Zetorpilot:
newmercman:
…but I don’t know if that was UK market only, perhaps someone could shed more light on it 
…
Someone already did 
zetorpilot:
…back in the late 80’s I did several months test driving of a prototype version for use in 44 tonne trucks on the continent.
I know that’s not a real answer, but I assume the euro version went into production, that was the intention anyway…
By the way you are right about changing gear in that way, but it was actually called “Buddy hopping” after the guy that discovered it 
I read about your prototype, but did it actually go into any European market vehicles? I know MAN & IVECO used the electronic version, but as far as I know they had fazed out the 9 & 13spd Fullers in favour of the ZF 16spd synchro, was it the same for the Twin Splitter?
That Mammoth with the EC cab has Canadian flags on it, Western Star are/were a Canadian company, now owned by Daimler AG, the badge on the right front corner of the grille looks like a Sterling badge, Sterling is also Daimler owned & I think they’re made at the same factory as Western Star’s, but Daimler had nothing to do with Western Star then & Sterling were still Ford then, at least as far as I know, all in all that’s a bit of a weird motor, it has American wheels with the smaller stud radius, but it’s RHD looking at the dash & wipers, I’m confused
Hmm… as far as I’m aware, the work we were doing was specifically for Iveco. I assumed that it went into production - after all, they put a lot of effort into testing / r&d. Having said that, I don’t actually know.
If the planets had been aligned differently, I might have been able to give you a better answer - after accepting a computing traineeship (as a degree-level intern) in Finland a similar position came up at Eaton Transmissions, but it was too late to apply then - at least it seemed so at the time. As I had an HGV licence (obviously!), prior experience of testing the product, and an excellent academic record at the university I recon I could easily have got in on the development side. No point in dwelling on ‘what might have been’ though - I’m perfectly happy just driving
revman:
or was it this -alan
Iirc there was a story about a Canadian company on BLB which put EC cabs on chassis, rhd and done some lhd on 6x4s for the oil fields, many of which were second hand. They were specialist heavy truck builders/ exporters.
There was a couple of Western Star EC tractors set up for OZ / NZ which were built in the U.K. .
Newmercman, Freightliner changed the Ford name to Sterling, if you look at the S badge it was shaped to fit in the blue oval moldings. The only reason Freightliner bought Ford was for their business with all the State, County and City contacts. For the longest time Ford and IHC (Navistar) had it all ■■■■■■■.
I don’t know how many of us have driven a Western Star (conv), I road tested one once top of the line their demo lady told me on I 10 in Florida. What a piece of junk, it was equally as bad if not worse than an International. They may be alright for timber work, but not over the road.
Pat, did I read somewhere you did a season on the ice roads ?, surely they are not all Toss–s. The twin splitter would of needed a real driver, and in 18 years here, I have not met many! LOL !
Cheers Paul
revman:
or was it this -alan
Hiya …thats it lads i knew i’d see one somewhere…I was begining to think i’d got it all wrong
Thanks Alan
John
I had My 1st Strato when I was 22, took a while to get used to it, but when I did, I loved it. Had 4 Strato’s, last 1 was 13 years ago. Last tear We had some ex BOC ERF’s in our yard, jumped in one, had to take it for a spin around the lanes by our yard. Was great to drive a truck with a proper gearbox in it. So much better than the rubbish Opticruise in My Scania…
i ve still got an ec14 with a twinsplitter very fast gear change when you use the jake brake to slow the engine!!! easy to miss tho…
i had two trucks fitted with this box,a erf e series,which was a fantastic setup,up or down the box was never a problem,and a man this was good,but could be a bit hit or miss on the down changes.but still was a good truck to drive,compared to the latest autoboxes about i would have a twinsplitter anyday.
My 1st experience of the eaton twinsplit was in a year old leyland roadtrain F reg at the time, pig to 1st get use to then like everybody else loved them.
That roadtrain eaton was paired up with the rolls royce eagle 325. Then had an Iveco 190 32 with one in, a H reg ERF 320 then an ERF EC350 Select.
Such a smooth change … On the EC, i liked the way you jumped up or down 2 by giving the clutch brake a good kick…
Currentley driving an EC11 8x4 with a twinspitter, lovely box on the whole, the synchro Scanias on the fleet cant live with it on a standin start.
Just waved goodbye to my daf 85 330 six wheel rigid curtainsider gone to africa somwhere ex post office motor stretched with twin splitter truly awsome truck best box ever 
The first Twin splitter I drove was in an MAN “D” registration. It took a lot of getting used to but it was lovely when I got it right.
I then spent years on other vehicles including a new MAN but without a Twin Splitter. Until I ordered a new DAF 85CF 8x4 in 1999. The salesman told me I could have a Twin Split box for £450 & I jumped at it. It was the best £450 I’ve ever spent on a vehicle & I’ve misse it ever since, it was a lovely lorry to drive. I’d have anouther one tomorrow if they were still available. Saying that, everything seems to be going automatic change now so I guess my next lorry will be auto change or I shift dependant on what I choose to have.
BB
I had a Strato fitted with the twin splitter on “Dodds” I brought up to Sheffield for it’s MOT and then I kept missing Vic to change back so I had it for a week and I thought the TW box was the best invention ever better than an automatic as used the clutch to stop and start and tight manoeuvrings other wise drove like a automatic
cheers Johnnie
Lots of trucks had twin splitters,iveco,man,erf if you speced them on order you could have them.LIDL at Magna Park had a load of ERF EC10s fitted with them and they were a dream to drive,once you had mastered them.Expensive when they went wrong.I am sure that is the last box they made before they stopped producing gearboxes.
TNT Overniter:
Lots of trucks had twin splitters,iveco,man,erf if you speced them on order you could have them.LIDL at Magna Park had a load of ERF EC10s fitted with them and they were a dream to drive,once you had mastered them.Expensive when they went wrong.I am sure that is the last box they made before they stopped producing gearboxes.
“Stopped producing gearboxes” … come over here and drive the damm out dated antiques they still make here, crash boxes that went of of use in Europe in the 80’s are still made here, but thats the American way
Design a vehicle 30 years ago and just stick to that design for ever
I was driving trucks in the 80’s that were more advanced than the newest trucks they build here.
Pat Hasler:
TNT Overniter:
Lots of trucks had twin splitters,iveco,man,erf if you speced them on order you could have them.LIDL at Magna Park had a load of ERF EC10s fitted with them and they were a dream to drive,once you had mastered them.Expensive when they went wrong.I am sure that is the last box they made before they stopped producing gearboxes.
“Stopped producing gearboxes” … come over here and drive the damm out dated antiques they still make here, crash boxes that went of of use in Europe in the 80’s are still made here, but thats the American way
Design a vehicle 30 years ago and just stick to that design for ever
I was driving trucks in the 80’s that were more advanced than the newest trucks they build here.
Hi Pat, you are correct the North American trucks are behind the times, but with so much European input these days its 5 / 7yrs difference possibly!
TNT overnite, Eaton are based in Cleveland Ohio, and currently produce E/ Fuller 9,13,18 super 10 ( automated top two ) and smart shift automated manual transmissions. Every truck manufacturer supplies them, the competition being Meritor with a ten speed manual and automated version ultrashift, and the I shift from Volvo which is shared with Mack and really being pushed hard in 2010. A few years ago ZF tried to enter the market, but Eaton won a court case preventing them importing or manufacturing for a number of years. Their technology was way ahead, and probably their manufacturing capabilities as well, supplying Daf, MAN and Iveco. Volvo I believe have got around the problem because they are a truck manufacturer not gearbox. I believe Mercedes/ Freightliner will bring their box over to match up with their world platform Detroit Diesel motors. Later this year Paccar will begin manufacturing their 13l MX Daf engine and I think they may find a way to match their engine to a ZF Astronic. With the exception of Mack most large American companies were assemblers , but the European influence is slowly using more of their own manafactured products, and cutting the options list.
Paul
There is a company in Japan who, when Ford stopped making the old style Cargo (before Iveco took the name), they bought all the presses and moulds… you can still buy a brand new Ford Cargo (and parts) complete with a brand new Eaton Twin Split gearbox.
They are called ********leyland, cant remember the whole name.
If twin splits were still an option on new truck here, i would chose them over anything, anytime.
Pat Hasler:
TNT Overniter:
Lots of trucks had twin splitters,iveco,man,erf if you speced them on order you could have them.LIDL at Magna Park had a load of ERF EC10s fitted with them and they were a dream to drive,once you had mastered them.Expensive when they went wrong.I am sure that is the last box they made before they stopped producing gearboxes.
“Stopped producing gearboxes” … come over here and drive the damm out dated antiques they still make here, crash boxes that went of of use in Europe in the 80’s are still made here, but thats the American way
Design a vehicle 30 years ago and just stick to that design for ever
I was driving trucks in the 80’s that were more advanced than the newest trucks they build here.
sometimes !!!,the oldens are the best !! 
