Recovery And Towing - Volvo 9700 Manual

Recovery and towing

Recovery and towing
If the bus has become difficult to control,
it may need to be recovered to a
workshop. Recovery of the bus requires
lifting and towing techniques.
NOTE
All activities during the recovering of the
bus are made by technician specialists.
They have specific knowledge of the
buses and carry the necessary equipment
to undertake the job safely.
There are three main recovery methods:
1 Towing - the bus is towed by another
vehicle using the towing rod.
2 Lifting and towing - the front or rear
of the bus is raised off the ground by
a recovery vehicle.
3 Transporting - winching into a
transporter, for example a low loader
trailer.
CAUTION
Tow eyes are located on the front and the
rear of the bus.
Only front tow eye is to be used for towing
the bus, with all wheels on the ground.
90
Procedures before towing
CAUTION
The propeller shaft must always be
removed for towing if the driving wheels
are in contact with the ground. The
gearbox will be damaged if the propeller
shaft is not removed.
It is not expected by the driver but by the
towing truck.
• Turn on the bus' lights according to
national regulations.
• Place a warning triangle or a flashing
yellow light behind the bus according
to national regulations.
• Chock the wheels.
• Remove the propeller shaft or the
drive axles.
• Fit the towing brace and the towing
pin.
• Turn off TCS. Otherwise the system
may activate and the bus disconnect
from towing.
• If possible, start the engine and leave
it running for the duration of the
towing operation. If the engine is not
running while towing, the power
steering does work and the bus is
heavy to steer.
• Raise the bogie axle so that the
wheels are not turning when
reversing the bus.
• Release the parking brake
mechanically, see Releasing the
parking brake page 91.
WARNING
Always use a towing brace and towing pin
when towing. Never tow from the forward
underrun guard. The underrun guard is not
designed to withstand this sort of force.
When towing a longer distance, the
parking brake might be applied due to
the air pressure in the brake circuit
dropping. If the bus' engine cannot be
started to provide sufficient pressure in
the brake circuit for releasing the parking
brake, then pressurisation can be
performed using an external source.
DANGER
When the parking brake is released
mechanically, the bus completely lacks
any braking ability.