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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: jraynor on August 08, 2018, 11:21:09 AM

Title: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: jraynor on August 08, 2018, 11:21:09 AM
Does anyone have a 102A3 on here roughly in the 1986 range? I'm trying to determine if someone had an extra switch and just through in place of a different switch. I have 2 cruise control on/off switches which doesn't make sense because why would it. i think there should be some other switch there but i have no clue what it could be. I'm thinking a high/low switch for the AC as i found one on a schematic that I don't have. But that could be a new model thing. and when I say High low, its still an on/off switch according to the diagram if its what im thinking

If anyone has a picture of their left hand control panels, that is ideally what i want to get a glance at to verify.

Im working on new switches so i don't want to blank out a switch that actually has a purpose
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: thomasinnv on August 08, 2018, 01:29:08 PM
Mines not exactly the same as yours but in my left panel where the cruise switches are located, there are three in a row...left switch is cruise on/off, right switch is coast/accel, and the middle switch oddly enough has nothing to do with the cruise as it is the am/fm stereo amplifier switch. This coincides with the book.

You can download all the manuals for free from MCI website now. I suggest you do, and you will find the answer you are looking for.
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: jraynor on August 08, 2018, 05:47:37 PM


Quote from: thomasinnv on August 08, 2018, 01:29:08 PM
Mines not exactly the same as yours but in my left panel where the cruise switches are located, there are three in a row...left switch is cruise on/off, right switch is coast/accel, and the middle switch oddly enough has nothing to do with the cruise as it is the am/fm stereo amplifier switch. This coincides with the book.

You can download all the manuals for free from MCI website now. I suggest you do, and you will find the answer you are looking for.

So yours should look like my firat photo, just with an additional knob for the stereo. This part does make sense in the drawings. It's the second photo that doesn't because why is this a second cruise switch?

Also, I went to MCIs website, found the manuals, but no clickable link. I might call them tomorrow. Also, I have drawings, but nothing correctly matches my upper left switch plate
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: Oonrahnjay on August 08, 2018, 06:37:10 PM
Quote from: jraynor on August 08, 2018, 11:21:09 AM... I have 2 cruise control on/off switches which doesn't make sense ...

        One should be click-ON, click-OFF. The other should be momentary -- you can push it up but it doesn't (or shouldn't) click and it should return to the middle on it's own; same thing when you push it down.  That is, if what you have is an on/off switch and a coast/accel switch.  Are *both* your switches click-click switches?  If so, that's different - or maybe just wrong. 
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: jraynor on August 08, 2018, 07:31:15 PM
Quote from: Oonrahnjay on August 08, 2018, 06:37:10 PM
        One should be click-ON, click-OFF. The other should be momentary -- you can push it up but it doesn't (or shouldn't) click and it should return to the middle on it's own; same thing when you push it down.  That is, if what you have is an on/off switch and a coast/accel switch.  Are *both* your switches click-click switches?  If so, that's different - or maybe just wrong.

I'll rephrase it. I have 3 cruise switches. 1 that is for set/resume which is momentary, which is actually missing but I believe the wires are there still, and 2 on/off switches. One on/off and the set/resume is on the lower left panel, which im certain is correct, and the other on/off switch is on the upper left panel which I think should actually be an actual switch
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: buswarrior on August 08, 2018, 07:47:52 PM
The trouble with monogrammed switches...

That upper dash switch is not for the cruise. Some bottom feeder operation threw it in there, because that was what was at hand.

It would scare the pants off you, if you knew the BS these coaches go thru, with the bottom tier Operator, before we get our hands on 'em...

Then there's the Previous Busnut...

What belongs in that switch position in the manuals?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: jraynor on August 09, 2018, 03:28:06 AM
Quote from: buswarrior on August 08, 2018, 07:47:52 PM
The trouble with monogrammed switches...

That upper dash switch is not for the cruise. Some bottom feeder operation threw it in there, because that was what was at hand.

It would scare the pants off you, if you knew the BS these coaches go thru, with the bottom tier Operator, before we get our hands on 'em...

Then there's the Previous Busnut...

What belongs in that switch position in the manuals?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Its hard to tell. The manuals are more updated for production starting after February 1991 and mine is an '86. What i am thinking right now is that its the fan speed for the AC fans. How will i find out? I plan to test my theory next time i start the bus up. Especially now that I have the caulking tube out of the blower fans. My theory is from the electrical schematic showing a switch called "Driver's Hi-Low switch which is a SPST switch connected to the 2 speed evaporator motor assembly.This makes sense because right now my fan has 1 speed: "ON".

Right now, I'm starting a new wiring diagram in CAD that actually depicts my bus design. Ill be building it from the master schematic and from the other group schematics now as reference and verification sources. This is going to be fun
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: thomasinnv on August 09, 2018, 08:30:26 AM
Give mci a call with your unit number and they can email you the correct schematic for your coach.
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: jraynor on August 09, 2018, 10:16:03 AM
Quote from: thomasinnv on August 09, 2018, 08:30:26 AM
Give mci a call with your unit number and they can email you the correct schematic for your coach.

I tried that yesterday. I got the exact same drawings I have now
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: buswarrior on August 09, 2018, 04:54:07 PM
I only have dim memories of the A, didn't drive many, or far...

If you wanted higher driver's AC fan speed, you had to use the defroster switch to speed 'em up, the "Driver's AC" switch just put the fans on low.

With that switch space having no markings, it was optional equipment, and there wasn't much of that back then, and fleets were still very much "buy what they built me"

Let us know!

happy coaching!
buswarrior
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: JT4SC on August 10, 2018, 03:48:48 PM
Jraynor where are you getting your new switches?  Are your current switches the AML 20?
Title: Re: Anyone have a 102A3 i can get an image from?
Post by: jraynor on August 10, 2018, 06:30:38 PM
Quote from: JT4SC on August 10, 2018, 03:48:48 PM
Jraynor where are you getting your new switches?  Are your current switches the AML 20?

I ordered them directly from Carling technologies. I finally got them to let me buy them directly as you have to go via vendors, but every vendor I went to wanted a min order of 10 each switch and I had about 6 types that I only needed one or two of each. I ordered about 22 and it cost $285. This didn't include the actuators  for the top of the switches though. These24v, LED backlit independent so I can wire them constant power or with the switch function. I will be getting the actuators etched to getting the rockers etched which will make them custom of my own. Just debating on buying my own etcher or having a company do it for me.

The current switches are what came in the bus