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6th April 2022, 08:33 | #31 | |
Gets stuck in
75 Join Date: Mar 2013
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I was certified by the then Bus and Coach council as a PSV instructor. My on road assessment was marked as excellent, my on road teaching assessment was also marked as excellent. In the theoretical tests I was the 1st candidate to score 100%. I was also elected as a commercial member of the IAM and trained other drivers to IAM standards and achieved a 100% pass rate for the IAM test. Furthermore I have my C&G in PSV driving instruction. Over the years I have also attended many courses to maintain, improve and update my skills. I think it fair to say that after a successful driver training career lasting some 30 years that although I've never obtained the accolade of being a perfect driver or trainer, I have in that time helped many people learn how to drive to very high standards. What I and any other trainer cannot do is dictate how people will drive in the future. |
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6th April 2022, 08:43 | #32 | |
Gets stuck in
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6th April 2022, 08:47 | #33 |
Gets stuck in
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It was more fun with a 4 speed, (crash 1st&2nd) box with a 2 speed Eaton back axle. On quiet late night routes I would play for hours up and down the gearbox. Also played for hours with 5 speed crashbox buses.
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6th April 2022, 08:51 | #34 |
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When I trained for IAM and when I trained others, I agree that the most flexible gear for the speed was recommended. However, the engine was used only to assist in holding the speed, not attaining it.
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6th April 2022, 08:54 | #35 | |
Gets stuck in
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6th April 2022, 10:24 | #36 | |
This is my second home
Rover 75 CDT Manual Connoisseur SE, Rover 75 CDT Automatic Connoisseur SE & a Freelander Td4. Join Date: Jul 2009
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I was lucky enough to work on what were generally regarded as the Rolls Royce of coaches though - Kassbohrer (by people who hadn't heard of Drogmoller of course). Daimler Benz engines and Voith retarders both gave very little trouble and the retarders were particularly smooth. As in everything, you get what you pay for. Had an automatic in once because it had an intermittent stall fault. Took it for a test drive and all of a sudden the engine died on the over run and the power steering was lost - they sure load up with no power assistance! . Last edited by Mike Noc; 6th April 2022 at 10:30.. |
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6th April 2022, 11:51 | #37 | |
Gets stuck in
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My last "tide over until retirement" job was for a company running badly maintained Mercedes Bendibuses. It wasn't until I started reporting the gearboxes/retarders as likely to cause passenger injury, that the company had the worst ones reconditioned. Prior to that they had neck snapping downshifts and severe jerks upshifting allied with inconsistent retarder operation. They were an embarrassment to drive. |
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6th April 2022, 12:16 | #38 |
This is my second home
Rover 75 Saloon & Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012
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6th April 2022, 12:35 | #39 |
Posted a thing or two
MGZT Join Date: Jul 2015
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The point about "not changing gear because it diverts attention from driving" i.e. steering- has some validity as the ability of the drivers is so variable as are driving conditions. Chris.S.
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6th April 2022, 17:56 | #40 | |
Doesn't do things by halves
Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007
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As a trained driving instructor, could I ask your opinion on this situation please? I am on an 'A' or 'B' road travelling at 40 or 50 mph in 4th gear (the exact speed isn't really relevant). The driver in front of me signals an intended right turn and begins to slow. I brake gently and, at the appropriate speed, change down to 3rd, this being the old fashioned method. Our vehicles' speeds reduce a little more then something unexpected happens. The driver in front cancels the right turn indication and accelerates away briskly. I am in the correct gear to do likewise. With the modern method, wouldn't I be taught to assume that the driver in front would be stopping before the right turn and so I should brake but remain in 4th gear until the last minute, then change into 2nd (or even first) in order to drive on? But the driver in front didn't stop, so with 4th gear still selected I would be in the wrong gear for the changed circumstances. My acceleration would be desperately slow probably with uncomfortable vibration. I would naturally then wish to engage a lower gear but which one? I would have to make a hurried decision and a less than smooth change because a large increase in engine revs would be necessary. I'm sorry, I disagree fundamentally with the modern method of not changing down through the gearbox. In my experience it offers no advantage and several disadvantages over the existing well proven technique. Simon
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"Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce. |
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