YEAR OF THE TIGER
Page 58
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• London Country took delivery of B102 KPH on December 5, 1984. During its first month in service, before CM began monitoring its life, it sustained rear-end damage in a road accident in the Heathrow Airport cargo tunnel. It was repaired and back in service three weeks later.
By the end of April, 1985, the Tiger had already covered nearly 70,000Iun. During the February a windscreen was changed following a minor accident. The windscreen had to be changed again the following month when a crack appeared.
During its routine service in March last year gas struts on the side body flaps were replaced and a minor electrical problem with the boot and luggage locker interior lights was sorted out.
On March 22, 26 and 29 attention was given to the windscreen wipers. A link was changed, a wiper arm broke and a motor had to be replaced.
On April 4 the front tyres were changed after 55,338km.
In May, 1985, the coach was givne its first Department of Transport examination (phased in before it was due to ensure that all vehicles did not go in for inspection on the same day). It passed.
Then on May 20, after 84,100km, a broken fuel pump coupling was changed during a routine service. Later that month the coach was off the road for two days after the pump coupling plates sheared.
During June, 1985, there was no unscheduled downtime, although front and rear brakes were relined at 96,900km, 100,775km and 117,0001un. The driver's seat pedestal also came loose, but this was rectified without losing a day's service. During a routine service a water hose was changed in addition to the normal pre ventative oils and filters changes.
Last July the coach was very busy, but gave reliable service. The only noteworthy occurrance was the regrooving of the rear tyres, which was carried out during its monthly rota service.
August was a black month for the Tiger, however. The coach was off the road for 15 days after sustaining accident damage resulting from its being driven off with the side locker doors open.
During September a second windscreen wiper spindle was changed while the coach was garaged during a brief lull between duties. Brake linings were changed as part of the September service, with over 150,000km on the coach's clock.
On October 16 a driver reported that the coach was slipping in third gear. Having done 159,920km, the gearbox had failed. The coach was off the road for 12 days and a new Hydracyclic semi-automatic unit was fitted at the Leyland Bus service centre at Brimsdown in North London. Then, just over a week later on October 29 the new gearbox failed and was itself replaced. This resulted in a further two lost days.
During December routine servicing rear air suspension level valves were changed (184,571km). Later that month a seat had to be repaired when a bolt sheared. On December 17 fitters were called out to the coach when a wiper spindle yet again gave problems.
On Christmas Eve the ghost of the vehicle's most serious recurring fault returned: the driver reported problems with the gears. Fortunately, this time a leaking hydraulic pipe was found to be the cause and quickly changed.
In January this year yet another windscreen wiper spindle needed replacing, but, apart from routine maintenance, the coach required no other attention.
Then in February three faults required attention. These included an air leak in the nearside rear suspension levelling valve, a brake light switch . and, yes, yet another wiper spindle. The brakes were relined during the monthly rota.
By the week ending March 9 the coach had covered 243,284km. During that week, the last week of the monitoring exercise, 13102 KPH again suffered, incredibly, from a windscreen wiper problem and was fitted with a new winder motor and spindle.