Okay, gents. I am helping some friends of ours tomorrow morning, do some maintenance to their bus. They have a 1995 Eagle, no idea what model. They are a gospel singing group, and haven't done much upkeep on their bus, unless something breaks. Even though it will be CRAZY cold, I am going to help them out. I am chilled just sitting here thinking about it.
I am planning on greasing the chassis, filling the differential, checking tranny fluid, engine oil, and possibly service their air dryer. What else should I look at? I have never crawled on an Eagle before. Is there any areas that need grease that I am not familiar with? One of his wheel seals is leaking, so there is oil everywhere. I don't have the tools/skills to replace the wheel seal, so that will have to wait.
Any tips?
Clifford, I will be calling you tomorrow to discuss a few things with you.
Thanks!
John
One other question. What weight oil should I put in the rear end, and how should I get it in there?
John It is really cold there from what we see here.
I use 85-90 wt in diff. I re-fill with one of those plastic pumps, cheap go slow or they will break. I always get a few in case. I have also used one of those clear plastic tube kind that screws on to the oil bottle if there is room to lift it high enough to drain into the diff. What about fuel filters Primary and secondary.
Dave
If it has an automatic trans count about 80 grease fits..
Standard Trans add about 7-9 more fits
Over the road air and blowers add about 8 more...
Dave- My mechanic showed me an easy diff filling technique years ago. All you need is a piece of clear tube. Remove the oil bottle cap and drill a hole in it just large enough to fit the tube through. It needs to be an air tight fit. Push the tube in far enough to reach the bottom of the bottle. Screw the cap back on tight. Just squeeze the bottle and oil will flow up and out the tube.
Some marketing genious should take this idea and sell oil bottles with the tube already in place.
80-90 in a pail with a hand pump made for oil pails.
I would do a complete pre-trip inspection to verify that the air brake system is good.
With the axle seal leaking, there is oil all over the brake shoes and drum, so that brake is ineffective and the bus should be out of service, not safe to drive.
JC
You should explain to your friend that operating a heavy vehicle on the highways comes with the responsibility of maintaining it in a safe condition. Operating it with a known wheel seal out is NOT. Much less routine PM and inspections. Eagles are notorious for poor brakes, take one out of the equation and it's an accident waiting to happen. All this is in the maintenance manual. They do have one, right ??
LOL Eagle have brakes they did miss the boat when it comes to brakes, a leaking seal a fire would be my biggest concern
Unsafe yes. Fire, yes. Oil on the brakes, not good. Lack of lubrication on bearings leads to wheel falling off. Plus the reason the seal failed could simply be because of dry rot but it also could be an indication of the bearings already failing and the hub is not riding correctly on the spindle. I just wanted to continue to kick the dead horse:)
Wait till John discovers the location of the air dryer on a late model Eagle he will more than likely scratch that from the do list
Shaking head. Probably wished you hadn't ask John, LOL ;D
I do not agree that Eagle brakes are unsafe. Unmaintained, yes.
Older 5s and 01s with the smaller brakes are difficult to stop if they are converted heavy.
Those converting them should upgrade the brakes. Load your car to twice it's weight and try to stop it!
I can slide all the wheels on mine.
Yes, all the problems listed above come with leaking axle seals. I believe fire is the worst.
The differential uses Hypoid Gear oil GL-5 S.A.E. 85w/90
use GL-5 S.A.E. 80W/90 10deg to -15deg
John, I couldn't find a email for you on the member page. Send it to me at mine and I will email you all the lube charts.
How did they sucker you into this?
LOL. I'm back guys. I actually got a good chuckle out of everything, because I agree with everybody. Best comment of the thread was when Clifford said he didn't think I would be servicing the air dryer. He was 100% correct.
I told them very clearly the wheel seal needed to be fixed. They are doing that by this weekend, which is good. I lubed most everything I could find, cleaned up the brakes and drums, topped off the differential fluid, and added tranny fluid.
What I learned from today? I NEVER EVER EVER want to own, or work on an eagle on a regular basis. To quote Taylor Swift, Never EVER. NEVER EVER. As it turns out, I am spoiled rotten with our bus. It is SO easy to work on, compared to the Eagles. You won't hear me complaining about how tight things are on our bus, because they are totally spacious compared to that Eagle.
Anyways, the everything from the rear axles back was covered in a heavy layer of grease, dirt, and oil. Good news was their hub oil was all good, their tires were inflated, and the engine oil was good.
The best news is they are looking to buy another bus. Looking at Prevost in the 80-180k range. I wonder what they could get a toterhome for....
I actually offered to help them out with their bus. They are a gospel bluegrass group, and I know they don't have a whole lot of money (more then some groups, but not a whole lot). I figured I would at least do what I could.
I did manage to stay a little warm today, and didn't totally freeze.
Good times all around. Thanks for all the help!
John
For the record, I will take air bags, and a rough ride any day, over a better ride and an ease of maintenance nightmare.
I am totally in wowed by all of you Eagle guys. 100% impressed! Good for you. Really. I don't see how you can fit around that thing to work on it. I can access any major part on our bus, without jacking it, or running up onto blocks. Ramps would be very needed with an Eagle.
So I am not Eagle bashing at all. Just amazed that you guys do it!
Uhhm..The front step clearance should be 16 inches and 14 inches below the baggage doors....sounds like the suspension is laying on the ground....my (used to be 280 lb) self could fit under mine...
since I have been off the chemo and got my energy and metabolism back I am down to 230 and I fit easy.
Go measure the clearance...probably due for adjustment if there's any left...
Quote from: John316 on November 13, 2014, 06:36:35 PM
For the record, I will take air bags, and a rough ride any day, over a better ride and an ease of maintenance nightmare.
I am totally in wowed by all of you Eagle guys. 100% impressed! Good for you. Really. I don't see how you can fit around that thing to work on it. I can access any major part on our bus, without jacking it, or running up onto blocks. Ramps would be very needed with an Eagle.
So I am not Eagle bashing at all. Just amazed that you guys do it!
Don,
You are probably right. It was maybe 10-12in of the ground, and leaning to one side. A lot of the other comments were hard to access, including the grease zirks on the non-powered rear axle. The stearing system was funky too.
Anyways, I am still impressed with all of you Eagle owners. Kudos!
John
Well here's what i don't understand,(cuz I like the ride a proper Eagle provides) if they are interested in 5 or 6 figure replacement...why wouldn't they keep up what they got ?
if the suspension is on the ground the ride quality has got to be like a brick... >:(
For a hundred G's you could build up a sa-wheatttt Eagle gutted and remodeled...if I had the dimes that's where mine would go...
Quote from: John316 on November 14, 2014, 06:58:37 AM
Don,
You are probably right. It was maybe 10-12in of the ground, and leaning to one side. A lot of the other comments were hard to access, including the grease zirks on the non-powered rear axle. The stearing system was funky too.
Anyways, I am still impressed with all of you Eagle owners. Kudos!
John