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#21

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Greasing top door hinge

Last post by Jim Blackwood - July 28, 2026, 08:24:43 AM

Well, you can call me stupid if you like, I'd forgotten the claw was on the opposite side of the door. Anyway, the cylinder has two chambers. It looks like one is a 2" bore and the other is 2-1/2" and the travel is 5". If both chambers were pressurized at 120 psi that would give about 960 lbs of force if my calculations are right so the electric strut above should work. The claw, being pneumatic should latch in as usual I would think.

Jim

#22

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Which dashcam are you usin...

Last post by luvrbus - July 28, 2026, 07:16:33 AM

I would buy a Garmin now,a concrete supplier here uses those on his concrete trucks,they maybe a overkill for private RV

#23

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Which dashcam are you usin...

Last post by Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM - July 27, 2026, 07:43:14 PM

I use a Thinkware Dashcam. It is the one they started putting in Garbage Trucks.  They determined by installing Dashcams in Garbage Trucks they save thousands of dollars of false insurance claims.
 
https://thinkwarestore.com/product/arc-700-front-rear/

#24

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Upgrade Your RV Water Quality ...

Last post by Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM - July 27, 2026, 05:49:37 PM

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#25

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Which dashcam are you usin...

Last post by luvrbus - July 27, 2026, 05:29:22 PM

I had a Viofo in the Country Coach it was a good camera ,I am sure there are others just as good at a better price,I never did figure out how to work all the features on it.lol I am not the best figuring electronics and how they work I use a flip phone the dumb type

#26

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Which dashcam are you using in...

Last post by Iceni John - July 27, 2026, 04:30:33 PM

I recently bought a Viofo A119M Pro dashcam for my car and bus, but its camera lens cannot point ahead if the dashcam is mounted to a vertical windshield like in my bus.   I'll keep it for my car, but I now need a second dashcam for the bus.   So, what dashcams do other busnuts use in their buses?   I'm looking for a single-channel dashcam suitable for vertical windshields, ideally with 4K 30 FPS recording using a Starvis 2 image sensor, and with built-in GPS logging.   Any ideas, anyone?

Thanks, John

#27

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Greasing top door hinge

Last post by Jim Blackwood - July 26, 2026, 08:36:00 AM

No, I doubt those would be. The ones with the motor off to the side are stronger though and come in a lot of different sizes. They use a double worm and pinion gear reduction from the motor to drive the screw so that's basically a triple reduction setup.

Here is one I looked at which could work, the speed and stroke being the limitations. With thrust capabilities up into 2000-3000 lb range I'm pretty sure it is up to the job. I have some of their smaller actuators. I think the first thing is to determine how much force is needed.

For example, with an average of 120psi of air, a 2" cylinder would generate 377 lbs of force and a 3" one would make 700 lbs of force. I have a surplus door cylinder and it appears to be two stage but I don't know the diameters yet as I haven't disassembled it. The link below should be for one with 900lbs of force and 1.11"/sec speed. Which means full travel would take 9 seconds and should be acceptable if a little slow.

https://www.progressiveautomations.com/products/pa-hd2?variant=44240160358580

It's a bit pricey at about $350 but there are probably cheaper ones out there that might also work.

Jim

#28

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Greasing top door hinge

Last post by luvrbus - July 26, 2026, 07:35:29 AM

I have recently mounted pairs of electric linear actuators on my car for a hood lift and wing actuators and have a 3rd set I will be adding to the gas struts on the bed platform in the bus so I'm just wondering if a larger one might be suitable for opening and closing the door? That'd make it all electric which seems like it'd be an advantage. What do you guys think? Would it be hard to get the latch to work?

I have seen the actuators with quick release to open the door and close with the actuators but I never have been able to find those,I have tried to adapt a trunk closer from a GM car but it wasn't strong enough 

Jim

#29

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Greasing top door hinge

Last post by Jim Blackwood - July 26, 2026, 07:03:16 AM

I have recently mounted pairs of electric linear actuators on my car for a hood lift and wing actuators and have a 3rd set I will be adding to the gas struts on the bed platform in the bus so I'm just wondering if a larger one might be suitable for opening and closing the door? That'd make it all electric which seems like it'd be an advantage. What do you guys think? Would it be hard to get the latch to work?

Jim

#30

Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) / Re: Greasing top door hinge

Last post by luvrbus - July 25, 2026, 08:14:08 AM

You have to grease the door hinge?
Hmmm...

Jim

I think there was 3 places on my DL3 to grease the heavy door,I remove the door closer from the inside and remote mounted the other 2 with 1/8 inch brake line material and a swivel joint to grease the other 2 from one spot  at the bottom of the door,those doors are not much fun to replace the hinges and rollers