| Author |
Message |
Bob Vandawalker (Rav221)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 3:25 pm: | |
When purchasing our bus we were told that it had an Allison HT transmission. While under the bus today working on the air shift I found that the bus actually has a ZF Transmission.
Can anyone advise me on the quality, dependability and personal experiences with the ZF transmissions.
Thanks,
Bob V. |
Bob Vandawalker (Rav221)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 6:58 pm: | |
By the way the transmission is a ZF HP590. A mechanic friend told me they are extremely well build but difficult to find service. |
Rob King
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 9:57 pm: | |
Hi Bob
I know nothing about that trans but when I went to http://www.google.com and then typed ZF HP590 transmission in the search window there were 88 references that came up one of which appeared to be a reference manual for this trans. Good Luck
Rob |
Mike (Busone)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:04 pm: | |
ZF is very common on transit buses. IIRC they are German engineered. They are supposed to be very durable like Voith. However as with Voith they are very expen$ive to get service. Very few transmission shops service them. If it works I would keep it. Otherwise I wold replace it with an allison. I could be wrong but I don't think that model as a lockup converter. |
John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, August 05, 2005 - 10:57 pm: | |
ZF is (was) a German firm that has been making transmissions and rear ends for at least 75 years. From small sports cars to huge earth-moving equipment, they have been synonymous with quality. Now owned by Ford Motor Co., they have plants worldwide including one in Batavia, Ohio, on Front Wheel Drive, where they produce transmissions for Ford's line of Mustangs, Crown Vic's and some of their econoboxes. Their claim to fame has been an impressive string of victories at the various venues of Grans Prix races, The World Constructors Championships, and the World Rallye Championships (including the Paris-Dakar), Vingt-quatre Heurs Du LeMans etc. Fiat, and LeTourneau are just two of the heavy equipment manufacturers that use their transmissions. Mercedes and Maguris-Deutz use ZF transmissions in their line of heavy trucks and buses. Their technology is widely copied at plants in South Africa, Russia, China, and several other Third World nations.
HTH...JJ |
Gary Carter
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, August 06, 2005 - 10:42 am: | |
The Allison world transmission was copied from the ZF accourding to reliable rumor.
ZF is now the automatic used in the Ford HD Diesel pickups.
And Dodge is using Mercedes behind the HO Cummins. |
randy steere
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, August 07, 2005 - 11:35 am: | |
Bob,
That ZF transmission will work good as long as you take real good care of it. My opinion they are P.O.S. They are what we call a thinking transmission. They will try to repair or correct themselves when they start to fail. Many times you won't get a code until it is to late. I estimate the ZF transmission overhaul to cost $10,000. But my mechanics/shop rate is lower then most. Many transit properties tossed or retro fitted the ZF in exchange for Voith or Allison. ZF is hardly in the transit anymore because of the lack of support and parts. Parts can take 30 days plus to order/recieve. The good news is Gillig is trying to set up a rebuild program selling o/hauled units. No price has been set yet. Good Luck |