Bywater, based at Leytonstone, east London, has been a limited
Page 30
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
company since 1952 specialising in waste management and recycling commercial waste. The company operates inside the M25 and covers most of Essex and northern Kent, It operates 68 trucks and has an additional five on order. They range from Daf 55 4x2 skip lorries to Foden 8x4 chassis with roll-on bodies and include a few ERF and Seddon Atkinson dust carts as well as three six-axled artics.
"We have 20 Fodens," engineering manager Andy Crockett reports, "but just four Alpha eight-wheelers. We got on well with the Caterpillar engines in the 4000 Series. They were very reliable once they had settled and we are very comfortable with the C10. We took the 380hp version because that is what Foden was pushing at the time and the price was good. We now have one T, one V and two W-reg models.
"Chassis height is an important factor for us as it governs overall height. Our roll-on bodies range from 15 to Gay& and we need to be able to use the Blackwall Tunnel," he adds. "The Foden chassis Is lower than many other makes. Body and lifting gear add considerably to unladen weight but with a 40yd3 body we pack in about 15 tonnes payload. We are getting just over 6.0mpg which is an improvement on the 5.8mpg we got when they were new. This is better than the 5.4mpg which we got from our 4000 Series fitted with the last of the Cummins 110 325s. Time taken swapping bodies over on site can use up quite a bit of fuel.
The eight-wheelers cover 50-60,000 miles a year and we operate them for their total life," says Crockett "We have some 10-year-old trucks on the fleet. "The engine—and hence the radiator—is lower on the Alpha than on earlier models," he adds. "It is protected by a shield but we managed to rip the first one off on site. Foden has since strengthened it. We were unable to take advantage of the straight front axle on later models because of our height restraints. All the Alphas are fitted with a Jake brake and we get 12 to 18 months out of brake linings, We haven't had to replace any drums. Early on we had a massive oil leak from one engine. The gasket around the engine brake was not sealing. We specified the 16-speed transmission because, at the time, the eight-speed was the only other option. The rear rubber suspension is maintenance-free.
"We only have day cab models," he says. "There is more room inside and the trim level is better. The headlight switch is very flimsy though. The time it takes to fit a windscreen can be a bit annoying but we have only replaced one so far. It Is too early to say whether the steel cab will last as long as the old GRP cabs. Paint and rust protection is a lot better than it used to be and we expect to refurbish it when needed. We do all of our own maintenance and only go to the dealer, Acorn of Dartford, for parts and warranty work. Foden parts prices are quite good. If there Is a serious problem we go to the factory."