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Maintenance still in the ark
Page 29
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VER THE YEARS the motor 3hicle has caused fierce cornatition among its manufacturs to produce a mode of trans)rt that can withstand loadings, ress and fatigue.
In the present day, these anufacturers have, through arranty, improved the quality parts.
The cost of this mechanical orkhorse doesn't vary much 3m manufacturer to manufacrer, neither does its styling or instruction.
We tend to buy those vehicles hich have a measured reliabile, hoping to get the best out of ir investments, and hope for inimal maintenance cost durg a calculated life span, !eked up in the first 24 months e the manufacturer's warranty concessions.
Yet at an early age, high aintenance costs reveal themIves, with the added fear of epa ring the vehicle for the anial test.
At this stage maintenance aff should bring to the fore a hide history file so that invesiations can be made to seek a causes of high costs and lat preventive maintenance n be applied.
Maybe the vehicle's operating ope can be limited, perhaps are is a wrong attitude to aintenance, poor supervision, monotonously repetitive 3ks.
But maintenance staff tend to stify these high costs so nvincingly, that it tends to 3stroy confidence in the hicle.
Surely the time has come to able the commercial vehicle ■ erator to take advantage of odern engineering, better ality parts and improved tracIn to allow a return to a more alistic and economical span of e to eight years.
But to do thus we must rid rselves of inborne ideas about nsport care, and rethink the following: mechanics, maintenance, methods.
Also, it should be possible to draw up a simple and systematic maintenance programme which could overcome repetition and boredom, and also encourage the mechanic to become a preventive technician, producing estimations of performance, life span, running costs, tonnage and high mileage.
TOM BADEN-WALFORD Salford, Lancs