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MAINTENANCE MINDED

4th June 1992, Page 102
4th June 1992
Page 102
Page 102, 4th June 1992 — MAINTENANCE MINDED
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While innovative vehicles at the IRTE hog the limelight, the maintenance sector held plenty of interest.

It happened at Solihull and it looks like happening again at Telford. In only its third year at the new venue the IRTE show is beginning to look cramped. The space between stands is getting smaller and every grass verge within walking distance was covered by visitors' cars.

In many ways the exhibits followed themes set last year: electronics, computerisation, and the environment.

• On the Cummins stand was two diagnostic systems designed for fault finding on its "Celect" electronically controlled fuel injection system for its 10 and 14-litre Euro 1 engines which will reach the UK in 1993.

Echek is a hand-held diagnostic tool which interrogates Celect's ECU and displays any stored fault codes. A check of all the engine's sensors can be run using Echek; fuel consumption can be displayed and some adjustment is possible.

The system is connected with a two-pin plug, powered by a rechargable battery and programmed by an interchangeable cartridge, so it can be updated as new developments come along.

Computerlink is an "expert" system which interprets Celect's fault codes and can guide a technician step by step through the fault finding process. It works on the same two-pin plug as Echek and also uses an interchangeable cartridge to cater for updates, but many more parameters are changeable, including the speed limiter. Access can be restricted by use of PIN numbers.

The Sun diesel smoke meter that will be used in VI test stations was displayed by Parte° and Rubery Owen. Parte° has 207 outlets; Rubery Owen expects up to 30 of its dealers to stock the meter which is expected to sell for less than £3,300.

Fleetplan's latest release, FM4.0, incorporates many modules that were previously optional. It has also been equipped with a graphics capability and can input information through bar codes.

Swipe card

For example, on the workshop module bar codes can be used to input a vehicle's fleet number, reason for repair, nature of repair, type of service, labour hours and fitter's name. In the workshop the fitter can use a swipe card, wear a badge with a bar code or pick his name off the chart.

The new system will run on any IBMcompatible PC computer or mainframe and also on Unix systems. Price depends on the number of terminals; up to three costs around 23,000. PC-based systems can handle up to 37 terminals. FM4.0 is also capable of interfacing with fuel dispensing companies, tachograph analysis and handheld computers.

Truck-Lite has introduced System 7, a wiring harness which can be fitted to a trailer in less than two hours. It consists of lengths of ready-made seven-core cables which fit into distributor modules. With one seven-core input cable in the waterproof

distributor module up to seven other sevencored cables can be fed out.

Bexdix's System Guard 3000 air dryer has a renewable element. While the volume of desiccant is larger in the new dryer, by not discarding the pressure vessel the recommended price for a replacement filter comes down by around 210.

GEM displayed the latest addition to its range, a Danish-made rolling road brake tester where the rollers can be elevated for load simulation. The system is built up in modules starting with dual-scale analogue dials, reading out in kg force with a percentage imbalance readout. Ovality is shown up by the second module which displays the difference between the maximum and minimum braking force during one revolution.

A third module displays axle weight, allowing the load simulation to be set, and displays percentage brake efficiency. The final module displays the air pressure in the braking system sensed via connections downstream of the regulator valve and either at the brake chamber or the trailer coupling head.

Chassis Developments majored on the range of electrical equipment it now markets. Add-ons to the standard alternator include battery charge equalisers, alternator charge controllers and automatic boost/float battery chargers. By adding an additional alternator the Dynawatt system can provide 220 volts without compromising the normal charging system, says the company.

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