Faulty Maintenance System?
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I FEEL that your article in The Commercial Motor, December 18 calls for comment from a driver. I agree with the fact that failure by a driver to report mechanical defects or strange noises immediately they become apparent can result in expensive breakdowns, probably at a time when the vehicle is urgently required. The point I wish to raise, however, is lack of -action after early warning signs have been reported on what we term -ops H. On July 8 last I reported a continuous " foreign " noise coming, as far as I could ascertain, from the differential of a Mercury tractor I had just taken over. This was tested, noted and put back into service and since 1 ceased to drive it has had an ops Ill and the present driver tells me it is still rumbling along like an old chain-drive Peerless. I also reported an undue amount of noticeable fore-and-aft movement in a fifth-wheel coupling. This was also tested and put back into service pending the arrival of new locking jaws which when fitted some three weeks later revealed that a piece was broken off the original ones. I have more recently reported a defective temperaturegauge. The sensing unit inserted in the cylinder block is at fault here and this I have proved by extending the wires to another similar vehicle and the dashboard gauge works perfectly. I do not ever expect to get this item repaired, however, as it is not a statutory fitting and therefore appears to be regarded by my employers as superfluous. This also applies to an air-pressure-operated stop-light switch which unless made statutory,vvill probably never operate again. In conclusion I would also say it is a waste of time and paper to book off a trailer for defective flashers. Few that I couple to will operate. and the fitting of new bulbs does not always effect a Cure. I have mentioned no company deliberately, but my reference to ops II and ops III will leave no doubt in many readers' minds as to by whom I am employed. I attach no blame for failure tci act on reports to any person . with whorn I have contact, as have always found our fitting staff helpful and anxious to do a good job. But I do criticize a system which
forbids me to call at the vehicle makers' local service depot and collect the parts 1 need and have them fitted by our own fitters.
Claverley, . C. W. BOUCHER. Wolverhampton, Staffs.