HELP! Bus Broke Down 75 Mi. South of Amarillo, TX on US 287 (rest area)

[Barn Owl]

While in Amarillo stop and see Cadillac Ranch. My kids loved it and it is directly beside the interstate.

Check out this photographer's gallery, especially the Cadillac Ranch one:

Ben Willmore

[Michael Mc]

Thanks guys for the encouragement.  We decided to limp back to Queen City (near Texarkana) since it was within a day's drive.  That way the bus will be here after vacation for me to live in while I work.  We aren't giving up on the trip though.  It's like you say, just altering the plan.  My lovely spouse and I are sitting here in the bus planning what to do now.  We are planning to head back toward Yellowstone, just trying to plan it out.

I thought about heading on to Amarillo and having the repairs done there tomorrow, but this way, we can put that off and have some fun.  I will deal with the repairs later when we get back.

Just wanted to let you guys know that we were Ok,
Mike

[Barn Owl]

the "not gen" light came on a few miles back.

Last year, after three solid days of driving, my Gen light came on in Texas. For a minute panic set in until I remembered reading a post that when the batteries reach full charge, on some bus systems (Old GM, MCI?) the regulator quits charging and the light comes on.  I turned on the heater/AC fan to load the system and sure enough the light went out. I don't know if that is a GM thing or something that crosses manufactures, but I'm sure someone here knows.  It only happened that one time after doing two nonstop 750 mile days. After the pace slowed down we were stopping/starting more often, and doing so kept a greater drain on the batteries.  

[ccbmster]

Barn Owl is correct.  Not sure how it would happen with your bus but with my MC9 if the solar panels are really kicking and I have the switch thrown connecting my house batteries to my bus batteries my Not Gen light will come on.  I simply put my headlights on  until I can throw the disconnect switch between the two battery banks and all is well in the world.

Mike

[BG6]

Thanks guys for the encouragement.  We decided to limp back to Queen City (near Texarkana) since it was within a day's drive.  That way the bus will be here after vacation for me to live in while I work.  We aren't giving up on the trip though.  It's like you say, just altering the plan.  My lovely spouse and I are sitting here in the bus planning what to do now.  We are planning to head back toward Yellowstone, just trying to plan it out.

First, limping home is the best thing that you can do. 

Second, when you get there, replace the bad part.  You have put good welds onto bad metal.

Third, rent a car and go have your vacation. 

[bevans6]

First, brazing an exhaust manifold is always dicy.  There are some sophisticated and quite expensive rods that can stand up to the heat and vibration, but it's not good practice when other methods are available.  That said, while some say you can clean previously brazed steel enough to weld, I personally cut it out and replace, or clean as best I can and re-braze with high temperature, high strength rod (I happen to use Allstate 11).  Knowing that your manifold will almost certainly be a custom piece with the side turbo, my preference would be to try to find stainless steel to fabricate from and Tig weld it.  That produces the strongest pieces.

Second, I notice that my Not Gen light does come on at idle when I have almost zero load on and the batteries are fully charged.  Usually notice it at the end of a day of driving, I am hot, sweaty and tired, I am in traffic and my clutch leg hurts, therefore I am in a foul mood and it irritates the heck out of me!  At least I no longer think my bus is about to fail!

Cheers, Brian