Building on the Constructor
Page 13
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by Bryan Jarvis • Leyland Dais latest Series 70 and 80 Eure1 multi-wheelers look the part and perform like worthy replacements for its former Constructor models.
That's our initial impression after driving a fully laden 242kW (329hp) FAD85.330 eight-legger over some wellmade Oxon roads; it's one that we look forward to confirming soon with a full roadtest.
In addition to cleaner, more powerful engines the latest models have revised suspensions and steering that give a much better ride than before with easier manoeuvring at lower engine speeds .
The Eindhoven-built successors use the same angular cab as the 75 and 85 tractors with the option of a sleeper cabin.
Six and eight-wheelers have 8.65 and 11.60-litre straight sixes respectively; both engines have air-to-air charge-cooling.
The larger units churn out 222kW, 242kW and 268kW (302/329/364hp), all at 2,000rpm. Torque outputs are between 1,250 and 1,500Nm (9221,1061bft) from 1,100 to 1,20Orpm.
Smaller six-pots in the 6x4 tipper/mixer chassis are rated at 180, 200 and 222kW
(245/272/302hp) at 2,300rpm, with maximum torques from 865Nm to 1,130Nn-i.
In the re-enginMg exercise the use of smaller, more efficient radiator packs has led to a number of benefits for the new cabs.
Not least, it enables them to have deeper windscreens, giving much greater fields of vision than earlier Daf-made cabs usually provided.
There's also a smaller, more central tunnel with increased leg room on either side— Leyland Daf claims there's nearly 50% more than in other narrow-cabbed makes.
Broad, staggered steps and a wide doorway with well-positioned handrails allow unhindered entry and exit.
For a day cab the amount of fore-and-aft and steering wheel adjustment is gener ous and should take care of most drivers' needs.
On site or main roads the FAD85-330 pulls strongly from 1,100rpm upwards and the standard ZF 85-151 synchro box four-on-four gear arrangement is light in operation with well spaced ratios. For heavy going the deep crawler is in first gear slot and easy to find.
All the Eindhoven-built multi-wheeled rigids have ZF boxes as standard, apart from the FAD85.360 which comes with an Eaton Twin Splitter unit. For another £590, FAD85300 and 330 8x4s can have this option too.
Judging by the performance of the 242kW 32-tonner, the most noticeable aspect of the new range is its remarkable ride and handling qualities.
This is due mainly to the use of parabolic springs at the front and a revised two-spring semielliptic arrangement over the rear single reduction 19-tonne axle set.
The back springing's five-leaf packs look old fashioned but with its eight Panhard rod axleto-frame location and the top two leaves acting as helpers the standard of ride control is greatly improved over previous Leyland Daf multi-wheelers. It's quieter and should eliminate the spring leaf end and saddle wear associated with the earlier design.
In addition, four flattened bolts replace conventional Ubolts to give a more accurate torque-up.
Instead of the usual ZF power steering, Leyland Daf has adopted a Spanish-made TRW system that is more compact and provides more assistance for full steer turns at low engine revs, This extra assistance has allowed L-D to dispense with the power ram attached to the relay drop arm in its Constructor twin-steer rigids.
Add to this a short (1.37m) front overhang and its swept turning angle and general manoeuverability becomes impressive.
Our FAD85.330 5.7m-wheelbase ZF-geared eight legger scaled 10.70 tonnes with alVBS aluminium tipper body and Harsh underfloor gear.
The most powerful 6.4m wheelbase 8x4 chassis day cab with standard Eaton Twin Splitter gearbox weighs in at 9.30 tonnes, but at the other end of the scale a 220kW 5.7m chassis tips the scales at 8.83 tonnes: all these weights include a full 200-litre (44g-a1) tank.