Leyland on the slide!

[Richard Peskett]

Use of sprags - their probable failure was no doubt due to misuse . The sprag should be dropped before a situation arrises where it may be needed such as a missed gear change going up hill. Its no good trying to use it once the vehicle has started to roll backwards on the slope, this results in it being over run or where it was fitted to most pre 1900 motor cars the vehicle can easily overturn.

Richard Peskett.

[Redherring]

Richard/Roy, I imagine a sprag is a bit like a ripper under a dozer blade but how was it released? Do you happen to have a diagram of the sprag-dropping mechanism you can show us? Robert

[nz2]

Two photos of sprags in different forms. A lever or chain in the cab allowed the driver to operate the sprag as it was felt to be needed. Once at the top of the hill the driver had to manually reset the sprag back to the release cable.

The Renault's sprag has been welded in position to please inspection (and roading) authorities.

Doug

[Chaindrive]

A picture of the sliding spring on a 1910/11 Lacre 5 tonne truck chassis. When the chassis was stripped out years ago,one inch square bar was welded to the chassis on the insides of the rear spring slides to stop the axle and springs sliding completely out of the cast slides. Originally a heavy torsion bar attached to the back of the brake drum and at the other end around the chain drive differential providing both tension on the chain as well as anchoring the axle in position.