Foden Alpha Cat 450
YK04BPF FODEN ALPHA 450 This was our first eight wheeler with the DAF cab, a backward step, but the 4000 cab was no longer available and we had no choice. A well specced motor, Cat 450 C10 and 16 speed box with the usual Kenworth rails and crossmembers, fitted with plenty of extras that make spending your working life in a wagon more of a pleasure.
The loader was a major departure for us being a French Dalby unit. Powertec just down the road from us are agents and as I was going to be in France on holiday 20 miles from the factory they arranged a factory visit.
A young lady picked us up and we had an interesting and pleasant day out. I was very impressed with the answers to my questions and problems.
All of the problems with the Multilift had been met and dealt with in the past. Having decided to order one, the French visited our site and went to Pelican Engineering (Foden agents) to measure a Foden, having got drawings from Foden already, they had never seen a Foden in France.
From our point of view the Dalby was all we could have asked for, I think it was the first unit for a 32 tonner in the UK and probably for a long while. A well thought out and reliable piece of kit, our new MAN has a Dalby unit, built to, what the French call "The Schofield Spec".
The Cat C10 450 was another thing, turbos crack and fail regularly and we never made a successful warranty claim, Cat were already pulling out of the UK and there was no talking to them. At about 250,000 km the engine did what a lot of Cats do - exploded - spectacularly, oil and cast iron everywhere, we even had to pay for the fire brigade to attend. I bought a tested tractor unit with a 340 rated Cat and did a transplant, our ECU was undamaged and when fitted the new engine becomes a 450. It would have cost £18,000 for a recon Cat, spare parts prices for them are frightening. We ran it for a while but I had already ordered our first MAN 440.
Foden Alpha Cat 450
YK04BPF FODEN ALPHA 450 This was our first eight wheeler with the DAF cab, a backward step, but the 4000 cab was no longer available and we had no choice. A well specced motor, Cat 450 C10 and 16 speed box with the usual Kenworth rails and crossmembers, fitted with plenty of extras that make spending your working life in a wagon more of a pleasure.
The loader was a major departure for us being a French Dalby unit. Powertec just down the road from us are agents and as I was going to be in France on holiday 20 miles from the factory they arranged a factory visit.
A young lady picked us up and we had an interesting and pleasant day out. I was very impressed with the answers to my questions and problems.
All of the problems with the Multilift had been met and dealt with in the past. Having decided to order one, the French visited our site and went to Pelican Engineering (Foden agents) to measure a Foden, having got drawings from Foden already, they had never seen a Foden in France.
From our point of view the Dalby was all we could have asked for, I think it was the first unit for a 32 tonner in the UK and probably for a long while. A well thought out and reliable piece of kit, our new MAN has a Dalby unit, built to, what the French call "The Schofield Spec".
The Cat C10 450 was another thing, turbos crack and fail regularly and we never made a successful warranty claim, Cat were already pulling out of the UK and there was no talking to them. At about 250,000 km the engine did what a lot of Cats do - exploded - spectacularly, oil and cast iron everywhere, we even had to pay for the fire brigade to attend. I bought a tested tractor unit with a 340 rated Cat and did a transplant, our ECU was undamaged and when fitted the new engine becomes a 450. It would have cost £18,000 for a recon Cat, spare parts prices for them are frightening. We ran it for a while but I had already ordered our first MAN 440.