Uh, oh, what did I do? I decided about 6 months ago that I wanted to sell my nearly perfect 36' Class A with 2 slides and only 31,000 miles for an old bus. My fiancé thinks I'm crazy but she is sweet enough to go along with my hair-brain idea. We are driving to Tempe this coming Saturday, April 28 to pick up our new rig but it does have a couple of issues that need to be resolved before we head back to Los Angeles, and ultimately, Sacramento. This seems like a good place to ask for tips/tricks/assistance. I have never driven an old 2-stroke diesel but I did have a modern diesel pusher for awhile.
Tires: The tires are 2011 but they have been cooking in the Arizona sun, so I figure there must be a good tire shop in Phoenix that I can take it to before we leave town. Wouldn't mind getting the Alcoa wheels polished at the same time.
Ignition: The seller can get it started but not from the ignition switch. He has to do it in the back.
Air Bag: Apparently the air bags look pretty new but one of the front bags will not air up.
Fluid check, general checkup: The seller has a bit of Alzheimers, so he does not remember much that he has done in recent years. Would be great to find someone who knows these busses to go through it before I drive several hundred miles.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Ryker,
Welcome busnut! I'm a noob busnut too and just moved to Sacramento. There are few nuts around here. Fortunately, AZ has many nuts with buses. Hopefully, you'll hook up with one to get you on the road. Personally, focus on the mechanical stuff first. Reliable and safe first, shined up wheels can come later.
2011 dated tires may still be fine, just make sure they don't have any cracks/checking and sufficient tread. As the service records may be a bit vague, you'll need to have all the fluids checked, oil changed?, etc.
Good luck, Don
Quote from: Ryker on April 25, 2018, 11:32:10 AM
Uh, oh, what did I do? I decided about 6 months ago that I wanted to sell my nearly perfect 36' Class A with 2 slides and only 31,000 miles for an old bus. My fiancé thinks I'm crazy but she is sweet enough to go along with my hair-brain idea. We are driving to Tempe this coming Saturday, April 28 to pick up our new rig but it does have a couple of issues that need to be resolved before we head back to Los Angeles, and ultimately, Sacramento. This seems like a good place to ask for tips/tricks/assistance. I have never driven an old 2-stroke diesel but I did have a modern diesel pusher for awhile.
Tires: Carry a spare, go to coach-net.com and you'll be fine.
Ignition: Might be a neutral switch or a relay
Air Bag: Someone else needs to add thoughts.
Quote from: Ryker on April 25, 2018, 11:32:10 AM
Uh, oh, what did I do? I decided about 6 months ago that I wanted to sell my nearly perfect 36' Class A with 2 slides and only 31,000 miles for an old bus. My fiancé thinks I'm crazy but she is sweet enough to go along with my hair-brain idea. We are driving to Tempe this coming Saturday, April 28 to pick up our new rig but it does have a couple of issues that need to be resolved before we head back to Los Angeles, and ultimately, Sacramento. This seems like a good place to ask for tips/tricks/assistance. I have never driven an old 2-stroke diesel but I did have a modern diesel pusher for awhile.
Tires: The tires are 2011 but they have been cooking in the Arizona sun, so I figure there must be a good tire shop in Phoenix that I can take it to before we leave town. Wouldn't mind getting the Alcoa wheels polished at the same time.
Ignition: The seller can get it started but not from the ignition switch. He has to do it in the back.
Air Bag: Apparently the air bags look pretty new but one of the front bags will not air up.
Fluid check, general checkup: The seller has a bit of Alzheimers, so he does not remember much that he has done in recent years. Would be great to find someone who knows these busses to go through it before I drive several hundred miles.
Any help is greatly appreciated!
Do you have the time to take it to a nearby diesel mechanic to give it a servicing before taking it back? That would def be on my to do list once I picked it up. I'd be very cautious of the tires too. I bet people here no of some trusty mechanics in that area though so maybe they can help you out.
Hi Don. Great that there are other bus nuts in Sacramento! I am looking forward to getting involved in the group.
Eagle19952: I head good things about CoachNet. I'll join them today. The tires are "only" 7 years old but they are cracking. I'll check the neutral switch and relays.
Branderson: I most certainly can take it to a nearby mechanic. I do not have to rush back since I can work from wherever I am, and my brother lives in Phoenix, so I can hang with him as long as I need. I am hoping folks here can recommend someone.
? Did the 4905 come from Parker AZ ,If Kevin is not covered with work he is on the west side of Phoenix 602-810-1845 give him a call
Ryker - Welcome and congratulations. We have a similar bus, a 4108. I echo the comments on getting it to a shop for a once-over if possible before hitting the road. If you can get it up in the air, it would be possible to spend a few minutes with a flashlight looking for things that might need immediate attention such as air leaks, brake adjustment, etc. A fluid & filter change would be good if you don't know the last time they were done.
If it won't start in the front, see if he's got the switches in the engine bay set for 'normal' and not for rear start. Really easy to get that wrong, and if he's dealing with medical issues it would be easy to miss. If it's like mine, the center toggle in the back can be up for 'normal' (front start), in the middle for rear control, and all the way down to start from the rear.
Make sure to carry a spare set of fuel filters at all times, and if you have the talent, the tools to change them. Really easy with spin ons, but It probably has canisters with cartridge filters. Consider updating down the road to spin ons. Less messy to change out on the road. Pre fill and spin on.
Oh, and carry a set of spare belts...oh wait, that only applies to the non GMC wannabees.lol
Welcome to the forum and good luck with your new purchase and have a safe trip,
Will and Wife
Danny's truck detail shop at the Flying J can polish your wheels while you wait.
Thanks for all the great tips! I am meeting Kevin on Sunday and we can see how road worthy she is. We will also assess the tires. I may hold off on tires until I get back to Sacramento where there is a great shop that I have used for years (Linville Brothers). We plan to swing by the Flying J and get the bus shined up as well before hitting the road.
Ryker -
Welcome aboard!
Mind sharing the VIN on your Buffalo? (P8M4905A-XXXX) Jon Ulse has been creating a "survivor's list" of all the GMC highway models, based on their VINS. I'll forward the info to him. TIA.
Also, is this coach still a manual gearbox, or has it been converted to an automatic? One is a dream to drive, the other can bring you to your knees in frustration.
Finally, be sure to put this name and number into your contacts list: Luke Bonagura at US Coach in NJ. 1-888-262-2434. Luke's the GO TO guy for GMC parts, is a strong supporter of our crazy hobby - support those who support us!
FWIW & HTH. . .
;)
Quote from: Ryker on April 26, 2018, 09:16:26 PM
Thanks for all the great tips! I am meeting Kevin on Sunday and we can see how road worthy she is. We will also assess the tires. I may hold off on tires until I get back to Sacramento where there is a great shop that I have used for years (Linville Brothers). We plan to swing by the Flying J and get the bus shined up as well before hitting the road.
If you need tires Danny's at Flying J there does have good prices tires check their price
My bus is with Kevin now! We have a few issues to take care of, the most pressing being that the whole left side suspension will not raise the bus.
Thanks for the tip for US Coach. I know I will need plenty of parts. A lot of small items.
It has an auto, the Allison VS2-8. I haven't yet figured out how to force a downshift. I just have a toggle switch from drive/neutral/reverse.
The VIN is P8M4905A615
Oh, and my bus was in Bus Conversion Magazine! September 1994 titled Mighty Oak, as well as January 1998 showing the kitchen. I would love to see if I can find these issues.
I have the Jan 98 issue, and what I see is an article on Kitchens & Baths by John Frank and Christopher Brown of Vanture Coach. There are several sample pictures, but none of them identify which coach they are in. I have issues for most of 1994, but not Sep.
RJ, do I have the "dream to drive" transmission? And funny about Luke: I pulled the sun visor down and Luke's business card was taped to the inside of the visor!
Kevin spent 2 days on it before he had to leave town. For $1,100 he diagnosed the suspension problem but did not have the time to fix it, got the oil and filters changed, and replaced the starter switch. I see that bus ownership is going to be costly! I dropped it off with Kent's Diesel Werks, and strangely, he has been working on this coach for 15 years, and even had the September 1994 magazine that he gave to me! He said he would get to it last Tuesday but still has not had the time to look at it, so I am stuck in Arizona. I have to get back to work, so considering flying home and coming back another time to get it.
Made it to Indio last night and now it will not start. It just clicks to the left of the driver seat and in the engine bay. It did this last night then suddenly it started on about the 10th try but no such luck this morning. Loose connection somewhere?
Try it from the rear start with someone moving the shiftier it maybe the neutral start,they can be a little touchy if you just have a toggle switch for shifting though
If it clicks, it is likely your starter solenoid. While you are trying to start it, take a 2X4 or some chunk of wood. Put the wood against the solenoid on top of the starter, and take a hammer and smack the wood. You want to free that solenoid up, so it can spin the starter.
Here is the process. Have someone crank the engine, while you are repeatedly smacking the solenoid, using the end of the wood block, with a hammer. Start out gentle, and ramp it up. Most of the time, this will help it start.
Good luck,
John
With a GM bus a person needs 3 starter buttons I always hard wire a 3rd button direct to starter if dosen't start from the 3rd button then you know there are other problems JMW.
LOL John I doubt he can smack that starter with 2x4 I have a very passionate dislike (location) for a starter on a GM bus ;D.I will change one for friends by friends I mean almost family
Quote from: luvrbus on May 05, 2018, 06:53:59 AM
With a GM bus a person needs 3 starter buttons I always hard wire a 3rd button direct to starter if dosen't start from the 3rd button then you know there are other problems JMW.
LOL John I doubt he can smack that starter with 2x4 I have a very passionate dislike (location) for a starter on a GM bus ;D.I will change one for friends by friends I mean almost family
Does that 'Button' look like the end of a large wrench? That can throw some sparks! Not recommended.. Here is a link to a cheap one https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+Rank%2Cf&q=remote+start (https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+Rank%2Cf&q=remote+start)
Quote from: busfan on May 05, 2018, 08:14:07 AM
Does that 'Button' look like the end of a large wrench? That can throw some sparks! Not recommended.. Here is a link to a cheap one https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+Rank%2Cf&q=remote+start (https://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result/index/?dir=asc&order=EAScore%2Cf%2CEAFeatured+Weight%2Cf%2CSale+Rank%2Cf&q=remote+start)
That works too
it could just as easily be poor battery to starter ground.
a clacking solenoid often is.
poor grounds kill more than shorts.
Do you have a neutral switch over ride on the dash? My 4108 has one under a red cover. If you have one, give it a try.
Quote from: eagle19952 on May 05, 2018, 08:47:27 AM
it could just as easily be poor battery to starter ground.
a clacking solenoid often is.
poor grounds kill more than shorts.
There plenty of places on a GM to have poor grounds
Thanks for all of the great responses! Kevin was very helpful as well. He told me to replace all of my old battery cables and it fired up! I'm not sure that completely fixed it. We were thinking grounds too. My starter switch is touchy too, so I'll replace that. BUT I'm still in Indio! Got it running and right side is 3" off the ground. This was the problem all week but still not resolved. Missing a bump stop so it settles at night, bends the leveling valve then won't air back up. I'm at another shop in Indio to see if he can come up with something. I have a new valve but I need bump stops, and an air bag. Shaking the bugs out!
Luke should have bump stops in stock. For rear, cut nuts off with torch. Anti seize studs on new ones. The new ones are somewhat bullet shaped but flatten with coach weight on them. Just changed mine If you have a pit, a 4108 and 4905 starter is easy to replace.
If you have a pit, a 4108 and 4905 starter is easy to replace.
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You lucky dog I never had a GM starter go bad with the bus over a pit ;) ;)
Just arrived at our home in Los Angeles. What a ride! Couldn't get it started again this morning. The alternator is charging at just 24.5 volts. Kevin said we will have to do some troubleshooting before replacing the alternator because it might be something other than a bad alternator.
I parked and could not open the door! We had to climb out the back window. Anybody have any ideas how to get the door open?
If you safely block it so it can't drop you can slide under and sit and access pretty large hole in bulkhead.You may need to remove breather assembly for more access. The starter will be right in front of you. If the starter has never been touched in your coach, especially older than 80's it would make sense to pull it and rebuild or repair BEFORE it leaves you sit somewhere.
Does your coach still have the handle on top of dash? If so, you can open panel at side of steps and view linkage to see if something shifted and is blocking movement, or a pin came out.... Door could be binding in body opening if where you are parked is causing a twist or the issue was created by airbag issue or hid by it.
I sort of forced the door and it broke loose. Probably got twisted with my suspension riding so crookedly.
Any good mechanics in Los Angeles area? I have an air bag and bump stops for my suspension arriving from Luke on Wednesday.
Alternator is putting out only 24.5 volts, so batteries are discharging and then I have to start the generator to get started each time I shut it down. What is the procedure for testing the charging system to see if it is the alternator, voltage regulator or any other component? Someone told me that you can dial up these voltage regulators. Is that true?
Bump stops show up today, so I'm going to purchase a heavy duty jack and stands to get the right side up to replace the bump stop and the leveling valve.
So much to learn on this rig. I have no idea how to get the propane running, both cruisair AC units quit blowing, small radiators throughout the coach in the lower cabinets, backup camera will not come on, and more! The person who owned the coach for 21 years passed, so I got it from his neighbor who did not know much about it. Sure would be a better idea to buy from the person who knew everything about it!