Home-built six-wheelers from Seddon
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• Following the move at the time of the last Earls Court Show to a simpler parallel-flanged frame on its Perkins VS-powered 16:four rigid chassis. Seddon Motors Ltd is now to build its own six-wheelers again.
In recent years, all three-axled chassis sold by Seddon have been Primrose conversions. The older frames, which tapered in depth behind the driving axle, were extended at Primrose's works by adding a pair of channels which effectively "enclosed" the tapered section.
It is now simpler for Seddon to order frame members from its suppliers in any required length, making six-wheelers easier to build.
Because of the rationalization in chassis frame configuration for all Perkins V8 and Rolls-Royce engined Seddons the number of wheelbase options has been cut from three to two— 16ft lin. and 17ft 7in. The difference is accounted for merely by a repositioning of the rear bogie to suit tipper or load-carrier applications. Cab to end-of-frame dimension is 24ft 7in. in both cases. Both models are plated at 22 tons gvw, although the shorter-wheelbase version is limited to 20 tons operation under current C and U Regulations. Both driving axles are Eaton 30DS 6.5 to 1 single-reduction units. A two-speed 30DT option is listed.
Further bending strength in the 10in-deep, 3in-wide and lin.-thick frame channels has been incorporated by the addition of 2in.-wide, +in.-thick top and bottom strips welded at 12in. intervals to the flanges. They extend from the extreme rear end of the frame forward to the cab rear panel. This is a new design feature for Seddon.
Type-30 lock actuator brake chambers are used on the steering axle and the front axle of the bogie, while a single diaphragm chamber provides service braking on the third axle. Unladen weight of the logger-wheelbase 6 x 4 Seddon is 5 tons 16cwt, complete with spare wheel and 5gal of fuel.
Included in the list prices of £4742 and £4753 for the shortand long-wheelbase models respectively is power-assisted steering gear.
No 6 x 2 version is listed. Operators requiring single-drive units will have to go to a third-axle conversion specialist such as Primrose or York.
With the introduction of the new model. Seddon is discontinuing its Perkins 6.354-powered 20-ton six-wheeler models, which again were Primrose conversions marketed as standard Seddon chassis. The reason is the imminence of power-weight ratio legislation, under which (at 6 bhp/ton) the 120 bhp (gross) Perkins in-line six diesel will almost certainly fail to qualify for 20-ton operation.
All Seddon prices have been raised by an average of 51 per cent. The shortest 13:four tipper chassis-cab is now listed at £2575 while the Rolls-Royce 220-powered 32-ton tractive unit has gone up to 15180 (the Gardner 6LXB adds a further £284).