NTL Record

Title Reliability Evaluation of V730 Transmission
Record ID 50514
Personal Name
Creator
Comparato, T. F.; Harrington, N.; Ow, R.; Seekell, F.
Source 42p. in various pagings
Corporate Creator John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (U.S.)
Corporate
Contributor
United States. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Publisher United States. Urban Mass Transportation Administration
Publication Date 19821001
Language English
Abstract The Detroit Diesel Allison V730 transmission is a heavy duty, automatic, 3-speed, hydraulic transmission, currently installed in full size (35' and 40') transit buses with transverse mounted rear engines. This report presents the general approach and results of an evaluation to determine the reliability of the Detroit Diesel Allison V730 transmission. Since its introduction in late 1976, the V730 transmission has exhibited generally unreliable performance--reports of service life ranging from 2,000 to 45,000 miles. Transit properties have experienced a wide spectrum of problems. Many manufacturer modifications were introduced and this evaluation was conducted to ascertain whether the transmission is or is not improving. As background information, the report includes a discussion of the history of bus transmissions and a description of the V730. The market size of the bus transmission is compared with that for other applications (e.g., trucks, school buses). Annual V730 production levels are examined for the last six years. A simplified reliability analysis was devised. The mileage at the first-time failure of new transmissions was used as the reliability indicator. The analysis utilized an increasing transmission serial number as the indicator of a greater potential for an improved design. A correlation is made of serial numbers with achieved mileage (to first-time failure) to determine the degree of improvement in reliability. A transmission with a higher serial number is expected to exhibit a greater achieved mileage. The analysis was based on failure data collected from 15 transit properties.
Rosap ID dot:11896
Rosap URL https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/11896
TRT Terms Buses; Failure analysis; Hydraulic transmissions; Reliability; Service life; Transmissions; Vehicle design
Classification NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Bus Transportation;
NTL - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION;
NTL - SAFETY AND SECURITY - Vehicle Design
Geographical
Coverage
Detroit (Michigan)
Report Number UMTA-MA-06-0120-82-6; DOT-TSC-UMTA-82-19
Resource type Tech Report
URL https://ntlrepository.blob.core.windows.net/lib/50000/50500/50514/DOT-TSC-UMTA-82-19.pdf
Format PDF
Database NTL Digital Repository