My Allison 740 just went to hell in Victorville on I-15 NB at exit 154. I called Good Sam's and asked for a low boy or Landall. They said they will send out the "appropriate equipment" but have no idea what an Eagle bus is. This should go REAL well.
Sorry to hear Gary. You been having a stretch of bad luck. Hope it's not fatal.
I called Good Sams over 3 hours ago and they just called and said the equipment they are sending broke down on the way here. So now we are starting all over again.
I dunno, I've had great service with Good Sam. The tow truck company calls you so you can tell them what you have. Best of luck. We hear so many stories of getting ripped off at incompetent shops.
Please, Gary.
Your friends can't help with a diagnosis of "went to hell"
Give us some more words? What did it do?
happy coaching!
buswarrior
That is the one thing about an automatic ... about all you can do on the roadside is check the oil condition and the level.
Just saw this post after posting in reply to you tire issues. So sorry to hear you are having issues now with something else.
Gary, sorry to hear of your misfortune--really bad news. :( Keep us posted. Jack
Now is the time to upgrade to a Allison World Transmission Mr.Hatt,FWIW Good Sam jerked me around for 6 hrs and wanted me to pay their service people $250.00 for trailer tire that Amazon sent me 2 overnight for $120.00 and the tire guy mounted both for 20 bucks
Gary, how you doin? Did they pick you up yet and get the bus on a trailer? Just a loose bolt right? We need answers. Hope its simple.
Dave5cs ;D
An update. The first wrecker Good Sams sent broke down on the way out to me. Good Sams called a second wrecker in LA and it would take them 3 hours to get there so I raised hell and told them there is a wrecking company 10 miles away. They said they called them earlier but they did not have a driver. About 5 minutes later they called back saying they will send the local company out in an hour. An hour later and still no wrecker. I called the wrecking company back and said they are on their way An hour later still not there so I called again and they said they are almost there. They arrived with a Landall while we were still on the phone. The Landall driver said the Good Sams told them I was in a 29' motorhome so they sent out a smaller truck and he radioed back to the shop telling them this is a big bus. So they then sent the big Landall but nobody ever told me there would be delays so Good Sams messed up again. It seems like they never send out the right equipment the first time and of the 4 out of 5 times I have used them, they have done this to me.
The bus rolls backwards but not forward. We are still unsure what the problem is. Commercial Engine in Victorville, CA will be able to get me in tomorrow. Till them I am camping out in the street.
But there is more to the story. They thought they were going to have to pull the axles. So what I thought was the tow truck dispatcher called me and told me they need to send a second truck with the proper tools because apparently the Landall truck did not have these tools, which makes no sense to me as they must pull axles all of the time. They said before the truck starts rolling I need to agree to pay $350 for the second driver to pull the axles. The tow truck driver was right there and I asked him why they charge so much to pull the axles and he shook his head and said we only charge $150/hr. I told the dispatcher that and she said the driver doesn't know the costs. I thought WTF? Tow truck drivers are usually responsible for collecting the money before they leave so something was smelling fishy.
The tow truck driver also said he does not know who this is on the phone as she does not work for his company. Furthermore he said the truck is already on its way. From what we ascertained, it was Good Sams calling back representing the tow truck company and wanting me to pay them $350 to pull the axles which the towing company was only charging them $150. This makes no sense to me. Is this normal? Seems like a scam to me. This may have even been a third party contracted to Good Sams to work with the tow companies and they will pay the tow company for any services over the covered amount then mark up any other services at over 200%. Does this seem right to you?
She also said I will have to pay $190/hr for the Landall driver to wait for the second guy to get there and to pull the axles if the entire job took over the allotted 2 hours. What is wrong with this picture? Seems to me that pulling the axles is part of the deal. Good Sams previously told me that they will pay for up to 2 hours of whatever it takes to get the bus loaded including pulling the axles.
Now I am wondering too, why do they call themselves "Good" Sams? Seems like an oxymoron to me. >:(
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 29, 2018, 11:48:43 AM
An update. The first wrecker Good Sams sent broke down on the way out to me. Good Sams called a second wrecker in LA and it would take them 3 hours to get there
The second wrecker in LA was rescuing the first wrecker. Doh!
Last year when I needed a tow it took several hours until the wrecker arrived. I get the impression that there simply aren't that many heavy-duty wreckers that can handle vehicles like ours, so we just have to take a number and wait. My driver just pulled the right axle without asking, and no extra charges were mentioned or paid. Something sounds fishy. And why do they even need to pull axles (both of them) to be winched onto a Landoll????
Gary, if you have your toad with you, why not take a trip to Phelan and borrow one of Paul's fleet of buses. He's got plenty.
Let us know what transpires with the transmission. Us HT740 owners are now very curious.
Good luck, John
If it rolls backwards, the stator or torque converter bit the big one
We're interested in your mechanical situation.
Everyone knows Good Sam has service issues, that's why there is Coach-Net...
Pulling axles is routine part of towing a bus, and with your reporting driveline issues, first order of business is disconnect the driveline via the axles.
You get scammed if you let them do it to you?
Tell us the mechanical bits please?
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Quote from: luvrbus on March 29, 2018, 12:51:13 PM
If it rolls backwards, the stator or torque converter bit the big one
Someone told me the small clutch probably welded together. Is this the same thing Cliff? And if so, what would have caused this?
Here are more symptoms...
Things went well as I drove thru a construction zone with no place to pull over as the bus seemed to be going thru a shutdown process. Then when I finally found an exit to pull off, I slowed down and at about 5 MPH when the bus acted like a bucking bronco. Dam near spilled my half-a-pint. :-)
The bus was bucking like crazy as it felt like the tranny was trying to switch between forward and reverse quickly. Then I smelled an electrical fire in the dash so I quickly grabbed my fire extinguisher but that never erupted thankfully. But this may be unrelated to the problem as it happened when the bus was bucking as it may have shook some wires under the dashboard which are are a real spaghetti factory and needs to be cleaned in my copious spare time.
Sounds like the stator,I have a couple of 740's at the shop if you don't go the 4000 or B500 route.I would go the B500 route your 60 series will kiss you (maybe),the series 60 is out of it's comfort zone with the 1:1 final drive on a 740
Maybe Im missing something here.... If you are loading on a landloll, why do you need to pull any axles, or is that a nickname for a giant wrecker?
Quote from: chessie4905 on March 29, 2018, 01:58:31 PM
Maybe Im missing something here.... If you are loading on a landloll, why do you need to pull any axles, or is that a nickname for a giant wrecker?
If it goes backwards only, the axles or drive shaft is going to need to be pulled to unload the bus even on a lowboy
Ok, I thought it had no forward, just reverse, would still move either way in neutral if pulled or pushed. If it will roll either way, don't landoll have winches?
Drive line is locked up.
Axles out to move it, and prevent further damage.
I like your theory about rattled wires, make sure the shop has someone on watch fora dashboard fire, just in case the condition is poised to erupt!
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Disconnect your batteries for the ride JIC.
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on March 29, 2018, 12:01:53 PM
But there is more to the story. They thought they were going to have to pull the axles. So what I thought was the tow truck dispatcher called me and told me they need to send a second truck with the proper tools because apparently the Landall truck did not have these tools, which makes no sense to me as they must pull axles all of the time. They said before the truck starts rolling I need to agree to pay $350 for the second driver to pull the axles. The tow truck driver was right there and I asked him why they charge so much to pull the axles and he shook his head and said we only charge $150/hr. I told the dispatcher that and she said the driver doesn't know the costs. I thought WTF? Tow truck drivers are usually responsible for collecting the money before they leave so something was smelling fishy.
The tow truck driver also said he does not know who this is on the phone as she does not work for his company. Furthermore he said the truck is already on its way. From what we ascertained, it was Good Sams calling back representing the tow truck company and wanting me to pay them $350 to pull the axles which the towing company was only charging them $150. This makes no sense to me. Is this normal? Seems like a scam to me. This may have even been a third party contracted to Good Sams to work with the tow companies and they will pay the tow Icompany for any services over the covered amount then mark up any other services at over 200%. Does this seem right to you? Why would you need to pull the axles anyway if they are going to haul it in on a Landol? And since you have a 60 they could have let the engine idle for a local haul.Inquiring minds want to know,lol
She also said I will have to pay $190/hr for the Landall driver to wait for the second guy to get there and to pull the axles if the entire job took over the allotted 2 hours. What is wrong with this picture? Seems to me that pulling the axles is part of the deal. Good Sams previously told me that they will pay for up to 2 hours of whatever it takes to get the bus loaded including pulling the axles.
Now I am wondering too, why do they call themselves "Good" Sams? Seems like an oxymoron to me. >:(
As it turns out, they did not pull the axles. Someone put silicon under the cover on one side and they could not get it off with the tools they had on board. So they dragged it up onto the lowboy with their winch. They even had to use a snatch-block because it pulled so hard. They thought their winch was acting up but I could tell by the creaking and gowning and the way the chain was responding itself with a big snap a couple of times as it was getting re-seated that something was bound up inside somewhere.
I can't wait to pull the Allison oil pan to see what is in the bottom of it. The Allison guy I called said it probably chewed it up a bit more inside because the tires did not skid, but he said it was destroyed before they worked on it so by dragging it up onto the trailer, it probably didn't really matter. But it would have been nice if they had sent out a couple of more experienced guys as even I knew something was wrong and I don't even run a tow truck. But I used to drive a skidder and I know a bit about cables under stress.
Quote from: luvrbus on March 29, 2018, 01:39:35 PM
Sounds like the stator,I have a couple of 740's at the shop if you don't go the 4000 or B500 route.I would go the B500 route your 60 series will kiss you (maybe),the series 60 is out of it's comfort zone with the 1:1 final drive on a 740
I wish I was closer to you Cliff. I would love a B500 but he quoted me about $25k for a B500 with all of the fixins. My budget tells me a 740 will work.
How far is it from Victorville to your place Cliff? My runs in reverse just fine. Maybe I can just back it all the way down there. If I leave now, I should be there for you to start on it Monday morning. ;D
Gary, That sucks for sure. The bad thing about these Coaches is not a lot of folks work on or know anything about um. We need to clone a few of the good ones like Cliff, and keep on trucking. Had a issue with Bad Sams many years ago with a fifth wheel camper after the bearing locked up on the axle. Finally fixed it myself after a Warner Cat service truck stopped to check on me beside I 20 outside of Weatherford Tx. with traffic wizzing by. He had air and a die grinder and torch to cut old seized bearing off spindle and went and got me a couple bearing and races to fix. Sammie Boys never called me back and I didn't have time to call they're Chicken Chit Azz's back while I fixed it. Got on with Coach Net right after (so far 8 or 9 years) and haven't had an issue to use them but wouldn't use Sam's if they paid ME!. Keep us posed on the bus and hope for the best.
It might not have any bearing on your situation, but what transmission fluid are you using, Dexron, Transynd, or 15-40 Oil? Cliff says the 740 loves motor oil and that is what they use for "severe service" like in trash trucks. I just wonder if a different fluid would have made any difference. I am a Good Sam Life Member, but I have never, and will not ever use their road service. :(
Quote from: DoubleEagle on March 29, 2018, 05:45:54 PM
It might not have any bearing on your situation, but what transmission fluid are you using, Dexron, Transynd, or 15-40 Oil? Cliff says the 740 loves motor oil and that is what they use for "severe service" like in trash trucks. I just wonder if a different fluid would have made any difference. I am a Good Sam Life Member, but I have never, and will not ever use their road service. :(
DE, I added 10W-40 yesterday, but I have not added any since I bought the bus, but it sure looks like tranny fluid on the dipstick. Also, my bus only weighs 16 tons so the series 60 with the 740 does not even breathe hard when pushing up hills so I don't consider my bus heavy duty. :D
So sorry to hear about your problems, Gary! I too had thought about using the B500 or HD4060 or 4000 series World transmission but the $25,000 price tag plus all the electronics said no. Even with the double over drive on the World transmission allowing the engine to turn slower, the fuel savings would take close to 300,000 miles to make the difference. The HT740 is an incredibly reliable, tuff transmission. Just stick with it and get it fixed. I bet also that the Torque converter lockup clutch took a dump.
If so, you're bucking like a bucking bronco was only the engine being lugged down and forced to fire one cylinder at a time. If you had put the trans in neutral, probably would not have happened.
All big rig Diesel Bonneville racers use the HT740-stick with it.
I understand how you feel-since I lost my air compressor last year. Unfortunately, this year can't come because of sudden family situation.
Good Luck, TomC
Gary its 258 miles to Clifford's from there and 3 hours and 48 minutes in reverse a little more. ;D
The cat in the Hatt has connections with Complete Coach Works it wouldn't cost him any thing close to 25 grand for a B500
LOL Dave we are in Texas he would need to add 1500 miles to the trip
Quote from: Dave5Cs on March 29, 2018, 06:11:49 PM
Gary its 258 miles to Clifford's from there and 3 hours and 48 minutes in reverse a little more. ;D
;D
Since its already loaded, just ship it to Cliff's. Offer him a lifetime subscription to the magazine for the labor of installing another trans...
Quote from: chessie4905 on March 29, 2018, 07:26:34 PM
Since its already loaded, just ship it to Cliff's. Offer him a lifetime subscription to the magazine for the labor of installing another trans...
:D
we all know I.m not the sharpest pencil in the box...depending who you ask...
but, why do you need to pull the axles to go 40 feet on a Landol...with a transmission that's alredy wasted ?
Because now the torque converter maybe welded up and relatively easy to fix. If you force the bus to move you might increase the problem to a cracked case or worse internal problems. Removing the inner axles is the right thing to do. Good Luck, TomC
They didn't, couldn't remove the axles. Winched her on to the Landoll, skidding the drive tires.
Quote from: TomC on March 29, 2018, 10:13:37 PM
Because now the torque converter maybe welded up and relatively easy to fix. If you force the bus to move you might increase the problem to a cracked case or worse internal problems. Removing the inner axles is the right thing to do. Good Luck, TomC
in 40 feet ?
The trouble is where broken bits come to rest as you stop...
The broken stuff inside is kept spinning by virtue of having insufficient time to slip/hurl between each tap past whatever internal clearance.
As the speed of rotation slows, the bits are able to poke out a shade further into the available cavities.
Often reported, the big bang and/or wheel lock-up happens as the vehicle slows to a stop, just as the driver thinks the worst is past.
Someone using sealant instead of a proper axle gasket has been false economy. In this case, incompetent tow operator isn't equipped to deal with it, and the bus was dragged onto the Landal, risking further damage, instead of rolling freely. And even if there is no misadventure, during the next maintenance interval, someone will have to take the time to break that thing free, and clean that mess up. Paying all the way, not good when shop rates are where they are. And friends who come out to help, won't want to again, if faced with these job lengthening hang-ups.
One must also be concerned with what gets communicated to those who "know the language"... Finding this sort of thing clearly signals to the shop that the vehicle owner fits a certain profile. This may encourage over charging, being taken advantage of, or being turned away.
There is no economy to be found by short cutting best maintenance practices.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Gary's being a Eagle that little venture by a tow truck driver could have cost him a drop box on top of the transmission,I wouldn't worry about the transmission it was toast anyways
Gary just for information inquiry. Do you remember what gear you were in when it happened and about what speed you were moving at when it happened? Just wondering if it was locked up etc.
Dave5Cs
Quote from: buswarrior on March 30, 2018, 04:29:32 AM
And even if there is no misadventure, during the next maintenance interval, someone will have to take the time to break that thing free, and clean that mess up. Paying all the way, not good when shop rates are where they are.
One must also be concerned with what gets communicated to those who "know the language"... Finding this sort of thing clearly signals to the shop that the vehicle owner fits a certain profile. This may encourage over charging, being taken advantage of, or being turned away.
There is no economy to be found by short cutting best maintenance practices.
happy coaching!
buswarrior
Agreed, even the cooler needs the squinty eye...maybe especially..
if i replace an automobile AC compressor, it gets a condenser too.
you can't know what went where.
The 60 series in Gary's bus is a tight fit I sure hope they can remove the transmission without removing the engine
Gary, just reading this... I wish you all the best. Not much I can do from here.
Shall I send flowers, or a bottle?
JC
Because the Series 60 is such a tight fit (and I love the Series 60!), the size of the Cummins ISM or Caterpillar C12 makes more sense. I'd like to see someone outfit a bus with the DD13. Good Luck, TomC
Gary, I don't know how to break this to you, but there's a Chinese space station crashing back to earth this weekend. With your luck as of late, need I say anymore? :o
Seriously, hoping you have a great Easter Holiday!
Will and Wife
The 'bucking' you describe has happened to me twice, both times gently accelerating from a stop. Lasted about 5-10 seconds. I shifted into N and a few seconds later put her in DR a no problem. First time was 5 yrs ago, then again this Feb. Runs fine now. Should I have Allison look at it?
Mike in GA
Quote from: Mike in GA on March 31, 2018, 01:14:56 PM
The 'bucking' you describe has happened to me twice, both times gently accelerating from a stop. Lasted about 5-10 seconds. I shifted into N and a few seconds later put her in DR a no problem. First time was 5 yrs ago, then again this Feb. Runs fine now. Should I have Allison look at it?
Mike in GA
The sad truth Mike is that unless you can get it to act up while they are looking at it they probably won't be able to tell you much .It's like the time mine wouldn't go in gear and had to have it towed .Stayed at the Allison place for a month and they never did get it to fail to go in gear . but Every time I am a far piece from home and I get ready to leave out The pucker factor maxes out when I hit that drive button...
You guys are making me happy I live simple with a four speed crash box :-)
Quote from: Mike in GA on March 31, 2018, 01:14:56 PM
The 'bucking' you describe has happened to me twice, both times gently accelerating from a stop. Lasted about 5-10 seconds. I shifted into N and a few seconds later put her in DR a no problem. First time was 5 yrs ago, then again this Feb. Runs fine now. Should I have Allison look at it?
Mike in GA
Do you think that was a transmission problem or a shifter problem? Is it possible for the touch-pad shifters to tell the transmission to mis-shift when they get old and less reliable?
John
Mike's profiles says he has a 754 close ratio Allison no shift pad on it ,the lock up stator on the 700 series have rollers and real thin locking keepers when the keepers break they do weird things.
The torque converter and stator lock up assembly cost about 1500 bucks last assembly I purchased.The 740 is a good transmission but they do break and are pricey to repair now.Mike needs to have his checked I believe he has trimmer valve spring broken or a valve sticking
Thanks guys. Appreciate the advice. I will try to get it looked at by a transmission shop, maybe Allison if I can get in there. It is past due for new fluid and filter. I'll mention the possible problems that have been cited here. Any other advice (other than bring my pocketbook). Haha.
Mike in GA
So back to Gary Hatt, has he walked all the way home yet? And what was it wrong with the tranny? :o
Quote from: Dave5Cs on April 01, 2018, 02:27:53 PM
So back to Gary Hatt, has he walked all the way home yet? And what was it wrong with the tranny? :o
Free drinks at Tony and Pam's pre rally take a wild guess where he is at ;D
Sorry Gary. Hate when this happens to our fearless leader. Tranny problems seem to be our thing this year. I'm still fighting electronic issues...on my 748 ATEC. Shoot me now. Btw, if they are dragging your coach up a landoll regardless of damage I would have protested and if they proceeded anyway, I would absolutely have had video and escalated this in a major way. I've probably had more tows between my two buses than most people on the forum and I've never ever let them tow without a driveshaft disconnect or axle pull.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Any update Gary it's been there a week now
Ha! The pictures from the rally, Gary seems to be in a constant "hospitality" position!
Bus? What bus?
Surrounded by friends, eases the pain
Happy coaching
Buswarrior
They are probably up at the Winery all week too, eating, cocktails, & raving wheel chairs again, LOL ;D
Hi All, drove over a couple of days, saw Lorna & Jack, RJ & Pat, Met Donna and several new bus nuts. Gary told me he was taking pictures of all the buses and plenty of them, while he was riding around in one of those old people electric carts! I'm sure after he takes the film to Photomat, well see some pics, lvmci...
So Gary-what's going on with your bus? What did they find out about the transmission?
Time for an update. Not only did my 740 tranny fail on the way to the rally but my laptop died at the same time. Therefore I have been unable to keep up with what is going on. I can read my email and the forum on my cell phone but it is too much of a hassle to reply on that small screen.
Allison rebuilt the tranny and they are starting to install it today. They will also relocate the coolers as they were not in a good place which is why the tranny may have overheated and failed in the first place. With any luck they will have everything back together tomorrow and I will be able to bring it home.
I also have a new laptop and I am getting it up and running now so I will better be able to keep up with things.
Watch for an upcoming issue of BCM to see photos of all of the buses that attend the rally and what we did there. It was a great rally.
"When it rains, it pours"
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on April 11, 2018, 11:29:00 AM
Allison rebuilt the tranny and they are starting to install it today. They will also relocate the coolers as they were not in a good place which is why the tranny may have overheated and failed in the first place.
What failed in it? Does your transmission cool through a heat exchanger on the engine, or does it only cool through its own separate external cooler/radiator?
John
Quote from: Iceni John on April 11, 2018, 04:40:04 PM
What failed in it? Does your transmission cool through a heat exchanger on the engine, or does it only cool through its own separate external cooler/radiator?
John
John, it just plain overheated. It has a Hayden cooler which they are replacing as well as another external cooler which should not be necessary. The Hayden was mounted in a bad (non-air circulation location) in the engine compartment and the other cooler was mounted outside the main engine radiator. I am having them mounted in reverse locations. I am having them both re-mounted as you can never have too much cooling.
Cajon pass can be a bitch at times,, and heat is the biggest killer of transmissions.>>>Dan
time for transmission cooler temp gauge. What's involved, I'm sure you have one now.
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on April 11, 2018, 05:11:07 PM
John, it just plain overheated. It has a Hayden cooler which they are replacing as well as another external cooler which should not be necessary. The Hayden was mounted in a bad (non-air circulation location) in the engine compartment and the other cooler was mounted outside the main engine radiator. I am having them mounted in reverse locations. I am having them both re-mounted as you can never have too much cooling.
Yes, I agree that one can never have too much cooling, at least here in the desert SW. I moved my hydraulic fluid cooler from outside the radiator to another location where it's also cooled by the airflow to the transmission's new remote cooler - I just don't want anything blocking airflow to the main radiator or heating the air going through it. I'm still toying with the idea of adding a second radiator on the right side, but that would be a lot of work. In the meanwhile I drive my bus according to the gauges, particularly the coolant temperature and turbo boost pressure gauges. Do you have a good transmission temperature gauge?
John
PS - Will we be seeing you at BGW X next month?
I had posted a week or so ago that I had the same symptoms as Gary. Intense bucking when starting out. I have since been to the Allison shop here in Atlanta and I had a full transmission service. In addition to fluid and filter they checked the modulator, the governor, linkage shift points, etcetera. Even though the fluid had not been changed in 10 years it was bright red and did not smell. They pronounced everything looking pretty good. So now I am a little more confident that I will not have a transmission failure. Wish me luck!
Mike in GA
Hi Gary, where is the Allison shop located? Is it an Allison company shop? Tom, lvmci...
Quote from: Mike in GA on April 12, 2018, 08:10:01 AM
I had posted a week or so ago that I had the same symptoms as Gary. Intense bucking when starting out. I have since been to the Allison shop here in Atlanta and I had a full transmission service. In addition to fluid and filter they checked the modulator, the governor, linkage shift points, etcetera. Even though the fluid had not been changed in 10 years it was bright red and did not smell. They pronounced everything looking pretty good. So now I am a little more confident that I will not have a transmission failure. Wish me luck!
Mike in GA
Hey Mike, do you live in Atlanta or near there? I didn't know there was an Allison shop there. I'm down the road from you in Phenix City AL, right across the state line from Columbus GA.
Quote from: Utahclaimjumper on April 11, 2018, 06:48:58 PM
Cajon pass can be a bitch at times,, and heat is the biggest killer of transmissions.>>>Dan
That may have been the straw that broke the camels back because I pulled it hard all the way up passing trucks. Wanted to ensure my engine would not overheat after doing a bunch of work on it. Didn't know it was a tranny killer. If so, the repair shop is in an excellent location. Broke down on the north side of Victorville a few miles past the top of the hill.
But better it break down here rather than in the middle of the desert where here is not even any cell phone service. ;)
Quote from: lvmci on April 12, 2018, 08:16:34 AM
Hi Gary, where is the Allison shop located? Is it an Allison company shop? Tom, lvmci...
The shop is Dartco. https://www.dartcotransmission.com/ (https://www.dartcotransmission.com/) They seem to have a very good reputation according so many of my bus nut friends.
Quote from: chessie4905 on April 11, 2018, 12:10:18 PM
"When it rains, it pours"
Yep, and bad luck comes in 3's. So i am waiting for another big bad surprise next. :-)
Try a laptop with SSD (a non mechanical spinning hard drive) or one with a rough service cert.
Gary careful what you wish for, ;D
Quote from: busfan on April 12, 2018, 09:33:20 AM
Try a laptop with SSD (a non mechanical spinning hard drive) or one with a rough service cert.
I had one of these and they are super fast but I can only put a 356 GB SSD in my current laptop but my old fashioned spinning drive holds 1 TB. I need the space for all of our magazines etc. But my new laptop has a very fast processor so it is fast enuf.
I added a totally independent radiator cooler from a GM. It has it's own radiator, fan, the whole nine yards. The trans lines come out of the trans through the independent cooler and then through the original cooler. So the trans oil going through the original cooler is cooler when it gets there. I live in Cornville, AZ so I know heat.
Gary - hope you counted wrong and the tranny was number THREE.
As to the Allison 740 breaking down, it seems an unusual occurrence. From my noobie experience, all I read is that is a very stout and reliable tranny. You must be a very bad boy!
As to larger storage needs, you can always just add an external SSD for all your archives. That'll leave plenty on the laptop. There is always cloud storage options as well but not as easily accessed while on the road depending on your internet connection.
Quote from: windtrader on April 12, 2018, 10:46:47 AM
Gary - hope you counted wrong and the tranny was number THREE.
As to the Allison 740 breaking down, it seems an unusual occurrence. From my noobie experience, all I read is that is a very stout and reliable tranny. You must be a very bad boy!
As to larger storage needs, you can always just add an external SSD for all your archives. That'll leave plenty on the laptop. There is always cloud storage options as well but not as easily accessed while on the road depending on your internet connection.
From what we can tell the tranny was rebuilt about 7 years / 50,000 miles ago by United Transmission Exchange in San Bernadino and from what I am told, they use Chinese parts which are not the same quality as Allison parts. So this may have been the problem as some of trannies fail prematurely.
Because I carry my laptop everywhere, having an external drive is one more thing to have to deal with. I am still trying out the one I just bought and it has a lot of advantages, but I may still trade it in.
7 years ago United Transmission was a Allison dealer they built transmissions then to Allison specs so don't put much stock in United used Chinese parts back then.Fwiw 740's don't last behind a series 60 because they run at peak or above the torque rating same for HP rating a series 60 produces.Better find you a drop box that is next ;)
I never understood the coaches that were factory ordered with this combination.
Money saved on the transmission choice gets blown out on fuel and re-builds...
And then the inadequate cooling of retarder equipped B500...
Age old battle between engineering and accounting.
There's no free lunch?
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Ah, I missed the motor was a Series 60. Nearly all are connected to the B500, at least since '95 it seems that became the standard combination.
Branderson, the shop I used was Reliabilt, which is an authorized Allison facility. There is also a WW Williams/ Allison shop just up the road. Both are on Moreland Avenue, south of Atlanta. Hope that helps.
Mike in GA
If anyone is looking for a serious heat exchanger check out my ad in the for sale pages. It would be great for a stand alone tranny cooler setup with some engineering. Ad is titled "Heat Exchanger." Rick in Ohio
Quote from: Friday1 on April 15, 2018, 07:37:28 AM
If anyone is looking for a serious heat exchanger check out my ad in the for sale pages. It would be great for a stand alone tranny cooler setup with some engineering. Ad is titled "Heat Exchanger." Rick in Ohio
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=32960.0 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=32960.0)
Richard, the seat and wedges get pitted over time,it probably needs replacing but you can remove the cap with a impact gun without putting much torque on the tank >:( I never try to remove a cap with a regular wrench of any type, a socket and impact will do the job if you have enough space for the gun
oops posted in the wrong place damn I hate when I do that
Quote from: eagle19952 on April 15, 2018, 11:12:06 AM
http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=32960.0 (http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=32960.0)
Thank you sir, I am digitally challenged.
Well, what's up??? Jack
Got it fixed Jack. Only $12,000 and I was back on the road last Friday. Runs like a champ.
Quote from: luvrbus on April 12, 2018, 01:34:15 PM
7 years ago United Transmission was a Allison dealer they built transmissions then to Allison specs so don't put much stock in United used Chinese parts back then.Fwiw 740's don't last behind a series 60 because they run at peak or above the torque rating same for HP rating a series 60 produces.Better find you a drop box that is next ;)
Yup. Drop box is leaking in 3 places. Daniel Lenz called me today to tell me to get it rebuilt. When are you available Cliff? :-)
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on April 17, 2018, 07:14:31 PM
Yup. Drop box is leaking in 3 places. Daniel Lenz called me today to tell me to get it rebuilt. When are you available Cliff? :-)
If it is leaking it needs to come out,come on down or up in May and I'll help you,I have a engine swap the 1st week of May ,a Jake installation,Marks 6v92 in his 4104 what ever it takes and 2- 8v92's to rebuild.I can squeeze you in just bring the Tecate it's that time of the year in AZ ::)
Quote from: luvrbus on April 19, 2018, 01:55:46 PM
If it is leaking it needs to come out,come on down or up in May and I'll help you,I have a engine swap the 1st week of May ,a Jake installation,Marks 6v92 in his 4104 what ever it takes and 2- 8v92's to rebuild.I can squeeze you in just bring the Tecate it's that time of the year in AZ ::)
Okay Cliff, I will see what I can do. In the meantime I will order a tractor trailer load of Tecate and send it to your house. :D
I have a rebuilt drop box if it grenades on you in the meantime.
Quote from: Boomer on April 20, 2018, 09:12:27 AM
I have a rebuilt drop box if it grenades on you in the meantime.
Thanks Boomer. I may take you up on it if I don't get with Cliff to rebuild it first as I plan to make at least one of those rallies up at the NorthWest Bus Nuts.
Quote from: Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM on April 20, 2018, 09:51:48 AM
Thanks Boomer. I may take you up on it if I don't get with Cliff to rebuild it first as I plan to make at least one of those rallies up at the NorthWest Bus Nuts.
Marks drop box maybe your best bet Gary if the gears are chipped and worn in yours they are pricey if you can find the bull gear lol and that drop box may know it's way to Mohave Valley