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Extinct Gearboxes
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101 posts Page 2 of 4 1234
Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by kr79 Thu Jul 02, 2009 7:38 pm
mushroomman wrote:
After learning how to wrestle the 13 speed Fuller column change in the 1977 M.A.N. 280 I
ended up getting quite fond of it.
Another advantage was that you could slide easily over to the passenger side to put the
kettle on .


I once drove a vauxhall midi van with a 5speed colum change and that was bad enough. I
think a fuller and colum change would leave me making noises like someone learning the
bagpipes.
You gotta go there to come back
kr79
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Ark-Angel Thu Jul 02, 2009 8:53 pm
Warren T. Claim wrote:What gearboxes have largely disappeared from usage today that
you miss. Also what was the best and worst type of box of old? Also what was the box
where you had to twist the gearknob?



God i want the Twin Splitter back.
the box where you twisted the gear knob im pretty sure you mean the Old Daf 95 with the
16 speed eaton with the twist and lift collar twist for the split lift for the range change.
I want to leave this world as I entered it, bald fat and with a mild boob fixation!! Ark-Angel

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime there is a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90
percent probability it will turn out wrong

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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by kr79 Thu Jul 02, 2009 9:19 pm
That set up on the daf 95 and i think early 85 seemed very logical i wonder why they went
to the two rocker switch setup on the later xf and cf
You gotta go there to come back
kr79
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Ark-Angel Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:24 pm
kr79 wrote:That set up on the daf 95 and i think early 85 seemed very logical i wonder why
they went to the two rocker switch setup on the later xf and cf

Probably because it worked and you knew what gear you was in instantly without having to
think about it.
I want to leave this world as I entered it, bald fat and with a mild boob fixation!! Ark-Angel

The 50-50-90 rule: Anytime there is a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there's a 90
percent probability it will turn out wrong

Ark-Angel
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Andydisco Sat Jul 04, 2009 7:46 pm
bring back the twin split thats what I say

had one in the erf at my old place and after a week or 2 of crunching and abuse I got the
hang of it
got my eyes on the road and my back to the load

Andydisco
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by rich12 Sat Jul 04, 2009 11:01 pm
i loved the twinsplitter box,i had two trucks fitted with it,the first one was a erf,and this was
great truck to drive,the second was a m a n fitted with it,sadly it didnt seem to suit the man
as well as it did the erf.but it is still the best gearbox i have used over the years,if used
correctly.
rich12
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by brookie Tue Jul 07, 2009 2:53 pm
My first tractor unit had a 13 speed fuller, I loved it once I'd mastered(?) it, played many a
game of "name that tune" to start with though!

The worst in my opinion was the EPS on a merc I drove for a couple of years. Hated it.
Used to get stuck in 4th after heavy rain, including just after entering the 'Blanc (must've
been the condensation build up). The only way to clear it was to stop and do the "reset"
procedure on it. It never changed quite quick enough either, especially when you were fully
freighted going up a climb, you always ended up further down the box than you needed. In
fairness it was probably bad driving too!!

My favourite was the ZF 16 speed in my MAN, smooth, quick and easy. Lovely box.

Regards,

Mark.

brookie
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Sidevalve Tue Jul 07, 2009 9:33 pm
One of the other quirks with the old EPS box was its habit of dropping into neutral on the
overrun. Not nice when you're fully freighted and not expecting it!
Sidevalve
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Warren T. Claim Sun Jul 12, 2009 7:10 pm
Thanks for all the replies. I feel like I have missed out having only used range change and
slapovers.
Agency driver-40 different companies in 12 months! I need a real job...
Warren T. Claim
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by doublereduction Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:11 pm
After leaving Elliotts heavy haulage and starting at Flowers of York in 1971 my first job
was in the warehouse, shunting, sheeting and roping and driving the fork lift. My obvious
ambition was to become a lorry driver and I had already served part of my apprentice at
Elliotts so I was familiar with Foden 12 speed and 5 speed boxes. At the York depot we had
an S21 Foden 6x4 wrecker with a 180 Gardner and the 5 speed box with super low on 1st
and reverse. Returning from a breakdown job one day the 2 mechanics informed that they
were most disappointed with the Fodens perfomance when it would not pull a partially
loaded artic up Leven Bank near Yarm in Cleveland. They were adament that they had used
bottom gear but the Foden had been unable to cope with the climb, (even today I won't hear
a bad word said about Fodens, or their gearboxes so I wasn't convinced) So I climbed into
the Foden and selected super low 1st and set off up the garage with a load of revs on but not
much speed, I then stopped and selected super low reverse and brought the Foden back to
the start positon. The 2 mechanics just looked at each other with their gobs wide open and
then asked me where had I got those lower gears from so I proudly showed them. Bloody
good gearboxes those Fodens had and you either loved them or hated them and I loved
them then and still love them today with my old S20 6x4 tractor !
regards doublereduction.
doublereduction
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Vascoingles Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:34 pm
hard to decide between the 13 speed Fuller and the 16 speed ZF box the disadvantage with
the ZF being syncromesh was that you had to use the clutch.
Vascoingles
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by windrush Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:38 pm
They were certainly a good box Tony, I passed my test on a 1967 Foden 8 legger with 12
speed at Slater's Transport. The instructor said to just use the 4 gears in direct during the
test or else you will only make a ba**s up of it, ha ha! Sorted all the rest of the cogs out on
S50, S39, S80 and 83's during my years with Tilcon as well as repairing plenty of them!

Pete.
Foden Forever!

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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by 3300John Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:29 pm
Hiya i had a new Roadtrain(f reg 1988)well was i excited Yuk i already had a 2800 DAF.I
was to be in the yard for instruction (at 9am i got their at 12.30)
on this new fangel twin splitter. Oh quick read on sunvisor and a lesson off irate Daf agent
woosh off we went. I told him it was simular to a Foden 12 speed
CAN YOU DRIVE A FODEN he screeched!!!.. yea Gardner/ Rolls and two stroke... why
did'nt you say I've wasted all morning....You never asked.
I love 12 speed Fodens with the range change on the coloum. But Barbra Castle did'nt. I
never took both hands off the steering wheel at once not to change a gear anyway.The S40
and S80 with the 3 position lever on the gearstick was no problem.I suppose a younger
driver would think you had ST Vitiasis dance
if they looked at a Foden two stroke/12 gearbox in action coming over Buxton fully
loaded.Windrush will tell you yu've got to be on the ball turning right
out of Kevin Quarry with a 12 speed.
good old days
John
someone said about us old ones and the old days.Let me say IF i was skint and there was a
job going on a 30 year old Bedford KM I would go tramping
before going hungury.The Mandators ..Cargos ..and Plastic pigs was not really that
bad.You could still do Stoke to Belshill and back now a days with a 240
Gardner/ERF its just a lot of new trucks would pass you on the hills.You would'nt have a
stupid buzzer defining you as you rolled down hill at 65mph.
In the early 70s it took me 2 1/4 hours from Leek(4.AM)Bosley..Congleton..Holmes chapel
JCT18 M6 up to Burton services Nr Kendal with a Gardner
180 Foden at 32 ton gross.I think that was not bad.I bet you can'nt do it in under 1 hour
with a 580.
John
3300John
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by AndrewG Thu Dec 31, 2009 7:35 am
Worst gearbox ever i think was the twin splitter,horrible thing fitted to an ERF E14 320 i
once had the misfortune to drive Also,anything ERF really, awful build quality and all
the image of a 70's Skoda

Best gearboxes? Definetly VOLVO...
AndrewG
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by bobthedog Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:27 am
AndrewG wrote:Worst gearbox ever i think was the twin splitter,horrible thing fitted to an
ERF E14 320 i once had the misfortune to drive Also,anything ERF really, awful build
quality and all the image of a 70's Skoda

Best gearboxes? Definetly VOLVO...


Therein lies your problem. The Cummins 14 litre on a twinsplit was trickier because you
had to convince it. If you really had to change in a hurry then you had to pull it out of stick
in the lower gears as you flicked the button. A quick snatch but a vital one. If you did it like
that then you didn't get as lost...
BTD has asked Admin to remove his name from the membership list as the only type of
member approved on this site is one that is not allowed to be mentioned, or so it would
appear.

bobthedog
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by 5thwheel Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:33 am
I used to drive a 220 Cummins ERF with a Fullers Split 8,with a Deep Reduction giving me
24 gears,I was on heavy haulage with excavation plant,that 1st gear,in DR gave you 2 MPH
,and believe it not,with a CAT D9 and Kelly Ripper on board[over 100tons] there were the
odd occasions you needed that 1st gear,if you selected too high a gear,the gearbox bell
housing used to crack,I had 3 renewed at ERF's in Sandbach over just as many years!

Good, and more importantly reliable, gearbox.
5thwheel
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Reddesertfox Fri Jan 01, 2010 9:24 am
Hey 5thwheel

I had something similar back in Saudi in the 70's on a 6x4 FTF (I believe it was a dutch
version of the ERF) it was a twin stick with 6 on the main stick and a 4way splitter on the
other.
Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try..

Reddesertfox
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Peter Wells Fri Jan 01, 2010 10:35 am
Give me any Fuller.

Twin split hook up to a 410 STC any day.

I drove a Scammell at Millers of Longton on heavy recovery and that was fitted with a
Scania V8 and a 15 speed fuller and god was that good.

Been a round merc EPS,s when they was about but when they started to give big trouble we
turned them to gear levers.

Also be about Atkisons from being a kid and drove lot of roads rangers, then 400s then
401s then the strato with the 410 and what a motor to work on and drive.

Wish I could bring them days back.

Peter.
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by John McVey Fri Jan 01, 2010 1:59 pm
Maggie 232 had the same box, I called it the humbler box! 13 speed Fuller my fav
newmercman wrote:Rob, I remember reading in TRUCK about the twin splitter when it
was still experimental, it was in the US & called a twin snapper, don't know if it caught on
as I've never heard it mentioned, but as you know the twin splitter did make it in the UK, if
you used it properly it was a fantastic box, but get it wrong & it had 12 gears & a million
neutrals personally I liked it, had a Foden 12 speed in an 8 wheeler & that was a strange
one, there seemed to be different gears in different places on different days! Had a David
Brown 6 speed with a chinese gear pattern, that was a nasty thing, the worst though was a
constant mesh ZF 12 speed splitter in a 2800 Daf, it was pure evil, you had to use every
gear up & down the box or it just would not go in, didn't matter if you had the revs right, try
& go down a couple at a time like when you approach a roundabout or a traffic light that
turned green & it would just make a load of crunching & you'd have to stop & start from
scratch

I've got an 18spd Fuller in my current steed, I have no issue with it, but it's no I-shift
John McVey
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Trev_H Fri Jan 01, 2010 2:24 pm
Hi,
My favourite box was the 9 speed fuller in a 73 Big j with a Cummins 290, this was the W
shift pattern and was a quick change.
Worst was the side by side H pattern 8 speed ZF in a Leyland constructer !
Trev_H
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by windrush Fri Jan 01, 2010 3:04 pm
An exploded view of the Foden 12 speed g/box, and the diagram showing the
recommended gearchange pattern. Foden's used to have a clutch brake as well, their
instruction was that when changing up on the main box you pushed the clutch pedal
halfway down, moved gearlever to neutral then pressed the pedal fully to the floor and
engaged next gear. For changing down, double declutch. In practice however, unless the
clutch and it's brake were adjusted "spot on" it was easier to double declutch when
changing up as well.
The auxillary box was changed by either flicking the throttle or dipping the clutch, the air
change was instant although as anyone who has used one might testify you could end up
with a box full of neutrals!!
Basically, if you couldn't get up a hill with a Foden then you needed something on tracks.


Pete.









Foden Forever!

windrush
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Wheel Nut Fri Jan 01, 2010 4:02 pm
I would love a Twin Splitter again, especially after struggling with a ZF Ecosplit, they are
just so slow. Your arm was a blur as you raced through the 12 speed or hopped through
missing a few out when running light
Has got my 6 Stone,2 pounds award with Slimming World in forty eight weeks

Wheel Nut
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by propa lorry Fri Jan 01, 2010 6:21 pm
any eaton/fuller box,had a 9 speed in a 410 foden doing waste so always top weight,could
go up through the gears so fast without usin the clutch was almost seemless as if it were a
torque converter auto,then a 13 speed in a 375 foden,loved it,shame the engine was so tired.
I have a crusader now with a 15 speed (rto 915)10 on the stick and 5 extra low on the dash
switch,you only need the clutch to pull away n stop,fast change,lovely,keep y i shifts etc.
Am restorin an erf with a twin split in at the mo,so looking forward to learnin that one
properly,have driven it solo for about 30 miles and had no problem atall,but will a different
story with a bit o weight on,
So to sum up,eaton/fuller 4eva,IDT,INDT. etc.
why am i always stuck behind a rover?
propa lorry
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by greek Fri Jan 01, 2010 6:47 pm
For them that have never had the pleasure










ROPES & SHEETS RULE
greek
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by CRISPY Fri Jan 01, 2010 9:07 pm
I've got the last twinsplitter fitted in my motor apparently and I keep turning down newer
motors because I don't want to lose the twinsplitter and have to use a clutch again
CRISPY
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by gazzer Fri Jan 01, 2010 11:22 pm
And the Scandinavians nairily get a mention:

Volvo SR61 (F88/89) or SR62 (F10/12) 16 speeders. I remember Pat Kennet of Truck mag.
describing the F88 290 gearchange with the overdrive lever on the dash centre as being
akin to a toy monkey on a stick when trying to do compound gear changes (or summat to
that ilk)( early F10/12's too) but what a super gearbox it was, smooth precise positioning
and evenly spaced gearing.

Dont mention the SR72 12 speeds, best forgotten.

Scania boxes have always been slow to change and the range change operation abysmal,
many a time found the lever moved faster than the cogs and left you in neutral! Funny thing
is they STILL do it. Or is it me just too quick with my hand?
Back n forth, back n forth! Paddy Air's best customer!

gazzer
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by Wheel Nut Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:59 am
gazzer wrote:And the Scandinavians nairily get a mention:

Volvo SR61 (F88/89) or SR62 (F10/12) 16 speeders. I remember Pat Kennet of Truck mag.
describing the F88 290 gearchange with the overdrive lever on the dash centre as being
akin to a toy monkey on a stick when trying to do compound gear changes (or summat to
that ilk)( early F10/12's too) but what a super gearbox it was, smooth precise positioning
and evenly spaced gearing.


And very Slow
Has got my 6 Stone,2 pounds award with Slimming World in forty eight weeks

Wheel Nut
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by davidcox Sat Jan 02, 2010 10:50 am
Pete
I learnt to drive HGV's at the tender age of 21 on a Foden S20 with the 12 speed but this
one didn't have an air change, it was manual change with a lever on the floor (left side)
Made it that little bit more difficult. She was a handful if you were grossing around 50 tons
and if you didn't change down a range before top speed in that gear/range it would just sit
in neutral. Used to drive watching the speedo. Got pretty good at it though because as you
can imagine with the Foden fitted with the Gardener 150 and a gross max weight of 67 tons
all you did all day was change gear. Even though it was a crash box you soon learnt how to
change gear without the clutch though.

windrush wrote:An exploded view of the Foden 12 speed g/box, and the diagram showing
the recommended gearchange pattern. Foden's used to have a clutch brake as well, their
instruction was that when changing up on the main box you pushed the clutch pedal
halfway down, moved gearlever to neutral then pressed the pedal fully to the floor and
engaged next gear. For changing down, double declutch. In practice however, unless the
clutch and it's brake were adjusted "spot on" it was easier to double declutch when
changing up as well.
The auxillary box was changed by either flicking the throttle or dipping the clutch, the air
change was instant although as anyone who has used one might testify you could end up
with a box full of neutrals!!
Basically, if you couldn't get up a hill with a Foden then you needed something on tracks.


Pete.









davidcox
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Posts: 46
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by harry_gill Sat Jan 02, 2010 11:50 am
hiya,
Once worked for an oufit that ran a Guy Otter 4 wheeler that anybody drove when stuck in
the depot, fitters for bits, drivers for the butties and the odd bit of C and D work this thing
had a Gardener 4LW engine and a 5 speed box which felt like a stick in a bag of manure,
just wonder if anyone would know what type of box this would have been, it was horrible,
although very ancient, i suppose the excessive slop was due to wear, and never driving the
thing in it's baby days it might have been OK when new.
thanks harry long retired.
harry_gill
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Re: Extinct Gearboxes
by phil the book Sat Jan 02, 2010 1:04 pm
Finest gearbox 13 speed fuller behind a 400 cummins with a rockwell axle on the back also
drove scania 140 with a 13 fuller pull a house down.
phil the book
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