Greetings all:
Well today was a big day, took my bus into C&J a couple of days ago and they did a full base line, checked out the chassis etc on their hoist, and I moved into my heated storage bay - more on that later.
Bottom line they did an A & B service which was to check and adjust some 17 items and change oil, filters, and air cleaner. Turns out Mr. Donaldson really thinks his air filter is pretty special as he charges $110 each! When they put it up on the hoist every thing looked really good, it is a relatively low mileage coach and that is what it looks like. Fixed 3 things while on the hoist, a leaking transmission filter where it fits into the engine, they replaced the O ring and hopefully that will fix the issue if not will have to go to a spin on filter. The second thing was a loose brake spring on the front brake and that was fixed without having to take off the hub, and the third item was coolant leak from a heat exchanger inside the coach that is leaking anti freeze. We isolated that heat exchanger and I will be having a look at it later next week. Another issue found was a kink in the fuel line to the filter because of the way the door closes on it, that was replaced with a line that will not kink.
When I clean out the bays I hope I can see the heat exchanger from underneath, because it is located in the bowels of the kitchen cabinetry. Liberty put the heat and the ac units in the same location in the coach. Not sure how things are ducted etc, etc. Will be asking for help trust me.
Now to the coach garage fun and games. The dimensions of the coach condo I am renting is 18 X 38, outside dimensions. Inside is 17 X 37, I measured the inside just to be sure. My coach is 35 feet long. Some of you can already guess what comes next. In the drive area between the condos, someone had a classic car with a battery charger on it, and in a location that made it awkward for me to back in, but back in I did. Remembering the 38 number, well guys an otherwise great day got a bit dimmer, when I went about 3 inches to far back and took out about a 4 X 8 piece of sheet rock from the back wall. Those rubber bumper snubbers on the bumpers work really well, they just kind of push out a piece of sheet rock about that size. Oh well, probably going to park in their a few more times before I fix it.
So good day all in all, and really, really like driving the bus.
Chuck
Stillwater Mn
Removed
Only if we have to Dallas , grease under the nails in the hair and black deisel soot someplace on the body lol
Nice Job chuck what's a small hole in the sheetrock anyway lol Happy for you and your new adventure
Chuck,
Sounds like the ole gal was in pretty good shape huh?
At least you didn't take out a rear light or dent the stainless! Sheetrock is an easy fix and cheap too!
Do you have any pics to share yet?
Have fun!
Paul
Paul: Put one pic in my signature, going to post some more tomorrow.
Chuck
Stillwater Mn
We are men, but we can change... if we have to! said by our very own Dallas?
That ain't the way I remember Yosemity Sam putting it. I think "Forget Hell!" was in there also.
How very progressive of you, though. ??? ::) ;D ;D
John 8)
If it ain't broke, you're not tryin'. Keep your stick on the ice. I'm pullin for ya, we're all in this together. ;) ...Cable
If the women don't find ya handsome, they should at least find ya handy....
Hi Chuck,
I had to replace the O-ring on the transmission filter on our MC8 too and it stopped the leak. I'll bet yours will too.
I would suggest that you anchor bolt a stop block to the floor of your storage bay in the appropriate location to prevent a recurrence of punching holes in the sheetrock. I know the feeling you had when your incident happened. I pushed the back wall of my shop out about 7" last fall when backing in. Fortunately the damage looked worse than it was and I was able to pull it back in with a come along using the bus as an anchor.
I don't know how you plan to use your bus so you may not be interested in joining the Midwest Bus Nuts group. Midwest Bus Nuts is a chapter of Family Motor Coach Association (FMCA) and you have to be a member of FMCA to join. We are a group of about 100 converted bus owners, both self converted and factory conversions, that get together for rallies once a month in the summer. The first rally will be at the Wisconsin Dells area (Lake Delton) mothers day weekend. If that would be of intrest I can give you more information.
It looks like you have a very nice bus and I hope you enjoy it to the fullest.
Good luck, Sam MC8
Good thing I'm not your landlord - I'd have increased your rent for that extra 3" of 'storage' ;D
Trying to back in that close to the wall can be tricky. Put the bus where you want it and lag a 4"x4" timber to the floor as a wheel stop.
I do love a nice 35' bus - pic's would be much appreciated!
Brian
Good start on a drive thru.
Here are a couple of pics:
Looks good Chuck! I'm sure you will have lots of fun with her!
Chuck: Nice to know there's someone else in the area with a bus affliction. I'm in Forest Lake and wondered about C&J's, but my bus isn't RV licensed yet (soon I hope)
Is your coach all ready converted or are you doing your own conversion? Enjoy that bus! Gerry
Quote from: Gerry H on April 07, 2010, 07:15:50 AM
Chuck: Nice to know there's someone else in the area with a bus affliction. I'm in Forest Lake and wondered about C&J's, but my bus isn't RV licensed yet (soon I hope)
Is your coach all ready converted or are you doing your own conversion? Enjoy that bus! Gerry
Gerry,
Welcome to the madness! Call or stop by C & J and get to know JD, and the crew @ C & J! (they will be your new best friends in this crazy bus hobby!) Tell JD the MN bus nut gang and some crazy guy from TN sent you ;)
Now as far as "Nice to know there's someone else in the area with a bus affliction." goes. You are surrounded by them!
There is "Gumpy" aka Craig, Brian Diehl, Brian Elfert, Paul Hastings, Fred, Troy, RickB, Sam and many more in the Twin Cities area! (sorry I don't remember everyone, or even some of their last names!)
;D BK ;D
Thanks BK - I am starting a list of "locals" for possible help, and I will check out C&J's. I'm sure I need at least one of those $110.00 filters! Gerry H
Hey Gerry,
I'm located near Delano (other side of the world from you!). I spent an hour at C&J today. Those guys are straight shooters, JD the owner won't steer you wrong. That being said, their business is fixing commercial operator's coaches, so they have severe demands on their time and usually have four bays of busses in there being worked on. They're not cheap either, but they are fair. And they know busses, thats all they do.
But they put up with us busnuts. I think they just laugh once we leave the shop. But definitely I would have the coach inspected by them and then you can decide what you're going to fix and what you need them to fix.
If you need Detroit work, I have a great Detroit mechanic located about six miles west of me. He builds them for pulling tractors as a hobby.
Fred
What air filter do you have that cost 110 bucks if it is the ECO series that is not a bad price I pay 129.00 bucks for mine wholesale
good luck
Fred your very right on all points about C & J. While not always cheapest (JD has some of the best prices anywhere on some parts, and some not) , they are extremely goood! JD has more than once lost $ on a parts sale by steering me the opposite direction for the correct fix the first time! And too me that is what makes dealing with him and his crew worth the extra $ here and there! He won't sell you something he knows you don't need just to make a sale, and if he knows of a cheaper option he will tell you about it and let you make the decision!
All in all everyone I know of up in that area is OK in my book, especially that guy converting a Setra ;) !
;D BK ;D
Fred: Thanks for your input and info, Delano ain't that far-is it? Somewhere east of South Dakota! I was joking about the filter cost, give me a break, I'm a newbe with a small check book! Thanks guys