LEYLAND
Page 51
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IN TERMS of model numbers the Truck and Bus Division far outweigh the opposition with eight-wheelers being marketed by Leyland, Scammell and AEC. Although the Guy factory is scheduled to cease vehicle production the Big 38 is still a catalogued model.
The new Octopus, announced in October last year, is available in tipper and haulage form. The power unit is the new 502 version of the Leyland fixed-head service engine. Turbocharged, it produces 153kW (205bhp) at 2,400rpm with the maximum torque of 735Nm (542113ft) occurring at 1,400rpm. The clutch is a twindry-plate unit with 356mm (14in) d;ameter plates coupled to a Fuller RTO 609 nine-speed constant-mesh gearbox. The Albion hub-reduction axles have been used in other Leyland eight-wheelers.
The two-spring rear bogie featured on the Octopus is similar to that available on the Marathon and Bison sixwheelers, but with an extended axle spread from 1.4 to 1.5m (4ft 6in to 5ft Oin) to give a 19-ton capacity.
Two wheelbases are available, with the larger intended for haulage work and the swb model for tipper work. Leyland claims two big advantages for the Octopus: the low chassis/ cab weight and the turning circle. Taking the tipper model as an example, the dry weight is 7.37 tonnes (7.25 tons) and the turning circle is 22.9m (75ft). In both forms the Octopus has a gvw of 30.5 tonnes (30 tons).
Also plated for 30 tons gvw are the Routeman chassis from Scammell using either RollsRoyce or Leyland engines. The Rolls-Royce unit is the naturally aspirated 220 giving 164kW (220bhp) at 2,100rpm which compares with the 150kW (202bhp) at 2,200rpm from the Leyland 680 engine. The David Brown 06-600 sixspeed constant-mesh gearbox is available for both engine variants with the alternative of the Eaton D273 box for the 680 model.
All the Routeman variants are designed as tipper chassis and the chassis/cab weight of the "short" wheelbase model (there is only 6in difference between them) is 8.07 tonnes (7.94 tons) with a turning circle between walls 22.0m (75ft).
The frame is of bolted steel construction with channel section side-members reinforced with a full-depth flitch.
The AEC eight-wheeler from the Leyland range is available in 8x4 form as a haulage or a tipper chassis and with different wheelbases. The shorter of the two trucks is intended for haulage work only at 28 tons gvw with the longer being designed for both tipper or haulage work at 30 tons gvw.
The power unit is the naturally aspirated AEC AV760