Froggy55:
Fiat built them as 6x2 “Chinese six”, and a fourth steered and liftable axle was then added as a conversion. Many Italian trucks kept right hand steering to allow the drived to keep a close eye on the edge of the road in this indeed mountaineous country. Nevertheless, the conversion’s purpose was to add payload; 18 tonnes Gw for a 6x2, and 22 tonnes for a 8x2.
1Here’s a Fiat 180 NC (end of the seventies), the last model to have been converted with the adding of a fourth axle. Powered by the excellent 13.8 litre engine which ended its career on the Eurostar; 260 bhp without turbocharging.
0This one is an OM Titano 8x4, closer to the British 8-wheelers than the Fiat conversions.
When I first saw them I’d always took it at face value as being 55 tonners ( 25 + 30 ) and even 25t being a low design weight for 4 axles.
I was surprised to later find out that those outfits were actually designed to run at less than 50t.But then understandable when looking closer at the obviously lower design weight of the single wheeled axles.
Like the right hand drive it’s obvious that the Chinese 6 with its set forward drive axle and addition of the steered tag allowed a lot of scope in very tight turns to have the front and rear ends actually overhanging the road but with at least the second steer axle and the drive axle still on the road.Also the fact that, unlike an artic, a rigid can be shunted back and forwards on opposite locks between shunts unlike an artic and A frame drawbars also allow for a lot less cut in than artics.
They seem to have evolved to suit their environment.Also have to say I was surprised up to at least until very recently that those old types were still very common to still see working on the Islands like Sardinia and Sicily especially the latter.Although I haven’t been there in the last few years to see if it’s still the case.But to me as Italian as spaghetti and clams washed down with Moretti not to mention the best looking women in the world.
Ryton sand and gravel Powburn Quarry where I worked in early eighties
Muckle or Rothbury’s last AEC 8 legger before tilt cab.
This AEC was still at Redpaths of Wooler when I started in 1970
Redpath’s 1966 Guy Warrior, truck used for corgi model with flat load of sacks although was never on the flat as I was told by the late driver Arthur Scott
Morton’s last recovery truck
Looks like your on the wrong thread Colin!
Frankydobo:
Looks like your on the wrong thread Colin!
Hi Frank; yes I am not very good with computers; took me two days to manage to send a photo
In 1949, Willème produced the W 200, of which only one was made, for a Portuguese electricity company to take down a huge transformer. Powered by the 18-litre 225 bhp straight-8, and fitted with pneumatic power steering. I guess most of you already know this beast.
Back to the UK with this 1966 Foden S21 and the lovely sound of its two-stroke engine:
youtube.com/watch?v=5pwhm_xoDiY
The steering seems rather heavy; wasn’t it assisted?
Froggy55:
Back to the UK with this 1966 Foden S21 and the lovely sound of its two-stroke engine:
youtube.com/watch?v=5pwhm_xoDiY
The steering seems rather heavy; wasn’t it assisted?
Doubtfull that it had power assistance at that time, even our 1971/72 models didn’t come with it fitted from new although they were converted later. I took my test in a 1968 eight wheeler Foden and that didn’t have any.
Pete.
Hull Fish Meal Co. Weighbridge 1975.Regards Larry.
Driving such 8-wheelers with no power steering, especially when they’re loaded, must certainly make any driver an athlete! Did you have to start the Atkinson on the crank too?
It looks power steering was inequally considered according to truck makers and countries. All models of Renault’s heavy range (15 tonnes GW upwards) was fitted with it as soon as the late 1930s, when Mack B61 6-wheel tippers and many British heavy trucks had to do without it as late as 1970. Do British drivers have stronger muscles in theit arms and chest than the French?
No power steering in the 60s on British lorries . Coming up our Main Street ther was a 90degree left onto the main road uphill , with a 8wheeler we had to stand Up to get the leverage to turn the wheel and that was on cross ply tyres . It certainly built up the arm and chest muscles .I was built like a racing snake back then but my muscles were like iron . It also helped us to anticipate the road ahead , we had to be ready for tight corners etc .
There were some makes of British Lorries with power steering in the 60’s, my Dad’s F Reg D 1000 unit had it and I believe the Dodge units too. I also used to fit power steering to AEC’s before the 70’s, this was an option however and not a factory fit then. I recall the early power steering tended to wear the outer edge of the steering tyres so some companies were not too keen on it. Unlike today where the hydraulic power is integral to the steering, back then it consisted of a ram attached to the chassis and steering box drop arm, power being supplied by an engine driven motor so it wasn’t so refined as later on. These systems were known as power assisted and Foden also offered tractor units with this at the 1964 Motor Show. Certainly by the end of the 60’s and into the early 70’s most makers in the UK fitted power steering, the previous 60’s changes to C&U regs had required better brake, steering and other safety improvements. Franky.
Frankydobo:
There were some makes of British Lorries with power steering in the 60’s, my Dad’s F Reg D 1000 unit had it and I believe the Dodge units too. I also used to fit power steering to AEC’s before the 70’s, this was an option however and not a factory fit then. I recall the early power steering tended to wear the outer edge of the steering tyres so some companies were not too keen on it. Unlike today where the hydraulic power is integral to the steering, back then it consisted of a ram attached to the chassis and steering box drop arm, power being supplied by an engine driven motor so it wasn’t so refined as later on. These systems were known as power assisted and Foden also offered tractor units with this at the 1964 Motor Show. Certainly by the end of the 60’s and into the early 70’s most makers in the UK fitted power steering, the previous 60’s changes to C&U regs had required better brake, steering and other safety improvements. Franky.
Power assisted steering was an optional factory fitted option on most British eight-wheelers from about 1960, as was optional brakes on the second steering axle. Seddon was the first British lorry builder to fit power assisted steering and second steering axle braking as standard with its eight-wheelers introduced in 1958.
NMP.