Can anyone recommend a shop in ST Louis? We are developing a drive line vibration.
Any large truck repair shop can pull the drive shaft for a look-see. The "U" joints are nothing special and can be replaced,, DO IT BEFORE IT CAN DESTROY ITSELF AND HALF THE BUS WITH IT.>>>Dan
Not all truck shops will work on buses. Find one with a pit.
Dan, could not agree more. We had the drive shaft come out a few years ago and almost totaled the car we were towing, only a hole in an exhaust pipe on the bus. This feels the same to me... We found a shop and will be going there Wed.
While it is out,, have the input yoke at the rear end checked for torque,, that nut torques to 600 foot pounds and is keyed.>>>Dan
Dan, That nut is the reason the drive shaft came out, it now has a tack weld to keep it tight but we will be definitely be taking a look at it!
Glad to see it looked at BEFORE the $#!% it's the fan.>>>Dan
Ok this went bad! I found this shop with the help of Coach Net and the shop said they would work on an old bus. They determined that I need the joint at the differential but felt "there might be other things going on in the differential" and because they could not find parts they could not do "all the work needed". When I asked if they would just put in the joint they said no it is too old and they were afraid of the liability! They charged us $700 which they reduced to $335 to tell us we needed a u-joint but would not do the work!
Did they give any indication of what they thought was going on with the differential? Perhaps the bearings need attention on the yoke shaft? Hopefully they told you something more than 'something's going on' in there.
They gave up when they couldn't plug their scanner into your bus.
Quote from: Geoff on October 09, 2019, 06:19:54 PM
They gave up when they couldn't plug their scanner into your bus.
And, they could not look up part numbers by putting the VIN in their computer. This is why many of us do our own work, too many current garages don't want to bother with anything old. A competent driveline shop could probably replace the U-joint if it was brought in to them, and they could check the shaft balance.
I see a number of shops listed in that area doing bus repair. One even lists buses and RVs, all makes & models (Tom's Truck Repair). Can't speak for their reputation. My approach would be to go to the shop and speak to the guy in charge face to face. In my experience it helps if you come with your manual in hand and ready to give them Luke's number as your parts supplier so they don't have to do the leg work. Nothing that you need done is that exotic, so any decent shop should be able to diagnose and repair a u-joint and/or differential.
Richard, they said they wanted to pull the differential but since they could not source a new one the would not do anything. It really felt like they were looking for an out. Thanks for finding Tom's but we came east to this shop, who knows, I will hit the phone again tomorrow.
If you have the ability to,,, you could grab the yoke and attempt to get any "play" out of it,, jack one side of the housing until one wheel is off the surface and rotate the yoke and wheel to determine if the bearing is rough or bad.>>>Dan ( If the bearing seems rough, then drop the fluid to determine if any bits are in it with a magnet)
Quote from: Bob & Tracey on October 09, 2019, 07:12:12 PM
Richard, they said they wanted to pull the differential but since they could not source a new one the would not do anything. It really felt like they were looking for an out. Thanks for finding Tom's but we came east to this shop, who knows, I will hit the phone again tomorrow.
Maybe a phone call to Luke before you do anything else is in order. Not to order anything, but to see what parts he has available for your differential. That way you'll know before you talk to the (next) shop and can have a parts supply already in the works.
Thanks Richard, I plan to go back to the shop and try to find out what they suspect now that I am calmer... By the way, where in Wi are you? We lived in Cedar Grove.
Quote from: Bob & Tracey on October 10, 2019, 02:59:37 AM
Thanks Richard, I plan to go back to the shop and try to find out what they suspect now that I am calmer... By the way, where in Wi are you? We lived in Cedar Grove.
Just west of Waukesha.
Quote from: Bob & Tracey on October 09, 2019, 05:09:23 PM
Ok this went bad! I found this shop with the help of Coach Net and the shop said they would work on an old bus. They determined that I need the joint at the differential but felt "there might be other things going on in the differential" and because they could not find parts they could not do "all the work needed". When I asked if they would just put in the joint they said no it is too old and they were afraid of the liability! They charged us $700 which they reduced to $335 to tell us we needed a u-joint but would not do the work!
You need to name said shop and call coachnet as they will send another person in there with the same result. Highway robbery to charge 300 bucks for nuttin. Save another soul.
Yes we will be talking to Coach Net.
I got more info this morning. After we lost the driveshaft because the nut holding the pinion flange on backed off, the nut was tack welded on. Now that tack weld is cracked suggesting the nut/flange is moving. They would repair with new parts only. I think I am in the market for a used differential and need to find someone to do the work.
Or it just means the tack has let go from normal operation?
Too easy to screw you by identifying this, and still not solve the problem...
What else was checked and ruled out as being in good repair?
Nothing?
And you want to spend more there?
Complete report or move on.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
You should see if you can get it to Lukes in Vineland, New Jersey and get it repaired correctly and once. He is also a better source for a differential if needed.
I still say check the yoke for any loose play,, the tack can be cracked but still not moved.. Brings up another question,, was the nut PROPERLY TORQUED before it was welded??.>>>Dan
Stopped at a TA today who was willing to change the u-joint, the mechanic spent less than a minute under the bus and said the joint was just a tad loose but he could move the yoke around and that in doing so produce strange noises. NO CHARGE!!!
I would love to go to Luke but that is not in the cards, I will be calling him for parts.
Drain the oil to determine if "parts" are in the oil that shouldn't be... I am looking for good news enough to limp it home where you can control the cost and time frame.. Obviously IF there are broken parts in the oil,, it won't look good.>>>Dan
where you at today and which way you heading? Bob SW Indiana 15 miles South of I 64
Dan, It is our home that is limping but we have no home to go too. I agree I need to get some lube out to see what it looks like. I think that will determine whether it get driven or towed to the shop.
Robert, We are in Carlyle Illinois trying to go south.
I understand your plight as full timers,, most full timers still have an area that would be family friendly,,thereby cost friendly and time friendly,,Lotsa luck.>>>Dan
Have you tried calling a local school bus company or charter company to see what suggestions they have? Many of them use a commercial repair shop, and those shops typically will work on other buses as well. In Milwaukee there are two shops, Interstate and Lakeside International. There are probably shops similar to that in your area, as St. Louis is a large metro area.
I see that someone has posted on your behalf on Bus Grease Monkey as well. There are at least a few members within a few hours of you, so maybe someone there will have suggestions for a shop.
Thank you all for your help, it is awesome to have friends like you having our back.
At this time we have two potential shops, one an hour away but the other twenty min. Will know more tomorrow.
Richard, Funny you mention Lakeside, we used Lakeside in Random Lake for many years.
BK knows area better than I. He would be about 2 hrs South of you. I'm Close to Evansville. Indiana. About 90 miles. Several builders(rear end) close. I have shop and tools.. Back is shot so heavy lifting is out. Last rear end cost me about 2 Grand and I did work(in and out). If it were just a pinion bearing we could change.
Robert, I hear you on the back issues, I too would be pretty much useless hence using shops to do the heavy lifting. Thank you for your offer, I wish you we closer to where you are as I would love to do a repair rather than a swap. I do not feel I could drive to you and I am pretty sure Coach Net would not pay for the tow...
I talked to some awesome bus nuts today and made some good progress. We have a bus shop lined up who has agreed to do the work and I think I have a differential lined up! Stand by for updates!
That's great news, don't you just love it when a plan comes together...