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Double-drive Third-axle Conversion

13th October 1961
Page 49
Page 49, 13th October 1961 — Double-drive Third-axle Conversion
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A DOUBLE-DRIVE third-axle conver

sion was announced last week by the York Trailer Co.. Ltd. This company is an established manufacturer of singledrive third-axle conversions, and states it has produced the driven third axle following repeated requests, particularly from Midlands coal hauliers. As shown, on a Dodge chassis, the conversion costs 1,095.

A form of rocking beam suspension is used on the new conversion which, although used in the U.S.A., is claimed by York to be new to third-axle conversions in this country. A large rocker arm, pivoted centrally from the chassis on a rubber bush, is utilized, each beam being on the outside of the chassis main members.

The springs on each side are on standard hanger brackets at their front ends. with slipper rear ends in hangers attached to each extremity of the balance beam, which is some 4 ft. long.

Another feature of the conversion is that it uses axles that are standard to the model being converted.

, A transfer box is mounted amidships in the chassis, from which both drive shafts run. The second-axle shaft is carried over the first axle by a pillow bearing. Two ratios are incorporated in the transfer box, direct and 2 to 1, thus giving a useful crawler ratio for off-the-road work.

The transfer boxes generally used will be All-Wheel Drive ones, although a Bedford box will be used on Bedford models.

Last week a member of The Commercial Motor staff was shown a conversion of a Dodge with Perkins 6.354 engine. The vehicle demonstrated had a load of 11 tons of loose stone, and a gross weight of 16+ tons.

Although the vehicle was not road tested: and no braking tests were tarried out, the Dodge was tested extensively in an opencast quarry under dry conditions. It showed no signs of distress on the damp clay and loose earth, when on the level, despite the rough terrain, and rear axle articulation appeared to be good at all times.

Government Watching • Rural " Rome " Burn

rOVERNMENT inaction over rural

bus services was a flagrant case of " watching while Rome burns." This was said in Preston on Tuesday by Mr. W. G. Hunniball, assistant to the general manager, Ribble Motor Services, Ltd., in a paper, "Rural Bus Services," to the Institute of Traffic Administration.

When, he asked, was the Government going to do something towards solving the problem of these declining services? The Jack Committee's report, given last January, did at least agree that financial assistance was necessary, but the Minister had taken no action.

There could, he added, be no question of Ribble needing a subsidy if the fuel tax was remitted.


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