MAIDEN VOYAGE- Success......... mostly.

[Chaz]

Hey Folks,
  Well, I took my new "baby" on her first trip and for the most part, it went well. I and two buddies went to a metal shaping seminar in Oblong IL.
  It looks like my 8V71 got just a little over 5 mpg towing a trailer with a 1951 Chevy sedan that we were taking to customize. Does that mileage sound about right?
  I was told by a couple gentlemen there that I may have a couple-three injecters that need adjusted, and I should get my "rack run". Would that help my milage??? That WVO is looking pretty good about now!!!
  The only trouble is when we got there, and I turned it off, it wouldn't turn back over. The batteries seem to have been down. A guy checked them and they - although brand new - were down and not reading the same when tested. ( 11 and 6. )We charged them, one at a time, and then started it to check the charging and they weren't being charged. He jumped something to check the alternator and it showed it was putting out, and then pulled the jumper to see if it was charging and this time it was! Make any sense?? Could it have needed polarized?? I have only ever done that on new parts when I replaced them.
She ran good all the way home. I tried to start her this evening and although she turned over pretty good, she wouldn't "hit". It seems to be pretty cold blooded and maybe not starting because of that. Should I put some sort of heater on the block???
  Well, time to go horizontal for the night, but if you guys have any ideas, I would REALLY  appreciate any ideas or suggestions!!!
  Thanx again!!!!!!!
     Chaz

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Chaz,

That's Great news.....Feels good Huh!

Any black smoke out the exhaust?   that would be a mileage robber  if so, could be a little rich.

5 mpg is a bit low for a 871, even towing a trailer.  My 8v92 gets 6.2 pulling the jeep.

Wishing you many more trips!
Nick Badame-

[kyle4501]

What RPM's were you running? Slowing dowm 5 or 10 MPH can make a HUGE difference in mileage.
If yours is an automatic, those don't do as well as the manual trans. in the GM V-drive. 
'Running the rack' is equivalent to a tune-up. Shouldn't need to be done very often tho. 

Glad the trip was a sucess. 

BTW, Learn where to inspect for cracking on the bulkheads in the rear since you're pulling a substantial load. This inspection was part of routine maintence for greyhound & they even developed repair proceedures, so cracks can happen & it isn't fatal to the bus . . . . . Unless you ignore it, then it can . . .

I would like to see one of your shows.

[belfert]

I hear about running the rack on 2 strokes all the time.  Does a Series 60 need a similiar tuneup?  I know they offer Jake Brake tuneups for the S60, but not sure if there is much they can really tune up on a Series 60.

Brian Elfert

[Chaz]

Thanx Nick and Kyle,
  It WAS a blast cruisin in that beautiful ol'bus!! It's not the same as cruisin my '46 Harley, or '56 Chevy, but it feels just as good!!!!!!!
  Yeah, there seems to be a bit of black smoke coming out the back. Not allot, but some. I am trying to find someone around here that can "run the rack" and not charge an arm and a left one. It seems that not many people who I know, that know diesels, are familiar with the 8V71.
  As far as the bulkhead cracking, I'd like to know more. I am tieing the hitch forward to the frame as well as at the bumper, and trying to keep the tongue weight reasonable, but I would like to know any other tricks or precautions or safety measures as I REALLY want/need to haul with her too.
  Any ideas on a block heater or something to take the cold nature out of her?? Indiana is getting a bit cold about now! 
  Thanx again guys. This is fun!
     Chaz

[kyle4501]

Chaz,
I have a Scenicruiser PD4501 & it is a T-drive, so I'm not real familiar with the V-drive setup.

Remember GM built these buses like airplanes, Stressed skin & rivets (with no real independent frame like a truck), They also used lots of aluminum in stressed areas. Aluminum doesn't have an endurance limit, so it will eventually fail in fatigue (unless re-annealed). This is why you need to watch for overstress areas - usually a good place to start is where there is a change in the structure, ie; a bolted joint, transitions, sharp inside corners, etc.

You are a talented craftsman, so I have no doubt you will be fine pulling a trailer, just follow the load paths thru the hitch & frame to watch for signs to show up in the over-stressed areas.

There is a GMC busnuts group on yahoo that may be able to provide some additional insight.

Happy bussin 

[mikeH8H-649]

Chaz,congrats that your trip was a good one,as far as the block heater I just got mine from Luke for $57 that was cheaper than napa even with shipping and had it next day and it is the right one for the bus instead of a universal one,good luck   Mike

[rayshound]

Brian, no racks to run on S-60 or 4 strokes s-60 is electronic fuel injection & overhead cam. Ray

[RJ]

Chaz -

Check with your local transit agency garage.  See if there's an "old-timer" working in the shop that's familiar with runnin' the rack on a two-stroke.  You might find one that would be willing to help you after hours or on a weekend, appropriately compensated, of course.

It IS a time-consuming project, so you're paying for labor.  The local Detroit dealer in my area charges $450, which includes a dyno run before and after.

Black smoke out the exhaust indicates too much fuel, a dirty air filter (easy fix!!), or lugging the engine pulling a grade.  If you've got an automatic, downshift it manually - you'll get better performance out of it.

Your coach should get 7 - 8 mpg with an automatic, and 8 - 10 mpg with a stick shift, running at 65 mph.

Also suggest that you pick up a copy of the "Bus Garage Index", printed by the publishers of the industry mag "Bus Ride".  Lists all the bus garages coast-to-coast, well worth the twenty bucks or so.  www.busride.com is the main page, link to order the index is on the left.

HTH. . .

[belfert]

Brian, no racks to run on S-60 or 4 strokes s-60 is electronic fuel injection & overhead cam. Ray

Does this mean there is nothing to "tune up" on a regular basis like the two strokes?

Brian Elfert

[H3Jim]

change the oil and filters.

[tekebird]

Chyaz you didn't say waht bus or transmission you hyave......5mpg may be in line.

Other contributing factors/variables

Trailer Weight, 51 sedan weight......Nick I suspect the 51 sedan far outwieghs your jeep.....in fact the trailer it sits on probably weight 3/4 of what your jeep curb is.

trying to make any bus accelerate fast with that kind of dead weight on the back will drop mileage.

as for your charging........bad voltage regulaters can give such symptoms......I had a 24v activated 12v selenoid that was intermittant...when replaced took the old wone apart and it had internal corrosion thus intermitant contacts

[DrivingMissLazy]

It is not unusual for an alternator to loose its residual magnetism if it sits for a long time. Flashing the field restores the magnetism and it should be OK after that.
Richard

[pete81eaglefanasty]

 Richard, i didn't know you could polarize a alternator, i thought you could only polarize a generator. a alternator it would blow a diode.

       Pete

  Fantasy

[RJ]

Doug (Tekebird) -

Chaz has a 4108 equipped with an 8V71 & V-730.

FWIW. . .