REMANUFACTURING GOES ON SHOW
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Engine evolution changes the demands on the remanufacturer as the FER's recent show underlined.
F. juro-1 emission standards mean engine manufacturers have had to redesign many parts of their engines. And this point has not escaped the remanufacturers. New components, machining tolerances and fuel injection equipment leads to an increase in the parts stock, engineering standards and information levels required to re-manufacture the engines.
This is why Federation of Engine Remanufacturers' secretary David Gardener says: "There will be fewer remanufacturers in the future and those wanting to stay in business will have to invest heavily to keep up with electronics and other areas".
It was also clear from the show exhibits that the engine remanufacturer is also having to consider wider areas of legislation. Metro Equipment was showing several new forms of its portable exhaust filter for running engines and moving vehicles around in the workshop. Most of these use twin L20 (the CV filter) elements which can be specified as trolley-mounted, on a stand or as a switchable chassis-mounted unit.
The trolley allows technicians to push the unit to the vehicle and connect the metre
long hose to the exhaust. A brake can be specified on the trolley to prevent it being towed away if not disconnected from the vehicle. Prices are around £760 depending on specification; each unit can handle up to 140 engine starts. Filter refills are about .£48 each.
Twin filters on a stand mount have been designed for fire brigades where the engine can be started in the station and the vehcile driven out without having to disconnect. For vehicles having to load or tip in food areas Metro markets a chassis-mounted filter unit which can be switched in and out, pneumatically or electrically. Prices start from £490 for the pneumatic unit. (For more information on Metro products , circle Turbo 61.) FP Diesels (Turbo 62) is the new name of Power Products. FP now distributes Cummins engine parts and gaskets in addition to its Detroit Diesel and Caterpillar range. These include pistons, liners, rings, valve heads, crankshafts and injectors. Parts for Celect engines will be introduced in due course, says the company.
A portable liner recess cutting tool which can be used in situ was displayed by
In-situ liner recess cutter from Drayton Automotive is magnetically attached. Drayton Automotive Component (Turbo 63). This uses a single point tool which has a roller in the other end is used to centre the equipment over the bore. An electromagnet secures the equipment to the top of the block and the tool pulled across to put on a cut. Tool rotation is by hand and it traverses out on a fine thread.
AE Auto Parts (Turbo 64) has now introduced its engine component ranges for Volvo and Scania. Pistons, rings, liners, bearings and valve gear are available for Scania 7.8, 8.5, 11 and 14-litre engines. Similar parts are available for Volvo engines ranging from the 5.1-litre unit from the Volvo F84 right through to those used in the F12 and BlOM. The company has published an application guide for the new components which includes an OE/AE interchange for part numbers.
According to the French equivalent of the FER, more than 80% of engines it sees are damaged by overheating. Thermo+ is a new style of thermostat designed to counter this problem. It is made by Floquet Monopol and distributed by Dana (Turbo 61). It arrives in pieces and is assembled in the open position (to speed coolant filling) and uses an extra thrust spring. Once warmed up the unit will open and close as normal while the extra spring is used to retain the centre section. This is secured by low melt compound which melts and opens if there is over-heating due to the primary function failing.
Complementing the thermostat is an improved cooling fan switch that has a second bimetallic washer which will permanently turn the fan on if the primary function fails. A kit containing a thermostat and a switch is expected to retail at around £40.
Parts for Japanese engines formed the centerpiece of KS Winston's stand (Turbo 65). It now stocks parts for diesel engines in the Mazda E2200, Toyota Hi-Ace and Mitsubishi L300 and "is working on the bigger areas" which we believe to be for Hino. The company is also pushing forward with its plans to supply truck fleets direct.