Telford's time machines
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II Despite the economic gloom this year's IRTE exhibition and conference at Telford displayed a good crop of items to interest workshop managers.
The new ECO engines from MAN feature increased service intervals and will appear in a 17 tanner, 32 tanner and 38 tonner. If automatic chassis lubrication and SHPD oils are used the service intervals move to 30,000km on the 17 tonner and 45,000km on the tractive units. Over a three-year period that would typically reduce the number of services by eight on the 17 tonner and 16 on the tractive units.
Automatic chassis lubrication is not a standard fitment on MAN vehicles but can be ordered as a line fitment and should pay back within two years says the manufacturer (circle Turbo 70).
That claim is echoed by the manufacturers of automatic chassis lubrication with Groeneveld (Turbo 71) producing a breakdown that showed a payback in under one year for an MAN tractive unit.
The Dutch manufacturer had its computerised system at the show so that operators could find out their individual payback times.
Bijur (Turbo 72) had a working model of its system which is said to lubricate points on a rota basis with full line pressure.
The Haldex (Turbo 73) condenser unit from Garphyttan is designed to be fitted in front of a desiccant air dryer. Cooling the air to remove most of the moisture before it enters the dryer makes the desiccant last up to three times longer, says Haldex.
The Swedish company also exhibited a range of exhaust filters and catalytic converters. The Unikat Combi-Filter combines a converter with a particulate trap. The unit can be electrically regenerated or, if it gets hot enough, will bum off the contaminants automatically On the intake side of the system K&N air filters (Turbo 74) are claimed to last up to 500,1100km. The filter, which is composed of four layers of glass fibres between two sheets of perforated alu minium, works on the negative/ positive ions principal. On a dust test the filter achieved 98.4% efficiency says MN. Periodically the filter has to be washed out and sprayed with a special oil.
Cummins subsidiary Fleetguard (Turbo 75) displayed a single oil fil ter that replaces the two traditionally used on the engine. Instead of having a separate full flow and bypass filter the new 4E3000 incorporates both functions. New Cummins engines have the filter as standard and Fleetguard markets a converter kit for older engines. Also on the stand was a transferable water separator that fits onto the bottom of the fuel filter of a Cummins engine.
Parlock (Turbo 78) has introduced a quick-fit mounting system for its mudguards. Domeheaded bolts running in a special stay secure the mudguard which can be quickly removed to improve access to brakes and hubs.
The company has also added a white line to one side of its mudguards as a simple and cheap way to increase visibility. Those who do not want the line to show can fit the guard with it on the inside.
Rem Tip Top (Turbo 77) displayed its Megaflex mechanical/ optical wheel alignment system. It is capable of measuring caster angle, camber, king pin inclination and toe-in. The system typically costs around £5,000 and can be used on rigids, trailers, semi trailers and bendy buses.
York subsidiary Transpart (Turbo 78) used the exhibition to launch its all-makes suspension parts catalogue. This joins the company's existing catalogues for axle, air brake and pneumatic components for trailers. Copies are available from the company or any of its 14 distributors.
Truck and Trailer Components (Turbo 79) has added DPW axle products to its range and gained sole distribution rights for TruckLite and Fontaine fifth wheels and landing legs.
Independent factor Truckline (Turbo 80) showed its computer system designed to help operators keep track of the cost of parts fitted to their vehicles. The company is also offering to put impress stock into some operators' stores.
SKF (Turbo 81) showed its induction heater for bearings which can evenly heat a race prior to installation without the risk of affecting its hardening. The weight of a bearing is looked up from its part number and cross referenced to the temperature required to give
the time setting needed for the machine.
Also on display on the SKF stand was a bearing installation tool and an internal bearing puller. The inserting tool has a range of pipes and flanges which allow a bearing to be driven into a housing or onto a shaft without damage. Legs for the puller hook into the inside of the outer race of a bearing to draw it off its shaft.