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happened). Two died of typhus, and one was killed when a truck overturned. No Chinese transport employees died in the four years under review.
Maintenance
As has been indicated in earlier sections, truck maintenance was the major problem in sustaining the system, and the supply of spare parts and lubricating oil was the most critical element. Each convoy or individual truck was expected to be self-sufficient for any repairs or maintenance between bases. If there was a major breakdown within 50 km or so of bases, arrangements might be made for a tow-in; otherwise, repairs were done on the spot. Connecting rod bearings can be replaced, and crankshaft journals resurfaced at the roadside if necessary. Replacing front and rear spring main leaf was a common occurrence. Just what self-sufficiency on the road meant can be gathered from the lists of spare equipment carried on truck No. 21, a Chevrolet converted to charcoal, given in Table IX. This was in addition to personal sets of spanners, etc. It is true that this truck was four years old and was better kitted out than most, but all the spares had been found invaluable on one occasion or another. Even with new WD Dodge trucks running on petrol, but setting out on a 3200 km round trip from Chungking to the Shensi-Kansu-Ninghsia Border area in early 1946, the list of spare equipment for a three-truck convoy was quite formidable and is given in Table X.
Effective transport systems depend on maintenance, especially where there are no service facilities, and maintenance, in these circumstances, starts with the truck driver. It became second nature, drilled into all drivers on first trips, to examine all tyres and springs at every stop and to check not only oil and water but also engine mountings, fan belts, U-bolts, and wheel bolts every day.
Apart from mechanical failures of springs, etc., the major causes of troubles on Chevrolet and Dodge trucks were electrical. Radiators also gave trouble, and if a leak could not easily be soldered, the addition of water buffalo dung to the system was often efficacious. One ingenious charcoal truck driver connected his fuel pump (not required on gas) to a spare 5-gallon water tank and kept his leaking radiator topped up in that way.
The major item of garage maintenance was engine overhaul. This was established on a preventive basis, especially for the char-
A ROAD TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN WEST CHINA 1942-46
147
happened). Two died of typhus, and one was killed when a truck overturned. No Chinese transport employees died in the four years under review.
Maintenance
As has been indicated in earlier section, truck maintenance was the major problem in sustaining the system, and the supply of spare parts and lubricating oil was the most critical element. Each convoy or individual truck was expected to be self sufficient for any repairs or maintenance between bases. If there was a major breakdown within 50 km. or so of bases, arrangements might be made for a tow in, otherwise repairs were done on the spot. Connecting rod bearings can be replaced and crank shaft journals resurfaced at the roadside if necessary. Replacing front and rear spring main leaf was a common occurrence. Just what self-sufficiency on the road meant can be gathered from the lists of spare equipment carried on truck No. 21, a Chevrolet converted to charcoal, given in Table IX. This was in addition to personal sets of spanners etc. It is true that this truck was four years old and was better kitted out than most but all the spares had been found invaluable on one occasion or another. Even with new WD Dodge trucks running on petrol, but setting out on a 3200 km. round trip from Chungking to the Shensi- Kansu-Ninghsia Border area in early 1946, the list of spare equip- ment for a three truck convoy was quite formidable and is given in Table X.
Effective transport systems depend on maintenance, especially where there are no service facilities, and maintenance, in these circumstances, starts with the truck driver. It became second nature, drilled into all drivers on first trips, to examine all tyres and springs at every stop and to check not only oil and water but also engine mountings, fan belts, U-bolts and wheel bolts every day.
Apart from mechanical failures of springs etc, the major causes of troubles on Chevrolet and Dodge trucks were electrical. Radia- tors also gave trouble, and if a leak could not easily be soldered the addition of water buffalo dung to the system was often effica- cious. One ingenious charcoal truck driver connected his fuel pump (not required on gas) to a spare 5 gallon water tank and kept his leaking radiator topped up in that way,5
The major item of garage maintenance was engine overhaul. This was established on a preventive basis especially for the char-
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