tachograph:
‘… This type of mechanism does not need a dog clip but if one’s fitted it should be used…’
In which case why did the bloke at the factory drill that otherwise pointless, dog-clip sized hole? 
No dog-clip = a VMU defect for me, fellas. Or if I was a tramper, a nut and bolt found from roadside clart, or a handful of security tags until I got a clip, but never ‘nowt’.
Happy Keith:
tachograph:
‘… This type of mechanism does not need a dog clip but if one’s fitted it should be used…’In which case why did the bloke at the factory drill that otherwise pointless, dog-clip sized hole?
I meant a dog clip is not legally required on that type of mechanism, I would always advocate the use of a dog clip if only for peace of mind.
Seen a G+S international on its knees at shawhead flyover thats about a mile from its depot. It managed a mile without dropping
Ive got a spare dog clip in my bag usually use it on the barn doors but its always handy to have as a back up, if your unit clip ever sprouts legs.
muckles:
scotstrucker:
merc0447:
i got a £60 fixed penalty and a delayed pg9 last year for a missing dog clip in this type of fitting on the new fifth wheel that was fitted to my truck. looks like vosa conned me out of some cash the [zb] s.
I went to the TEst centre with a truck with that type of fifth wheel, but no clip and although the guy doing the inspection mentioned it, it was only because he had a supervisor with him and he felt he should to prove he’d seen it, but they both agreed it didn’t need one. This was how the fifth wheel was designed to be used by the manufacturer, mainly to do away with having a clip to forget or lose.
My tractor has this type of locking mechanism, when I first bought the vehicle I didn’t like this method so I fitted a dog clip as a backup. Until the last spell of freezing weather I havn’t given it much thought, one really freezing day I picked up my trailer gave it a couple of good “yarks” seemed ok but I wasn’t happy with the “clunk”, you all know what I mean. Any way I got out and tried to fasten the dogclip, it wouldn’t fit in the hole, it was still dark so I had to get my torch to check it. Thats when I noticed the locking bar wasn,t properly engaged I pulled the pin and started again now everything was as it should be. My point is if I had been a “rookie” and not double checked when I wasn’t satisfied with everything I would probably have dropped the trailer on its knees out on the road. (who would believe a rookie hadn’t dropped a clanger?) The answer has to be “THE DOGCLIP” regards kevmac47
The bloke in the factory drills that dog clip sized hole because he is making fifth wheel couplings, he doesnt know what truck they are being fitted on or which trailer they will be pulling. With a low profile Euro spec tractor and a wide bodied deep pin fridge there is no room to get your arm in to fit or remove a clip. The answer is to fit a spring loaded clip, operated by a short piece of Bowden cable as a secondary security measure.
The dogclip is a British invention, like C type couplings, and hi viz vests in supermarket aisles
tachograph:
Happy Keith:
tachograph:
‘… This type of mechanism does not need a dog clip but if one’s fitted it should be used…’In which case why did the bloke at the factory drill that otherwise pointless, dog-clip sized hole?
I meant a dog clip is not legally required on that type of mechanism, I would always advocate the use of a dog clip if only for peace of mind.
Agreed & cheers …but I was hitherto green about it not being a legal necessity. Obviously, I’ll be happy to blame the daftness of it on duff decisions by plums in Brussels 
