Swot up on machinery road use with help of new booklet
Tuesday December 08 2009
UK-based Erentek Ltd has launched a handbook aimed at those using farm machinery on public roads.
Agricultural Tractors and Trailers used on the Public Highway is not a booklet full of rules detailing weights, speeds and so on. The UK -- like here -- has not legislated for the current generation of high-speed tractors and trailers, but it is on the cards.
The RSA recently reviewed this area and made its submission to the Department of Transport. Realistically though, we are unlikely to see little, if any, new legislation for a while because the EU is working on new agri road legislation for its member states.
Erentek specialise in pneumatic braking (air brakes), hydraulic braking and air suspension systems for farm and commercial vehicles.
Based on their own experience, they have produced this 30-page booklet, which goes into detail on how tractor and trailer air-brake systems work and what regular maintenance is required and how to do it.
Erentek's Mike Erentraut outlined why they produced the booklet: "There is little or no information available out there about how to stay within the law. In an effort to pre-empt future legislation and provide some degree of responsible advice, we go as close as possible to HGV regulations -- to be 99.9pc covered."
In the A5-sized booklet, pictures identify the different components in the system and illustrate how they work.
For example, the handbook advises that when uncoupling a trailer the brakes will come on automatically, and always ensure that the red line is never the only one connected.
When dealing with the areas of air suspension and ABS (anti-lock braking systems) on agricultural trailers, they go into a similar amount of detail.
There is an increasing amount of contractor, farmer and manufacturer interest in these systems here in Ireland. All are looking at load-sensing and ABS to improve the effectiveness of their trailer brakes to ease the burden on their tractor brakes and help eliminate trailer wheel lock-up when the unit is empty.
The booklet is well put together, providing practical advice and illustrations on both operation and maintenance of braking systems, ABS and air-suspension systems on agricultural trailers. If you have trailers with air brakes, it is worth a read -- even if you are in the market for a new trailer.
For those in agri education, the booklet is readily available as Erentek sent it out to agricultural colleges here.
The booklet is £7.50 and is available at www.erentek.co.uk
Irish Independent
