• The broken half-shaft was a case of "good news-bad news".
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It began with tangled suzie hoses which partially closed an air line tap during fullturn manoeuvering, thus restricting the air pressure re-charging process.
Attempting a restart on the 20% (1-in5) test slope (which later proved well' within the Scania's capability) drive-axle wheelslip (-Ailed for some swift air dumping on the second steered-axle suspension and finally differential-lock engagement. During this time the engine needed running-up to re-charge the system, and on the penultimate attempt the buzzer and warning light operated yet again.
Some time after the devices had ceased to operate, the final restart atttempt was accompanied by a sharp crack and a racing engine — but no motion whatsoever. Unbeknown to us the R113, a right-handdrive pre-production model, was built to full "Scandinavian-spec" with the spring brake interlock system fitted. On this system, once the air pressure drops below 5.0bar-and the spring brakes apply, air is prevented from releasing them. A button-switch in the cab pops out to let the driver know the brakes are applied. The normal park brake lever can be operated, but to no effect.
To release the brakes the driver must manually push back into place the interlock button, which is located under the ngine stop control. On the test vehicle le button had simply been removed by cania (GB) but, unknown to the accomanying engineer, the system remained ctive. While drivers in Sweden are familir with the device and its use, our test river certainly was not and fortunately, !.w British drivers will ever need to know f its purpose as it is not fit to UK-bound canias.
Little wonder that with the drive and econd steer axle locked, a near-full powr restart attempt found its release by eatly shearing the half shaft, 25mm away mm the outer driving splines. A phone all to the nearest Scania service dealer, 4orville Trucks of Lutterworth, had its ervice van out in just under the hour.
Once sure of the fault, the nimblengered fitter quickly removed the drive lange, tapped out the broken piece and ?.vered the rest of the shaft dear.
With a new shaft in, a wipe over the chafing surfaces, a new seal fitted, the Lange and the wheel trim replaced, the nechanic took the time to ensure that hive was restored before cheerfully handng over the keys for the price of a ignature.
Granted the words "press test" are key )nes but, from the telephone call to the itter's green light took just 90 minutes in 11 and, although he took a late lunch on )ur account, the service was impressive.