The Mercedes-Benz L 337 is a lorry made by Daimler-Benz, sold under the Mercedes-Benz brand. Introduced in March 1959,[1] it was already discontinued in 1961, and replaced with the L 338. The L 337 is the first generation of Mercedes-Benz' heavy-duty "short-bonnet lorries", and has, in its default configuration, the "long" short bonnet, which is 300 mm longer than the typical Mercedes-Benz medium duty short-bonnet lorry's bonnet. Mercedes-Benz also offered the L 337 as a forward-control lorry, called the LP 337.[2]

Mercedes-Benz L 337
Mercedes-Benz L 337 fire engine
Overview
TypeLorry
ManufacturerDaimler-Benz AG
Production1959–1961
AssemblyWest Germany: Gaggenau
Body and chassis
Class7.2 t lorry
Body styleConventional cab
Forward control
LayoutFront engine, rear-wheel-drive
PlatformMercedes-Benz L 337
RelatedMercedes-Benz L 322
Powertrain
EngineOM 326 (Diesel, 10809 cm3, 127 kW)
TransmissionManual five-speed synchromesh gearbox and two-speed planetary rear-axle;
10 forward, 2 reverse gears
PropulsionTyres
Dimensions
Wheelbase3700–5000 mm
Chronology
PredecessorNone
SuccessorL 338

The L 337 was designed to comply with "Seebohm's legislation", which limited the maximum permissible total mass of lorries registered in West-Germany to 12,000 kg (plus another 12,000 kg of trailer mass). However, the L 337 was rendered obsolete by rescindment of this legislation in 1960.[3]

Models

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  • L 337: Base model, offered either as a rolling chassis or with a flatbed[4]
  • LK 337: Tipper lorry[4]
  • LP 337: Forward control lorry[5]
  • LS 337: Tractor
  • LPS 337: Forward control tractor

Description

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A Mercedes-Benz LP 710, which is technically different from the LP 337 (note the different front axle and rim), but otherwise has the same forward control cab
 
LS 337 tractor

The L 337 is a two-axle lorry with a total permissible mass of 12,000 kg and rear-wheel drive. It has a ladder frame with U-profile longitudinal sections. At launch, Mercedes-Benz offered three different wheelbase options, (3700 mm,[5] 4200 mm, and 4400 mm);[4] in 1960, a 5000 mm option was added. The cab is either the long version of the short-bonnet lorry cab (L, LK models), or the short version of the forward-control cab (LP models). From 1960, Mercedes-Benz offered a long variant of the forward-control cab (LP models).[6]

Both front and rear axles are beam axles. The front axle is a stub (dead) axle, the rear axle is a hypoid drive (live) axle. Usually, such axles do not have additional reduction gearboxes if used in large on-road lorries. However, the L 337's hypoid axle was fitted with an additional, pneumatically-shifted two-speed planetary gearbox, giving the lorry 5 × 2 = 10 forward gears. This design allowed Daimler-Benz to install their modular Daimler-Benz G 32 synchromesh five speed gearbox, which otherwise would not have had proper gear spreading.[7] The clutch used to transmit the torque from the engine to the gearbox is a dry Fichtel & Sachs GF 50 KR BH single-disc clutch. The engine used in the L 337 is the naturally aspirated, straight-six OM 326IV Diesel engine. It is precombustion chamber injected, water-cooled, and rated 190 hp (SAE gross) / 172 PS; 127 kW (DIN 70020).[4]

Technical specifications

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Technical specifications (April 1959)
L 337 LK 337 LP 337
Dimensions and weights
Wheelbase (mm) 4400 4200 3700/4200
Length (mm) 7650 7050 6960/7920
Width (mm) 2400 2430 2400
Height (mm) 2470 2490 2560
Front track width (mm) 1906
Rear track width (mm) 1788
Ground clearance (mm) 252
Mass (kg) 4770 5370 4740/4950
Payload (kg) 7230 6630 7260/7050
Max. permissible mass (kg) 12,000
Powertrain
Clutch Dry single-disc clutch Fichtel & Sachs/GF 50 KR/BH
Gearbox Five-speed synchromesh gearbox Daimler-Benz G 32
Driven axle Rear axle
Gear ratios 1st: 6.106:1
2nd: 3.24:1
3rd: 2.19:1
4th: 1.467:1
5th: 1:1
R: 5.64:1
Top speed (km/h) 72.5 83.5
Brake drum area (cm2) 2830
Engine
Type designation Mercedes-Benz OM 326IV
Type Naturally aspirated straight-six Diesel
Fuel system Precombustion chamber injection; inline injection pump
Valvetrain Four overhead valves
Cooling system Water
Bore × Stroke 128 × 140 mm
Displacement 10,809 cm3
Power (DIN 70020) 172 PS (127 kW) at 2200 rpm
Power (SAE gross) 190 HP at 2200 rpm
Max. Torque (DIN 70020) 58 kp⋅m (569 N⋅m) at 1300 rpm
Average piston speed 10.3 m/s
Compression ε 20.5
Mean effective pressure 6.75 kp·cm−2 (662 kPa)
Injection pressure 135 atü (13.2 MPa)
Firing order 1-5-3-6-2-4
Inlet opens 31° before TDC
Inlet closes 67° after BDC
Outlet opens 69° before BDC
Outlet closes 33° after TDC
Engine mass 805 kg
Rated fuel consumption (DIN 70030, in l/100 km) 18.1
Fluid capacities
Fuel tank (l) 100
Oil pan (l) 9–12
Cooler (l) 40
Gearbox (l) 3.7
Electrical system
Starter motor 24-V sliding armature starter Bosch BPD 6/24 AR 169
Generator Bosch LJ/GK 300/12-1400 AR 18 (12 V, 300 W)
Driven starting from crankshaft speeds of 660 rpm
Batteries 2 × Lead-acid, 12 V, 105 Ah
Sources [4] [5]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Deutsche Verkehrswissenschaftliche Gesellschaft (ed.): Internationales Verkehrswesen, Volume 11, A. Tetzlaff-Verlag, 1959, p. 96
  2. ^ Daimler AG (ed.): Mercedes-Benz truck premiere on 5 March 1959: Global success with a short nose, 4 March 2019, retrieved 17 December 2020
  3. ^ Harry Niemann, Armin Hermann: 100 Jahre LKW: Geschichte und Zukunft des Nutzfahrzeuges, Steiner-Verlag, 1997, ISBN 978-3-515-07053-9, p. 97
  4. ^ a b c d e Verband der Automobilindustrie (ed.): Daimler-Benz AG, Werk Gaggenau: Typ L 337 / LK 337, Group 14, Number 1200, Frankfurt am Main, April 1959
  5. ^ a b c Verband der Automobilindustrie (ed.): Daimler-Benz AG, Werk Gaggenau: Typ LP 337, Group 14, Number 1200a, Frankfurt am Main, April 1959
  6. ^ Verband der Automobilindustrie (ed.): Daimler-Benz AG, Werk Gaggenau: Typ LP 337, Group 14, Number 1200a, Frankfurt am Main, May 1960
  7. ^ Olaf von Fersen (ed.): Ein Jahrhundert Automobiltechnik: Nutzfahrzeuge, Springer, Heidelberg 1987, ISBN 978-3-662-01120-1, p. 142–144