The Long Steep Driveway, a Scary Story

[artvonne]

  You read about it. You heard about it. The 23.5% Grade that almost no Bus could climb. We measured angles, we calculated horsepower, contimplated gear ratios, multiplied torque, theorised startability. The numbers came up short, or at best a draw. But then there were friction losses to be considered, and road bed traction losses. The bets were on and the stakes were high. What kind of a knut would buy a Bus he wasnt sure would even make up it into his yard? This knut I guess.

  All the way I was sweating it. I prayed. I asked for other people to pray. Well, God must have supercharged that motor because it steamed up the driveway like its rear was on fire. I had to ease off the power because I was going too hard and fast. Wife stayed down behind and waited for me to clear the steep cement part before following, she said I was throwing gravel and rocks, blowing black smoke and leaving a dust trail. YeeHaw. Friends, it was a non issue. There never was any need to sweat over it, I could easily have climbed a steeper grade. Or, I could be loaded heavier and still make it up here.

  In my heart I knew she would, and the farther I drove it towards Home the more confident I became. As some may not know, I blew a tire 50 miles from home and left her behind at a truck stop and drove the toad home dog tired. I blew off going to get her yesterday, I was beat, it was 87 degrees and I just didnt want to deal with it. I had accomplished every goal I made. I got her running, I switched four tires around by hand, fixed some leaks, etc., and drove it 170 miles on battery power until the tire blew. She ran fantastic. Burned a tiny little blue the first 30 miles or so and then clear from then on. Power came up, compressor works super, no real leaks to speak of, didnt oil up the Jeep toad, what more could I ask for? Oh, that little genny hummed away making nice cool air through the AC's all the way home too.

  Today after juicing up the batteries, she didnt spin twice and she was running. No smoke on start up. On the way home today I tried double clutching the upshifts, man what a difference, the gears just slick in without so much as a click most of the time, almost like full syncros. Going to fourth im still in too much of a hurry and almost always graunch it some, though im getting better as I learn to slow down. But I am one real happy camper fellas, that is no lie. Ye Old Bus is parked right in front of the house. I thank you all, for everything, good bad and discouragement, that Bus would not be here right now if it wasnt for this Forum, and thats the Gods Honest Truth. Now the real work begins.

 

[Rick59-4104]

 Way to go Paul, nothing like it right??? I need to come and see her....

Rick

[RJ]

Paul -

Yeah!

Now we need bus porn!

Get out the camera!

[Tenor]

Woooo Hooooo!   

Glenn

[Melbo]

Congratulations and let the FUN begin

Melbo

[Singing Land Cruiser]

Ditto ;DM&C

[happycamperbrat]

Congrats!! Any pics?

[lostagain]

Photos, photos!

JC

[TomC]

Take a picture of this infamous driveway-would like to see it.  And of course the bus to.  Good Luck, TomC

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

What Goes Up, Must Come Down!

Way to go Paul.. Congrats!

Keep us updated on your progress.

Nick-

[Oonrahnjay]

What Goes Up, Must Come Down!
(snip)

That's what I was thinking, too.  But it sounds like Art has got it figgered!  Congrats, Art.

[artvonne]

  Thanks guys, I really mean that. I'll get some pics up in a few days after she gets a spit polish.

  So were at this truck stop yesterday getting her going and playing with the flat. Several truckers and their wives came over asking about it, wanted to see inside, offer help, asking what kind of engine etc.. My wife was kind of surprised at all the attention and questions. I told her thats probably going to happen a lot. She hasnt been sure of me and this Bus thing, but she found it interesting that so many others saw the uniqueness of it. In six years, not one single person has ever walked up to that Bounder asking anything about it.

  She hasnt rode in it yet. She stayed home with the kid while I dealt with it by myself down in Little Rock, and then followed me home yesterday from the Truck Stop, so I am anxious to see how she reacts to it going down the road. The Bounder is rather loud and bouncy/rattley, where this thing rides like a Mercedes. Solid and firm, but smooth, very quiet but you can still hear the engine. The difference is like night and day.
 

[bevans6]

Really neat that everything worked  out for you.  Any ideas on the charging system not working (that's what I think you mean by driving it on the batteries).

I was driving down to Nova Scotia last fall, and the alternator pulley came off in the middle of Montreal.  Picture me pulled over on the side of a major highway in a major city, where I don't speak the language, and looking at a 50DN with the pulley flapping about and all the belts hanging loose.  I thought about it, wondered what the heck am I going to do, one day into a two week vacation, 600 km from home...  Then i thought "what actually uses electricity on this bus?"  Nothing but the starter and the lights, if the lights are turned on.  And I have 500 AH at 24 volts of combined house and start batteries, all currently fully charged.  What is the problem?  Answer - no problem!  I drove the rest of the 1300 odd kilometres to Halifax during the day so I didn't have to run the lights, absolutely no problem!  Kind of fun how you can get along.

Brian

[artvonne]

Really neat that everything worked  out for you.  Any ideas on the charging system not working (that's what I think you mean by driving it on the batteries).

  Thanks Brian. I dont have a clue whats wrong with the Alt., or if anything is wrong. Someone pulled the hinge pin from the alternator, so I assume they were attempting to remove it and why else would you if there wasnt some issue? OTOH, thats all that was missing. One would think you would pull the wires off before you would pull that pin? I found a big clevis hitch pin at a Farm store I thought would work, but it was just a tad too short. So I just didnt bother with it any further. Like you say, not much using electricity in daylight, and with the genny running and the Jeep in tow I had a enough ways to boost the bats if I had needed.

  Im thinking that a decent 24 volt charger/converter wouldnt be a bad item to wire in to the Bus that I could run off the Gen.

[Barn Owl]

Great! Now that you driveway is a non-issue you can enjoy sweating the small stuff! BTW I finally measured my driveways grade, 20% in several places and 7/10ths of a mile long. My biggest problem is seeing all of the dust I stir up head for the intakes. It doesn't seem to take much to waste an expensive set of filters. I am still amazed at how many people will line up at the door wanting to see an old bus with peeling paint. At the Grand Canyon a tour bus full of French tourist took a walk through Wheezy bus before they went to see the big hole. You will have a great time showing your bus. Enjoy!