Brake efficiency and balance is usually checked on a roller brake tester. In certain cases where a roller brake tester may not be used (for example on certain 4-wheel drive vehicles) it may be necessary to check brake efficiency and balance on a road test, with a portable decelerometer.
What Is It?
The Tapley Brake Test Meter is a scientific instrument, indisputable in its accuracy as it is based on one of the basic laws of applied physics. It consists of a finely balanced pendulum free to respond to any changes in speed or angle, working through a quadrant gear train to rotate a needle round a dial. To damp out all vibration, the instrument is filled with a special fluid not sensitive to changes in temperature. No maintenance is necessary. The same meter can be used to test all types of vehicles, from heavy trucks and buses to vans and passenger cars. It needs no electrical connections and it’s so portable that you can take the Tapley Meter to the vehicle instead of the other way around.
How Does It Work?
To set the instrument for a brake test, start by loosening the two butterfly nuts at the sides of the swivel-mounting bracket. Tilt the head until the main needle (with arrow) is set at 3.5 if the unit is in meters or 13.4 if in feet with the face of the instrument JUST BACK FROM THE VERTICAL. This is important because it can be set with the face nearly horizontal, but it would then be near the end stop and would not move anticlockwise. When set in this manner the butterfly nuts can be tightened again, and the instrument is ready to start the test as pictured to the left.
With the main needle set, the recording needle (without arrow) should be turned clockwise by means of the chrome knob in the middle of the dial until it is against the left hand side of the main needle. The vehicle is then driven along a level road at about 20 miles per hour or 30 kph, and the brakes fully applied by means of the foot brake pedal only. When the vehicle has stopped the brake efficiency reading can be taken from the figure shown by the recording needle on the inner brake scale. Stopping distance readings are taken from the outer scale figures. A similar reading should now be taken from a lower speed using the handbrake only.
Tapley Testers have now been replaced with mordern electronic testers such as BrakeCheck from aide automotive ltd
Benefits of Tyre Pressure Monitoring
Unparalleled safety. Better fuel efficiency. Longer tyre life. Maximum performance … and you thought tyre pressure was just a bunch of hot air.
Convenience – Full-time tyre monitoring means you can check your tyre pressures from the safety and comfort of the driver’s seat. It also reduces the possibility of time-consuming tyre repairs and ill-timed flats.
Pressure Pro & AirAlert tyre monitoring systems deliver the same benefits to drivers whether they are behind the wheel of a passenger car, a powerful off-road mining truck, or a high speed race car.
Safety – Incorrect tyre pressures can compromise the stability of a vehicle, its handling and braking and, in extreme cases, could contribute to an accident. Also, most non-crash auto fatalities occur while drivers are changing flat tyres.
Fuel economy – Under inflated tyres are costing you money. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers, a tyre with an inflation level just two psi below the optimum level measurably increases fuel consumption.
Protection – tyre monitoring protects against damage to expensive tyres and wheels.
Performance – When tyre pressure is kept at proper levels, optimum vehicle braking, steering, handling and stability are realized.
Visit www.aideautomotive.com for the AirAlert & Pressure Pro Tyre Pressure Montioring System
In the week when a leaked letter from the Home Office predicted that as the credit crunch bites, the levels of crime in the country could rise, the police in Lincolnshire have revealed that fuel siphoning has risen by 30% in the county in the past three months. The Home Office research said that as the economy takes a downturn, crime is likely to go up.
It points out that in the last recession, violent crime increased by 19%, something that Home Office minister Tony McNulty describes as “blindingly obvious”.
The evidence of how a slow economy can impact on crime figures is all too clear to see in Lincolnshire, where poilce expect fuel siphoning to continue rising as winter approaches. This warning comes after the theft of 250 litres of diesel from a foreign lorry, which was parked up on the A1 at Dry Doddington, near Grantham.
The fuel was stolen from the Volvo tractor unit as the Hungarian driver slept, between 11pm on Friday 22 August and 5am the following morning. A spokesman for Lincolnshire Police claims that fuel siphoning between May and August has risen 30%, compared to the same period in 2007. “There has been more of a problem since the hike in fuel prices and it will be more common in the winter with longer, darker nights. Drivers must avoid isolated lay-bys.”
Other firms in Lincolnshire have fallen victim to fuel siphoning, such as Swineshead-based HS Logistics. Assistant transport manager for the company.
Steve Pickering, states that before installing CCTV systems and fences, the crime was occurring on a daily basis. He says: “It was getting ridiculous.”
Anyone with any information regarding the Grantham fuel theft is asked to call Lincolnshire Police on 01476 402222.
To help protect against fuel theft and siphoning please review the TP Anti Syph and FuelKeep @ www.aideautomotive.com
Manufacturers of anti-siphoning devices are reaping the rewards of operators looking to prevent fuel theft during a recession, with aide automotive increasing their turnover for their range of anti fuel theft products in 2008.
Matthew Burke Sales Director stated: ” The TP Anti Syph is by far the most comprehensive fuel theft device we offer although for cost saving as well as fuel saving the FuelKeep product is the ideal device as it costs just £37.00 + VAT.”
One of the biggest causes of car insurance claims could soon be a thing of the past thanks to a handy new device that prevents drivers from putting unleaded petrol into a diesel car.
It is thought that around 150,000 put unleaded fuel into a diesel car each year, and this leads to a number of car insurance claims, many of which ar turned down and seen as negligence on the part of the driver. This can then lead to costly repair bills for the car owner.
However, a small innovative piece of kit known as Diesel Guard™ can help prevent these unfortunate mishaps.
Diesel Guard™ is a smart little gadget that will remind you at the pumps that your vehicle runs on diesel fuel. On opening the fuel flap there is an audible warning advising that this vehicle runs on diesel. The device’s volume is such that you cannot ignore it, even on a noisy forecourt! DieselGuard also has a small button to terminate the message once acknowledged.
Diesel Guard™ attaches to the inside of your fuel flap with just a high strength sticky pad.
With the high cost and inconvenience of a diesel engine being filled with petrol, this device will cut out the risk of expensive repair costs and vehicle downtime.
The inspiration came from an unfortunate experience when, on a dark and rainy evening, the innovator grabbed the wrong pump when he went to fill up his car.
It was night and the weather was bad, I couldn’t see much. I wasn’t really thinking about what I was doing and I picked up the wrong pump. I just wasn’t paying attention. I suddenly realised that it must happened to thousands of drivers every day and decided there was a need for some kind of warning device.
In today’s society there is a bigger need than ever for this kind of device. People are so busy, always rushing around. It’s very easy to make a mistake like filling up with the wrong fuel.
If you’re consistently forgetful then a Diesel Guard™ device is well worth the investment. The stern, audible warning from the device will ensure that you never put the wrong fuel in your car again and save you from both embarrasment on the forecourt and the cost of the repair bill that follows.
For more information on the DieselGuard product, visit the Aide Automotive web site.
Testing batteries of any vehicle is a great start to confirm vehicle efficiency. With increased battery technology testing batteries is now a scientific test. Using a multi meter is an unreliable test, and also with testing comes proving.
Our testers can provide a print out for your customer or records. Midtronics Battery Testers can be used on any type of vehicle, from cars, motorcycles to light or heavy commercials.
Critical parts like tyres and brakes can always be replaced before they fail, but what about a battery? Using a Midtronics battery tester, it will be possible to identify the efficiency of a battery at service or replacement level and the customer can be quickly advised of the current status of the battery and its future functionality. All data can be detailed on an optional infra red printer or downloaded to a PC.
A Midtronics battery tester is the most up to date and cost effective and easy to use tester. The unique technology makes testing of discharged batteries possible, and once tested, a hard copy print out is available for the customer.
Midtronics test method allows battery testing and diagnostic charging to be safer, fast, simple and able to be performed in front of the customer. Each battery test takes just 7 seconds.
Midtronics Battery Testers will provide an increased level of service, increase battery revenue and efficient battery management for the workshop. Each tester is supplied with 2 years warranty.
VOSA are continually advising operators, commercial repairers and in house workshops to complete regular inspection sheet brake test in their Best Practice Guide to Brake Testing. VOSA state “check brake performance regularly as part of your maintenance procedures. It is also beneficial to test brakes as part of the vehicles preparation for it’s annual test.”
BrakeCheck is a portable battery-powered device that can be used by vehicle workshops, government traffic authorities, testing and inspection stations to test and report on vehicle brake efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA & MOT approved. BrakeCheck provides a hard copy print out that is time and date stamped to prove brakes are checked to the required efficiency.
Paul Winson of Winson Coaches of Loughborough purchased a BrakeCheck from aide automotive more than 5 years ago.
He explained
“BrakeCheck is still a valuable tool for our workshop and has been for many years! We believe that regular brake testing is a must for commercial operators and recording the test with a print out is equally as important as the test itself. We took it upon ourselves to offer a brake test but VOSA now request a regular proven test for every inspection.”
You can find out more information on BrakeCheck on the Aide Automotive web site.
Not breaking news, but something we felt important enough to blog about to bring it to your attention again.
Individuals responsible for commercial vehicles are now subject to tougher penalties for illegal tyres and faulty brakes. The Health and Safety Offences Act 2008 came into force last month making it easier to enforce the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Penalties have been raised from a maximum of £5,000 to £20,000.
Increased emphasis on corporate responsibility stresses the need for commercial vehicle owners to carefully manage the safety checks of their vehicles. Particular attention should be paid to regularly checking tyre pressures and brakes.
aide automotive have two products that help manage these two health and safety issues;
Air Alert a proactive solution to warn when tyre pressures are low, as opposed to relying on checking tyres on a regular basis.
BrakeCheck a portable battery-powered device that can be used to test and report on vehicle brake efficiency. BrakeCheck is VOSA & MOT approved.
For more information on either product you can visit the links above, or visit our web site at www.aideautomotive.com
TP Anti Syph is a quality device that helps prevent the theft of fuel from commercial vehicles.
It’s easy to fit , taking no more than a few minutes, and no drilling or glueing is required.. TP Anti Syph can be fitted to all types of tank: bayonet, screw type & bus / coach.
The device is manufactured from a high quality aluminium CNC machined process, enabling us to offer a 3 year guarantee.
The design of the TP Anti Syph also means it can easily be transferred from one vehicle to another in your fleet, meaning that it is re-useable when you upgrade or change your vehicles.
Aide Automotive supply a range of Anti Fuel Theft Devices, including the TP Anti Syph. Visit our web site for further details.