Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-09-28
RIGID INSPECTION Of TRUCKS
sure CURE FOR MECHANICAL
TROUBLES and REPAIR BILLS
Goodrich Motor Company Outlines Regular System for Keep
ing Check on Truck FleetsDrvers Answer 10 Questions
Daily Condition of Their Machines Giving Machnists
Clue to lncipient Annoyances.

It Is cheaper to maintain a motor
truck in perfect condition than it is
TO operate one in an invalid state of
repair. The most successful operators
OF truck fleets are those companies
who demand rigid inspections from
their mechanics and who catch me-
chanical trouble before it starts" These
and other valuable pointers are brought
out in an educational campaign con-
Quoted by the b. F. Goodrich Rubber
company.
Three factors which cut deep into
the profits of motor trucking and
which are directly traceable to lax in
spection and lack of repair, are de-
creased production caused by idle
truck: cost of repairs and new parts;
and discarding truck before it has de-
livered the mileage built into it The
annoyance of these three trucking bug
bears can be reduced to minimum by
inspection.
INSPECT DAILY
The only way to discover mechan-
zeal ailments is to inspect, says the
Goodrich company, and the most eff
cient way to inspect is to formulate a
system of intelligently designed ques
tions which are to be answered daily
by the driver.
The inspection must disclose the To-
cation and nature of the mechanical
trouble, but it would be too expensive
an item to thoroughly inspect each
truck in a fleet daily. The driver must
be depended upon to furnish the clue.
This has been done most successfully
by the drivers answers to ten simple
but searching questions printed on the
ho of h 1aiI r1c
questions are in addition to his regular
reports which indicate work accom-
plished, time of trips. supplies used, etc.
USE THESE QUESTIONS
Here are the ten questions, answers
to which will furnish valuable tips for
the night mechanical experts TO fol-
low up:
Does truck lack power?
.. Are brakes working properly?
8. Does clutch engage smoothly?
Are lights working properly?
8. Is engine clean%
8. Does truck squeak?
z. Does truck rattle?
8. Are wheel bearings properly ad
5usted?
"a Q. Does truck leak anywhere"
R3- 10. Is truck equipped with fire eH-
4 tinguisher?
At first glance these questinos may
seem too simple to be of value in run
ming down mechanical troubles For
example, by going into the first ques-
tion--"Does truck lack power ga lit
tie deeper the engine may lack power
for any one of the following reasons:
Spark plug gaps not properly adjust
ed; one or more valves leaking; fuel
mixture too lean; insufficient lubri-
cation; improper grade OF oil; breaker
points need adjustment or renewal;
brakes not entirely released or drag
ging; and excessive carbon accumula-
ton.
THEN FOLLOW UP
Inspection must not stop with the
drivers report of mechanical trouble,
and the follow up and repair by the
garage mechanic, says the Goodrich
company. This is merely a safeguard
against serious trouble. A more thor
ough inspection is required from time
to time.
At intervals of not more than once Il
month q minute inspection should be
conducted. Guided by chart the me.
chanic should go over every part of
the truck regardless OF whether trou-
BILE has been reported previously or
not. Certain ailments appearing On
new truck should call Off an imme-
diate inspection. Large operators have
found 1T profitable to have on hand
spare engines to substitute rather than
hold the truck out of service for extern
sfve repair.
SIS THOROUGH CHART
The chart which guides the mechan-
les In the rigid monthly inspection
should have every item and part of the
truck listed and they should be ar
ranged in logical sequence. 1t should
commence with the bumper. hood,