In St.Louis need repair shop for 4106 with an 8v71 @ TA Truck Stop on I-70. Do not have computer access but have cell phone: (208) 573-3958. Head leaking water...I think it's a bad O-ring. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Kevin
Where from the head is it leaking if coming from the between the block and the head going to be more than a o-ring replacement
good luck
Talked to Kevin...His bus is not losing coolant after all. He thinks it's a small fuel leak near the back of the engine. He also found a mechanic that believes his fan clutch is bad and won't spin fast enough to cool at hwy speeds. He's going to call Luke for ideas on the fan clutch. If anyone has dealt with this, any input would be helpful. They are a long way from home. They are stuck near St. Louis and live in Idaho. They just want to get it home...Cable
Does any one know how to lock up the hydraulic fan on a 4106? Kevin can only find one oil line. Does he need to block in and out, or only out to the control valve?..Cable
I know on electric and pnewmatic hubs there will be a couple of threaded holes in the inner hub and you spin the fan to lineup corrisponding holes on the free spinning outer section of it and bolt the 2 halves togeather
Late last night they blocked off the oil outlet line and should be on the road today...Cable
Kevin and Traci made it to Ogallala, NE. and the coach shut down. It smells like burned plastic inside and out. The temp gauge read 190 at shutdown. It smoked white for a while but quit before they could find the source. Any busnuts close? They could use some help...Cable
Sad but afraid he has engine problems tell him to look at the air box drains for water
good luck
Kevin, Sorry for your troubles. I assume that this is the new bus that you were going to pick up. Too bad this happened.
Cable, thanks for trying to help him. That is great.
I don't have anything to offer. Too far away (for as busy as I am 10 hours is too far right now), and I don't have the know how. I did check (you guys probably did too), but here is what I found. http://maps.google.com/maps?q=diesel+shop&ll=41.125401,-101.697521&spn=0.057736,0.132093&sll=41.117464,-101.714494&sspn=0.014436,0.033023&near=Ogallala,+NE+69153&geocode=CX49_-xJ4524FbmTcwIdbOLv-SlJqxj1jsJ2hzFjh923ajo1cQ&t=h&z=14 (http://maps.google.com/maps?q=diesel+shop&ll=41.125401,-101.697521&spn=0.057736,0.132093&sll=41.117464,-101.714494&sspn=0.014436,0.033023&near=Ogallala,+NE+69153&geocode=CX49_-xJ4524FbmTcwIdbOLv-SlJqxj1jsJ2hzFjh923ajo1cQ&t=h&z=14)
Thanks for keeping us updated.
That is really nice John. Now somebody should know that there are shops he should not enter. Hopefully, they can recommend one or two as well.
That sucks. I wish them well.
If he has water coming out of the air box how could he have inspected for that being a probable failure?
Thanks,
John
Thanks John, They just bought that bus in South Carolina and are trying to get home. It must be lonely out there. They don't have internet, only cell. Their daughter made the first post with the phone#. I'm trying to help from here, but I'm in a camp ground on the Or. coast, so my resources are limited. Cell and internet depend on where I sit and how I hold my ears. I was hoping there would be a busnut close to where they broke but I know that's reaching. So with out someone with experience in that area...Ya pays ya money...Ya takes ya chances. I believe their road service recommended the shop they're going to..Now they're just waiting for a big enough truck...Cable
The mechanic cranked it twice and then pulled the blower apart and got metal chunks. No water from air box drains... Hope that's all, but some how I doubt it...Cable
The aftercooler sits under the blower and it is full of coolant. If the blower grenaded it would seem that some of the shards would rupture the After-cooler and that should put water into the air box. If the air box is dry you got lucky. This all just guesswork on my part but..... So did the turbo compressor wheel supply the shrapnel to destroy the blower?
Curious John
prob no turbo or cooler here- just blower. on old 8 v 71 anything possible. fingersXXXXX for simple non bus total fix. positive wishes. Bob
Kevin,
We're stopped in North Platte this morning, coming through Ogallala in a bit, anything I could help with?
Sorry to hear about your troubles.
Brandon
I hope it just lost the blower drive won't be that expensive to repair
good luck
Quote from: robertglines1 on August 02, 2011, 04:42:48 AM
prob no turbo or cooler here- just blower. on old 8 v 71 anything possible. fingersXXXXX for simple non bus total fix. positive wishes. Bob
Bob,
He originally identified the engine as a 8V71 "TA". That is where my confusion comes from.
John
I stay confused??? part of my disposition ::)
Brandon, They are at Big Mac in Ogallala just off exit 126 on I80.I
m sure they would appreciate a smiling face amongst the chaos and feeling screwed over .Even just a friendly busin face..The shop address is 25 River Rd...Thanks.... Cable
JohnEd,
I believe the "TA" in the original post refers to the TravelCenters of America truckstop where they were stuck.
Bob
Brandon,
I second Cable. Would you please stop by and see what is going on. I hope they are getting it figured out.
John
Kevin said the blower shards got into the engine. Looks like a $6K in frame. Will take a few weeks. They're gonna rent a car and go home tomorrow. Then come back when it's done. Interesting side note. The emergency shut down flapper was wired open. Scary! They were lucky. I hope he wrote this all down so he gets it all right when he tells the story. Which I'm sure he will...Cable
Bummer, Cable. Thanks for letting us know. I was hoping that wasn't it. Darn. Feel bad for him.
Kevin, sorry that this happened to you. Nobody likes this kind of thing happening. It will make a great story later on, though. ;D
Quote from: wildbob24 on August 02, 2011, 11:19:41 AM
JohnEd,
I believe the "TA" in the original post refers to the TravelCenters of America truckstop where they were stuck.
Bob
Bob,
Amazing! I even went back and re-read it and still came up with the same misunderstanding. Guess I will have to give up performing brain surgery.LOL
Sad story. Wish them the best in this dismal situation.
Thanks Bob for taking the time,
John
JohnEd @@@@@@@ TA Truck Stop hope that helps lol
Your too late Cliffy. ;) Bob beat you too it. All you get is sloppy seconds. LOL But your timing is still impeccable. Har.
John
Really sad reminds me of another guy here bought a 4106 that had all the electric fans on it he bought his in the west somewhere and was headed back east and lost the engine in El Paso.
I have often wondered if he just left the bus and forgot about it or what happened I still have the heads I was giving him that Dallas was going to install been over 2 years now not a word he probably cut his loses and moved on.
You guys need to check the bearing in the blowers every couple of years for play this is what happens when a bearing fails
I hope the couple gets out of the shop for 6 grand don't know about that price with blown blower so many unknowns I would have bought a good used lefty from one of GM guys for a 1000 bucks and gave that a try as tight as they are on cash.
I know of a bus in Payette Id with a good fresh lefty engine he can buy and drive it back Neb and sell the rest for scrap
good luck
It probably wouldn't hurt if everyone would do an OIL ANALYSIS every once in awhile to see if they have any
bearing ware.
Steve 5B......
That's a good idea also Steve people just don't spend time a money to bad a oil sample doesn't tell you where the metal is coming from it would save a lot of time and money
good luck
Quote from: luvrbus on August 03, 2011, 07:05:16 AM
Really sad reminds me of another guy here bought a 4106 that had all the electric fans on it he bought his in the west somewhere and was headed back east and lost the engine in El Paso.
I have often wondered if he just left the bus and forgot about it or what happened I still have the heads I was giving him that Dallas was going to install been over 2 years now not a word he probably cut his lose and moved on.
good luck
I remember them too, Clifford. I wonder what happened to them....hmmmm
Clifford & John -
You're talking about "Big Doug" and his 4106 w/ the electric fans.
He sold the bus for basically scrap value. Dunno what's happened to it since.
Doug & family moved to MO, I think. Old email address I have for him doesn't work anymore.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Quote from: 5B Steve on August 03, 2011, 07:24:26 AM
It probably wouldn't hurt if everyone would do an OIL ANALYSIS every once in awhile to see if they have any
bearing ware.
Steve 5B......
I am under the impression that the oil analysis is only really useful if you are doing it on a regular basis and that is what I have been told many times. In a case such as this, I think even fresh oil would have had a high bearing metal content that would have gotten flagged by the analysis data sheet. Even old oil should have registered above any normal expectations.
Is it safe to say that "every new purchase should have an analysis done"?
John
That's sad when you break down on the road and far from home, Money tight. I can see having just owned mine for a couple months if you don't know how to do it yourself, you better have a pocketfull of greenbacks. Tires and batteries for bus set me back about 8 grand. Wow! It wont take long to go through my little pile. I will learn how to work on this puppy.
Quote from: RJ on August 03, 2011, 09:35:56 AM
Clifford & John -
You're talking about "Big Doug" and his 4106 w/ the electric fans.
He sold the bus for basically scrap value. Dunno what's happened to it since.
Doug & family moved to MO, I think. Old email address I have for him doesn't work anymore.
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
To me this is a sad story for a couple of reasons. The one that gripes is that we went thru a lot of trouble and thought to get that guy help. Dallas was going to help him out even if he charged him. Clifford was going to donate heads. Cheaper alternatives were at hand. And he didn't have the courtesy to say Thanks or anything? He just dropped off of the edge? That ain't funny McGee. That is if we have the facts, of course.
Let me know if you come up with an email address for Big Doug. I may want to "thank" him.
John
Over 25 years ago, half a lifetime I guess, I saw my first Bus. Questions asked, I came away with the impression that a Bus was almost indestructable, that the engines would last a lifetime. But being a mechanic I have always been suspicious first, and confident last. One hiccup and the greatest confidence rushes back to suspicion.
I didnt join this forum ignorant, but I must say the learning curve made a rapid change. Far too many members here have seen catostrophic engine failures with quite a few impressive costs involved, and often occuring far from home. Yet time and again we see people heading home cross country with an unknown Bus. Others have brought home a hulk and spent years, and $$$$$ building a conversion, and never once thought to give the engine more than a look over. Why they are surprised when El Busso dies 500 to a 1000 miles down the road I dont know, but I surmise that it comes from the mistaken belief and ingrained idea passed around that Buses are indestructable, and will run for a lifetime.
This same kind of ignorance permeates the Mercedes world. Far too many buy those cars with the mistaken idea the car will run forever and needs nothing but fuel and tires. I am NOT postulating this is the case in this instance, rather, its simply another Bus thats gone down in the middle of nowhere. Next week or so there will be another. I havnt seen Jumpsuitman around for a while. There are others who have vanished, and I hope it is not because their Bus purchase dissolved all of their life savings.
To those who offered time and materials to a Busnut who has "gone missing", I would ask you try not to find fault they didnt say thanks before vanishing. Likely they just found themselves broke and discouraged and simply couldnt admit their ignorance. Let us hope not. Let us instead, share the information that not only are these Buses not indestructable, they are expensively indestrucatble, and in some ways quite fragile to hard or ignorant use. That the new to you Bus needs some rather thorough inspections before commiting it out to the road. And that in the best of cases we should all consider how we will handle the unexpected. We should all be fully aware that a major failure is not going to be cheap, and will not be resolved in a day or so, but may extend for weeks before your back on the road.
Yep Paul million mile buses LOL 1 thing they don't tell you is how much it going to cost you for million miles and I love my buses.
Have you ever paid any attention to these buses for sale with the new so called million mile engines so many read 480,000 new engine has only 10,000 miles on it,new rebuilt transmission only 50,000 miles I just chuckle when I read those.
As to the big Doug of Oregon and his 4106 I just figured the guy looked at the needs of his family and the bus and family came first he doesn't owe me any explanation for that's for sure I was just wondering what happen
good luck
Actually, to set the story straight, I wasn't going to charge him labor. All I asked for was fuel and camping costs. Remember... it was over 100° in El Paso at that time and almost 800 miles from me. I wasn't gonna run my el loudo generator 24/7 for power to keep cool.
Doug is in Nebraska as far as I know.. I talk to him on Facebook now and then, but never ask questions.
Like Clifford, I was going to donate my time and a lot of parts and pieces, as was Don Fairchild.
I did try to buy his bus but neer got a response from Doug. Too bad. It's probably across the border and hauling passengers hither and yon as we speak!
"Likely they just found themselves....." I think "likely" was the operative word. I can full well sympathize with the guy getting wrapped around the axle and forgetting his manners. I think he has had time to settle down and reflect on what he might owe those that extended the hand of friendship and a simple thank you is the least of it. Without that you are an ingrate. :(
And you two, Clifford and Dallas, personify selflessness and compassion and charity. As do many others here. I won't apologize for demanding that you be treated with common manners and respect you have earned.....at minimum. I won't accept it for myself and I am no better than you(collective). ??? ::) ;D
John
PS:
You opinions of politics and border security are not withstanding.LOL LOL YAR
John, the helpfullness, as well as offers of free parts and labor, and long travel distances to boot, that I have seen extended through this forum, is far, far beyond anything I have seen anywhere, and I share your feelings that Clifford and Dallas surely deserved a thankyou. That goes without saying.
All I was saying is that sometimes some of us find ourselves in a place in life where we are so far over our head we just cant think straight. In those circumstances, rather than call them an ingrate, let those of us that still have solid footing under us say thank you on their behalf. Sometimes having to say thanks, but no thanks, to an offer of help, is harder, simply because they dont want to answer the why's. They dont want to admit they lost their life savings, their pension, their home, etc., etc., and just go crawl under a rock instead.
If I used the incidents in my life where my help was abused and caused me damages, against the times I was gushed over with thanks, as my decision maker to hold out my hand once more to one in need, I would just drive on down the road and not look back, much as the world does. But something within me keeps trying, and I suspect that a few here feel a bit the same way. And I thank God there are still a few left that think that way.
If i help someone it doesn't really matter if they thank me or not. I just hope that somewhere down the road they help someone else......who might just end up being the person who ends up helping me someday. ;D
That is my thinking also Ed
good luck
They got home to Boise today, in a rental car. They are still excited about the bus and are looking forward to getting it back in a few weeks. I hope they get to enjoy it for a while this time...Cable
We made it home, The bus did not still in Nebraska Yes I feel like a fool for trying to take a 1964 bus that I don't know and had no tools across the USA. The bus did get checked out. the seller of 9 years had all the service records and pic's of the conversion. Spent 4 days driving and learning about the bus. The sealer is willing to work out something for the engine rebuild. I'm allready so for into it in money I might as well get it fixed and enjoy it. As bad as it was could of been worse. My wife and I are still alive and had quite the time of our lives. Will tell the hole story some time. maybe wright a book. I would like to Thank fe2_03 For all the help in our time of panic. Without you would not have made it. The motor well be done in about 3 weeks. Don't have the time off to go drive it back so might have to get it trains ported home. Well take it one day at a time. Thanks to all
Kevin & Traci
If the seller truly offers some help, well, you cant beat that. Transport will likely be $$$$$, perhaps a fellow Bus Nut will be going that way and you can thumb a ride out to fetch it.
Im thinking I should just yank the motor out of my Bus and look everything over so I know whats what. Never know what youll find in an old Bus.
Paul, that may not be a bad idea if you have the time and ambition to do so. Problem is though that sometimes things just fail for no apparent reason. you might tear the whole thing down and blow it sky high on your first trip out. Some things are just a gamble no matter what.
Cable Is this the couple from Boise that was at the BUSnUSA rally? What a rough start on bus ownership, but if they get through this, there are a lot of good times coming. Good Bus,n Wilbur
Yes Wilbur, that's them. They had a rough trip but no one was hurt and they were able to find a shop where the mechanic had cut his teeth on two strokes. I'm glad they are going to keep it. It'll be fun to see them at the rallies and exchange stories and hear it from their prospective...Cable
It's worth it to do a few simple checks on a two stroke. You can pull the air box covers off and look inside the airbox. The destroyed 8v71TA thread shows what NOT to see... You can look for various bits of old rebuilds on the floor of the airbox, mine had a piece of cylinder sleeve sitting there, and look for signs of grit and sand caught in nooks and crannies. You can look at the compression rings and see the cylinder walls. You can take the top off the blower and look inside there for signs of seal leaking. You can take the oil pan off and pull some bearings and look at them for wear or scored crank and all that. That is a heck of a lot more that you can do on some other engines. What you can't see, obviousy, is the gear drive that's about to eat a bearing, or the injector tip that's about to eat a piston, or the crankshaft that's about to become two shorter crankshafts, or the oil pump drive that's about to break a shaft. When I was deciding to do a repower/rebuild, looking inside the airbox was a key decision point.
Brian