Truck driving tips

Drivers of the Trucks

Study the Operation Manual and instruction plates and follow their recommendations. The truck is designed for normal operation with a trailer, gross mass of not more than determined. The Manufacturer, the Automobile Works sends out the trucks with all the lubrication points fully serviced and filled, and with the cooling system empty.

The storage batteries are in either a charged or a dry charged state, according to the Customers` requirements.

The tools, some instruments and the Operation Manual are packed in a wooden box and sent together with a truck. The trucks intended for long shipment are given a minor preservation treatment. The air cleaner is fitted with a protection plug, the oil filler slots, exhaust pipe and breathers are closed with adhesive tape.

Starting a New Truck

To prepare the truck for starting:

  • Make a through external examination of the truck;
  • Remove the preservative from the parts and units;
  • Remove the plug (if fitted) from the air cleaner and adhesive tape from the oil filter slots, exhaust pipe and breathers;
  • Prepare the battery for operation and install it on the truck (connect the negative terminal to ground);
  • Thoroughly clean the spark plug seats. Wash the spark plugs in gasoline;
  • Fill the cooling system with coolant (in cold weather the use antifreeze is recommended).
  • Check engine oil level;
  • Switch on the ignition and start the engine.
  • The trucks equipped with an A.C. generator have no provision for automatic starter cutout, therefore switch off the starter immediately after the engine starts firing.

Before moving off check tyre pressures and correct, if not as specified.

Running-in truck

Running-in truck

Observe the following requirement to ensure trouble-free operation of the truck: lubricate properly, keep all the fastening tight and the truck clean.

During the early life of the truck, when its parts become worked in, careful treatment should be exercised. The running-in period is 700-1000 miles.

During the running-in period:

  • Do not run the engine idle at high rpm;
  • Do not apply more than 75 percent of normal engine load;
  • Do not pull more than 75 percent of normal trailer load;
  • Do not drive at more than 60 miles/hour;
  • Exercise care to avoid overheating of the truck units;
  • Do not move off until the engine has been warmed up.

After the running-in period:

  • Inspect and tighten all the fastenings;
  • Drain oil, wash the units and refill with fresh oil. Lubricate through each grease fitting. Subsequently service in compliance with the Lubrication Table in the Operation Manual;
  • Tighten the cylinder head nuts and the manifold nuts. The tightness of the cylinder head nuts must be checked when the engine is cold;
  • Tighten every loose connection and stop any coolant, fuel, oil or brake air leaks;
  • Check and adjust belt tension to the following figures: generator and steering pump belt deflection with determine pressure; compressor belt deflection with determine pressure;
  • Check that the clutch pedal has determine free travel.

Truck Driving

Truck Driving

Depress the clutch pedal properly when making gearshifts. Move the gear lever smoothly, without jerks. After the gear lever meets resistance, force it gently to complete the shift. Moving the gear lever severely only hampers shifting.

Moving off:

  • Start the truck only in the first gear;
  • Do not shift the gear lever severely if it fails to engage. Release the clutch pedal, then depress it again and make the shift.
  • Before shifting into reverse, bring the vehicle to a complete stop.

While driving:

  • Do not rest the foot on the clutch pedal.
  • Do not operate the truck if the engine is not warmed up. Normal operating temperature is 80-95 C.

Truck Note

Truck Note
  1. The truck is designed to operate on gasoline of at least 76 octane rating.
  2. For the grades of lubricants and the lubrication schedule and points see the Lubrication Table in the Operation Manual.
  3. Before starting, after a prolonged standstill, check the engine oil level with the dipstick. Refill to the upper rectangular mark on the dipstick. After the engine is warmed up and stopped, the oil level should be at the «FULL» mark.
  4. After starting from cold, do not speed up the engine as the oil thickened by low temperature is slow to reach the crankshaft bearings.
  5. Keep a constant check on the engine oil pressure.
  6. For a new engine, the oil pressure at 40 miles/hour in direct drive, with the engine warmed up, must be 2-4 kgf/cm2. The minimum permissible oil pressure at the idling speed and normal engine temperature is 0,5 kgf/cm2.
  7. During operation the oil pressure at 40 miles/hour in direct drive must be less than 1 kgf/cm2.
  8. The oil cooler may be turned off to start from cold in air temperatures below 0 C.
  9. Keep the radiator cap open while draining the coolant. In cold weather check to ensure that the coolant is drained completely do avoid freezing.
  10. Be sure that the oil for the steering hydraulic system is thoroughly filtered before use.
  11. The universal-point needle bearings are greased for life and need no replenishing.
  12. Keep the brake air system in good working order. The vehicle should not be set in motion if the brake air pressure is below 4,5 kgf/cm2. During travel see that the brake air pressure does not drop below this figure.
  13. Use the handbrake only for parking. Pulling up the vehicle with the handbrake takes life from the power transmission.
  14. In the case of the transistorized ignition system the distributor contacts need no dressing. If oily or dirty, wash the contacts with clean gasoline.
  15. Too large spark plug gap adversely affects the functioning of the ignition coil and distributor. Correct gap is 0,85-1 mm.
  16. The breaker point gap must be 0,3-0,4 mm.
  17. Valve clearance, intake and exhaust, with the engine cold, must be 0,25-0,3 mm.
  18. To operate the truck properly, be sure to carefully study the Operation Manual which comes with the vehicle. The performance and life of the truck are fully dependent on the care and handling it receives.
  19. Periodic inspection will aid in keeping the vehicle in good operating condition.

This publication is not to be used in lieu of the Operation Manual”.