The new AEC Mammoth Major Mk.5s Fletcher’s used, had the AV 690 wet cylinder liner and CAV DPA rotary F.I.P., six-speed overdrive gearbox with double drive and 3rd diff axles, Jonno, had also specked a Tecalemit auto lube system. The pump was mounted on the left-hand chassis rail driven by a ‘linked leather’ drive belt from a pulley fastened to the output drive flange. This belt could be adjusted by removing separate leather links. The pump unit consisted of rows of three individual units, each serving one lubrication point on the chassis by way of a black polythene pipe, each end of which was identified by a black numbered yellow tag.
It came as quite a surprise that Jonno, had included an auto lube, (takes you back to Sentinel days, they all had auto lubes too). These lorries had adjustable swinging shackle plates on all axles, especially useful at the balance beam between the rear two axles. These pipes were susceptible to breaking out of the fittings, this had to be watched, it was the only drawback really. The system used 140 gear oil. Fletcher’s lorries were weight conscious, so, exhaust systems were kept as short as possible, this was to ease maintenance and to save weight, with all systems facing forward and exhaust pipe exiting in front of the offside wheel. All TVWs had no innards in the silencer boxes, the same happened to the AECs at the first opportunity when repairs were needed. You had
