Longevity Record
Page 26
Page 27
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of a
Fleet of Lionesses
Noteworthy Results in Respect of Low Maintenance Obtained With Leyland Coaches Operated by Allenways Ltd., of Birmingham
A LTHOUGH it probably does not constitute a record, to run an engine for 400,000 miles and then to find so little wear on the crankshaft that it can be put back into service without any attention, is sufficiently remarkable to attract
the notice of most operators. The particular vehicle which has caused these comments is a Leyland Lioness coach operated by Allenways Ltd., Tindal Street, Birmingham. Acquired in 1929 by its present owner, it is one of the early six-cylinder models with 4-in, bores, and it carried originally a 26-seater body with folding head. Two years ago that body was discarded 'and a 30-seater saloon was substituted after the chassis had been modified at the rear in accordance with the operator's plan to obtain the maximum permissible overhang. Here it, may be explained, that similar treatment has been given to other vehicles in this company's possession and, incidentally, much the same long life has been obtained from them, too. Further reference will be made to this later. For the present we will consider the Leyland which .was undergoing overhaul at the time of our visit to Allen ways Ltd. "
Our attention was first drawn to it by information that its crankshaft, after this very long mileage, had been found to have a maximum ovality of .002 in. This, as might be expected, was on the centre journal. The white metal of that bearing was cracked but had not come away. It and the other main bearings were, therefore, remetalled and bored but the shaft is being put back into use without regrinding or other attention of that sort.
None of the connecting-rod big-end bearings needed even to be remetalled. We saw one being refitted after the removal of a single shim leaf. It was then rather tight and, although not in this respect beyond the standards of many fitters, it was a little too stiff to satisfy Mr. Sid Allen, elder son of the founder and managing director of Allenways Ltd., Mr. G. E. Allen.
Naturally the bores needed regrinding. All except one of them would have cleaned up with an increase of 0.03 in., but, in fact, all " were ground out by 0.04 in. to suit the one cylinder which had worn more than the others, apparently because its connecting rod had been slightly out of alignment. Naturally, too, new pistons are now being fitted but, up to the time of this overhaul, the original pistons and rings were still in use.
The original valve guides, valve springs and camshaft are also -still in use. Two sets of valves have been fitted during the life of this engine. One new timing chain was installed three years ago, the first one having lasted about eight years. The original dynamo and its brushes are still in good working order.
' Elsewhere in the chassis there is much the same tale to tell. The clutch has been refaced once and now a new pressure plate is being fitted, although the old one could probably have been made serviceable by skimming up its face. Brakes last three or four years before new friction material is needed, and the original brake drums, still in use, have never been skimmed, we understand. Periodically the gearbox and the back axle have been washed out. but no other attention has been required.
Possibly the most surprising fact of all is that the original spring shackles are still in use, together with thebd pins and bushes. The springs also are the originals and the front ones have needed no attention. The rear springs have been set up, it is true, but this was to suit the new body which placed more weight upon them. No wear has been found on the king pins and the original steering mechanism is still in use on this coach. Another 1929 Leyland Lioness in the Allenways fleet was overhauled last autumn, and we understand that its story , was very similar to the foregoing. In this case all the bores were cleaned up in 0.03 in. It is interesting to note that the base of this unit was not removed for nine years, and only came off then because the oil pressure had fallen—due, as it was discovered, to the gauze tray being almost choked with sludge.
The crank, again, was in excellent condition and went back into the same main bearings in this case. On the other hand, the connecting-rod big-ends needed remetalling. The clutch was refaced and new pressure plates were fitted. In this engine, by the way, the original timing chain is still in use. Two new pins were needed in the front shackles, however, owing to the grease pipe having become choked. In short, although there were differences in detail, both of these chassis were in remarkably fine condition, especially in view of their considerable age and great mileage.
Even so, it seems that the palm might have to be awarded to a still older four-cylinder Lioness which, with some 600,000 miles behind it, is stated to have cost precisely 3s. 9d. for replacements. This sum, we need hardly add, does not include tyres, although Mr. Allen, Senior, informed us that he drove this particular coach for 46,000 miles on one set of Dunlop 36-in. by 6-in, high-pressure tyres.
Such satisfactory results naturally inspire a question as to the causes which lie behind them. Without a doubt a large share of the responsibility must be credited to the design, materials and workmanship of the Leyland vehicles. A second part has certainly been played by careful maintenance. A third factor must be the use to which the vehicles are put. This has consisted mostly of long-distance tours. Skegness. Yarmouth and Lowestoft, Harwich and Dovercourt and Weston-super-Mare are the principal objectives. In addition, various private parties are carried.
Altogether, Allenways Ltd. operates six Leyland coaches: four six-cylinder Lionesses, one 1928 four-cylinder model, and one 1936 Tiger. Prior to the war, business was so good that a total of £642 was returned in connection with advance bookings when war broke out. It is, therefore, all the more pleasing to learn that the prospects for the present year are far from depressing.