I was heading West on I-4 in FL near Disneyworld today and noticed a bus on the side of the road, with one wheel off. Luckily (and very much NOT the norm) I was able to cut across three lanes of traffic to get to where he was to see if he needed help. He already had someone on the way to bring him a rim and tire from Plant City. The bus was a Flexible and he was traveling from St. Augustine home to Sebring. He was wearing a Bussin 2005 T-shirt, so I knew in an instant he was a fellow Bus Nut, lol. I introduced myself and told him what I go by on these boards and then he knew who I was. We talked for a little while, I showed him a pic of my Eagle , which of course I always have on hand :)
It seems that the lug nuts were coming loose on the driver's side rear wheel, and the holes on the rim became oval and it broke one or two studs (see pics). He told me that a truck driver had noticed that his rear wheel was wobbling and motioned to him so he pulled over to inspect what was going on and noticed the problem. It's a good thing he did before that wheel came off, it could have flipped that bus over. Hopefully when he gets the chance he can chime in on this and let us know what happened.
I'm curious as to how common this is and what really causes it or how it can be prevented? I have my own ideas, but I'm interested in your input (fellow bus nuts).
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4119.jpg (http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4119.jpg)
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4120.jpg (http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4120.jpg)
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4121.jpg (http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4121.jpg)
http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4123.jpg (http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4123.jpg)
that is one nice lookin bus. glad it didn't roll over. sooo i guess the moral to this is: check your rims often. wow, lucky
Outlaw
Hard for me to believe a guy could not tell his lugs nuts were loose you can walk by a wheel with loose lug nuts and they will have a rusty streak on the wheel huh Dallas he is one lucky guy
good luck
Removed
I used to take my Dad to Fla for the winter when he lived in PA. Old 74 Winnie. On one visit I was outside grabbing a smoke and the guy from across the way came over to chat. After only a minute he looked at my right front and said "the lug nuts on that tire are loose". I said "how can you tell that without a wrench?" He said he owned a truck tire store in ???? and gave me his card. He was the one that told me about the rust streak running g from under the lug nuts being the tattletale. I never heard of such a thing and I wonder how many others here are getting this for the first time? I got an 8Th of a turn or less on those nuts. Fortuitous meeting for me....and Dad.
Hey, I'm from Pennsylvania and the only thing rust means to me is that I am from Pennsylvania.
Thanks, Clifford.
John
Looks like simulators on the right rear. I'm assuming the left rear was the loose one.
Trucks and buses here have plastic 'arrow' devices clipped to each lug nut - you can tell instantly if a nut is starting to come loose because the arrow will be pointing in the wrong direction
Jeremy
Jeremy,
They have the arrows here in the US, but I will be doing a similar fix by marking mine with a magic marker. I had the same problem on my drive axle. Noticed it when parked. Did not notice it on the 800 mile trip to Chicargo. Using never seize on the lug nuts I to have a little streak coming from under the lug nut. Before my next trip I will put the big torque wrench on every one of them.
John
PS Yes very nice looking flex, thanks for the pic's.
It's kinda hard to notice the rust streak when it's between the two wheels, especially with simulators. I wish I could figure how to spot things like that. It looks to me like the lugs weren't tight enough, assuming the broken studs are the result of wheel wobble and not overtightening.
The thing I worry about most is the inner nut on the rear Budd wheels. You can't check it without taking the outer nut off, and taking the outer nut off loosens the inner nut anyway, sometimes starts to take it right off. Those inner nuts are the ones I make totally sure are torqued correctly. I use the pointy plastic things, but man they are ugly... :P
Brian
This could happen to any of us. This is the reason for checking the torque at reasonable intervals.
Same results can be caused by overtightening. Once the stud is overstretched, the load it can carry is reduced. Also, overtightening will deform the tapered hole in the rim, which reduces the ability of the nut to properly locate & clamp the wheel to the hub - which can allow the wheel to move relative to the hub - which can lead to wobble.
Stretched studs can require more torque to turn the nut, which leads to reduced clamping pressure for a given applied torque. = loose wheel. :(
We need to be sure we use the tools properly so we don't get complacent & start ignoring safety check procedures.
The indicators for nut position are a convenient tool, but only show if the nut rotates - doesn't show anything else, like if the nut bottomed out before the desired clamp load was reached or if there are other issues. We should also be using a gauge to check the stud holes in the rims too. . . .
I hope he gets all the studs replaced as part of the repair.
At the bus rally in Florida when using steel inside and aluminum outside it was brought up to use the plastic 10 hole gaskets between the inner wheel and outer wheel. I have added this to both my drives.
Does anyone else use this gasket?
John
I understand the reason behind the plastic-to minimize or elimanate galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals...in your case the steel wheel inside and the aluminum wheel outside. I personally don't think they are a good idea in practical application and may even be bad if they allow any wiggle or squirm between the wheels. Even the industry doesn't like too much paint build-up on wheels to prevent this type of movement. This is all just my opinion from 20+ years in HD trucking.
This is one reason why I prefer the uni-mount or Hub Pilot system, but it is probably not worth changing over from stud centered.
Are bus guys really having that much trouble with wheels? Maybe everyone should find a good local tire shop...and stay away from the truck stops when possible.
Nice looking Flex too!
One problem with wheel covers/simulators is the inability to visually inspect your wheels/lugs.
DaveG, in all the years I have owned a bus and traveled to 49 states I never saw a bus loose a wheel but now there is a different breed buying these monsters that know nothing about a bus they just go if it starts
good luck
thought i would correct a few things.first off is that i just did not buy this moster. i have driven trucks for 30 years including 12 axle steel train count the no of wheels
reply first off i did not just buy this monster. i retired from trucking driving a12 axle steel train grossing up to 160,000 ibs.for over 30 years. so count the no off wheels thats 44 for the ones that can0t count. i have never lost a wheel. the wheels on the bus are powdercoated i beleive that is why the lugs came lose. they had chrome top hats and lug covers that is the reason there was no rust stains. powercoat doesnot rust. this is the same old stuff people shooting there mouths off before getting the facts.anyone that wants to come and back up a set off doubles ? i did learn if you powdercoat wheels dont do the face. i am replacing the wheels with budd aluminun. i do thank buscrasyinfl for stopping and offering help hope to see you again jim
Jim,
Thanks for filling in the gaps, if this could happen to someone with your level of experience, it could happen to any of us. I'm glad no further damage was done.
Many of us here here don't realize the potential for problems & possible dangers hidden behind lug covers. Good reminder against powdercoat on the wheel flange face.
As for me, I have been fortunate to have had plenty of luck - especially when I didn't realize I was needing it.
Those alum buds will look good on your already nice looking coach!
Are you gonna be able to make it to the South East Busnuts rally at Palmetto Cove in April? You could to show off your new wheels . . . ;D
kyle i w ish i could make it to your rally.but i am ordering the wheels takes about 10 days to get,also the wheel that i had trouble with was put on at a tire shop. dont think they had 400 miles on them.and by the way luvrbus i have also driven an 18 wheeler in all 48 states plus canada average 150.000 miles per year withnever a accident. jim
Jim, no one is shooting their mouth off but if you drove a truck for 30 years and could not feel a wheel coming loose something is wrong with this picture because I could like 1000's of others feel a flat you have a good day
clifford it was not a flat and i did not feel any wobble.also with the mci fenders on each wheel i could not see the wobble.enogh said. have a good day jim
Jim,
We have a couple more -
A July 4th gathering
The NonRally in October (10-3 thru 10-10)
So, you have a couple more chances to make it up here. ;D
A lesson learned for all of us about the powder coating. I'd like to go the Alcoa route someday but if I ever decide to I think I would want to go to the 24.5 's and that along with the new studs and new rubber is a pretty sizeable dent in the pocketbook! Make sure you show us some pics with the new wheels!
Quote from: johns4104s on March 30, 2010, 07:24:13 AM
At the bus rally in Florida when using steel inside and aluminum outside it was brought up to use the plastic 10 hole gaskets between the inner wheel and outer wheel. I have added this to both my drives.
Does anyone else use this gasket?
John
John,
I'm not familiar with the gasket you are talking about but, lest anyone be confused, I wouldn't want anyone to mistake it for the bright yellow plastic rings used to protect aluminum wheels from lug wrench scratches.
Jim.
Clifford means well, he is just a good old Texan living in Arizona. It took me a while to understand him, But now being a Texas transplant myself, It all makes sense,
John