en the part of the coachmaker when fitting his coachwork.
Cast headlamp brackets are bolted to the radiator side supports, and a collision bar is fitted in frout of the radiator. We think that the Associated Equipment Co. have every reason to be proud of their latest production, which, under test, has given over.69 ton-miles to the gallon of fuel.