Bedford TK Petrol v Diesel

[Andrew Hoddinott]

Hi,
I have seen a really nice Bedford TK with a wooden Oakley box at a warranted
28000 miles on a V plate (1980).
My only worry is that it is a 6cyl petrol and ideally I was after a Diesel.

Does anyone have any idea on likely mpg for the pertrol compared with the
diesel. I have heard quotes from 8 - 20 mpg for the pertrol but have no idea
what a diesel would do.

Also are there any other major worries I should have with a TK of this age.

Any thoughts gratefully received.

Andrew Hoddinott

[Melanie Weaver-Thorpe]

P...@StampOn.It.&Post.It wrote:
> One bonus, it will soon be road tax exempt!!

Not it won't. They're not rolling the road tax exemption thing any more.
It's only for pre 1972. Pah....

Melanie-who-has-a-1976-Spitfire-and-isn't-too-chuffed-about-the-road-tax-thingy
--
Melanie Weaver-Thorpe
Telesave: 4p USA, 4p Netherlands, 5p France, Germany & Ireland + more!
For cheaper quality phone calls visit http://telesave.world.co.uk

[Darren Page]

Andrew Hoddinott <Andrew.H...@btinternet.com> wrote in message
news:89himp$ic5$1...@uranium.btinternet.com...

Andrew,

We've had a petrol TK 214 for the last 8 years (soon upgrading to a Cargo).
They are thirsty compared to a diesel. Expect no more than 12MPG. A diesel
will proabably give you 20MPG. Our TK has been running happily on LRP since
Christmas, but if we were going to keep it I'd convert the head to unleaded.
The advantage of the petrol is that the engine is fairly straight forward
for the DIY mechanic. Expect no more than 45MPH on the flat, slowing to
around 20MPH on a hill in top, or less if you have to drop through the
gears. The engine is also much quieter than a diesel. Given a choice, I'd
go for a 6 cylinder diesel, steer clear of the 4 cylinder one as it's more
gutless than the petrol.

Regards
Darren

[Sak]

I had a 6 cyl petrol TK but, as the speedo was bust, I couldn't tell you
what sort of consumption we got (but it was low). It was a hell of a lot
quieter than a diesel TK though!

Only trouble with the petrol ones is that you need to set the timing,
points etc up to get the best from them (the diesel just keeps going)

Just have a good poke around the whole lorry when you have a look,
knife/screwdriver into the floor and the body to check for rot - it's 20
years old so do not spare the knife! Chassis etc should be OK but look out
for the tyres - any signs of cracking/bulging then you'll best replace them
.

The only mechanical query I could raise is that I have not heard of a
petrol model as late as 1980 - do not hold me to this as I am no expert,
perhaps somebody else has? If I am right then two things may have
happened - your one was re-engined or (more likely) it is an ex-MoD one and
was given a 1980 plate when it was 'demobbed' rather than the year of
manufacture.

I quite liked our old petrol TK - they are quite rare but parts are easy to
find and there is a Bedford Owners Club that will supply all the technical
info you need.

Sak

[Darren Page]

Sak <sak...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message news:89ivea$o1g$2...@gxsn.com...

> I had a 6 cyl petrol TK but, as the speedo was bust, I couldn't tell you
> what sort of consumption we got (but it was low). It was a hell of a lot
> quieter than a diesel TK though!
>
> Only trouble with the petrol ones is that you need to set the timing,
> points etc up to get the best from them (the diesel just keeps going)

<SNIP>

>
> I quite liked our old petrol TK - they are quite rare but parts are easy
to
> find and there is a Bedford Owners Club that will supply all the technical
> info you need.
>
> Sak

Reminds me of when I had to get a new set of points. Asked for a set for a
TK and was told they don't make them. Produced the old set and was told
they are the same as a metro's. when you get them tuned they run really
sweet.

Regards
Darren

[Graeme Tyson]

"Darren Page" said>

> Reminds me of when I had to get a new set of points. Asked for a set for
a
> TK and was told they don't make them. Produced the old set and was told
> they are the same as a metro's. when you get them tuned they run really
> sweet.

Well I wouldn't know as ours was so old and worn that it was impossible to
set the ignition timing accurately either statically or dynamicaly. The
solution was just to rotate the distributor a little bit at a time and then
have a quick drive - soon as it felt 'right' then just leave it.

Funnily enough I was looking in the H&H today and, is it just me or are
there a lot of boxes in there are reasonable prices??

(There seems to be a hell of a lot of horses in there this week too)

Graeme