Auto Lube system

Another technical question(s) for you all… :confused:

My lorry (1980 ERF B series) has an Autolube system which has been disconected, ages ago.

Is this comon practice, particularly on older lorries?

What did the system cover and how did it work? There is still an oil tank at the back of the cab and there are small (1/8") plastic tubes (which have been cut) on the chassis and around the engine. Are they for some sort of sensors or what?

The lorry runs fine and the previous owner has obviously run it for years without the autolube system.

What components do I now need to lubricate things manually?

Thanks in advance.

speedway:
What components do I now need to lubricate things manually?

I would imgine you would just need to fit grease ■■■■■■■ to each point that was connected to the autolube. You should then be able to just use a standard grease gun.

Is (or was) it a Tecalemit system?

If so, it was a measured feed system to all the usual places on the vehicle that grease ■■■■■■■ would be fitted for manual lubrication.

As Andy has pointed out, seek out the pipe ends and replace with grease ■■■■■■■.

marky:
Is (or was) it a Tecalemit system?

If so, it was a measured feed system to all the usual places on the vehicle that grease ■■■■■■■ would be fitted for manual lubrication.

As Andy has pointed out, seek out the pipe ends and replace with grease ■■■■■■■.

Exactly correct! 47 used to have a Mecafluid system (marketed by Gilbraith Commercials), although that had to be operated manually by pressing a little button in the cab every so often. It was removed at the first restoration.

Ethel came with a Tecalemit system, but all the pipes had been cut by the pump, so OMT did a sterling job of installing new grease ■■■■■■■ throughout.

Some fleet engineers are against autolube as a) it can be messy and b) it discourages fitters from carrying out inspections. The thinking is that, if they have to go to each greasing point, they will be looking at an area of the chassis that they wouldn’t otherwise inspect and will see things that they will otherwise miss. Depends upon the fitter, of course!

Thanks for the replies.

I’ll have to have a crawl around underneath on a grease ■■■■■■ hunt. Can’t believe they would have cut pipes and not put grease point on. (I hope) :open_mouth:

speedway:
Thanks for the replies.

I’ll have to have a crawl around underneath on a grease ■■■■■■ hunt. Can’t believe they would have cut pipes and not put grease point on. (I hope) :open_mouth:

I hate to discourage you but… :unamused: I wouldn’t be surprised!!

Neither (sadly) would I…

240 Gardner:
b) it discourages fitters from carrying out inspections. The thinking is that, if they have to go to each greasing point, they will be looking at an area of the chassis that they wouldn’t otherwise inspect and will see things that they will otherwise miss. Depends upon the fitter, of course!

Thats the problem when you employ fitters instead of mechanics.
Mechanics take pride in there work and inspect the vehicle as a complete system. I would hope they would check the components as listed in the testers manual whether grease ■■■■■■■ where fitted or not.

As for autolube systems discouraging fitters from carrying out inspections? I am afraid they would be up for disciplinary action, their job description would hopefully include vehicle inspections as per the operators licence agreement.

If there are no grease ■■■■■■■ fitted then a hefty repair bill will be the result. If you have autolube fitted remember to lube the components that still require grease ■■■■■■■, clutch cross shaft and steering column if ■■■■■■■ are fitted. Not sure seek advice from the dealer.

depablo:

240 Gardner:
b) it discourages fitters from carrying out inspections. The thinking is that, if they have to go to each greasing point, they will be looking at an area of the chassis that they wouldn’t otherwise inspect and will see things that they will otherwise miss. Depends upon the fitter, of course!

Thats the problem when you employ fitters instead of mechanics.
Mechanics take pride in there work and inspect the vehicle as a complete system. I would hope they would check the components as listed in the testers manual whether grease ■■■■■■■ where fitted or not.

As for autolube systems discouraging fitters from carrying out inspections? I am afraid they would be up for disciplinary action, their job description would hopefully include vehicle inspections as per the operators licence agreement.

If there are no grease ■■■■■■■ fitted then a hefty repair bill will be the result. If you have autolube fitted remember to lube the components that still require grease ■■■■■■■, clutch cross shaft and steering column if ■■■■■■■ are fitted. Not sure seek advice from the dealer.

The views were reported rather than being my own, but obviously the fleet engineers who have expressed these sentiments to me do not have sufficient faith in the fitters/mechanics upon whose services they depend, be it their own staff or those of dealers! I think one or two might not have a great deal of faith in advice that they might receive from certain dealers…

240 Gardner:
The views were reported rather than being my own, but obviously the fleet engineers who have expressed these sentiments to me do not have sufficient faith in the fitters/mechanics upon whose services they depend, be it their own staff or those of dealers! I think one or two might not have a great deal of faith in advice that they might receive from certain dealers…

I know what you are saying and really surprised you know some fleet engineers, I thought these folk were a dying breed, but then again I suppose they have to be some out there somewhere. In my experience they have been taken over by Transport managers and accountants.

Have to say I prefer the in-house workshop rather than a dealer. There is arguments for and against both operations but quality is lacking in the dealerships (my opinion only).

In your in-house workshop you had a fleet engineer and a few good guys who maintained the fleet, it was a close knit community and everyone policed each other and the Fleet engineer usually checked the vehicles himself on a regular basis. Gone are the days of removing truck bodies and painting chassis before tests.

The retail dealership is a money making concern, it is likely they have many mechanics checking vehicles, some of these folk are just not interested and actively body swerve faults. Spring eye bushes are a typical example whether they have autolube or not, some of these folk come to work worse the wear for drink, not so much drunk but hungover and simply not interested.
The truck industry will in the future have to participate in random drug and alchohol testing. Other industries do it already and reap the benefit of having a fresh workforce, however you cannot force anyone to repair something if they are not interested. When was the last time you saw a service manager down a pit checking someones work?

A few years ago I went to a dealership in the London area for repairs. I had to show the fitter what went where. Whist I was there I happen to look down an open pit and there on the greasy floor was a young apprentice flat out on his back fast asleep. I called a fitter over he looked down casually and said." Oh, he`s been at the paint thinners again." And poured water over him from a can. Nobody even commented. This was not a back street outfit either…

depablo:
I know what you are saying and really surprised you know some fleet engineers, I thought these folk were a dying breed, but then again I suppose they have to be some out there somewhere. In my experience they have been taken over by Transport managers and accountants.

Have to say I prefer the in-house workshop rather than a dealer. There is arguments for and against both operations but quality is lacking in the dealerships (my opinion only).

In your in-house workshop you had a fleet engineer and a few good guys who maintained the fleet, it was a close knit community and everyone policed each other and the Fleet engineer usually checked the vehicles himself on a regular basis. Gone are the days of removing truck bodies and painting chassis before tests.

The retail dealership is a money making concern, it is likely they have many mechanics checking vehicles, some of these folk are just not interested and actively body swerve faults. Spring eye bushes are a typical example whether they have autolube or not, some of these folk come to work worse the wear for drink, not so much drunk but hungover and simply not interested.
The truck industry will in the future have to participate in random drug and alchohol testing. Other industries do it already and reap the benefit of having a fresh workforce, however you cannot force anyone to repair something if they are not interested. When was the last time you saw a service manager down a pit checking someones work?

At my previous company, there remains a proper fleet engineer, and who resolutely resists so much as a computer in his office - the maintenance schedule is on a card index in the workshop manager’s office, so that he can walk in and assess any exceptions within seconds. And we’re talking a 100+ international vehicle fleet with corresponding trailers too.

Vehicles leased from the manufacturer were pulled in randomly after service and done again in-house to check the dealer performance.

There are still such people out there but you’re right: I think that they are a slowly dying breed, encouraged also by the rise of leasing/contract hire deals and a view that a workshop doesn’t offer value for money. Sounds good on paper until you have to trail 20 miles to a dealership to get, say, a side marker light fixed, or a dodgy suzie or a slashed curtain.

Not to mention that there are far fewer self-sufficient drivers out there than there used to be too, and who could sort themselves out with little jobs.

Of course, the vehicles themselves have become so complex too, that many jobs can’t actually be carried out on-house without specialised diagnostic equipment, which is both expensive and restricted to a single marque.

This then leads to some fitters becoming just that: a sealed unit comes neatly packaged and is fitted. Ask some of them to fettle a Gardner engine (if they’ve heard of it!) and they might go off sick!

speedway:
Thanks for the replies.

Now see what you’ve stirred up with your question - it’s turned out like an edition of ‘Grumpy Old Men’!!

240 Gardner:
At my previous company, there remains a proper fleet engineer, and who resolutely resists so much as a computer in his office - the maintenance schedule is on a card index in the workshop manager’s office, so that he can walk in and assess any exceptions within seconds. And we’re talking a 100+ international vehicle fleet with corresponding trailers too.

Vehicles leased from the manufacturer were pulled in randomly after service and done again in-house to check the dealer performance.

There are still such people out there but you’re right: I think that they are a slowly dying breed, encouraged also by the rise of leasing/contract hire deals and a view that a workshop doesn’t offer value for money. Sounds good on paper until you have to trail 20 miles to a dealership to get, say, a side marker light fixed, or a dodgy suzie or a slashed curtain.

Not to mention that there are far fewer self-sufficient drivers out there than there used to be too, and who could sort themselves out with little jobs.

Of course, the vehicles themselves have become so complex too, that many jobs can’t actually be carried out on-house without specialised diagnostic equipment, which is both expensive and restricted to a single marque.

This then leads to some fitters becoming just that: a sealed unit comes neatly packaged and is fitted. Ask some of them to fettle a Gardner engine (if they’ve heard of it!) and they might go off sick!

My own personel preference is ■■■■■■■ out of all the rest Scania, Volvo etc. Gardner was a great engine and the name as well as the engine range disappearing was a crying shame. You are correct regarding the specialist tools and training belonging to the domain of the retail outlets.

However having worked in both retail and haulage I am qualified to say that in-house workshops as well as their personel could cope with the technology. All they require is access to the equipment and training. Lets face it, many retail technicians to give them there correct title come from haulage backgrounds. ■■■■■■■ software runs on a basic laptop as does most others. It is just industry hype created by dealerships that technicians are something special. I work on 750 HP QSK19 engines, electronically controlled. There are very few haulage mechanics with the correct training could not do my job, training is the key.

As for the title “fitter” I have to say I despise the word. It is the very reason wage rates are pathetic as folk see mechanics as sub standard, indeed how many times have I heard veteren drivers say “give the newby a new motor and they will work for peanuts” the industry is the same all over. If you wear a suit on the other hand people will talk to you as an equal and pay you a higher rate.

As for the grumpy old men, maybe wise old men would be more appropriate.
240 gardner, thanks for the opportunity to chat with someone who has something in common with my own views.

depablo:
As for the grumpy old men, maybe wise old men would be more appropriate.
240 gardner, thanks for the opportunity to chat with someone who has something in common with my own views.

thank you - sadly I’m qualified only to be a mechanical idiot and to make the tea in the workshop, but it does alarm me when I realise that this is my 30th year in the job!!

harry:
A few years ago I went to a dealership in the London area for repairs. I had to show the fitter what went where. Whist I was there I happen to look down an open pit and there on the greasy floor was a young apprentice flat out on his back fast asleep. I called a fitter over he looked down casually and said." Oh, he`s been at the paint thinners again." And poured water over him from a can. Nobody even commented. This was not a back street outfit either…

Harry

This is a problem that the industry has to face up to, seen similar in the past. Its an accident waiting to happen whether through a wheel being left loose or an apprentice or mechanic being involved in an incident in the workshop.

240 Gardner:
[…but it does alarm me when I realise that this is my 30th year in the job!!

You old codger! Mind you, I think you look younger now than in some of the photos I’ve seen of you! :wink:

killsville:

240 Gardner:
[…but it does alarm me when I realise that this is my 30th year in the job!!

You old codger! Mind you, I think you look younger now than in some of the photos I’ve seen of you! :wink:

Thank you! Where shall I post the cheque??

240 Gardner:
Thank you! Where shall I post the cheque??

Sorry, Cash only! See you at Gaydon!

killsville:

240 Gardner:
Thank you! Where shall I post the cheque??

Sorry, Cash only! See you at Gaydon!

Sadly not :cry:

P&O Cruises refuse to delay the departure of MV Arcadia so that I can go to Gaydon first