Ive been in the Foden factory a few times over the years. The last few times were when DAF had taken over and it was pretty much about to close. The one thing that didn’t change about the place was the fact you never saw anyone doing any work, just people walking about with clip boards.
Sad to see how ERF and Foden are now gone 
robert1952:
These children appear to to love their local Foden. I was about their age when this Glasgow picture was taken in 1958 by the famous street-scenes photographer, Roger Mayne, whose death was announced in today’s Guardian. Robert0
Good Picc Robert, Shows an time when the kids were avin a bit of fun with the Drivers Blessing, Not trying to Wreck It, like they would 2day? Cheers Chris.
Tidy wagon 
Smart work-manlike 8-wheeler & Drag
Dodds Fodens
Why not wear Polka-dot in the heat of Malta 
. Regards Chris
drove a 3275 6 wheel tipper for a while not a bad motor apart from the godawful cable gearshift.we had 5 fodens of similar age some had light gear changes the others would be a good challenge in worlds strongest man 
stargazer148:
drove a 3275 6 wheel tipper for a while not a bad motor apart from the godawful cable gearshift.
Even more fun after a sharp frost. A good thing they never had auto shut down as idling for 10 minutes used to thaw the cable out. Talking of the 3000 series, I saw an M reg 3335 wagon and drag flatbed at St Phillips, Bristol on Thursday, the first 3000 I’ve seen in ages. Even rares was one with a working rev counter. 
This Foden S70, powered by a Gardner 240 engine was new in 1971.
moomooland:
0
This Foden S70, powered by a Gardner 240 engine was new in 1971.
That must be one of the first 240LXB’s into service at that time. Cheers Bewick.
cheers muckaway it was the 1st foden i drove and as i say a nice drive but the shift even after warming up was still a bloody nightmare fortunatly i am quite an easy going character and just plodded on cheers ray
I must have been very fortunate as the four cable change Fodens I drove all had a light change. Some of ours didn’t though and needed two hands to get reverse! The early models had a short gear lever which was later modified with a longer one and this gave a lighter movement, also when the cab was tilted on mine for servicing I always greased the gearlever pivot (there was a grease ■■■■■■ on it but some folk didn’t realise it was there!) and pulled the rubber ferrules off the cable ends and ran oil down inside them and that seemed to keep things running nicely. Engine heat dried them up I think, and of course the exhaust manifold was on the right hand side so that wouldn’t help matters either. Have to admit that the earlier Haulmasters with the Fuller box had a nicer change fitted with the normal rod linkage.
Pete.
windrush:
I must have been very fortunate as the four cable change Fodens I drove all had a light change. Some of ours didn’t though and needed two hands to get reverse! The early models had a short gear lever which was later modified with a longer one and this gave a lighter movement, also when the cab was tilted on mine for servicing I always greased the gearlever pivot (there was a grease ■■■■■■ on it but some folk didn’t realise it was there!) and pulled the rubber ferrules off the cable ends and ran oil down inside them and that seemed to keep things running nicely. Engine heat dried them up I think, and of course the exhaust manifold was on the right hand side so that wouldn’t help matters either. Have to admit that the earlier Haulmasters with the Fuller box had a nicer change fitted with the normal rod linkage.Pete.
Interesting comment! When exactly did Foden adopt that cable-change mechanism for its Fuller 'boxes? Robert
robert1952:
Interesting comment! When exactly did Foden adopt that cable-change mechanism for its Fuller 'boxes? Robert
Good question Robert! Mainly with the S106 etc around 1984, the model as in my avatar pic, but Tilcon Central in Derbyshire did have an earlier model that had a cable change with a very short gear lever mounted down the side of the engine cowling in a similar position to the the older rod type lever. That was on an A plate (A175 AHL I think) and had the Haulmaster type cab, because it had a ■■■■■■■ engine it was sent down to our Gore quarry near Kington out of our sight but it later returned when our storeman purchased it and ran it! I assume the idea of the cable setup was for better engine access with the cab tilted right forward, Foden made big of the fact that the cables were the same as used on Jumbo Jets for the flaps etc and to be honest we never had one break. Part of the problem was the routing of the cables, too tight a curve around the radiator area, and we altered a few which improved them.
Pete.
windrush:
robert1952:
Interesting comment! When exactly did Foden adopt that cable-change mechanism for its Fuller 'boxes? RobertGood question Robert! Mainly with the S106 etc around 1984, the model as in my avatar pic, but Tilcon Central in Derbyshire did have an earlier model that had a cable change with a very short gear lever mounted down the side of the engine cowling in a similar position to the the older rod type lever. That was on an A plate (A175 AHL I think) and had the Haulmaster type cab, because it had a ■■■■■■■ engine it was sent down to our Gore quarry near Kington out of our sight but it later returned when our storeman purchased it and ran it! I assume the idea of the cable setup was for better engine access with the cab tilted right forward, Foden made big of the fact that the cables were the same as used on Jumbo Jets for the flaps etc and to be honest we never had one break. Part of the problem was the routing of the cables, too tight a curve around the radiator area, and we altered a few which improved them.
Pete.
Ah-ha! So the Foden S106 I drove in 1986 (pictured below), which was from the period you describe, would have been one of the earliest cable-shift Fodens then. It was a lovely unit and was equipped with a ■■■■■■■ 290 and 9-speed Fuller, but I didn’t like the circular motion of the gear-stick! Robert
Never cared for the cable shift myself; the ‘circular’ motion you describe is about right!
A part of the linkage off the top of the 'box (don’t know it’s proper name) was prone to breaking off. Most of our drivers could cobble up a temp repair on that to get back with.