It's been a while.
This ex Leeds City Transport Roe bodied AEC Swift has been with us at work for some considerable time. Its long term restoration recently progressed to the point of being able making its first journey under its own power on the road proper in many years.
All the 691 powered beast has done in the intervening years is to be started up, shunted about, be turned round and be left ticking over for short periods.
AUB 170Js first 100 yards in anger therefore, were accompanied by huge quantities of blue/grey smoke. I'd driven it with two feet on purpose, one on the brake and t'other on the accelarator in the hope of burning it out before we reached more sensitive parts of the outside world. That short distance told me that we needed to repeat the process so I reversed (with two foot control) and then advanced again. There was a sufficient clearing of the smoke to encourage continuing up the road, and by about 750 yards, things weren't too bad. People (and worse, motorists with dash-cams) are finely attuned to vehicles which smoke nowadays!
By the roundabout a little further on I was sufficiently pleased to attempt a 'real' road. We then set off full bore on our usual short test route. A hundred yards further on and there was a thumping bang and a sound similar to that you'd expect from say a wheel-arch falling out, being run over and then dragged along. Looking in the mirror there was a volcanic sheet of smoke and flame eminating from the exhaust and alarmed motorists and pedestrians looking on with fear. A few seconds later the smoke aspect subdued a little and we were merely doing an impression of The Batmobile. I then stopped the engine and waited incase I had an idea. After about a minute of pondering and staring at my foreman who was also present, it was decided we should attempt a re-start. This was accomplished and we moved off again. Thereafter the exhaust was clean as the proverbial whistle and the bus behaved impeccably! Next stop the paint shop and LCT colours.
It's been a while.
This ex Leeds City Transport Roe bodied AEC Swift has been with us at work for some considerable time. Its long term restoration recently progressed to the point of being able making its first journey under its own power on the road proper in many years.
All the 691 powered beast has done in the intervening years is to be started up, shunted about, be turned round and be left ticking over for short periods.
AUB 170Js first 100 yards in anger therefore, were accompanied by huge quantities of blue/grey smoke. I'd driven it with two feet on purpose, one on the brake and t'other on the accelarator in the hope of burning it out before we reached more sensitive parts of the outside world. That short distance told me that we needed to repeat the process so I reversed (with two foot control) and then advanced again. There was a sufficient clearing of the smoke to encourage continuing up the road, and by about 750 yards, things weren't too bad. People (and worse, motorists with dash-cams) are finely attuned to vehicles which smoke nowadays!
By the roundabout a little further on I was sufficiently pleased to attempt a 'real' road. We then set off full bore on our usual short test route. A hundred yards further on and there was a thumping bang and a sound similar to that you'd expect from say a wheel-arch falling out, being run over and then dragged along. Looking in the mirror there was a volcanic sheet of smoke and flame eminating from the exhaust and alarmed motorists and pedestrians looking on with fear. A few seconds later the smoke aspect subdued a little and we were merely doing an impression of The Batmobile. I then stopped the engine and waited incase I had an idea. After about a minute of pondering and staring at my foreman who was also present, it was decided we should attempt a re-start. This was accomplished and we moved off again. Thereafter the exhaust was clean as the proverbial whistle and the bus behaved impeccably! Next stop the paint shop and LCT colours.