Marathon gets mixed
Page 14
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reception from BRS GOOD pulling power and general engine performance, trouble-tree gearbox operation and satisfactory suspension— but high tyre wear, some piston troubles and a badly placed air-cleaner: these comments reflect the experience of two BRS companies with Leyland Marathon tractive units over considerable mileages. The report is in the December issues of the BRS company regional newspapers.
In rather more than a year, and about 125,000 miles, Marathon SK264 run by Western BRS, Bridgend branch, on mainly motorway work with a Tautliner trailer, averaged 6.14mpg, with a worst of 5.2 and a best of 6.96. In about 16 months' operation it was out of service on 15 occasions for a total of 67 days, which included routine service as well as repairs.
Engine performance was generally good but all six pistons cracked along the crown and a further trial is being run with re-fitted heads. The Fuller 9509 gearbox on this vehicle and company ERFs has proved so good that Western has decided to standardise on it for all makes.
Brakes have been "average," the steering seemed wandery at first but settled down— though the mounting bracket fractured at 23,179 miles and was replaced with a heaviergauge version. Front tyre mileage has averaged about 34,000, rear tyres about 40,000. Average oil consumption was 292 miles per pint.
Company engineer Mr J. Gibbons, reporting that some parts took a while to obtain, congratulates British Leyland on the subsequent improvement in its spares service.
The Western Marathon ran 62.7 per cent of its mileage loaded. Marathon MA569 run by the Oxford branch of Mid lands BRS ran 86.6 per cent loaded over the 43,000 miles recorded, averaging 6.82 mpg with a variety of trailers. It is rated as about the best of British Leyland's heavies by assistant engineer Mr C. Gardner, but eight engineering reports speak of uneven or heavy tyre wear, and the main criticism was that the air cleaner, being under the nearside wing, filled with water When the vehicle was washed.