Doing my coach training in a few weeks.
The coach I’m going to be learning in is a Volvo(Late 80’s model) with a manual ZF Gearbox.(Not sure if it’s 6 or 8 speed)
Gears 1 to 4 are as normal,to go into high range you pull gearstick towards you.To go into low range you push gearstick away from you.
Can anybody tell me how easy they are to get on with and whether it’s a 6 or 8 speed?
What does your signature mean
I could be guiding you wrong here, cos I’m not that hot on gear-boxes…or driving backwards…or forwards 
but, it sounds like a slap across box to me. If so, it’s 4 over 4 and may or may not have a splitter. I got on really well with it and found it very easy to get used to.
From what you have described, then I agree with grumpybum that it is a slapover box. very easy to use.
The only thing is, and I am not doubting what you are saying here, is that I have not come across a slapover in a volvo coach. The first one I ever saw was in a 1999 Iveco.
All the Volvo’s I have ever driven (from early 80s to 2000) have had a zf straight 6 box which is even easier!!!
Best of luck with the training and test
Robbies Dad:
What does your signature mean
American civil war I think.
Was just gonna say the same as has been said, Ive never heard of a gearbox like that in a Volvo. All the ones ive driven are straight 6. Be warned though - if its anything like the ones ive driven, expect it to be like stiring soup!
Danny
ralliesport:
Robbies Dad:
What does your signature meanAmerican civil war I think.
Spot on. (General Patrick Cleburne)
ralliesport:
Robbies Dad:
What does your signature meanAmerican civil war I think.
I prefer “Where the ■■■■ did all those Indians come from?” (Gen. G. Custer)
Harry Monk:
ralliesport:
Robbies Dad:
What does your signature meanAmerican civil war I think.
I prefer “Where the [zb] did all those Indians come from?” (Gen. G. Custer)
I prefer Gen. John Sedgwick: “Why, my man, I am ashamed of you, dodging that way, they couldn’t hit an elephant at this distance.” shortly before being hit in the head by an enemy bullet… 
gsm31:
Doing my coach training in a few weeks.
The coach I’m going to be learning in is a Volvo(Late 80’s model) with a manual ZF Gearbox.(Not sure if it’s 6 or 8 speed)
Gears 1 to 4 are as normal,to go into high range you pull gearstick towards you.To go into low range you push gearstick away from you.
Can anybody tell me how easy they are to get on with and whether it’s a 6 or 8 speed?
I agree, if its a Volvo its more likely to be a standard 6 speed box which is very simple to use although getting the bugger into 2nd is a right pain if the box is worn.
Most brand new coaches these days are automatic or use I-shift / Astronic which can be driven on an automatic license as there is no clutch. I watched an older Setra coach being driven which was a 4 over 4 and they gear stick had to be moved to the left to select high or low range. A dashboard light lit indicated that low range had been selected.
Good luck with your test too.
Ditto to what was said earlier.
Never heard of a B10M with a range change.
I know the ones I’ve had experience with all had a ZF straight 6.
They are buggers on a cold morning till warmed through. 
Why do coach companies stick to manual geaboxes and the bus companies go for semi/auto. gearboxes?
Surely it would make sense for all buses/coaches to go down the semi/auto. gearbox route?
Buses are with very few exceptions all fully automatic. The exceptions I can think of are the Mercedes 709D minibus which is basically a derivative of the Mercedes van.
National express tend to use automatic vehicles on their routes with very few exceptions.
I think coach companies use manual vehicles because they are easier to maintain and cheap to fix when they break. Also less fuel is used and more power is available with a manual box.
gsm31:
Why do coach companies stick to manual geaboxes and the bus companies go for semi/auto. gearboxes?
Surely it would make sense for all buses/coaches to go down the semi/auto. gearbox route?
Quite simple really, buses on service runs do a lot of stop start town work, loads of gear changing. Coaches tend to be used on longer runs or private hire, less gear changing.
I suspect though more and more coaches will have automated gear boxes in the same way trucks have now rather than a full automatic box i.e. Allison
The coach is a K reg 12metre Daf (Vanttool) short wheelbase,so lots of tail swing.
It is an 8 speed manual, 1-4 as normal then you go into neutral and pull gearstick towards you to go into high range 5- 8.To go into low range you go into neutral and push gearstick away from you.
Not the easiest gearbox to get the hang of and very notchy.
gsm31:
The coach is a K reg 12metre Daf (Vanttool) short wheelbase,so lots of tail swing.
It is an 8 speed manual, 1-4 as normal then you go into neutral and pull gearstick towards you to go into high range 5- 8.To go into low range you go into neutral and push gearstick away from you.
Not the easiest gearbox to get the hang of and very notchy.
K plate is 1992/93, so a fairly old coach I think.
That type of gearbox is normally called a ‘slap through’ gate. They are usually easier if you actually slap them through, rather than push or pull. Don’t slap them to hard though, they can often bounce back through if you do. Then, when you put it into what you expect is 5th, you find your nose up against the windscreen cos its in 1st 
Being notchy is sometimes down to you not quite matching engine revs to gear/road speed. Sometimes it’s because you’re not pushing in quite the right line. More experience with that coach and box will soon cure that.
Sometimes boxes just are notchy, if so you’ll just have to learn to live with it.
I hope your training is going well.
Simon:
K plate is 1992/93, so a fairly old coach I think.
That type of gearbox is normally called a ‘slap through’ gate. They are usually easier if you actually slap them through, rather than push or pull. Don’t slap them to hard though, they can often bounce back through if you do. Then, when you put it into what you expect is 5th, you find your nose up against the windscreen cos its in 1st
Being notchy is sometimes down to you not quite matching engine revs to gear/road speed. Sometimes it’s because you’re not pushing in quite the right line. More experience with that coach and box will soon cure that.
Sometimes boxes just are notchy, if so you’ll just have to learn to live with it.
I hope your training is going well.
Training is going okay,takes a bit of getting used to having the front wheels so far behind driving position.
When I did my first reverse,looked out of window at steering wheels and had to crane my neck 'cause they were so far back.
On the 1st day,was turning into corners too early,was driving coach like an artic.
Have you used these gearboxes quite a bit before,Simon?
gsm31:
Have you used these gearboxes quite a bit before,Simon?
These are old gearboxes, I’ve been driving trucks for a long time. 
I did several years as an agency driver, where I had to drive all sorts of trucks and gearboxes. Some good, some bad some absolutely horrendous, these were usually ok boxes.
Merc, Renault and MAN used to use this type of box, possibly some others to. Either the ZF box or their own in house version. I don’t know if anyone is fitting them to new build vehicles now.
Simon:
gsm31:
Have you used these gearboxes quite a bit before,Simon?These are old gearboxes, I’ve been driving trucks for a long time.
I did several years as an agency driver, where I had to drive all sorts of trucks and gearboxes. Some good, some bad some absolutely horrendous, these were usually ok boxes.
Merc, Renault and MAN used to use this type of box, possibly some others to. Either the ZF box or their own in house version. I don’t know if anyone is fitting them to new build vehicles now.
The Iveco Eurocargo I did my test on was a slapover box (54 reg I think)
gsm31:
Doing my coach training in a few weeks.
The coach I’m going to be learning in is a Volvo(Late 80’s model) with a manual ZF Gearbox.(Not sure if it’s 6 or 8 speed)
Gears 1 to 4 are as normal,to go into high range you pull gearstick towards you.To go into low range you push gearstick away from you.
Can anybody tell me how easy they are to get on with and whether it’s a 6 or 8 speed?
hear the First Time that Volvo not runs with a Volvo Gearbox