FLEET FOCUS
PRECISE MEASUREMENTS
Now more than ever, components such as differentials are being tailored for specific applications. Collins Transport has found Meritor’s pumpless MT23-165G drive axle to be a winner in its Kenworth linehaul prime mover fleet.
O
ver the years, the development of truck differentials eventually led to the inclusion of a lube pump in the interests of providing superior lubrication of the inter-axle differential (IAD) located at the top of the front diff housing in tandem drive assemblies. This was deemed desirable for trucks in vocational applications where lower speeds mean less splash lubrication reaches the IAD compared to highway operation, potentially reducing its lifespan. It was also assumed, apparently with something of a one-size-fits-all mindset, that this system would indeed improve the lubrication and lifespan of diffs in on-highway trucks, but subsequent operator experiences have proven this
to not be the case. What they discovered is that the extra friction caused by the forced-feed circulation of the oil heats it to a higher temperature during long haul trips. This combined with high ambient temperatures can be detrimental to the life of the oil and, in turn, the internal components of the differential assembly. In other words, when a truck is travelling consistently at highway speeds, splash lubrication of the IAD is more than adequate and a lube pump is not required. Based at the Adelaide suburb of Wingfield, Collins Transport is a familyowned and operated concern founded in 1965 by John Collins. John started with a Dodge five-tonne tray truck that he drove himself,
carrying produce between Adelaide and Melbourne. From that time forward John and the company he spawned have been committed to a philosophy of treating customers’ businesses as their own: Providing a consistently high level of service by using the most suitable equipment and employing professionals with equally high standards and work ethics. Today the company specialises in the temperature-controlled transport and storage of a full range of perishable products of every temperature variation including ambient, chilled and frozen. With John’s sons Neil and Craig now at the helm, the company maintains an efficient and safe linehaul service primarily between the capital cities of Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. John
Collins Transport workshop.
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may 2022
