Replacing kingpins

[white-eagle]

Terry,
i expect to have all my parts in today sometime, but probably not in time to get the work done as planned.  We had to get it done today by 6pm or not at all, due to garage limits, etc.

so now that you are experienced, and you must have jinxed Fran and I since we found out our upper and lower pins are in need of a rebuild, can we come to your house for the rebuild?  My mechanic said less than 8 hours @ $70.  i figure an old farmer with a pig butt to share is worth at least that, and i can hand you the wrenches!

obviously, this worn king pin stuff is some sort of a disease your bus catches by being near to others with worn suspension.  getting it done once hopefully immunizes our bus from ever getting it again. 

what do you think?  we're sittin here in Bruswick south of Cleveland waiting to find out when the parts will be in.  the usps says by 3pm, but that's way too late.

[zubzub]

Hey Redbus props for getting it done.  I'm a big believer in " if the grease monkey can do it I can do it view of life" and it's always  affirming to hear of others gettin'er done.  Also good point about using the machine shop to bush and ream the king pins.  That is the only part of the operation I don't like the sound of, just seems a little precise for a guy working on his back in a field.

[redbus]

Tom
You want me to feed you too!!!!

[bevans6]

Machine shops are handy things to have.  For things like piloted reamers such as you need to do the king pins, I have actually turned up tools out of tooling rod, ground reliefs on a simple reaming edge, heat-treat with a torch and a bucket, and have a tool that's actually very accurate and good for a few uses.  Some times a lathe and a mill are pretty handy to have around!

Echo the congrats on getting it done!

Brian

[redbus]

ZubZub

The shop charged $70.00 to press in the bushings and fitting them. It was money well spent on a $300.00 King pin set.The bushings that were in it before were nylon (no fitting) but I wanted brass.

[redbus]

Thanks Brian

It was a big job but now maybe we can continue our trip.

[white-eagle]

You're lucky its MCI i guess.  as i said, we had to replace upper and lower arm assemblies on both sides.  today, i found out the lube job i thought i got last thanksgiving, was just me getting it.  the bushings are shot and worn into the arm.  parts only so far look like $2400. for both sides, assuming they both need the same thing.  thank goodness the king pins are ok.
wanna buy an eagle cheap?
just joking.  i love my Eagle, i love my Eagle, i love my Eagle, i love my Eagle, i love my Eagle     

[luvrbus]

Wow Tom, Fran will know what to get you for Christmas a cordless or air operated Lincoln grease gun that is a shame when you pay for a service and don't get it really pisses you off or it does me anyway.


good luck

[JohnEd]

Terrible news.  My heart felt sympathy.  And I can identify unfortunately.

[redbus]

Tom

It sounds like you got greased good.