New around these parts, but despite only passing my Class C in November, I’m not all that new to trucking having grown up in a family where it was the main household income. Did it to drive around horses for the other half so she can go insane over hedges & all that stuff, so its not a commercial operation or anything crazy like that.
Wanted to ask you knowledgeable types a question. The Volvo FL6-14 we seem to have ended up with is of a 1995 vintage, so it has an analogue tacho (I think a Keinzle 1318…) - simple enough one may think & you’d be right - but - one slight hiccup in that, the “distance trace” is basically a flatline. Now, even I know that isnt right. The rest of the chart appears to be recording perfectly correctly with the only malfunction being that the distance trace appears dead - we also have a problem with the backlight in the tacho head not coming on with the headlights, so I suspect I’m going to have to get the thing looked at anyway as the truck does need a bit of work done overall. That said, it did pass its plate/MOT in November just gone.
I’m just wondering if this is something “numptyish” I’ve done (more than likely!) which might have caused the trace to fail or if there is really a malfunction of the tacho head which will need to be looked at.
Thanks in advance for the help…& hope someday , somehow, I’ll be able to contribute something useful as well!!
New around these parts, but despite only passing my Class C in November, I’m not all that new to trucking having grown up in a family where it was the main household income. Did it to drive around horses for the other half so she can go insane over hedges & all that stuff, so its not a commercial operation or anything crazy like that.
Wanted to ask you knowledgeable types a question. The Volvo FL6-14 we seem to have ended up with is of a 1995 vintage, so it has an analogue tacho (I think a Keinzle 1318…) - simple enough one may think & you’d be right - but - one slight hiccup in that, the “distance trace” is basically a flatline. Now, even I know that isnt right. The rest of the chart appears to be recording perfectly correctly with the only malfunction being that the distance trace appears dead - we also have a problem with the backlight in the tacho head not coming on with the headlights, so I suspect I’m going to have to get the thing looked at anyway as the truck does need a bit of work done overall. That said, it did pass its plate/MOT in November just gone.
I’m just wondering if this is something “numptyish” I’ve done (more than likely!) which might have caused the trace to fail or if there is really a malfunction of the tacho head which will need to be looked at.
Thanks in advance for the help…& hope someday , somehow, I’ll be able to contribute something useful as well!!
he back light is prob the bulb .is it the turn a key and drop down head ,If so there will be a (Normaly) gray square that will twist and com out this is the bulb
nick2008:
he back light is prob the bulb .is it the turn a key and drop down head ,If so there will be a (Normaly) gray square that will twist and com out this is the bulb
Yes, its a turn key/drop head affair. I’d hoped the illumination was just a blown bulb so I’ll have a hunt around to see if I can change that tomorrow. Thanks for the pic too, looks like something which is easily & generally available too…eBay job methinks. If I can fix that & then figure out this dodgy trace, we’re onto a winner here Thanks again!
Thanks for the link - even better. You’re right, thats exactly the bulb thats needed & some are on their way even as we speak.
On the ever lingering subject of the dodgy trace, I had a look at the various needles in there today & none of them appear bent or in any other way tampered with, they all appear to move freely when one “jiggles” them around a bit too. Any other ideas on why it might have packed up other than like me, being old & tired
fortrucksake:
Thanks for the link - even better. You’re right, thats exactly the bulb thats needed & some are on their way even as we speak.
On the ever lingering subject of the dodgy trace, I had a look at the various needles in there today & none of them appear bent or in any other way tampered with, they all appear to move freely when one “jiggles” them around a bit too. Any other ideas on why it might have packed up other than like me, being old & tired
just a thought does the mileage record on the speedo ■■
I realise this is a Veeder Root Stoneridge manual but they are surprisingly alike between manufacturers, they have to be so they all meet a legal specification.
The thumbnails and exploded photos can show you a lot what is going on, or should be going on inside a head unit.
As you’re using the vehicle privately to ferry about your other half’s horses and not for hire or reward, surely you don’t need to use the tachograph at all? Or am I missing something…
Save yourself the headache of getting it fixed and re-calibrated and just don’t use it.
Lofty83:
As you’re using the vehicle privately to ferry about your other half’s horses and not for hire or reward, surely you don’t need to use the tachograph at all? Or am I missing something…
Save yourself the headache of getting it fixed and re-calibrated and just don’t use it.
Granted, but if you are using the tachograph as a speedometer it must be calibrated
Lofty83:
As you’re using the vehicle privately to ferry about your other half’s horses and not for hire or reward, surely you don’t need to use the tachograph at all? Or am I missing something…
Thanks for the links & suggestions - will try them when I’m next near the thing (probably a few days). That workshop manual is quite interesting actually. I’m sad like that haha
Yes, the mileage does record on the odometer.
Its a 14 tonner, so under the regs even private use (taxed as PHGV) requires a tacho apparently - daft if you ask me but you know how they are on this stuff
Thanks again!
