The Automotive Blog

The Old Mechanical Brake Tester Tapley Now Retired As DVSA Say A Print Out Required

For almost 100 years Tapley brake testers have been the market leading portable brake testing equipment.

Results of Tapley Brake meter tests have been accepted as evidence of braking efficiency in Courts of Law throughout the world.

But now it seems the Tapley Brake Tester may well be retired in the UK, recent guidance from the DVSA now says a brake test must be printed for inspection records.

Decelerometers have moved on significantly from the old mechanical brake testers such as Tapley Decelerometer. Being electronic BrakeCheck has a much higher accuracy and additional information such as average deceleration, a left/right pull measurement, speed at braking and stopping distance. All tests are time and date stamped.

Contact aide automotive to discuss the recent DVSA brake testing guidance and BrakeCheck. – Call 0115 8456471

MOT Tapley Brake Meter

EBS/ABS Sensor Master Order Receives Praise

Tested the EBS ABS Sensor Tester and it is an impressive piece of kit!

The EBS ABS Sensor Tester is the ideal tool for any user, from an apprentice to a time served fitter, or a busy workshop. Quickly identifying and clearing the fault can save time and money, rather than calling in a dealer or diagnostic expert.

“The order arrived as promised. We have tried out the EBS Sensor Tester and it is an impressive piece of kit. Many thanks for your prompt service.” stated Neil Robinson Tyson Haulage

To read more and download a PDF product brochure click on Trailer Sensor Tester.

Call aide automotive on 0115 8456471.

Sensor Tester for ABS or EBS

DVSA Recommend 4 Brake Tests Per Year!!

Document :Guide to maintaining road worthiness
Commercial goods and passenger carrying vehicles (Revised 2014)

Section 5: Safety inspection and repair facilities

Extract –
“Therefore it is normally expected that the vehicle or trailer should complete at least three successful brake efficiency tests spread throughout year in addition to the annual MOT test.”

BrakeCheck is a portable brake tester that works from the principle of measuring deceleration or Brake Efficiency, BrakeCheck has been proved to be a good indication of brake performance and cost effective for any workshop. Over 15,000 BrakeCheck’s have been purchased since it’s introduction in January 2003, and is now a standard tool for any vehicle workshop.

In addition to BrakeCheck Standard which is marketed towards Car, Van Truck and Bus / Coaches, BrakeCheck For Truck &Trailers is ideal for trailer operating companies.

aide automotive also recommend the use of an Infra Red Thermometer to check individual wheels via temperature. This in conjunction with a decelerometer print out would be the perfect 3 times a year brake test for any commercial vehicle.

To discuss how BrakeCheck or the Brake Testing Equipment works or to review pricing please call us on 0115 8456471.

Brake Tester Using Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

Here What Camera Users Say about Witness Cameras!

aide automotive offer a variety of incident or Driver Incident Cameras for commercial vehicles.

In a recent feature on the Commercial Motor website, read what some users said.

Case study: Massey Wilcox
Massey Wilcox has installed Driver Incident cameras across its 60-vehicle fleet over the past nine months, costing £180 each. “It’s solely to have evidence if there’s an accident, helping us prove innocence or guilt,” explains MD Robert Wilcox. He believes most sensible hauliers will eventually install them because of insurance considerations.

His company recently avoided a potentially expensive whiplash claim after one of its cameras showed how a motorist cut across the front of the driver on a roundabout. He says cameras also help highlight when drivers are in the wrong, so they can learn from their mistakes.

Case study: DHL Supply Chain

Tim Slater, MD, Transport UK and Ireland at DHL Supply Chain, says the company has more than 4,000 forward-facing cameras installed across its fleet, which is one of the key elements of its transport strategy.

He says: “By installing cameras, we aim to make our vehicles the safest and most efficient on the road. The cameras protect our drivers and assets by allowing us to understand the circumstances of an incident, and have had a positive effect on driver behaviour both behind the wheel and as a training tool. We believe that all collisions and incidents are preventable and using initiatives such as forward-facing cameras helps us to reduce these significantly.”

To review how a MI Witness Camera can help your fleet, contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 or email shoponline@aideautomotive.com

In Cab Driver Recorder

Trailer Light Tester For Farming Trailers

Improving on an earlier version of the Agricultural Trailer Light Tester, Richard Western returned to aide automotive to review the latest 12 Volt TrailerCheck – Trailer Light Tester.

The 12 Volt TrailerCheck – Trailer Light Tester is designed to make the testing and repair of trailer lights faster and much simpler. Power is taken from the leisure battery for this product but for portable use aide automotive offer the 12 Volt TrailerCheck Plus, read more at 12 Volt TrailerCheck Plus.

Where 12V TrailerCheck Trailer Light Tester really scores is when there is a fault.

The Agricultural Trailer Light Tester will hold power on the faulty circuit leaving both hands free while you trace the problem. Then if you need to work on the circuit you use the handset to switch the power to another light or off altogether. Thus repairing without risking a short circuit, switch the power to re test with no need to move.

Based in Suffolk, England, UK, Richard Western design and manufacture a range of machines including grain trailers, rootcrop trailers, grain chasers, silage trailers, dumper trailers, muck spreaders, dual spreaders, slurry tankers, vacuum tankers, bowsers, field runners and transfer wagons. Proud of their reputation for producing machines that are robustly built and will give trouble free performance.

Richard Western have more than 40 years experience supplying machines for agriculture and we are available to help you with your requirements and specifications to ensure that you get the machine best suited to your individual requirements.

Visit the aide automotive Ltd website for more information on Trailer Light Tester For Farming Trailers

13 Pin MOT Apporved Tow Bar Tester

Bulk Freight Purchase Trailer Diagnostics.

Since it’s formation in 1987, Bulkfreight (Midlands) Ltd has maintained it’s ethos of putting the customers requirements first.

Operating a fleet of over 100 articulated vehicles, which are changed every three years. This ensures we operate a “Green Fleet” that meets the current exhaust emission regulations. Our trailer fleet comprises of, Walking Floors, Ejectors & Bulk Tippers.

To meet the maintenance required for the fleet, workshop manager invested in the TrailerCheck 4 Vans, trailer light, Air Brake and ISO tester.

Designed as a mounted trailer tester in a Van or workshop the TrailerCheck 4 Vans is a One Man Trailer Service tool with the option of ECU Trailer Diagnostics.

The Trailer Air Brake And Light Tester is an intelligent unit and has the capability to power multiple trailers without the inconvenience of continually recharging external batteries.

A single trailer service engineer can be under a trailer activating brakes and reading pressures.

Switching brakes on and off allows the user to look for wear in s cams and faulty slack adjusters. The digital pressure gauge measures pressure at the brake chamber, ideal for setting load sensing valves.

EBS Trailers can be tested for CAN line integrity, a quick and simple test to confirm the CAN lines.

Neil Mitchell said “Modern times require a modern approach, the quick and correct maintenance of trailers is as critical as trucks, having the latest up to date test tools is what I believe will make our maintenance routines efficient and to a high standard. Looking at the old Scrutineer and the TrailerCheck 4 Vans, I chose the later due to its modern design and latest electronics. Furthermore I have the option to add full trailer code diagnostics when I see fit.”

 

Contact aide automotive on 0115 8456471 to talk about Diagnostics.

Trailer Diagnostics for East Midlands Bulk Freight Company

Anti Fuel Theft Order Secures Truck Diesel.

A leading privately owned multi-service transport organisations in the UK has just secured their diesel fuel tanks with TP Anti Syph.

With more than 400 employees – and counting ­– as well as over 200 vehicles, this prominent transport company offer a wide range of delivery and warehousing solutions to many satisfied customers.

After a recent fuel theft the transport manager reviewed options on fuel security and prevention. Locating aide automotive via a web search the company reviewed the Anti Fuel Theft product range concluding with an order for 16 Truck devices and 3 Sprinter Anti Siphons.

A company spokeman commented ” Following being a target of Fuel Thefts, we looked how best to secure our fuel at an economical rate. Following my contact with aide automotive and email confirmation of product information, I was happy to proceed with an order and would happy to recommend to others.”

Anti Siphoning products can be fitted to all types of tank: bayonet, screw type & bus /coach.

Truck Manufacturers include, Volvo, MAN, DAF, Iveco, Scania, Renault, Foden, Hino & Mercedes.

Anti Siphon Products are simple to fit, taking no more than a few minutes, with no drilling or gluing to a fuel tank.

Contact aide automotive to review Fuel Theft Prevention Anti Siphons for a Truck Fleet. Call 0115 8456471 or email, click on Fuel Theft Prevention.

TP Anti-Syph, Fuel Theft Device

Fuel Theft Alarm

Following some excellent customer feedback on the TankGuard Fuel Theft Alarm, aide automotive are offering an excellent May & June 2014 offer!

If someone tries to steal your fuel by siphoning, NO WAY! The siphon will stop any quick attempt via a pipe and pump, then if another route like the sender unit is attempted then the alarm will sound. A Belt & Braces approach to Fuel Security.

The Tank Guard Fuel Theft Alarm will automatically arm after the ignition has been switched off for sixty seconds.

Tank Guard Fuel Theft Alarm has a sophisticated sensor fitted externally in a discreet location on the outside of the fuel tank. If thieves attempt to remove the locked cap, or jemmy out the sender unit or in any way attack the tank then the Tank Guard alarm will be activated. This will result in a 114 decibel siren giving a deafening warning to drive the thieves away.

Contact aide automotive for a fleet quote or if you have questions about Fuel Theft Alarm.

Stop Fuel Theft With A Anti Siphon

More & More Commercial Vehicle Operators Purchase BrakeCheck To Complete Their Inspection Sheets.

Roger Jackson of Ensign Bus said “We have now purchased Bowmonk BrakeCheck for all our depots and find it a valuable addition to our workshops. To have the ability to carryout positive testing and to record actual results on an inspection sheet is very beneficial.”

Decelerometers have moved on significantly from the old mechanical brake testers such as Tapley Decelerometer. Being electronic there is a much higher accuracy and additional information such as average deceleration, a left/right pull measurement, speed at braking and stopping distance. All tests are time and date stamped.

BrakeCheck has been proven to be an excellent inspection sheet Bowmonk brake tester for all commercial vehicles, over 14000 testers sold since 2002. With many operators using the BrakeCheck to conduct a VOSA accepted brake test on every inspection.

BrakeCheck Truck & Trailer will brake test tractor units, rigid trucks and also incorporates a 99 test memory on the service, hand and trailer brake test, a total of 297 tests. The trailer brake test feature enables repairers and internal maintenance workshops to conduct an inspection sheet brake test of a commercial trailer.

Brake Tester Using Brake Efficiency to Report On Truck Brakes

Petrol In Diesel – Wrong Fuelling Costs Millions Per Year

Solo Diesel is a solution to protect your diesel vehicle from being Wrong Fuelled with petrol. Research has suggested that 150,000 plus drivers mis fuel per year in UK – 1 every 3.5 mins!

Mis fuelling is a common problem for lots of different organisations. Putting petrol in a diesel car has been a problem for the Suffolk Police Force, with over £10,000 worth of damage being caused as a consequence over the past 5 years.

“Unfortunately, even police officers and staff are prone to making mistakes such as this and it is down to human error,” said a Suffolk police spokeswoman.

Mis fuelling can cost the unfortunate victim anything in the region of £200 to over £3000, depending on how much damage is done to your vehicle. The worst case scenario is that the entire fuel system needs replacing.

Contact aide automotive by clicking on Petrol In Diesel.

Solo Diesel The Mis fuelling Device From Petrol In Diesel