Argh!! About ready to give my bus away

[belfert]

I'm so frustrated I'm about ready to just give my bus to the first person who shows up to take it!

I cannot get the water pump off to save my life.  There is a big bracket blocking the water pump that holds the transmission cooler.  The trouble is the water pump blocks one or two of the bolts holding the bracket on.  I'm at a point where I can't continue on.  I already replaced the water pump once and I did have to drop the tranny cooler.  I can't remember how I got the tranny cooler out last time.

I had the radiator out when I pulled the water pump off the last time.  I don't see how that would help now.  It could be that I have to pull the radiator again, but that is a full day's job for two people.

The only good thing is I still have a bit over two months to get the bus back on the road.  I guess I'll go out and stare at things for a while longer.

[belfert]

After I posted this I went outside and went back to work.  I had a eureka moment shortly after I got back out there.  I was able to use my 15" Crescent wrench to get the one bolt loose on the transmission cooler bracket that was blocked by the water pump.

I can now get to all of the bolts on the water pump and should have no problems pulling it.  I decided not to pull the water pump today since I still have to get some replacement pieces of hose and some new hose clamps.  I'm not going to reuse the short sections of silicone hose as I have had bad luck doing that in the past.

It has been real frustrating recently since it has rained so much i can never work on the bus.

[jbnewman]

And here I was, buying a plane ticket to MSP, ready to get me a free bus. 

-jbn

[Busted Knuckle]

Damn I skipped the plane ticket and loaded tools in the truck and was 1/2 way there when I read that you figured it out. I guess since there is no free bus I'll head home!
  BK 

[Ace]

Guys give it some time. This bus may still come available. This is just the rainy season. Wait until the cold weather hits and time gets short. LOL

[zubzub]

Yeah, maybe someone should full time up by Belfert's bus.  Offer plenty of advice but not actually help to him.....before you know it you will have a nice Dina.

[JohnEd]

Really want to know what problems you are having with silicone hose?

[belfert]

I've had several short pieces of silicone hose get cracks/splits in them.  One was a piece that was original to the bus that I had never touched.  The other was a piece that I had reused and it split not long after that.

[JohnEd]

Brian,

I have heard it said that silicone hose can be nearly impossible to seal.  Always "weeps' and is a pain.  I also thought that the stuff was lifetime material that would outlast the bus.  It certainly costs like it should.

We have a Knut here that is a heavy on Gates hose and products and there is a gates product, green stripe or something, that lasts 20 years.  It is also very spendy but cheaper than silicone and won't last as long as luggage or herpes.  I had considered using take out silicone hose from the wrecking yard but your post has given me pause and i hope you have more information.

Thank you,


John

[rv_safetyman]

The subject of radiator hose comes up often.

I try to  answer most of them because of my background (34 years at Gates). 

I did a quick search using the word "hose" and me as the author and got a lot of hits.  Probably the most detailed is:

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?topic=5466.0

The point I try to make each time is that **GOOD** quality rubber hose will serve our needs the best.  Do not try to use a piece of automotive radiator hose - is is a real wimpy knit reinforced construction.  Buy the straight very stiff hose that comes in 6 foot sticks.  In the industry it is known as wrapped hose since it is built on a mandrel and is a plied up construction.  It is cured by spiraling on nylon fabric that shrinks when the hose is cured in an autoclave.  The nylon is then stripped off and the exterior has a fabric texture.

Jim

[Dave5Cs]

I read on the silicon Hose site somewhere that you need to put blue or red silicon and non-acidic sealer (gasket maker type) in a thin covering over any rough castings as in our water pump connection ends. Let dry overnight and then put the silicon hose on with new clamps. They don't crack at the casting then. That's where the leak started on mine. I spent 21.00 on a 1 foot piece of 3" silicon green. They wanted less for the Gate green strip but I would have to buy 5 feet of it and had no use for that much.

Dave

[JohnEd]

Thank you.  I am smarter now.  For as long as that might last.

John

[artvonne]

Guys give it some time. This bus may still come available. This is just the rainy season. Wait until the cold weather hits and time gets short. LOL

  Dude, thats why I moved south. 52 years of shoveling Minnesota snow, wearing a jacket in July and freezing (or sweating in 98 F with 98% humidity), watching it rain, and swatting mosquitos. Its one extreme or the other and just about the time your getting used to one (if your ever lucky enough for that to happen) you get the other. I dont know why I didnt leave sooner.