I became aware of the special pulley on the Volvo Ailsa with Heart of England's three ie. GCN1N to GCN3N : I recall MD Mr Day saying that he had great difficulty getting a replacement Fenner Belt Pulley and therefore one of his Volvo Ailsa's could not charge it's batteries so he had to chase it round in a car with a spare battery !
Many people used to (and some still do) think that the whistle is from the turbocharger, but it isdefinately, as you mention, from the belt which drives the alternator, which is attached to the input end of the gearbox.
Many of the Mk1 Ailsas made this characteristic whistle (those from -M to -R reg inclusive) whilst later Mk1's never whistled, nor did any Mk2 or Mk3 Ailsas.
Yes, and mindful of the noise, some naughty drivers used to drive them really hard to make even more noise ;o)
4738 3 years ago
Notice that it has the advert for "Rowley Regis" bankers on the side - like many Ailsas did "back in the day".
4738 would look hellfire with one of those adverts on.
lec0roh 3 years ago
I became aware of the special pulley on the Volvo Ailsa with Heart of England's three ie. GCN1N to GCN3N : I recall MD Mr Day saying that he had great difficulty getting a replacement Fenner Belt Pulley and therefore one of his Volvo Ailsa's could not charge it's batteries so he had to chase it round in a car with a spare battery !
Fleetline119 3 years ago
a screaming gear box? was this the same on all of them?
hobsholelane06 3 years ago
I believe the characteristic noise of the Volvo Ailsa is from either the turbocharger or the fenner belt pulley that drives the alternator.
Fleetline119 3 years ago
Many people used to (and some still do) think that the whistle is from the turbocharger, but it isdefinately, as you mention, from the belt which drives the alternator, which is attached to the input end of the gearbox.
Many of the Mk1 Ailsas made this characteristic whistle (those from -M to -R reg inclusive) whilst later Mk1's never whistled, nor did any Mk2 or Mk3 Ailsas.
lec0roh 3 years ago
good to see some footage from the outside...decent sound aswell.
dgr64 3 years ago