Weird driving

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Hi guys ! I've seen this driver , who is an indian BC , driving an OAC Hispano merc while on 171 . His driving method really puzzle me . Whenever he wanted to slow down and come to a stop , he would press the "N" switch then 2 secs later switches back to "D" while the bus starts to slow down.... Anyone seen this before? Confused

(Sorry for such a poor explanation) Embarassed

Scania SG

Abuse of bus, on SBST Mercs (at least some amdep ones), they have a small red plastic under the gear selector which says "Shift into N-R only when stationary"

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Icic .. I remember that move will overheat and spoils the gearbox right?

stooper SG

I think put in Reverse then will overheat lah...

There used to be a 333 driver, when the MK2s were still around, if he saw a red light from far he would put the gear into Neutral then let the bus coast or he would brake the bus to a stand at that gear. But Neutral nothing happen lah...

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Erm.....In cars forum, people says that if you put neutral on auto for very long, you will spoil the gearbox. It isnt recommended to do so. Think same goes for ZF gearboxes and other auto gearboxes.

stooper SG

But for bus no Parking gear what... Confused So no choice, either N or D.

Scania SG

Safest way when parking, engage parking gear (in car and Allison gearboxes), Neutral (for vehicles without parking gear), changing into neutral when stationary wouldn't damage the gearbox but when its moving, no changing into N-R. I'm not sure about changing into 1-2-3 from D or vice versa.

stooper SG

No such configuration lah. Laughing It's either 123NR for SBST Merc with Merc Gearbox, or 3DNR for LO3x.

I've seen LO3x driver press 3 from D though, the bus downshifted itself (from 2nd to 1st) to give more rev, then the driver changed it back to D a few seconds later.

Scania SG

got, see PM.

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Thats a feature of ZF gearboxes i think . Someone mentioned that before. Smile

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Thats what our 171 BC did ! The bus was moving when he pressed "N" from "D" and switches back to "D" again few seconds later! Shocked

TWS4793 SG

The other day I was on SBS 9224M on Service 69. When I got onto the bus, I noticed that the driver would always step on the accelerator and make noises before moving off.

(Is this counted?)

SBS9806J SG

Got see SBS9588M do that before. The BC (I know him) pressed the accelerator before moving off. SBS865Y also.

The_Bus_Guide SG

Nothing will happen. Selecting "Neutral" simply means disconnecting the engine from the gearbox. This is not recommended because your vehicle will then be free wheeling, which means you might lose control. You will also depend more on your brakes because having the engine disconnected means you do not have the 'engine brake'. So your brakes will wear off faster which is not good.

However, it is good practice to put the gear to 'Neutral' when the vehicle is stationary. That is why manufacturers like ZF and Voith has a system which automatically sets the gear to "Neutral" when the bus is idling. Why? To lower fuel consumption and reduce wear on the clutch plates. If it will damage the gearbox, they wouldn't have come up with this. Razz

The_Bus_Guide SG

3 means 3rd gear. If the bus is in 4th, it will shift down to 3rd and there it will stay. If the bus moves off from stationary, it will only shift up to 3rd. This is useful when negotiating a steep gradient otherwise the gears would be shifting back and forth.

XiaoTaro SG

Actually... quite interesting ah... how come the driver got hands so free to press the N button. Makes me wonder if his hands get tired if he keep pressing for every stop along bukit timah for his whole shift... Rolling Eyes

Scania N113CRB luver SG

Exactly . But he also very kelian sia . That bus is equipped with a working speed limiter buzzer. Everytime he wan chiong along mandai that part also cannot . Then if chiong the buzzer goes "BEEEE!!!!" , quite irritating .