NEW TOOLS FOR THE FLEET ENGINEER.
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A Number of Productions Intended to Assist in Repair and Maintenance Work.
IQ INCE ITS introduction a few years ago, the K.B. crankshaft tool has met with very great success, having been adopted by many large companies and by several Government departments. It is, therefore, interesting to learn that the makers of this excellent tool (the Mansions Motor Co., Ltd., 78 Petty France, • Westminster, London, S.W.1) are now making a series of K.B. tools for repair and Maintenance work.
The design of the crankshaft toot remains unaltered. It will be recalled that this is of exceptionally rigid construction and carries four equally spaced, adjustable cutters with which crankpins or journals can be trued up. With one of these tools a man can true up three crankshafts per day comfortably, and the accuracy and finish obtained will leave nothing to be desired. It is, of course, a great advantage to a repair works or to the owners of a fleet not to have to waste time in sending crankshafts away to be ground. The new series includes a valve tool, a valve-seating tool, a bearing jig and a bearing mould. Of these the firstnamed is not yet in production, but the others are new available.
The K.B. valve-seating tool embodies many practical and valuable features, which have been patented. A massive head is mounted on a spindle which fits in the valve guide, and this head is provided with four slots which accommodate narrow tool-steel cutters.
Two sizes are available, the smaller of which can be used to cut any diameter of valve seating from 14 ins, to II ins,, while the larger covers a range of 1a ins. to 4 ins. Six interchangeable spindles are provided in the set., which are sized so as to deal with over 90 per cent, of the engines now on the market. Special spindles can be obtained at. a small cost if required.
A hardened and ground cone piece is provided with the outfit, by means of which the adjustable cutters can readily be set. The cutters can, of course, be removed and sharpened with very little trouble. With this tool any size of seat
ing within the wide range mentioned above can be re-cut in about two minutes.
A very commendable feature is the ball joint provided between the handle and the cutter head. This ensures that, no matter in which direction the pressure is exerted by the operator, a purely axial force is transmitted to the cutters. The whole set can be obtained in an oak case for £6, but separate parts are available at reasonable prices. The bearing jig is designed to facili tate the boring of re-metalled engine bearings. It consists Of a massive steel housing, the halves of which are held together by studs and nuts, which can be bolted to the fare-plate of a lathe. This split housing has to be filled with white metal and then bored to the size of the hearings which are to be machined. Befollo filling and boring two narrow strips are placed between the halves of the jig, so that, when finished, the cap will grip the bearing.
If that half of the main bearing which fits in the upper part of the crankcase be placed in the part of the jig which is attached to the face-plate, this will ensure that, when the bearing is replaced, the crankshaft will occupy the same position as before relative to the camshaft, the timing wheels will, therefore, mesh correctly. The jig can also be used for big-end bearings. It is priced at £2 10s. complete.
Another useful tool is the A.B. bearing mould. This is really a jig which is designed to hold a connecting rod, and which carries a mandrel passing through the big-end. A number of mandrels of different sizes are provided in the set, and a tin of luting compound is also included.
The jig carries a disc which closes one end of the big-end. The mandrel is a hollow tube, so that, when the rod and jig are placed over a gas flame, the whole will rapidly come to a uniform temperature.
Full instructions for re-metalling are given with the tool. The complete set, including five mandrels, can be obtained for 17s., or separate parts are sold if desired.
We are not yet able to give the details of the valve tool which will shortly he available. This tool is designecyfor trueing a wide range of valves, and will embody the useful features found in the seating tool. Any angle of seating can be trimmed up, and the tool will accommodate any ordinary size of valve stem. A set of eight vulvas can be dealt with in 15 to 20 minutes, and the cutters can readily be removed for sharpening.