The 8lxb 240 was 245bhp. Chris.
Sorry i got the 8LXB 255 hp from commercial motor a much reliable balanced publication , but we never got over 8 mpg wid them , but a Volvo F86 running light one way (egg trays )and 32 ton back could giv up to 12.6 mpg ,for a cheaper truck than went from service to service widout defects , and was better on hills than a 240 Gardner , they could not sitt a traffic lamp on red holding the clutch down on a Sedd-Atki (too heavy) one S-A driver Moved a Volvo in the yard and reported that its clutch had gone because only to rest foot on the Volvos pedal and down it went (like a car ) no lock on S-A so hard to manuver
STRAIGHT EIGHT:
The 8lxb 240 was 245bhp. Chris.
Hiya Chris it depends which rating you use Gardner quoted 240 BHP on the test bed but the BSAU141a output was rated at 250 BHP all the best
Lilladan:
Sorry i got the 8LXB 255 hp fromcommercial motora much reliable balanced publication , but we never got over 8 mpg wid them , but a Volvo F86 running light one way (egg trays )and 32 ton back could giv up to 12.6 mpg ,for a cheaper truck than went from service to service widout defects , and was better on hills than a240Gardner , they could not sitt a traffic lamp on red holding the clutch down on a Sedd-Atki (too heavy) one S-A driver Moved a Volvo in the yard and reported that its clutch hadgonebecause only to rest foot on the Volvos pedal and down it went (like a car ) no lock on S-A so hard to manuver
This topic is about British built lorries not imported lorries
Before you reply Ailsa Trucks Redburn in Irvine never built a F86 tractor unit in the UK they assembled multi axle rigids and tippers
So can we get back on to the topic thanks
Grimsby had a 1978 Volvo F86 - 30 tractor unit chassie No 37520 GB the GB was Great Britain built in Scotland , so it was in scope , they built many 3 Meter wheelbase 86`s for tractor , and subject is long haul trucks not just tractors
Lilladan:
Grimsby had a 1978 Volvo F86 - 30 tractor unit chassie No 37520 GB the GB was Great Britain built in Scotland , so it was in scope , they built many 3 Meter wheelbase 86`s for tractor , and subject is long haul trucks not just tractors
You want to go and read up on your facts all F86 tractor units were sent over fully assembled
So the F86 you quoted at running light and returning 12.6 MPG was that a tractor unit ?
At 32 ton gross back but only loaded one way or wid say a light load out of 2 tons of egg trays they could giv 12.6 mpg , but remember at 32 ton an F86 carried 22 ton ! not 20 as per Sedd-Atkinson , GB on the end of chassie no was built in Great Britain ask Volvo , you think they became Number one in UK after only five years for no reason (over 28 ton tractors) first uk roadtest in 1967 loaded at 30 tons all test time giv 9.5 mpg , 20.5 ton load at 30 ton , a F86 Drawbar on Scottish test over severe A68 carries 22 ton and still was best on fuel over ANY other 32 tonner , THE ONLY FAIR WAY WOULD HAVE BEEN A TEST TRAILER LOADED WID 20 TONS used with all UK 32 ton tractors then the F86 would have caused even more tantrums ,using so very much less fuel than the Gardner
Again my friend go and check your facts if it was a tractor unit it would of been imported
This topic is not just about Gardner powered SA versus Volvo
If you want some more proven facts about Gardners outstanding fuel economy I suggest you go back to your beloved “commercial motor” and look up December 83 Scottish road test
Where a 8LXCT powered SA 401 beat the mighty Volvo F12 on fuel consumption
gazsa401:
Again my friend go and check your facts if it was a tractor unit it would of been imported
This topic is not just about Gardner powered SA versus Volvo
If you want some more proven facts about Gardners outstanding fuel economy I suggest you go back to your beloved “commercial motor” and look up December 83 Scottish road test
Where a 8LXCT powered SA 401 beat the mighty Volvo F12 on fuel consumption
IIRC, the CM fuel consumption record was held by a Gardner 240-engined Atkinson for years, until it was beaten by a DAF. The Gardner was arguably hampered by a final drive ratio which limited the vehicle to 53mph.
archive.commercialmotor.com/arti … cent-miser
Anyway I’ll leave people to their own opinions
I was only talking about the firm I worked for and whose preference of lorries were
Atkinson/ Seddon Atkinson and ERFs
We also purchased 2 Leyland Roadtrains which were very good lorries and a DAF powered 80 series at a later date. Which all proved well
Ahh the Gardner BOOT 
or Shoe 
or the Slipper 
the same size fits all engines sir, OH suit you sir OH suit you sir. -
8LXBV8BRIAN:
Ahh the Gardner BOOT
Your sure right you either loved em or hated em and I loved em
My right leg was bigger than my left leg
Also I must of worn out more right boots than my left boots
gazsa401:
Again my friend go and check your facts if it was a tractor unit it would of been imported
This topic is not just about Gardner powered SA versus Volvo
If you want some more proven facts about Gardners outstanding fuel economy I suggest you go back to your beloved “commercial motor” and look up December 83 Scottish road test
Where a 8LXCT powered SA 401 beat the mighty Volvo F12 on fuel consumption
Not that everyone wants to drive a Gardner powered lorry,but my friend gets 14mpg from his 310 Gardner at 23 tonne gross ,our Daf 85 /380 only gives a maximum of 13 mpg at 18 tonne .
Hi Folks , We ran AN ERF 16 toan 4 wheeler Gardener 120 6 lw 6 SPEED Brown box ,EATON 2 speed axle ,10 ton payload just 3 south Wales ,mt back every week on a 45 gallon tank we worked it out 14 plus to the gallon ,Happy days Cheers Barry
I saw this last week, it sure looked like a beast, R reg 4455, and i bet the fella driving it had owned it from new!
kindle530:
I saw this last week, it sure looked like a beast, R reg 4455, and i bet the fella driving it had owned it from new!
0
As far as I am aware the Ailsa plant at Irvine built 8x4 F86 tipper chassis’ which could generally be identified by their double headlight set up and the Ailsa double decker bus chassis. When Jim McKelvie first approached Volvo with regard to importing the F86, Volvo were reluctant to market the F86 as it was a light distribution tractor along the lines of a Ford D Series but McKelvie insisted on this model as the miserable British Hauliers were basically too mean to fork out for the F88. One of the compromises reached was that of fitting of double hub reduction rear axles to make its puny 6 litre engine more capable. I am told the first models struggled to do 55mph although were good to drive.
Any opinions on the Ergomatic cabbed Leyland Beavers? I have heard they could fly!!!
kindle530:
I saw this last week, it sure looked like a beast, R reg 4455, and i bet the fella driving it had owned it from new!
0
Very smart, bet it doesn’t slow down on the hills!!
rivits:
As far as I am aware the Ailsa plant at Irvine built 8x4 F86 tipper chassis’ which could generally be identified by their double headlight set up and the Ailsa double decker bus chassis. When Jim McKelvie first approached Volvo with regard to importing the F86, Volvo were reluctant to market the F86 as it was a light distribution tractor along the lines of a Ford D Series but McKelvie insisted on this model as the miserable British Hauliers were basically too mean to fork out for the F88. One of the compromises reached was that of fitting of double hub reduction rear axles to make its puny 6 litre engine more capable. I am told the first models struggled to do 55mph although were good to drive.
Any opinions on the Ergomatic cabbed Leyland Beavers? I have heard they could fly!!!
We only had one ergo Beaver on the fleet. It would max out at around 63mph. Compared to my Big J/205 ■■■■■■■ which just about made 58 but flew up hills and my previous Mercury artic which would trundle along happily at a fraction under 70 with flames from the exhaust!
rivits:
As far as I am aware the Ailsa plant at Irvine built 8x4 F86 tipper chassis’ which could generally be identified by their double headlight set up and the Ailsa double decker bus chassis. When Jim McKelvie first approached Volvo with regard to importing the F86, Volvo were reluctant to market the F86 as it was a light distribution tractor along the lines of a Ford D Series but McKelvie insisted on this model as the miserable British Hauliers were basically too mean to fork out for the F88. One of the compromises reached was that of fitting of double hub reduction rear axles to make its puny 6 litre engine more capable. I am told the first models struggled to do 55mph although were good to drive.
Any opinions on the Ergomatic cabbed Leyland Beavers? I have heard they could fly!!!
I know it’s not part of this topic
Jim McKelvie as MD of McKelvie transport which was a sister company of J .Stirland of Nottingham were part of the massive TDG
When Jim McKelvie left transport and set up Ailsa Trucks he tried with a passion to get TDG companies to purchase Volvo lorries but Jack Stirland was a shrewd yet patriotic haulier who wouldn’t have anything foreign in his fleet