Truck Gearboxes

[Drains]

Now then. Does anyone here know what are the essential differences between, or types of, gearboxes used on different kinds of trucks, eg, mostly, why do refuse truck gearboxes whine? They have a completely different sound to any other vehicle on the road.

Also of course, buses have another type of (semi?) auto box, and big rigs have something else entirely.

I am intrigued.

 

[Iain Westland]

refuse boxes, cos it stinks and they dont like the work ...

I'll get me coat

 

[pedrobedro]

It's the hydraulics and pumps that make noise on bin lorries, they use similar boxes to buses nowadays. Big trucks have more gears and splitter boxes for lower ratios for pulling more weight over different terrain and greater distances not stop start work.

 

[CKJDJK]

Refuse trucks and modern busses use automatic gearboxes and the whine is because of the torque converter, transmission cooler as well as the hydraulics. Some of the newer trucks are using auto boxes now to save on driver fatigue.
Automatic cars have a similar sound when pulling away.

 

[Bigjoe]

Most of the 'Bucket lorries' round here have cvt (Constantly variable transmission) gearboxes with push button selectors and they wine because of the torque converter etc as has been said.

 

[rikrobson]

it's not the Gearbox its the Driver Whining over Wages

 

[drivewasher]

I regulary drive MAN and Volvo globetrooter units that are fully auto. But I dont think there auto boxes as in torque convertors etc. It feels to me as if the onboard computers (about 6 I believe) are actually operating air drive clutch servos and gear changes. I can hear the clutch servo as revs drop right off to 850rpm (unlike a torque convertor) then the gear servo hisses to select gear, then clutch sevo releases clutch and engine revs come back up to exactly the right rpm for road speed.
So fuel economy is brilliant as no wasted revs, clutch wear will be minimised as there is very liile slip