Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-21
Overlooking IS ONLY
MOTOR TRUCK SUICIDE
1t Greatly AcceIeratcs Depreciation
and Results in Excessive
Strains.
ALL PARTS ARE AFFECTED
Springs, Tires, Motor, Difrercntial
Gears, Frame, All Suffer, While
Gasoline Bill Mounts Along With
Repair Costs-Expcrt' Advice.

Motor truck owners and drivers in
helping TO relieve the railroads Of
short hau!s by employing trucks for
freiShtinE purposes. are apt to overload
them in their enthusiasm and desire
to haul as many tons per load as pos
siblc
The promptncss with which intercity
and interstate motor truck transpovtn-
ton companies. return loads bureaus
etc. were formed lis proof OF Americas
truck owners and drivers patriotism.
Ii cannot be estimated ut this time
how many hundreds OF thousands OF
tons Of goods motor truck owners have
helped the railroads W move. but that
the amount. is considerable can be
proven in most every city where the
motor truck has been brought into play
for this purpose.
But. with the growing scarcity OF
help in garages. due to the mobiliZa-
tion OF the country's mechanics ana
expert automobile men TO keep the
governments trucks and service sta
tons going full speed it has now be-
come Just as patriotic for owners to
keep their trucks out of repair shops
by not overlooking them. as to keep
them in constant service.
Overlooking a motor truck not only
results in excessive strains and Il
greatly accelerated rate of dcprecla-
ton. but in unnecessary high main
tenance cost
Overlooking SERIOUS;
EFFI;CT Is GENERAL.
Overlooking affects frame. springs.
wheels. aNleS. tires, power plant and
even the driving northumberland
while the truck is designed with 4
certain factor of safety. this factor
was intended merely for emergencies,
and not for continuous and continual
abuse.
Overlooking means motor truck
suicide While II is true that the
fatigue of steel is much slower than
tina, OF flesh tissues, the fatigue is
there just the same
The first bad effect on the motor
truck from overlooking is that the
springs are forced down to nattcned
position. This practice. If kept up,
reduces their neXihility. resulting in
the springs losing thc" life and be
coming inactive, like "A solid bar OF
Greater tire wear is another result
Of overlooking. The heavier tho load.
The harder tho tires are forced
against tho Dad or pavement. causing
greater friction and wear. Truck tires
arc guaranteed for so many miles.
ne tire manufacturers base thcir
Guaranteed mileage on the fixed
weight ccrtaL. size tire is built to
,RirN Thus 4 tire thnt IS carryin.
N overload cannot possess the mileage
q me iire Whlch is carrying the rated
-.
Overlooking the truck is equivalent
70 overlooking tho motor. because the
motor IS designed 10 produce power
equivalent to the performance OF the
truck with norm-l load. This shows
plainly that If the truck is overloaded.
more gear shifting and slower speed.
s vel! as higher gasoline consump-
lion mus; hc expected For example.
the trucl. with a rated capacity OF FIVE
ions has, We Will say, motor Of u size
necessary to take this truck with Il
hve-ton load up per cent grade
Without shiftin. gears. If 1000 ad-
ditionGI pounc We're added. shifting
gears would be necessary TO MAKE Tue
same grade, or IL might only make i,
IL per cent grade without shifting
gears. And 1t is the same way on the
level road. y truck that is built to
carry q rated load at. say. fifteen miles
I'm hour would be able 10 move an
overload at probably no greater speed
tnan ten TO twelve miles an hour
EIFFEEENTiAL GEARS
suEJEC. TO GREAT STRESS
With TIRE aX.es--wc,r and greater
resistance, .i.aUsr4.. by excess weight