[
    {
        "id": 207768,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1976",
        "page_number": 156,
        "title": "RAS-1976",
        "content_text": "A ROAD TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN WEST CHINA 1942-46 141\n\nloading and unloading, a week-long trip and turn round with a 24 ton payload. Charcoal powered trucks would, on average, cover 100 km. per day with a payload of 2 tons. One experimental charcoal powered truck took 5 weeks to cover the 500 km. from Kutsing to Kweiyang but, as a contrast, on one occasion Chungking to Kweiyang (490 km.) was covered in 24 days with a full load on charcoal.\n\nIn addition to cargo, passengers were carried. This was done by all transport organizations since there was no public road transport. Passengers were of three varieties: official, ones who were on the manifest and had paid the organization; unofficial or huang yu (★★) who had paid the driver, and other drivers or mechanics whose truck had ‘pie mao'd' () and were going for spares etc.\n\nThe Unit endeavoured to carry 'variety one' passengers only. These might be missionaries travelling to or from station, officials of cooperating or friendly organizations such as IRC, CIC, NCC, YMCA and YWCA, and also refugees. In 1942 these included Professor Gordon King and numbers of H.K. University students (including the present Vice-Chancellor) travelling to continue their studies in Szechuan. Passengers, unless with a child or otherwise privileged, rode on top of the load. Plate 19 shows the two Sentinel-HSG trucks on route to Chungking with cargo and the entire staff of the IRC Kweiyang office aboard.\n\nThe normal procedure on main routes was to run trucks in convoys. This reduced the number of spares which had to be carried and ensured that help was available for extraction from ditches and repairing breakdowns. However, the speed of a convoy is that of the slowest member and optimum results for liquid fuel trucks were obtained with 2 or 3 in each convoy. With charcoal power, because of the variation in performance between trucks and the skill of drivers, single truck operation with a crew of two or three was eventually found best. For long range convoys, on liquid fuel, such as the 5,000 km. round trip to Suchow, there were a minimum of two men per truck.\n\nEquipment\n\nThe original transport equipment, purchased in USA, was 20 Chevrolet trucks with a normal load capacity of 3 short tons. These came equipped with steel cabs and had wooden bodies with hoop",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1976.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 207774,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1976",
        "page_number": 162,
        "title": "RAS-1976",
        "content_text": "A ROAD TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN WEST CHINA 1942-46\n\n147\n\nhappened). Two died of typhus, and one was killed when a truck overturned. No Chinese transport employees died in the four years under review.\n\nMaintenance\n\nAs 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.\n\nEffective 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.\n\nApart 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.\n\nThe major item of garage maintenance was engine overhaul. This was established on a preventive basis, especially for the char-",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1976.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 207779,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1976",
        "page_number": 167,
        "title": "RAS-1976",
        "content_text": "152\n\nW. A. REYNOLDS\n\nengine. The petrol/gas changeover valve has the normal carburettor mounted above it and is controlled from the cab. The engine is normally started on petrol and then the valve slowly moved over so that a petrol/gas/air mixture is used and then gas/air only.\n\nOperating Routine\n\nThe daily fuelling, maintenance and starting procedure took two men about two hours of dusty and dirty work. Charcoal was bought in villages in stick form (rather larger than usually found in Hong Kong). It was then broken into pieces 1-1/4” size, sifted and put into bags. This was often done at the end of the day's run. If charcoal was good and cheap, 300 lbs or more would be bought. Consumption would be a 100 lbs, or so a day.\n\nIn the morning before starting the whole gas system was cleaned, the firebox door dropped, ash removed, cyclone emptied and bag filters removed, turned inside out and shaken (the dirtiest job!). All was then replaced, the hopper filled with the broken charcoal and all doors to the system made air tight. Any air leakage meant loss of power. The fire was started using a torch dipped in oil and brought up to heat using a hand wound centrifugal blower mounted on the tuyere. This could be 15-20 minutes work performed by the junior crew member while the driver took a quick breakfast. The engine was then started on petrol and changed to gas/air. Passengers were loaded aboard and the journey recommenced.\n\nEfficiency of Performance\n\nAs has been mentioned previously, the efficiency of the charcoal conversions improved with time and experience. The contributing factors were:--\n\n1. Raising the compression ratio of the engines. This was done by machining off the cylinder heads by (writing from memory) up to 0.030\" on the Chevrolets and 0.080\" on the Dodge trucks. The first truck on which this was tried was No. 38 and was christened \"Anne Boleyn\" in consequence. She was a well behaved lady after the operation.\n\n2. Fitting a manual advance/retard control to the ignition. Gas/air, with a slower burning rate than petrol vapour, requires the spark earlier in the cycle.\n\n3. General improvement in construction and air tightness of the gas systems.",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1976.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 207783,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1976",
        "page_number": 171,
        "title": "RAS-1976",
        "content_text": "Table VI\n\nTruck Fleet at February 1943\n\n  \n    Truck No.\n    Make\n    Date to China\n    Property of\n    Notes\n  \n  \n    1456\n    Chevrolet Dodge\n    1938\n    IRC\n    Liquid fuel - laid up & scrapped (7 1943)\n  \n  \n    \n    Dodge\n    1939\n    IRC\n    Liquid fuel - laid up?\n  \n  \n    \n    Dodge\n    1939\n    IRC\n    Liquid fuel\n  \n  \n    9\n    Sentinel\n    1939\n    IRC\n    Charcoal\n  \n  \n    11\n    Sentinel\n    1939\n    IRC\n    Charcoal\n  \n  \n    13\n    Sentinel\n    1939\n    IRC\n    Charcoal\n  \n  \n    14\n    GMC\n    1940\n    IRC\n    Liquid fuel. 1943.\n  \n  \n    16\n    White\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    \n  \n  \n    17\n    White\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    \n  \n  \n    21\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    IRC\n    Charcoal \"Manzi\".\n  \n  \n    22\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    Liquid fuel - Run on alcohol 1943 & 1944 when available\n  \n  \n    23\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    Charcoal, converted 1942. Liquid fuel.\n  \n  \n    \n    \n    \n    \n    Converted to charcoal later.\n  \n  \n    24\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    Charcoal. Converted 1942.\n  \n  \n    27\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    Charcoal. Converted 1942.\n  \n  \n    31\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    Charcoal. Converted 1942.\n  \n  \n    33\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    Charcoal. Converted 1942.\n  \n  \n    36\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    FAU\n    \n  \n  \n    37\n    Ford\n    1941\n    Exec Yuan\n    \n  \n  \n    38\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    FAU\n    \n  \n  \n    41\n    Hercules/Ford\n    1938/42\n    FAU\n    Hercules diesel engines in a 1938 Chinese Army Ford chassis.\n  \n  \n    42\n    Hercules/Ford\n    1938/42\n    FAU\n    Major haulage in late 1942 and all 1943. Only two in commission by mid 1944.\n  \n  \n    43\n    Hercules/Ford\n    1938/42\n    FAU\n    \n  \n  \n    44\n    Hercules/Ford\n    1938/42\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel.\n  \n  \n    46\n    Hercules/Ford\n    1938/42\n    Exec Yuan\n    Liquid fuel. Converted charcoal 1943 \"Annboleyn\"\n  \n  \n    47\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Charcoal.\n  \n  \n    49\n    Chevrolet\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Converted 1942.\n  \n  \n    50\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel little used and laid up from mid 1942?\n  \n  \n    51\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel.\n  \n  \n    52\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Converted charcoal 1943\n  \n  \n    53\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel.) Purchased 1942 from Liddel # Co.\n  \n  \n    54\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Charcoal.\n  \n  \n    55\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel. Some converted to charcoal in 1943 à\n  \n  \n    56\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel., 1944 but others formed \"Suchow\" patrol\n  \n  \n    57\n    Dodge\n    1941\n    FAU\n    convoys in late 1943, 1944 1945.\n  \n  \n    58\n    Studebaker\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel.\n  \n  \n    59\n    Studebaker\n    1941\n    FAU\n    Liquid fuel. laid up.\n  \n  \n    156\n    \n    \n    \n    W. A. REYNOLDS",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1976.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q",
        "rank": 0
    },
    {
        "id": 207785,
        "series_id": 26,
        "series_slug": "histsyn-rashkb-journal-engine",
        "series_title": "RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊",
        "series_use_hku_proxy": false,
        "document_key": "RAS-1976",
        "page_number": 173,
        "title": "RAS-1976",
        "content_text": "158\n\nW. A. REYNOLDS\n\nTABLE IX\n\nSpares & Equipment for Chevrolet Charcoal Truck No. 21 1944/45 On 500 Km. Runs\n\nTruck No. 21. List of Tools Spares and Equipment: 23:3:45\n\n  \n    Truck Equipment\n    \n  \n  \n    1 Pair wheel chains\n    1 Tow Chain\n  \n  \n    18 charcoal sacks\n    5 new filter bags\n  \n  \n    Truck Spares\n    \n  \n  \n    1 coil lock\n    1 ignition switch cable key and\n  \n  \n    1 set manifold gaskets\n    14 used filter bags\n  \n  \n    1 clutch plate (used)\n    5 lengths rope\n  \n  \n    1 cylinder head gasket\n    1 scoop\n  \n  \n    1 tin hot patches\n    1 funnel\n  \n  \n    1 tin rubber solution\n    1 water can\n  \n  \n    1 box carburettor parts\n    1 5 gal. engine oil tin\n  \n  \n    1 tyre repair outfit\n    1 2 gal. gear oil tin\n  \n  \n    2 tins radiator cement\n    1 1 gal. gear oil tin\n  \n  \n    10 ft. 10 amp electric wire\n    1 1 qt. tin brake fluid\n  \n  \n    10 sq. in. 0.002 shim metal\n    1 1 qt. tin paraffin\n  \n  \n    1 fuel pump repair kit\n    1 1 qt. tin old engine oil\n  \n  \n    2 front wheel grease retainers\n    1 bottle distilled water\n  \n  \n    1 distributor top\n    1 front wheel inner bearing\n  \n  \n    1 front wheel outer bearing\n    3 universal needle bearing assemblies\n  \n  \n    1 headlamp bulb\n    2 exhaust pipe gaskets\n  \n  \n    1 set new ignition points\n    2 sets old ignition points\n  \n  \n    6 old spark plugs\n    1 rotor arm\n  \n  \n    1 condenser\n    2 fuses\n  \n  \n    Truck Tools\n    \n  \n  \n    1 sentinel jack plus handle\n    1 screw jack plus handle\n  \n  \n    1 blower handle\n    1 chev. tyre lever\n  \n  \n    1 plug lead\n    2 spring tyre levers\n  \n  \n    1 wheel wrench\n    1 starting handle\n  \n  \n    1 3 lb. hammer\n    1 chev grease gun\n  \n  \n    1 blower handle\n    2 old fan belts\n  \n  \n    1 new fan belt\n    1 '41 stub axle plus king pin\n  \n  \n    1 compressed air line\n    2 rocker arms\n  \n  \n    1 '39 stub axle\n    1 each front and rear wheel studs\n  \n  \n    1 bar white metal solder\n    1 blower belt (gasogene)\n  \n  \n    1 each master cyl. front and rear brake cups.",
        "txt_file_path": "txt/dfo323lmgvd/RAS-1976.txt",
        "external_url": "https://digitalrepository.lib.hku.hk/catalog/hq382988q",
        "rank": 0
    }
]