Austin 7-tonner Converted to Six-wheeler
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AN Austin 702 forward-control 7-tonner, converted into a sixwheeler by the use of an EatonHendrickson rubber-suspension bogie, is being demonstrated by Kennings, Ltd., Queen Street, Derby. As a chassis with cab, the outfit has a kerb weight of 4 tons 2 cwt. With a gross recommended weight limit of 16f tons -there is an allowance of 12 tons 8 cwt. for body and'payload.
The conversion is the first to be handled by Kennings and was carried out by the Warrington Wheel Co., Ltd., Warrington, fitting agents for the West Midlands and north-west England. In future, Kennings will do all their own work on new or existing vehicles and any make of chassis will be dealt'. with. The conversion Will take five to 10 dais. Kennings are distributors and fitting agents'. for the Eaton-Hendrickson bogie in the East llifidlands, north-east England and North Loudon. • .• For the Austin conversion the standard chassis frame, the lower flanges. of which taper upwards in the vicinity of the rear axle, is cut off .diagonally ahead of the rear-spring front-hanger brackets and fin. channel. of the same section as the standard frame is welded in its place. This gives a full-depth frame section over the bogie and up to the tipping hinge.
Frame stiffness is catered for by the addition of ,{-in. channel embracing the modified frame and extending from the rear of the frame to the line of the rear engine mountings. In effect, the side members are On. thick for the greater part of their length, with a maximum external depth of 91. in.
This additional channel reinforcement is applied only to chassis intended for tipping work. When platform or dropsided bodies are to be mounted, L-shaped pressings are employed, with channel section in :the vicinity of the suspension mounting brackets.
The original front and intermediate .cross-members have been retained for frame bracing, but they are now bolted instead of being riveted. Slightly to the rear of the bogie centre line there is a new cross-member, consisting of two pressed-steel channels back to back.
A 'new rear crosS-member also is provided,All the cross-member bolts pass through both channels of the side members.
The bogie employed with this Austin conversion is the standard EatonHendrickson RS.320 unit.
There has been no change in the wheelbase of 12 ft. 6 in., the centre of the bogie lying in the same plane as that
of the original rear axle. The driving axle is an Eaton 16500 two-speed unit with electric shift and ratios of 6.14 and 8.54 to 1. The trailing axle is a standard unit, as supplied by Eaton Axles, Ltd., but fitted with similar hubs and brake gear to those on. the driving axle.
To afford a safety margin in case of overload, '9.00-20-in: (12-ply) tyres are used all .round, but 8.25-20-in. (12-ply) tires can be Provided.
The Kennings ,18-cu.-yd. tipping body, is 15 ft. 6 in. long, 7 ft. 4 in. wide and 4 ft. 6 in. high inside, and Autolifts NINE twin-ram front:end tipping gear is fitted. The demonstrator has Powerassisted steering.
With trailing axle, tic conversion costs £603 15s: 3d., including fitting charges of £250. On top of this is the cost of four wheels and tyres—£150 if 9.00-20-in. (12-ply) equipment is 'Ordefed, or £128 with 8.25-20-in. (12-ply) tyres. For heavyduty operations, an Eaton-Hendrickson tandem-drive-.bogie conversion can be carried out, in which case the total conversion Cost, less the 'price of tires, is £1,253, including the fitting 'charge.