Anyone know how to reach the Bus Grease Monkey in Tennessee? His u tube says email him. That doesn't work.
The Prevost service in FL is your best source for repairs .go to the Prevost web site enter your Vin number set your account up to buy parts and free tech support for your bus,they have all the information for that bus on record
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 16, 2021, 05:40:51 AM
Anyone know how to reach the Bus Grease Monkey in Tennessee? His u tube says email him. That doesn't work.
He does answer patron email.
Seriously? You pay and you get a reply? humm....
Ted Just come a little further north, Gene Russell at Russells Diesel or David at Davids Coach. Goodsons.
All 3 are in western NC and great with any bus or coach problems.
uncle ned
Please follow up with these other suggestions and read between the lines...
You've been warned.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
I was a Marine for 25 years. Keep thinking I am smart since I flew off 2 aircraft carriers, but my wife of 26 years says I am slow but trainable. Only a Jedi in my own mind. Roger WILCO on the bus guys suggested. No between lines reading required. Will look them up now. Thanks guys. I think I'm too old to lay in the dirt. Old enough to have saved enough to go to a real shop. Guy who arranged my bus sale recommends Direct Diesel in SC, They do mostly busses but they are 3 months out and about a 6 hour drive since I have to go to Atlanta, then up 85. Mountains between me and them are uuuugly. N Carolina is a good run. Thanks guys.
Semper Fi
Ted
Quote from: Tedsoldbus on February 16, 2021, 02:35:36 PM
Mountains between me and them are uuuugly.
Ted -You mean those things back where you are that we out here on the West Coast refer to as "speed bumps" compared to what we have to deal with?
;D
Ted if you are going to I 85 to SC I'd go to Cleveland Ga,115 to 105 south to Cornelia Ga,that is where I live,441 south to Banks Crossing,Commerce Ga and pick up I85. The only mountain you will cross is Blood Mtn. and its not bad. You can call me at 706 778 5063 if you need to,leave a message and I'll call you back,Glen,
Thanks Glenn and RJ. I drive Blairsville
When we visit family in Pa via Shenandoah Valley we are used to the run over to Chattanooga and north on 75 turning east at Knoxville. It would be a good run with old sloppy wheel. Any shops jump to mind in either place? I will try the guys RJ named on Monday after this storm blows by. If I get it fixed where you suggested, not afraid to run south on 85 and back home over Blood Mountain.
Still amazed none of the big truck guys between here and Atl1anta will touch it? MW Williams in Columbia said they do busses. Same distance as ones RJ suggested, so why not go to Bus guys. Thanks again Gents. Ted
Ted there is a Tour Bus Co. Cantrell's ? located 365 south,Cornelia to Gainesville Ga. on the left just past where Hw 52 crosses ,you could check with them on who repairs their buses. Glen,
as for shops turning a "bus" away...
Busnuts are typically a total pain in the @$#, won't pay, talk too much, bring in vehicles that are totally worn out, and the parts aren't in the usual supply line.
The liability of letting some of the junk that passes as a camper into, never mind out of, the shop is an immediate no.
And truck peeps don't know buses.
Shops these days don't have enough help to keep up with their regular work, never mind the labour pit of trying to figure out some old bus.
Some bus shops will not look at you without several thousand dollars worth of deposit.
Everything a commercial shop does, goes back out on the road to earn it's repairs back, so costs are a pass thru, busnuts get sticker shock...
There's a reason or two busnuts work on their own coaches...
If you find a shop that welcomes bus conversions, it is GOLD.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Quote from: buswarrior on February 18, 2021, 06:40:34 AM
as for shops turning a "bus" away...
Busnuts are typically a total pain in the @$#, won't pay, talk too much, bring in vehicles that are totally worn out, and the parts aren't in the usual supply line.
The liability of letting some of the junk that passes as a camper into, never mind out of, the shop is an immediate no.
And truck peeps don't know buses.
Shops these days don't have enough help to keep up with their regular work, never mind the labour pit of trying to figure out some old bus.
Some bus shops will not look at you without several thousand dollars worth of deposit.
Everything a commercial shop does, goes back out on the road to earn it's repairs back, so costs are a pass thru, busnuts get sticker shock...
There's a reason or two busnuts work on their own coaches...
If you find a shop that welcomes bus conversions, it is GOLD.
Happy coaching!
Buswarrior
Very good advice.
With the shop that works on my bus, I do everything I can to make sure they know that I'm willing to work with them in any way possible so that my bus doesn't become a problem in their regular work load. They have a number of fleet contracts, so unless it's an emergency type of situation I will start the process weeks ahead to let them know what I've got coming up and see when it works for them to bring it in.
At the beginning I went to the shop to talk with the service mgr, armed with photos of what I was talking about, service & parts manuals, etc. so that they had an idea of what they were taking on.
Once they got my bus in the bay the first time, it became apparent to them that it was in better condition than many of the fleet buses they work on - those are on the road through the winters and things get rough underneath really fast in those conditions. So Jack (the tech assigned to my bus) is usually happy to see mine come in.
I did the same thing with our 4106 a few years ago, and it was not in nearly as good condition. They were willing to take it on after we worked out a supply chain for parts (Luke) and an understanding of what they would/wouldn't warranty.
Best thing is to start this conversation before even bringing the bus home. Unless you're ready to take on all the maintenance and repair work, having a shop lined up ahead of time is a real blessing and makes sleeping at night much easier.
Yes, many would be busconversion hobbyists get in over their head. Get a shop to work on it and either can't pay the bill or stiff the inexperienced shop or person. Ask Cliff about getting stiffed. Ask Luke. Some of the coaches Luke has in the back row are likely owners that couldn't pay the bill or couldn't afford repairs. Then when diesel goes up 50 cents to a dollar a gallon, theyre will be many more coaches up for sale.
Early on while searching for a bus, an owner directed me to the shop that had been servicing it. I asked if he'd continue working on it if sold. He said NO.
His reason made sense and still does. If you bring in an old bus bus for "repair" the shop owner is going to suffer due to disruptions in his workflow in the shop. Parts especially take a lot more time and effort just finding and locating the correct part and getting it to the shop. Meanwhile, the bus sits in the yard, not bringing any money, and just becomes a huge PIA.
His parting remark is these old buses never come in for repairs, just different levels of restoration!
Quote from: windtrader on February 18, 2021, 10:56:55 AM
Early on while searching for a bus, an owner directed me to the shop that had been servicing it. I asked if he'd continue working on it if sold. He said NO.
His reason made sense and still does. If you bring in an old bus bus for "repair" the shop owner is going to suffer due to disruptions in his workflow in the shop. Parts especially take a lot more time and effort just finding and locating the correct part and getting it to the shop. Meanwhile, the bus sits in the yard, not bringing any money, and just becomes a huge PIA.
His parting remark is these old buses never come in for repairs, just different levels of restoration!
I can see where that might apply to a good percentage of buses out there, but not all. At the rally in Blytheville my bus wasn't the only one in such good condition, better I'd say than many late model buses.
It's really about establishing a relationship with the shop before you need them, especially with regard to setting up how parts will be handled. Surprises are not a way to get the shop on your side, for sure.
My hunch is that this is also somewhat regional, as I've got two shops which have worked on my bus and which I've got a good relationship with, but I've had conversations with other shops as well for some things they don't do and have options. We're quite fortunate to have a great infrastructure in this part of the country which is large enough to handle the occasional oddball job like an old bus.