More Seddon Stratofication
Page 10
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• Seddon Atkinson has completed the second stage of its product replacement programme for the nineties with the arrival of the latest TC Strato fleet tractors and multiwheelers. The TC line-up — revealed exclusively back in April by Commercial Motor in our Seddon Atkinson supple
ment features new engines and drivelines, with revised chassis frames, brakes and suspensions.
Seddon Atkinson has deliberately aimed the TC Strato at big fleet users and tippermen who do not want the full specification Strato cab. As a result the TC cab is some 30kg lighter than the normal one, and £1,180 cheaper.
To satisfy the more robust demands of fleet buyers and tipper operators, the TC cab has a less sophisticated suspension system than the top-of-therange Strato, with rubber bushes on the front and steel coil springs with dampers at the rear. PVC floor covering is used in place of carpet, and a mechanically-suspended driver's seat is fitted instead of the air-suspended seat in the fullspec cab. Other deletions include the removal of the front quarter deflectors and headlamp washers, the electrically operated driver's window, remote headlamp adjustment and various interior lights. The Strato's vehicle conditioning monitor panel is retained, however, along with the adjustable steering column. The TC cab is available in day or normalheight sleeper; there is no high-roof Stratocruiser TC.
Seddon is offering the IC Strato as either a 6x2 or 4x2 in-line with its current Strato range, but in an unusual departure the 6x2 TC will have a non-steered mid-axle as standard and a steered axle as an option. According to the company this saves both weight and cost.
TC Strato tractors can be ordered with a choice of power units: the 10-litre Cummins LTAA10-325; 14-litre Cummins NTE 365 or the 12-litre Perkins Eagle 325Tx. In addition, the 4x2 TC tractor can be specified with the latest urA10275 Cummins.
Unlike the full-spec Strato, which has a Twin Splitter gearbox as standard, the TC tractor comes with the choice of the Eaton RT11609 direct-top constant-mesh box or the ZF Ecomid 95-109 synchromesh. Both are nine-speeders; the ZF is lighter by some 100kg.
As an indication of the TC tractor's kerbweight, Seddon Atkinson quotes a figure for "a full spec" Strato 17.33L sleeper cab, less fuel and fifth wheel, of 5,920kg — the equivalent IC model with a 95109 box weighs 5,652kg.
TO MULTI-WHEELERS
The TC multi-wheelers are a radical departure from previous Seddon big rigids, being the first new multi-wheelers from the company since the 400 Series. They are, says Seddon, "designed from the inside outwards", and anticipate proposed EC weight increases on rigids to 26 tonnes on 6x4s and 32 tonnes on eight-leggers. The UK will be retaining a 30tonne limit on 8x4s until 1999.
Both models feature revised chassis with uprated (7.1tonne) front axles and in place
of the old RA-472 tandem axle new Rockwell SRHD rear bogies complete with crosslock and diff-locks. Norde's latest HN Series rubber suspension is fitted on the Rockwell bogie; a two-spring steel suspension is likely to become an option in the future.
Braking performance has been improved with the adoption of Girling SAC automatically adjustable brakes with wider linings. Air dryers are standard on all models.
Like the TC tractor range, the new multi-wheelers come with a variety of power units. Six-wheeler buyers get the 10litre Cummins LTA10-275 rated at 205kW (275hp), while the eight-leggers come with the turbocharged LTA-275 or charge-cooled LTAA-325, or the Eagle 325Tx.
The 12-litre Eagle offers the same maximum power as the 10-litre Cummins, but at lower revs and with more torque: 1,559Nm (1,1501bft) at 1,000rpm, compared with the L10's 1,296Nm (9561bft) at 1,300pin.
The only model left over from the old 3-11 range is the 6x4 chassis fitted with the 205kW (253hp) lightweight 8.3litre Cummins C Series. It will be retained for now as the R24 C26 six-wheeler.
The standard gearbox on most TC multi-wheelers is the nine-speed Fuller RTX11609A with the Twin Splitter as an option, but the R24 C26 has the Eaton 6109 synchro box. The ZF Ecomid is an option on TC rigids with the L10 Cummins.
El by Brian Weatherley