Hi folks, am stating to look for parts for the bus.
The water hoses from the motoe to the Radiator have a number on them, 3X37 with no name. It is a bendable hose to allow for the radiator to swing out. (Scenicruiser.)
Where would you start looking.
In other words, is there an e-place out here that specializes in hose like this?
Thanks in advane!
Jack
Hi Jack,
Marine supply stores carry the marine grade hoses that are great for your bus engine.
If you don't have any truck/bus parts houses around, it's the next best thing.
Look at Gooding Rubber, they mfg. almost all diesel hoses..
http://www.goodingrubber.com/product_detail.asp?CategoryID=1&ProductID=54
Good Luck
Nick-
NAPA should have them in the catalog. I bought some two inch ones last year so I expect they will have three inch.
Silacone hose is expensive but it lasts forever. As far as sizes, a tape measure will measure the pipe and tell you what size hose to buy. I normally cut all my hoses long enough to use double clamps on both ends, if space allows.
Jack, would it be possible to post a picture of the old hose? I might be able to help based on my previous life (Gates Rubber for 34 years).
Apparently, the hose must flex quite a bit to allow the radiator to swing out. I don't think you will find anything is silicone that will work, and you do not need it for our type of usage.
Be really careful with the "corrugated" type automotive hose, as it it really the bottom feeder hose in the market - even from the top manufacturers. I don't recall that they make that type of hose in the larger truck/bus sizes.
If one of the Scenicruiser folks have inside information, go with it. Otherwise, be a bit careful about what hose you get. There is good reason for today's applications to use steel or copper tubing connected with short straight hoses. A flexible longer hose will need to be quite robust.
Jim
Hi Jim, here it is, thanks a ton for the information.
The two on it were corrugated, from what I can seee they had to be to be able to allow the radiator to 'swing' out 90 degrees.
Thanks again!
Jack
Jack, that hose is available at any good hose supply it's still in use for some applications with wire reinforcement,But stay from the automotive type as Jim suggested
Thanks makemineatwostroke. These two (The upper and lower are the same) have a heavy wire (Couldn't break it easily) and are very thick and heavy-duty.
Thanks to all for your help here.
JAck
Jack: It might be worth a phone call to MCI Parts. Tell them you need radiator hoses for an MC-7 Combo.
Jack this one stretched me a bit and I had to go the Gates site to see if they made this type of hose in the size you need (looks like it is 3 inch ID).
Gates makes a Green Stripe (premium rubber hose for commercial type applications). The the product id is: 46850048 and the .UPC number is: 072053583809. They don't have a photo, but I am pretty sure that is the hose you want.
The problem is that it comes in 5 foot sticks. That would suggest you will need two of them. Have a good credit card in hand. My guess is that it will be well over $50 (maybe $100) per stick. It just kills me to buy good hose since I used to get it at a very good price before I retired :(.
NAPA carries Gates hose and will have access to the product. It is unlikely that they will have it in stock - even in the local warehouse. Work with a good counter man and he should have a catalog that will show the picture so that you can confirm that this is the correct hose.
As an added note, Gates and others make hose that looks like this for car engines (to use in place of curved hose) and it is the hose that I called bottom feeder in my previous post. This is especially true at the first level auto parts places (Checkers, Auto Zone, etc). They often stock lower quality foreign hose and belts and this is not the place to cut corners. Also, the folks that work there generally don't have a clue if they can't find a make and model in their computer. Always go to NAPA, Car Quest, etc. for "critical" parts. I almost always use NAPA, since they carry first line products and generally have at least one person who is willing to work on my "strange" needs.
Jim
Jim: The type of hose on a 4501 is an accordion pleated hose that makes a sharp U bend and then a sharp 90 bend onto the radiator. This is the type you refer to a bottom feeder hose and cannot be cut. In a quick search, I found it up to 2 1/2" in 36" length but didn't look any further.
The hose needed for the Scenicruiser must be a Flexible Hose.
On mine both hoses were the same diameter ( I think.. )
Ask Kyle4501 about that. He can give you the right info my measuring
what is on # 598
Green-Stripe marine hose is not flexible enough for this application.
It has to be flexible enough not to break or twist the fittings that it is attached to on the engine or the radiator ends. So must be long and very flexible. The accordian hose is the proper explanation.
Dave...
Sorry, I was not clear. The hose I listed is a corrugated hose and will be a good balance of flexibility and durability. It should look just like the hose in the picture.
Green Strip is a trade name for lots of different kinds of Gates hose for commercial/truck applications. We tend to think about Green Strip wrapped hose that is the short connection hose, but you will also find Green Stripe heater hose and lots of other kinds of hose.
Jim
Jim: Can this corrugated hose be cut and clamped to a fitting? Is it not corrugated on the inside too?
Stan, the last 3 or so inches on both ends are smooth on the inside and outside to allow hose clamps. It is amazing how much they have to flex to allow the radiator to swing out 90 degrees.
Jack
Your, larger hose shops can cut and make the smooth end for the radiator.If you can not find them local email me and I can get them made for you in Houston
Jack: That is a great offer from makemineatwostroke. Maybe have him get a price before you commit. If he can get the correct hose, go for it.
Concerning clamping. The cheap automotive hose had the non-corrugated ends for clamping.
This hose is built on a round mandrel. The inside of the hose should be smooth. It is the outside of the hose that is corrugated and that results from the wire that is spiraled on the tubing material.
You can cut the hose to any length (you will have to cut the wire, and it is some tough stuff). It can be clamped. I have not used this hose, but I would think you would need to be careful when you clamp. I would not use anything but the spring loaded clamps. I would suspect that even with those clamps, you would need to go back and check them after a week or two of use (that is true of any of our applications - again even with the spring clamps)
All things considered, our diesel bus cooling hose applications are not nearly as tough as a gasoline car application. Our temperatures are much less - especially when compared to the new smog engines that have to be operated at some pretty high temperatures, and the pressure is also quite a bit lower. The difference is the huge number of miles, and thus hours, of exposure to the operating conditions. That is why, with our low number of miles, we can get by just fine with rubber hose and not have to use silicone hose which is very expensive and can have leak issues.
Jim