WM Bus Photos Forum

After a Voith vs ZF "discussion" with someone I thought I'd put a poll up to see whether ZF or Voith gearboxes are more popular in Tridents (NXWM only)?

Its pretty obvious the drivers will all vote ZF...

I'm not sure, when I'm on ZF tridents I prefer ZF, when I'm on voith I prefer voith  :-\. Voith Enviros sound better than the ZF examples, in my opinion. Stagecoach in Warwickshire use them on their U1 service  8)

Voith all the way  ::)

Although the ZFs are quicker changing through the gears, they are very jerky when held by the footbrake

The voiths are slightly slower through gears, but a lot smoother.

I'm voting for Voith.

Its a tie for me I like both  ;)

I have no idea what the difference is!!

Quote from: John on May 21, 2013, 08:24:50 AM
I have no idea what the difference is!!

I could be wrong but i think its that ZF have a 5 speed gearbox and Voith have less gears. Plus they sound different aswell. Its hard to describe in words but the ZF have some high pitch scream/whine whereas Voiths don't have that noise.

4565-84 sound a bit different to 4535-64 and 4585-4634.

Yeah ZF is 5-speed whereas Voith is 4-speed (in Tridents anyway)

4582 is another good Voith :) but I won't get you started on 4571.

Wish I had the pleasure of using them more often. I'm on B7TL town  ::)

I'm not 100% sure, but I think all NXWM Voiths are three-speed, except the Enviro 200s which sound like Voith 4 speed.

Quote from: Stevo on May 21, 2013, 12:59:24 PM
I'm not 100% sure, but I think all NXWM Voiths are three-speed, except the Enviro 200s which sound like Voith 4 speed.

The NXWM Voith Tridents are definitely 4-speed. I always count "1, 2, 3, 4" when pulling away at the lights on the 126 ;D

Quote from: John on May 21, 2013, 08:24:50 AM
I have no idea what the difference is!!

One sounds like a dream, and the other gives you whiplash as it changes gears ;)

Is there any difference between the 41** and 43** examples in terms of engine sound?

Quote from: Shaun on May 21, 2013, 04:32:55 PM
Is there any difference between the 41** and 43** examples in terms of engine sound?

The BV52s sound better but the BX02s and Y TOHs just sound the same to me

Quote from: Shaun on May 21, 2013, 04:32:55 PM
Is there any difference between the 41** and 43** examples in terms of engine sound?

The 41** and 43** all sound essentially identical. The BU04's at Wolverhampton do sound different though.

Which NXWM Tridents have Voith boxes and which have ZF?

I thought all Tridents up to 4404 are (3 speed) Voith, and 4405 upwards are ZF.  I also thought that all Stagecoach Tridents are ZF.

4125-4224, 4305-4404 are Voith

4405-4414 are ZF (I think)

4425-4474 are ZF

4535-4564 are ZF

4565-4584 are Voith

4585-4634 are ZF

Yes matt you got it correct. From what i know all of what Matt said is correct.

4405-14 are the first tridents at NXWM (Coventry) to have ZF.

I know that 4565 - 4584 are 4-speed Voith. However I haven't really counted the gears on an older Voith so they might be 3-speed, not sure

Why do people think it is correct or fun to thrash a bus and overtake cars ? Very un-proffesional to drive in such a manner. Perhapes the reason why people prefer to travel in there own car rather than public transport. As a pcv holder and a full time driver i find it utterly disgracful that such driving is condoned and encouraged.

Quote from: andyr on May 21, 2013, 07:24:22 PM
Why do people think it is correct or fun to thrash a bus and overtake cars ? Very un-proffesional to drive in such a manner. Perhapes the reason why people prefer to travel in there own car rather than public transport. As a pcv holder and a full time driver i find it utterly disgracful that such driving is condoned and encouraged.

If you knew the 126's route you'd have realised that was the point where it pulls into the right-hand lane for a short stretch in preparation to turn right off the dual-carriageway into Dudley (no bus stops). No reason not to thrash it especially as it's uphill and 90% of drivers do so

From my driving point of view it's Voith all the way, they sound excellent 8)

Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 21, 2013, 07:30:19 PM

Quote from: andyr on May 21, 2013, 07:24:22 PM
Why do people think it is correct or fun to thrash a bus and overtake cars ? Very un-proffesional to drive in such a manner. Perhapes the reason why people prefer to travel in there own car rather than public transport. As a pcv holder and a full time driver i find it utterly disgracful that such driving is condoned and encouraged.

If you knew the 126's route you'd have realised that was the point where it pulls into the right-hand lane for a short stretch in preparation to turn right off the dual-carriageway into Dudley (no bus stops). No reason not to thrash it especially as it's uphill and 90% of drivers do so

Still no need to 'thrash it' speed limit on that road is 40mph and as you normally have to stop before actually turning right you don't even gain any time. The only bit where the driver needs his foot on the floor is pulling away from the last bus stop to get up to road speed to enable him to pull out safely into the offside lane

Quote from: Tony on May 21, 2013, 08:43:37 PM

Quote from: nitromatt1 on May 21, 2013, 07:30:19 PM

Quote from: andyr on May 21, 2013, 07:24:22 PM
Why do people think it is correct or fun to thrash a bus and overtake cars ? Very un-proffesional to drive in such a manner. Perhapes the reason why people prefer to travel in there own car rather than public transport. As a pcv holder and a full time driver i find it utterly disgracful that such driving is condoned and encouraged.

If you knew the 126's route you'd have realised that was the point where it pulls into the right-hand lane for a short stretch in preparation to turn right off the dual-carriageway into Dudley (no bus stops). No reason not to thrash it especially as it's uphill and 90% of drivers do so

Still no need to 'thrash it' speed limit on that road is 40mph and as you normally have to stop before actually turning right you don't even gain any time. The only bit where the driver needs his foot on the floor is pulling away from the last bus stop to get up to road speed to enable him to pull out safely into the offside lane

You won't get much above 40mph before needing to slow down for the right turn anyway so speed limit is not an issue! Of course there is no need to thrash, but no reason not to either as long as it's safe, not really a big issue...

The "big issue" is passenger comfort and safety !!!!!. Wear and tear on buses components and increased fuel consumption from poor driving habits and standards...... all very important factors. I doubt very much nxwm drivers are taught to thrash buses when training.

Quote from: andyr on May 21, 2013, 08:54:54 PM
The "big issue" is passenger comfort and safety !!!!!. Wear and tear on buses components and increased fuel consumption from poor driving habits and standards...... all very important factors. I doubt very much nxwm drivers are taught to thrash buses when training.

Irrelevant of how they're trained, the 126 is a thrash route. Fast driving and safety are not mutually exclusive. Like I said, there is no big issue to be discussed.

No such thing as a thrash route!!!!. If and when you ever gain a pcv licence perhapes u will realise the importance of giving a safe and comfortable journey to your passengers. If you ever become involved in management in the industry you would realise the benifits of not thrashing or abusing the vechicles.... For some reason though i doubt u will ever learn any of the above,

Quote from: andyr on May 21, 2013, 09:12:10 PM
No such thing as a thrash route!!!!. If and when you ever gain a pcv licence perhapes u will realise the importance of giving a safe and comfortable journey to your passengers. If you ever become involved in management in the industry you would realise the benifits of not thrashing or abusing the vechicles.... For some reason though i doubt u will ever learn any of the above,

I know that I would or will be a safe driver. I just enjoy riding a bus being thrashed! I'm not a reckless person

Definately ZF, especially the noise off them retarders

Quote from: trident4370 on May 21, 2013, 04:36:58 PM

Quote from: Shaun on May 21, 2013, 04:32:55 PM
Is there any difference between the 41** and 43** examples in terms of engine sound?

The BV52s sound better but the BX02s and Y TOHs just sound the same to me

The 02 and 52 reg ones are all part of the same batch so 4363 (02) will be identical to 4364 (52). All the 41xx to 43xx ones are 3 speed as far as I'm aware. The 43xx ones are my favourite batch of Tridents, the sound of them being pushed on evening journeys on the old YW 69 route, where keeping to time always seemed to require spirited driving, was very satisfying.

I'd imagine the older tridents are three-speed, the B7TL's at PB with Voith transmission seem three speed.

ZF always best. Voiths make a nice noise but engines spin too much pulling away without doing much, and retarders are too sharp - like driving a hovercraft into a brick wall. ZF way more controllable and responsive.

zf's just seem much quicker only down side is the shake a lot, not very good if you have a coffee!!

For NXWM I dont have a preference. However I do like a later Stagecoach Voith (are they 5 speed?)

Quote from: Ashley 4569 on May 23, 2013, 12:36:46 AM
For NXWM I dont have a preference. However I do like a later Stagecoach Voith (are they 5 speed?)

I'm not sure. They sound identical to WN's Voith Tridents however

Im not getting into anything but I think what Matt means by "thrash route" is basically a route that doesnt involve as much stop start stop start low speed. I do agree to overtake cars with a bus wouldnt be good from a passenger perspective however maybe those cars were just travelling slower anyway but fight amongst yourselves

Identical yes, NXWM 4583 is comparable to say Stagecoach 18179 but thats me going off on a tangent, I think the stagecoach ones do have 5 speed gearboxes, seem to have more beef than ours but