My air drier on the LF horsebox (2003) is dropping black sludge - is this how it is supposed to work or do I need to worry/get the cartridge changed?
(I have a very rudimentary knowledge of what it does/how it works - hoping you guys can help me out!)
While I am here - I am experiencing some brake judder when everything is warmed up - again, is this normal or do I perhaps have warped discs (does it even have discs!?) or some other problem perhaps with the air system?
In for a penny, in for a pound (!) - it becomes a little difficult to select 2nd gear on downwards transitions when warm - could this be dirty/thinned gear oil, or is it a normal occurrence on 230k miles gearboxes? (or maybe I’m looking at a mega repair bill for gearbox synchro rebuild!)
Many thanks again for your collective brains on these little niggles!
1…will require airdrier cleaning and a new filter .though you may have a compressor issue as in it is passing oil fumes ,there is a larger air drier filter that may help…
2…Yes it has Disc brakes all round …As said get it professionally checked .It may just need discs and pads ,though there can be other issues
3…If the gear isn’t grinding ,change the oil …Though difficulty may be encountered if trying to select the gear on downchange at too high a speed …Synchros are doing their job on downchanges…If yu have the zf 5speed box or even the zf 6speed box it isn’t that difficult a job and if you want cost kept down just change 2nd gears
Caroline, take it to a HGV garage instead of the place you get your car serviced assuming you bother servicing the horse box at all and get the chuffing thing made roadworthy. A proper service once in a while might not go amiss too, the lack of servicing is one of the reasons you’re having problems with the gearbox and the brakes. If a gearbox oil change doesn’t help you’re going to have to learn how to double clutch if you want to avoid changing the gearbox.
Conor
In my previous thread, which you obviously haven’t seen, I stated that the box was new to me - about 2 months and is my first box - a steep learning curve.
I really don’t appreciate being abused about non roadworthy horseboxes.
The problems occurred late last night on the way back from a competition - today has been chocka with pre-arranged appointments and now it is a Bank Holiday - the commercial fitters is not open until Tuesday. I was merely asking to gain some knowledge as to what I might be told when I take it to be looked at. You are TOO condescending. I know we horsebox drivers are not professionals but I, at least, am not stupid.
I am competent at motorbike and car mechanics but there is no way I would touch the lorry - hence asking many questions - the industry is very male orientated and I wish to at least have some knowledge when I phone the fitters on Tuesday.
I do know that SOME horseboxes are not maintained but I can assure you that this will not be one of them - the problems are just beginning to show now and are being fixed as they occur - there’s no way our horses are travelling in anything less than roadworthy. If I didn’t care why would I be after information?
ps - EagerBeaver - reference to burgers totally disrespectful.
ps. conor - I was probably double declutching while you were in nappies - those old cars with no synchromesh needed a sympathetic gear change!
Thanks to others that have given sensible replies.
Fix it …
If you drive your car with potential problems you’ll end up with serious consequences, so why drive a horsebox with up to half a tonne of potential energy in the back that could move around (slightly) slamming it and you and your rosettes into oblivion. Despite you supposed abilities, you’ve got one life, why shorten it for the sake of saving money. If only once bite the bullet & take said horsebox to a professional commercial garage. Tell them what faults you have stated here & let them repair it. At least after then, you`ll have a benchmark to work from knowing its in working order, allowing you to do most of your own maintenance. If you don’t, the carnage you could cause may ruin someone’s (if not yours) life forever.
As for the burger comment …
It’s an animal that lives & dies, but somewhere along its life cycle (after being hugged, kissed, whipped, ridden etc for someones personnel enjoyment) will ultimately die and be disposed of, which despite their loving owners wishes will be sent to the knackers yard. As Ive yet to see any horses buried in my local cemetery, which means it might end up in the food chain.
What’s all that for ? She’s explained she’s just found these things and that the vehicles new to her and also that she’ll see the mechanic/s on Tuesday. She just wanted a bit of advice so she didn’t appear completely clueless… give her a break.
Must say though, I thought you were a bit touchy about the burger meat bit, it was meant light heartedly.
cazmal:
Conor
In my previous thread, which you obviously haven’t seen, I stated that the box was new to me - about 2 months and is my first box - a steep learning curve.
I really don’t appreciate being abused about non roadworthy horseboxes.
It isn’t roadworthy, its got defective brakes, you posted it had. Its already not maintained because its got crap in the air dryer and a knackered synchromesh.
I am competent at motorbike and car mechanics
Yet you don’t even know if its got discs or drums which you can see just by looking at the wheels…
the commercial fitters is not open until Tuesday.
It must be the only one in the entire UK to be closed this weekend if that’s the case. Commercial HGV garages are open almost all hours and have more mechanics on duty outside the normal working day on weekends and on nights until the early hours of the morning than they do from 8 to 5 because nights and weekends is when the majority of trucks are available to be serviced and have safety inspections and the like.
If I didn’t care why would I be after information?
You don’t care because you took a truck that had sludge dripping out of the air dryer for some if not all of the journeys in the 2 months you’ve owned it to the event instead of getting it checked out first. When you noticed the problem you continued to drive it even though you didn’t know what the cause was but knew it was coming from the air dryer on a vehicle fitted with air brakes. If you saw brake fluid dripping out of the brake pipes would you continue to drive the car?
Just for information, any animal that has had “drugs” at any time in it’s life - and this includes annual vaccinations, cannot be entered into the food chain - there is a declaration in the horse passport informing the abbatoir. No one said anything about not spending money - there is a healthy budget for repairs.
Peterm
Yes perhaps I was a little tetchy - it has been a long week. Thanks for your support.
Conor.
Actually, the discs are not visible just by looking at the wheel, although now I think about it when the wheel was off for a valve replacement I did look at the pads and how much friction material there was - forgot about that when writing my original post!
Absolutely not going to argue with you about the rest of your post.
Generally, I wasn’t ware that commercial garages worked 24/7 and over public holidays but I know now! I’m learning all the time! That’s all I wanted from this post - to learn more about my lorry.
I think the erm… ’ interesting ’ reception you got Caz, was due to the nature of the post. Conor often gets a bit of bad press on here, but in fairness he is spot on with this one. A 7.5 tonne vehicle which is not well enough maintained, paints a poor picture in the minds of a lot of folks on here.
Although a significant amount of ■■■■■■■■ gets talked, most drivers on this forum are very experienced, knowledgeable, and professional. Its fair to say that I reckon most of us do not do our own inspections/servicing etc, however I am fairly certain that almost all the drivers on here would not drive a truck with brake issues. And another large percentage would not drive one with obvious poor maintenance.
Just for information, any animal that has had “drugs” at any time in it’s life - and this includes annual vaccinations, cannot be entered into the food chain - there is a declaration in the horse passport informing the abbatoir. No one said anything about not spending money - there is a healthy budget for repairs.
Peterm
Yes perhaps I was a little tetchy - it has been a long week. Thanks for your support.
Conor.
Actually, the discs are not visible just by looking at the wheel, although now I think about it when the wheel was off for a valve replacement I did look at the pads and how much friction material there was - forgot about that when writing my original post!
Absolutely not going to argue with you about the rest of your post.
Generally, I wasn’t ware that commercial garages worked 24/7 and over public holidays but I know now! I’m learning all the time! That’s all I wanted from this post - to learn more about my lorry.
Has it got those shiny wheel covers on it?
Probably not true but once heard that they hinder brake performance,because they restrict the airflow and the brakes get too hot
eagerbeaver:
I think the erm… ’ interesting ’ reception you got Caz, was due to the nature of the post. Conor often gets a bit of bad press on here, but in fairness he is spot on with this one. A 7.5 tonne vehicle which is not well enough maintained, paints a poor picture in the minds of a lot of folks on here.
Although a significant amount of ■■■■■■■■ gets talked, most drivers on this forum are very experienced, knowledgeable, and professional. Its fair to say that I reckon most of us do not do our own inspections/servicing etc, however I am fairly certain that almost all the drivers on here would not drive a truck with brake issues. And another large percentage would not drive one with obvious poor maintenance.
The problem is people with private 7.5 tonners not within the o-licence regime do not have to comply with it and that is what many of the critical posts on this thread are suggesting.
They would be better off expending their energy lobbying the government but I couldn’t see anything changing soon.
If you are driving a 7.5 tonner privately (horse/race car/moving house etc.) just like your car it would make sense to ensure it is roadworthy but there is simply none of the legal stringency to do so that exists for commercial operators and many of them world frankly be wasting their money complying for no reason.
My air drier on the LF horsebox (2003) is dropping black sludge - is this how it is supposed to work or do I need to worry/get the cartridge changed?
(I have a very rudimentary knowledge of what it does/how it works - hoping you guys can help me out!)
While I am here - I am experiencing some brake judder when everything is warmed up - again, is this normal or do I perhaps have warped discs (does it even have discs!?) or some other problem perhaps with the air system?
In for a penny, in for a pound (!) - it becomes a little difficult to select 2nd gear on downwards transitions when warm - could this be dirty/thinned gear oil, or is it a normal occurrence on 230k miles gearboxes? (or maybe I’m looking at a mega repair bill for gearbox synchro rebuild!)
Many thanks again for your collective brains on these little niggles!
Caroline
As has been said clean drier and replace filter but chances are the sludge is a result of a problem upstream.
Have you left it parked up in something like long grass for a long period. It’s more likely that one portion of the discs is excessively corroded than warped discs.
Also check the gearstick to gearbox linkage for play/problems.
Thanks for the help. Ill be calling the local commercial repair garage first thing on Tuesday - I have no desire to transport our horses in a lorry that’s not safe.
Punchy Dan - I’ll have a scoot through the owner operator forum - thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Suedehead - yes we do have shiny wheel trims - I’ll take them off and see if it makes a difference as the “judderng” did only start after 100+ miles so they may have overheated. Not parked in any long grass though it was very wet under foot where we were.
I don’t know whether the vehicle came with a MOT dated only a couple of weeks before, but I still even then don’t like the idea of not having the vehicle professionally checked over for the next two months. Just like a vehicle on an operator’s licence, it should really have had a 1st use inspection before putting Dobbin in the back. Likewise it will need a look over before the next season starts if it stays parked up for long periods. All vehicles that don’t get regular use suffer from standing still disease.
This is an interesting post, but some of the repliers are not helpful but being their normal bitchy self, this lady came on here to ask for help, not silly bitchy answers. Anyway like she said, shes just bought the horse box and obviously needs to report and fix any problems.
let me say that HGV garages can be expensive, so avoid going to one on a bank holiday even if they are open. The sludge in the air tank is quite normal but can be reduced via the dryer filter, or it could be the compressor playing up, just look at the air pressure gauge making sure it has full pressure, and that its not taking too long to build up that pressure. There are a lot of vehicles who have wheel trims ( coaches for example ) on the front and rear wheels and run without problems, so that alone will not cause your brake judder, its more than likely out of alignment discs, or the brake pads, so its possible you will need to change the discs, if it hasnt been in a garage for a while, may i suggest you take it there, and after telling them about the obvious problems you have, ask them to give it a once over for any other faults, ( but not to complete the work without letting you know first ) and to notify you of the cost. Good luck, a maintained vehicle will serve you well and limit further problems down the line, as they say : prevention is better than cure, oil changes are a must in engine and gearbox for peace of mind, and maybe look for leaks on the clutch system ( slave cylinder ) for a smoother gear change…good luck, and come back and tell us how it all worked out for you.
