1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144 
In Your Opinion
Page 67
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Worthwhile Discussions
I WOULD like to make a few comments on some of the points mentioned in your discussion on goods vehicle maintenance in the January 7 issue.
Although such discussions among operators are often "preaching to the converted", I feel that more of this type of airing the problem will do nothing but good in the long run.
With regard to vehicle construction with maintenance in mind, it would appear that one manufacturer has a different idea from the rest on the question of tilt cabs. The tilt cabs made by one group and by two other makers may be lifted in seconds, and many wearing components are revealed as never before for instant attention.
However, the cab made by another very large manufacturer needs almost a workshop job in itself to put it into the tilted position. Surely the disconnection of steering column mounting, gear lever and so on, and the removal of floor panel fastened originally by six Phillips screws, before the removal of cab mounting bolts to enable the cab to be tilted almost defeats the point of a tilt cab.
Although I am not connected with one of the operators needing the other 5 per cent of items not normally held by AEC, my impressions are that this problem is by no means confined to that make. On December 31, I recall that a drive shaft was required for a popular 7-ton tipper. Telephone calls to several dealers within about 15 miles could not locate one, and later our local dealer was able to arrange for one to be collected from the maker's spares depot about 50 miles away. However, it appears that this maker permits each main dealer only one emergency collection of spares each day, and as Friday's had been used, we had to wait for Monday before being able to send to the depot to collect our shaft.
if this restriction on emergency collections is correct, which I do not know at this stage, is it any wonder that operators are placed in the position of trusting to luck and letting the vehicle run for a few more days? One can assume that a manufacturer does not want every operator running in and out of the works for every item needed, but to cause a vehicle to be kept off the road for at least a day more than necessary is a little harsh, to say the least. I would register my surprise at the lack of support given to the highways and vehicles committee of the RHA, when many of us on that body have tried to get any improvement in the situation: as soon as details of delays are requested from members, the problem seems to become non-existent. For the few of us who do seem to experience troubles, our thanks to COMMERCIAL MOToRfor pointing out that the problem does exist.
R. M. EALES, Wilby, Wellingborough, Northants.
Salt Danger
YOU MAY care to see a copy of a brief letter I have sent to the Ministry of Transport. It reads: "It is a fact that the salt being put on the roads is seizing up brakes, making vehicles a death trap.
"You must stop it immediately."
J. WYATT, J. Wyatt Junr. (Haulage) Ltd., Diss.
Bigger and Better
CONGRATULATIONS on your "new look" magazine! Bigger and better in every way and much more readable generally. All success to you in 1966.
A. STEPHEN MANSFIELD, Director, John Harris (Cartage) Ltd., London SEl.
Bright and Bold
HAVING SEEN CM change by stages, I have anxiously awaited the complete change-over. I found today's issue bright and bold—I like it.
J. A. DENNIS, Publicity Manager, AEC Ltd., London W 1 .