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We've sifted through service bulletins as a backup for workshop staff
• We have been sifting through service bulletins issued by several vehicle manufacturers since January and we have picked out the more important ones which workshop staff may have missed. We recommend that you contact the manufacturers direct if you are unsure of the meaning of any of these or if you think you may have missed any other bulletin which affects your vehicles.
Cummins L10 engines (issued by Seddon Atkinson)
Crankshaft thrust bearings
A new design of crankshaft thrust bearing, with two halves which interlock, is intended to make incorrect installation of the bearing much less likely. The bearings must be installed in pairs. Each part number represents one half of a pair. Four parts are needed per engine. During installation, oil grooves must face the crankshaft.
Seddon Atkinson 201 4 x2 Municipals with Allison automatic gearbox
The manufacturer says that a small number of these have experienced gearbox oil cooler failure under severe operating conditions. The recommended modification if such a failure occurs is to use a revised engine cooling system radiator with integral gearbox oil cooler. This system is similar to that fitted to earlier types of Municipal vehicles.
The existing engine cooling system radiator should be removed and taken to an approved Serck-Marston radiator depot for rework, which involves the removal of the bottom radiator tank which will be modified to accept the new gearbox oil cooler. Vehicles having the remote oil cooler mounted beneath the cab floor on the front nearside of the cab will require modification of the existing hydraulic oil hose (gearbox to cooler and cooler to filter) by replacing the elbow with a standpipe end.
Seddon Atkinson warns operators to ensure that the Serck-Marston agent refits the bottom tank to cradle reinforcing straps. On removal of the Allison automatic transmission oil cooler fan motor, the now redundant wiring branch should be coiled back to the main harness and secured using a cable tie. Vehicles having chassis-mounted remote oil coolers or coolers relocated due to body design may require longer hydraulic hoses. After installation, hoses should be clipped at suitable points to prevent foul conditions and provide adequate support.
The parts used and a labour time allowance of six hours can be claimed using normal procedure from Seddon Atkinson's warranty department, Woodstock Factory, Oldham. Time allowed does not include the radiator repair cost or travelling to or from the Serck-Marston depot, which should be claimed separately.
Bendix variable load sensing valve (issued by Seddon Atkinson)
SA reports that some operators have had problems with this variable load-sensing valve where corrosion of the shaft has led to complete seizure. This corrosion is caused by the failure of the rubber exhaust vent to prevent water entering the valve. Bendix has now replaced the rubber exhaust vent with an exhaust check valve. The check valve is available as a separate service component and in the relevant service kits.
Cummins NH and NT engines (issued by Seddon Atkinson)
A new cylinder head gasket, part number 3047402, has been released for all NH/NT engines. The new gasket re places part number 3036126. It has a separate moulded cluster that becomes an integral part of the steel base plate with lock-in tabs. The moulded cluster includes the push-rod tube cavity, the oil transfer hole and number two capscrew holes areas. The number one capscrew also has a sealing grommet on the new gasket, and the fire ring sealing area of the steel plate is no longer embossed.
The new gasket is interchangeable with the old steel plate gasket and will be compatible with the "Big Cam 4" and future electronic injection control engines.
Gardner engines (issued by Seddon Atkinson) Water pump impeller drive spindle During 1983 water pump impeller assemblies with a driving spindle having an increased diameter shear neck were introduced, primarily for 8LXCT engines but also across the engine range. Part numbers were not changed on these assemblies. The spindle was identifiable by the thicker shear neck adjacent to the driving square, which was increased from 0.342in to 0.428in diameter. The driving spindle with the 0.428in diameter shear neck (made from high-tensile brass) is now superseded by a spindle with a 0.398in diameter shear neck (made from stainless steel), and the same part numbers are retained. Seddon Atkinson warns operators that only the latest impeller assemblies (with 0.428in or 0.398in diameter shear neck spindles) should be used on 8LXCT engines. Operators may have impellers or assemblies in stock with the small neck spindles. These may be used on 8LXC or 8LXB automotive engines, or they can be exchanged through Seddon Atkinson's spares department. (These engines were made to Imperial measurements, and to give metric equivalents would be only confusing).
These recommendations are taken from FTA's quarterly Engineering Digests.
Daf flywheel housing-to-cylinder block gasket With effect from engine numbers D89143 (8.25-litre engine) and F96301 (11.6-litre engine) the gasket between the flywheel housing and cylinder block has been discontinued. Daf recommends that if the flywheel housing be removed and the engine number is earlier than these, the gasket should be removed and replaced by liquid sealing compound Loctite 510 or 515. The tightening torque of the flywheel housing bolts is then as follows: 825 engine — 55Nm (4016ft). 1160 engine — 95Nm (70lbft).
Daf 8.25-litre engines — valve clearance Until now the valve clearance of second generation Daf 825 engines has been 0.30mm for the inlet and 0.40mm for the exhaust. Daf says that tests have shown that a small increase in the clearance improves engine performance. Accordingly the recommended clearance has been altered to 0.45mm for both inlet and exhaust valves, whether the engine is warm or cold.
For first generation 825 engines the recommended valve clearance remains at 0.50mm.
ERF multi-pin plug terminals — corrosion Corrosion has occurred around the terminals of multi-pin plugs fitted to the electrical control board on some B and C-Series ERFs. In a serious case, a short circuit can occur with the resultant failure of electrical circuits. The plugs concerned are located above the passenger footwell and are protected by a cover, but if the cab floor is soaked, water can reach the lower parts of the plugs when the cab is tilted.
ERF recommends that every effort should be made to keep the cab floor as dry as possible and suggests that the practice of hosing down the floor should be discouraged. If the truck is operating in conditions that make it difficult to keep the floor dry, it is recommended that the plug terminals be examined at regular intervals and sprayed with one of the proprietary water repellents.
ERF E-Series engine cover A few SP4 cabs from ERF have been supplied with the front edge of the engine cover not secured with self-tapping screws as intended. If these are found to be missing they should be fitted at the earliest opportunity to avoid chafing and possible damage to the engine cover.
Ford Transit noisy wiper linkage Noisy windscreen wiper linkages on 1986 Transits fitted with AC Delco wiper as semblies may be attributed to excessive interference between the pivot mounting ball and the wiper linkage socket. Since March last year the diameter of the lefthand ball-pin pivot mounting has been reduced by 0.08mm and marked with a green paint spot.
Ford says that operation of the windscreen wiper allows the linkage to bed in and any initial noises should disappear after a few days. A revised linkage is available for vehicles on which the problem persists.
Ford warning on handling used engine oil Ford has issued a bulletin giving advice to personnel involved in changing engine oil or working on vehicle and engine parts coated with used oil. The bulletin stresses that prolonged and repeated contact with mineral oils should be avoided. According to Ford, used oils are more irritating, and possibly more likely to have serious effects, including skin cancer, in the event of prolonged contact.
Ford also advises that particular care should be taken with used oils and greases containing lead.
There is a Health and Safety Executive publication on the effects of mineral oil on the skin.
Ford Transit spring shackles Since February 1986 Transit rear-spring shackles have been modified to avoid possible contact with the leaf-spring clamp. On earlier vehicles, if the shackles are touching the clamp and generating a squeaking noise the following procedure is recommended; 1) Raise the rear of the vehicle and fit stands under the chassis. Leave the jack under the axle. (Ford emphasises that a laden vehicle should not be raised or lowered with the jack positioned under the centre of the axle).
2) Remove the two halves of the righthand spring shackle and rework as shown in the diagram.
3) Paint the bare metal surfaces in line with normal paint repair procedures.
4) Refit the spring shackle and fit the securing nuts loosely.
5) Repeat the procedure for the left-hand shackle.
6) Lower the vehicle, apply the handbrake and tighten the securing nuts to 70-90Nm (50-65lbft).
Dana Spicer SST gearboxes There have been reports of hairline cracks appearing in the selector forks on high-mileage Dana Spicer SST gearboxes. Seddon Atkinson recommends that the position shown in the diagram be examined during routine gearbox overhaul. If any cracks are evident, it is suggested that the fork be renewed to obviate possible premature failure later.
Dana Spicer has introduced a new pressure regulator valve for fitment to all vehicles fitted with SST gearboxes. The valve, which has been pre-set to a range of 3.4 to 3.7 bar (50 to 55psi) instead of 2.4 to 2.7 bar (35 to 40psi), is now available for in-service vehicles.