Best Places to Source Parts?

[Garymci5]

I did some snooping around the site and only found a reference for Mohawk.

Speaking with them this morning did not give me a vote of confidence. The customer rep couldn't look anything up (air filters for MCI-5) and kept asking me questions about what the website said, including requesting the part number. Their internal description was rather lacking, but did discover one dimension that certainly won't work. Seems I saved myself a special order and some return hassles.

While I have ordered parts from them in the past, years ago, can't say I'm so inclined to now. They don't publish a parts book anymore, either. The on-line information is rather weak.

Very open to any suggestions of good part suppliers.

[Chopper Scott]

I kind of came to the same conclusion with their website and ordering from Mohawk although I have gotten some things if the MCI part number worked. More often than not the numbers don't work. The parts and repair manuals I have in book and cd form leave a lot to be desired also. I'm sure someone will come along and recomend Luke at US Coach. His number is 888-262-2434. Later

[NJT 5573]

Gary,

Pull the air filter and get the actual part number off it. Call Napa, (not my favorite), but they likely have it on the shelf. When I replace air filters, I take a marker and write all the interchangable numbers on the new one and the housing so where ever I am I don't have to go through a lot to find another one.

[Garymci5]

Thanks for the input. I'll give US Coach a call; heard of them before but didn't remember.

Air Filters: Reuseable type, made of spun aluminum (I THOUGHT it was Stainless...) in a screen basket, about 7"x10" each. Need 4. Most older buses have the oil bath type, not paper media. My bad as I cleaned them, more like ate them away in a biodegradeable solution.

Word to the wise, DON'T let them soak over night!

I also write down the P/N's and even take pictures, but thanks for mentioning Napa.

[Garymci5]

Here's their website: http://usc17.tripod.com/

[Chopper Scott]

Thanks for the link Gary!!! Now I'm in heaven. I should have asked or called to see if they had a web site. I have the 4 dry filter set up on my 72 MCI 7 and will get you a number off of them. I'll bet they are the same and the 7 x 10 sizing seems right. Thanks for the link and I'll post back with #'s. Later

[Ed Hackenbruch]

I get my 4 filters from napa for my 5A.  If you want to clean them use air, from the inside out, so that the dirt and dust is not forced further into the paper element.

[Garymci5]

Ed- Any chance of getting the P/N's for the filters? An Eagle 05 we had used a big single paper element. I used water to wash it, then dry it out, as using compressed air only seems to get the bigger dirt particles-- and I was too cheap to buy another expensive filter.

C. Scott- You are quite welcome. It wasn't hard to find on google, but did require searching thru another forum message.

__________________________________________________________________________________

[Chopper Scott]

I'm sorry Gary. I was going to pull one of my elements out and get you a # but totally spaced it off. I wrote the word "Gary" on my forehead with a magic marker so I'll remember tomorrow.    Later

[Garymci5]

I'm sorry Gary. I was going to pull one of my elements out and get you a # but totally spaced it off. I wrote the word "Gary" on my forehead with a magic marker so I'll remember tomorrow.    Later

Hey, no problem Scott. Every time I do that I forget to write it backwards so that I can read it forwards in the mirror....

I spoke with the fellahs at US Coach regarding air filters. Turns out my old rig had a paper element option (this suprised them), but whoever bought the bus stuck with the old oil bath setup. According to US Coach, it was very rare for a Challenger to have the oil bath system, unless the bus was used in Canada, where that was more accepted and common.

Anyway, supposedly the filter housing are slightly different and it may not be possible to retrofit dry media filters. But, if you do come across the P/N, drop me a line, but please don't do it on a whim, at night after several stiff drinks, barefoot and stumbling about (like me) 

[mohawkmfg]

I did some snooping around the site and only found a reference for Mohawk.

Speaking with them this morning did not give me a vote of confidence. The customer rep couldn't look anything up (air filters for MCI-5) and kept asking me questions about what the website said, including requesting the part number. Their internal description was rather lacking, but did discover one dimension that certainly won't work. Seems I saved myself a special order and some return hassles.

While I have ordered parts from them in the past, years ago, can't say I'm so inclined to now. They don't publish a parts book anymore, either. The on-line information is rather weak.

Very open to any suggestions of good part suppliers.

Gary,

I'm sorry Mohawk wasn't able to fill your needs on this air filter. However, it appears that the customer service representative did ask you for some information and at some point it was determined that a particular filter was incorrect, saving both you and Mohawk the expense of an incorrect special order. (Rest assured such incorrect orders cost Mohawk just as much if not more than it costs the customer.)

I'd be the first to admit that our strength has moved towards newer coaches (102A3, 102C, 102D, 102DL3, E, J Models) and especially towards transit buses (New Flyer, Gillig, NABI, Nova, RTS, Eldorado, Optima, etc).  I'll also second the endorsement of Luke Bonagura and US Coach Repair. To start, Luke's a tremendous bus guy. He also runs a repair shop, something we do not do. That's certainly a weakness for us in that our reps rarely work on a repair that you will do, and that limits us in being able to give you advice. That all said, I have happily recommended Luke as a source for customers, especially when we're unsure which part they want or when they need repairs or installation done.

We do have an interchange library of 130,0000-plus parts and we do feel that we offer competitive pricing, quick shipping, and quality products. Many parts (definitely not most) for the MC5 have been superseded to   We offer a one-year warranty on all the parts we sell, and we have an engineering staff working on design issues when they're not designing parts.

We no longer print a price book because of the cost put into publishing it, and the volatility of commodity prices affecting sudden spikes of our parts prices. Manufacturers like Cummins, Detroit Diesel and others have been raising prices every 60 days for the last several years. We've had fuel, steel and copper surcharges imposed on items we've made. It's been very challenging, and when you spend $50,000 to distribute a parts list to anyone who asks for one only to have it obsolete the day it runs off the press, well, that's a cost we cannot justify.

Our website does have a search bar on the left-hand side where you can search by part number, description, or "component code." You can search every part we carry through that search function.

[RickB]

The difference in price between mohawk and their non-exclusive "distributors" (most of the stuff I have bought from local shops or repair shops arrive shipped in their original mohawk packaging) is the small hometown shops have a fairly hefty markup on them and also FWIW I have found Otto to be extremely courteous, knowledgable and helpful. I love keeping the little guys in business but in our niche market and in the current economy I don't love them to the tune of 30-50% markup. On parts prders of $5k that can mean a huge savings.

I know I am just repeating what I and others expressed a couple weeks ago on this blog regarding using compressed air in any way to clean your air filter. Nonetheless I feel the need to restate that many here do NOT think it is the optimum solution considering not only the miniscule cost of maintenance vs. rebuild but the fact that in my case cleaning the filter resulted in virtually no noticable HP whereas changing the filter was undeniable in the HP difference.

To prove my earlier point the difference between Mohawk and the last shop I bought an air filter from was $70 vs. $30. Same brand.

Rick

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Gary, don't know how i missed this post until just now, where you asked me about the PN for the air filters.   Anyway here is what i use. The Napa # is 2126 and Carquest # is 87126 and 28601N.  Don't remember why they have 2 numbers but i have gotten the filters from them when a Napa was not available or out of stock at the time.

[Ncbob]

Gary, As I recall when I changed mine (got them at NAPA at about $58 ea) I was determined that I'd only drive on paved roads. 

But, and I want to be frank, if you are going to cut corners on the important items like air, fuel, oil, and coolant...sell your bus right now...because you'll not only never be happy but you'll never make a long trip without problems.

Offered in complete earnesty......

NCbob

[Garymci5]

Gary,

I'm sorry Mohawk wasn't able to fill your needs on this air filter. However, it appears that the customer service representative did ask you for some information and at some point it was determined that a particular filter was incorrect, saving both you and Mohawk the expense of an incorrect special order. (Rest assured such incorrect orders cost Mohawk just as much if not more than it costs the customer.)

Our website does have a search bar on the left-hand side where you can search by part number, description, or "component code." You can search every part we carry through that search function.
[/quote]

Thanks for the response, Mohawk. Since it was brought up, I'll elaborate a bit more by saying that the rep literally did not have a clue. I was the one that determined the air filters would not fit. I pressed for more information and he said " well it says......", referring to the size, which I'm not so sure he knew what he had read/stated. Unfortunately I must lay claim to being the responsible party for avoiding the purchase. I didn't want to seem harsh in the initial comment, but now you know.

Who knows? Maybe he's new on the job, had an off-day, didn't care, or some pretty office girl was flirting with him while on the phone with me? Hard to tell, except that I know what my experience over the phone was.

I don't condem the company and do realize I have an old coach (for now), but on the other hand one would think that after 40+ years there would be something available or at least thorough information available.  Luckily the Green Tortoise parts headquarters (now closed) is only 30 minutes away and was able to find 4 nice filter cartridges.

The P/N search did show a fitment and is why I called in the first place.

Thanks again.