New owner, Looking for wiring diagrams

heimrr · August 17, 2011, 06:40:26 AM

hi, i am new to this site and new to bus ownership. i recently bought PD 4104-287 a 1953 GM bus. I was looking for a project to work on and boy did i find one. the previous owners were not very kind to this bus and it needs lots of work. on the down side, the reverse soleniod is not working and i have determined it to be a wiring problem and not the solenoid itself. also it is an old conversion and this thing needs a good cleaning front to back and top to bottom. on the plus side, the air system seems to be in good shape. good bags and air beams, good brakes, good tires,and the engine seems to be solid. it smokes when you get on it but once it warms up that seems to clear up too. I paid $3500.00 for it so even if everything goes south i won't be out a whole lot. Anyway, i need to find wiring diagrams and schematics for this bus so i can fix some of the wiring problems that it has. i will be grateful for any info that anyone can supply.
Thank You and i am looking forward to any info or comments that anyone else might have.
later, Reuben

Melbo · August 17, 2011, 06:58:28 AM

Check out some of the more specific forums for help on something like that.

Most conversions don't use all the original wiring and it gets abandoned or redirected

I am sure someone will chime in with a method for a way to get the reverse solenoid working and where to check

HTH

YMMV

Melbo

Scott & Heather · August 17, 2011, 07:08:45 AM

Just send a PM to Gus...I came across some posts he had concerning wiring diagrams for a similar coach...but I honestly am not sure if they are the same.

Len Silva · August 17, 2011, 08:36:47 AM

I have a full set of manuals, including schematics here:
http://manuals.lenstudio.com/

gus · August 17, 2011, 12:11:14 PM

Len's diagrams are better than mine which were copied from a manual reproduction with very small diagrams.

heimrr · August 17, 2011, 05:32:32 PM

thank you len... these will help out a lot.
Reuben

heimrr · August 17, 2011, 05:41:32 PM

i placed a jumper wire from the negative power terminal on the starter to the coil on the reverse solenoid. aside from a little spark which you would expect if you are energizing the coil in a solenoid, it did'nt do anything. no click, no movement at all. So... i'm thinking the solenoid must be bad or it would do something. Also, i cannot move the manual lever to put this thing into reverse. the lever moves about an eight of an inch and that is it. do i have to shift this thing into first and then second before trying to move that lever into reverse ?? i'm a little confused as to how this works. Thanks
Reuben

Melbo · August 17, 2011, 05:49:59 PM

I don't remember EXACTLY what I did because it was years ago but I remember that I used a Claw Hammer with the curved claw and I had the shifter in neutral and the engine off I pried on the spot while my girlfriend moved the shifter into 2nd (which of course is reverse) and I went up started the bus with the clutch in and backed it up.

I had to do that because the lever from the solenoid to the trans was broken.

Luke shipped me a new one.

HTH

Melbo

zubzub · August 18, 2011, 01:00:47 AM

he he he ....welcome to old4104s... many of the old relays don't work properly anymore on an '04....I have replaced many with new cube relays. Re reverse, make sure you are getting full current at the reverse solenoid ( the one on the tranny)...if not trouble shoot forward ( clue it's probably the relay in the rear panel) If you are in a "get it home" situ, an extension cord from the cockpit to the engine bay can control engine stop, start and reverse, these three functions run through the rear junction panel and will test your patience if the relays are intermittent.