Paul Sullivan has been with Renault Trucks London for just
Page 106
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
over nine years. He joined the company straight from school, served a three-year apprenticeship and now enjoys working on anything weighing more than 7.5 tonnes. His particular interest is repair work; he is also a qualified MoT inspector and gained a Class 1 HGV licence when he was 21, as part of Renault's staff training programme. However Sullivan does not plan to follow in his father's footsteps as a full-time driver.
1 Remember that there is a gearbox filter on the Maxter which needs to be changed every 80,000km. It's hidden behind a metal cover where it is easily overlooked. The gearbox runs with a pressurised oil supply so the filter is on important component in the system. The angular metal filter cover is held in place with two bolts.
2 The canister-type axle oil filter is also hidden behind a protective cover, in this case on the front one of the rear axles. It must be replaced at yearly intervals but doesn't need to be primed when first fitted. This sort of component is all too easy to miss. 3 The grease nipples on the rear brake cams—at the final bush before the brake assembly—should not be overlooked. There is one on each of the four rear wheels. Failure to grease them would eventually allow the brakes to drag, followed by seizure of the mechanism. Check them at every service.
Being a French truck the original gear selection mechanism was designed for left-hand drive. On UK vehicles a linkage crosses to the o/s of the cab and this change in direction increases the need for good linkage lubrication. Pay particular attention to the joint between the telescopic selector rod and the cross linkage. There is no greasing point so a spray lubricant is the best solution. 5 The charge-cooler hoses have to withstand pressure up to about 24psi when the engine is working hard under load, so watch out for loose damps. They are sprung to maintain a constant tension but it's still worth making a check nonetheless.
6Keep an eye on the operation of the exhaust brake control button on the cab floor, It leads a hard life, especially on tipper applications like this where dirt and grit are in abundance. Keep the area clean because it has been known for the button to seize up in the "on" position, which has a debilitating effect on engine performance.