Synchro solecism
Page 24
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MAY I SUGGEST that your Mr Gray, in his road test of the Leyland Clydesdale (CM, March 16) was a little hard in his criticism of the existing Albion-type six-speed gearbox, and the lack of a synchromesh option?
Although I agree that the box has been around for 20 years or more, is this not a recommendation as to its suitability for such vehicles of up to 16 tons gross? Its reliability in service has been excellent up to that weight, although not so good when used in heavier vehicles.
One of its good points, in my opinion, is the superb changing and selection; every gear engages in such a precise manner, arid with the minimum of noise unless a wrong gear is attempted, or if there is similar abuse from an unskilled driver.
On the latter point, in any case, propert driver training is the answer. The position of each gear on the gate is just right, and the slight spring bias on the lever matches it ideally.
At the present time, synchromesh gear boxes on goods vehicles seem to originate from one European source, which, while no doubt good on engineering standard or quality control, seems to have a total disregard of precise selection.
Who would prefer to drive a vehicle where selection of the right gear seems to be as random as a small roulette wheel, followed by the leverage of a mighty left arm at full stretch, when he can drive a Leyland six-speed? Possibly the European synchromesh box was designed for left-hand-drive vehicles, where gears are selected with the driver's stronger right arm, and th.e design suffers from the transfer to British application.
While I do not condemn synchromesh as a system, its use should be as a back-up, to correct a gear change if it is not completed correctly, and avoid damage to gears and the noise caused by incorrect meshing speeds. I do not believe in its as a means of ensuring that (almost) any change can be made, with the consequent damage to any other part of the transmission when drive is reengaged.
Many people, I am sure, sould like to retain this welldesigned and well-liked Albion six-speed box. At least we are spared a certain make of gearbox at present on the Clydesdale!
R. M. EALES, Wellingborough