Some of the faults on the early Nationals were, a "fly on" park brake lever. Modified to pull on / fly off. Slow acting brake actuators, causing wheels to lock on in wet weather, along with no weight over front wheels. Batteries were moved to under the driver on modification & actuators replaced. Throttle jamming open when fault on pump developed. Access flap put in floor for access. There were other faults which appeared before the modifications were carried out.
I drove the Nationals from their first days on London Country ( L reg LNC`s ) and to be quite honest, they were death traps. So much so that the union blacked them following yet another accident, so LCBS sent them all away to be modified I think in 1974. They returned a better vehicle, but not much. We then had the "suburban" Nationals. Coach seated SNC`s. Which were a much better vehicle. These were followed by the "cheapo" B series.
It sounds as though she still had her gearbox 'brain' from her LT days - most ex-LT Nationals were converted to semi-auto boxes by their subsequent owners. Interestingly, most LT drivers hated the auto-box and envied the London Country drivers who had the semi-auto box - better control, and they could down-shift when they wanted, unlike the LT ones.
The more wine I drink, the more this video makes me sad. How sad it is that another National has fallen at the hands of mindless hooligans, and spent it's last days being ragged around a yard for their amusement. For shame. This bus will have put years of faithful service in. An undignified end.
A shame to see yet another National consigned to the scrapman. However, I reckon that since she was going to be scrapped anyway, you should have given her a proper send off and smashed into lots of different perishables in that yard. Probably a big clean up afterwards, but it would have been worth it, and it would have given the old girl a proper send off, not like tootling about in the yard.
@volvomantom I personally would have like to have driven into the side of the Bristol 'decker, 'on the buses' style. 334 did get driven into various things before being towed away for scrap. Again, this was a heavily converted bus that nobody was going to buy so the donation of its engine into HHA101L meant that it saved the day.
I'm a little late in viewing this video but I must agree with what Honda says, this is a splendid example of how this bus should sound. Great post 4738.
At one point the scrap value for steel went through the roof because of China's construction industry. This gave people the desire to go round nicking it because of its higher than usual scrap value. Recently, scrap steel has plumeted.
No value at all at the moment for steel, the bus was given away to the scrap man two weeks ago having been robbed of any useful parts which went to three preserved Nationals.
@markt8235
Some of the faults on the early Nationals were, a "fly on" park brake lever. Modified to pull on / fly off. Slow acting brake actuators, causing wheels to lock on in wet weather, along with no weight over front wheels. Batteries were moved to under the driver on modification & actuators replaced. Throttle jamming open when fault on pump developed. Access flap put in floor for access. There were other faults which appeared before the modifications were carried out.
merlinbus 8 months ago
@markt8235
I drove the Nationals from their first days on London Country ( L reg LNC`s ) and to be quite honest, they were death traps. So much so that the union blacked them following yet another accident, so LCBS sent them all away to be modified I think in 1974. They returned a better vehicle, but not much. We then had the "suburban" Nationals. Coach seated SNC`s. Which were a much better vehicle. These were followed by the "cheapo" B series.
merlinbus 8 months ago
It sounds as though she still had her gearbox 'brain' from her LT days - most ex-LT Nationals were converted to semi-auto boxes by their subsequent owners. Interestingly, most LT drivers hated the auto-box and envied the London Country drivers who had the semi-auto box - better control, and they could down-shift when they wanted, unlike the LT ones.
lgu954k 8 months ago
@lgu954k 'twas indeed fully auto. We still have the 'brain' if anybody wants it.
4738 8 months ago
The more wine I drink, the more this video makes me sad. How sad it is that another National has fallen at the hands of mindless hooligans, and spent it's last days being ragged around a yard for their amusement. For shame. This bus will have put years of faithful service in. An undignified end.
volvomantom 1 year ago
@volvomantom Go away, and spend your time getting a like!
4738 1 year ago
A shame to see yet another National consigned to the scrapman. However, I reckon that since she was going to be scrapped anyway, you should have given her a proper send off and smashed into lots of different perishables in that yard. Probably a big clean up afterwards, but it would have been worth it, and it would have given the old girl a proper send off, not like tootling about in the yard.
volvomantom 1 year ago
@volvomantom I personally would have like to have driven into the side of the Bristol 'decker, 'on the buses' style. 334 did get driven into various things before being towed away for scrap. Again, this was a heavily converted bus that nobody was going to buy so the donation of its engine into HHA101L meant that it saved the day.
4738 1 year ago
I hated Leyland Nationals, almost some of the worst buses I`ve driven, but it`s still sad to see buses go for scrap.
merlinbus 2 years ago
I'm a little late in viewing this video but I must agree with what Honda says, this is a splendid example of how this bus should sound. Great post 4738.
LanceMcKenzie1 2 years ago
Wow I love that gear change at 0:11. At pull away the engine note sounds beautifully deep.
HondaH100A 3 years ago
At one point the scrap value for steel went through the roof because of China's construction industry. This gave people the desire to go round nicking it because of its higher than usual scrap value. Recently, scrap steel has plumeted.
HondaH100A 3 years ago
No value at all at the moment for steel, the bus was given away to the scrap man two weeks ago having been robbed of any useful parts which went to three preserved Nationals.
4738 3 years ago
What's the scrap value for steel? Sad to see another National reach its demise.
HondaH100A 3 years ago
Is she going for scrap then?
MetrobusChris 3 years ago
Yes, she donated her engine to HHA 101L. She is currently awaiting a scrap merchant.
4738 3 years ago