Where are the start batteries in a '85 Prevost XL?

[lostagain]

A good friend has asked me to help him start a 85 Prevost XL that has been sitting for 7 years. 8V71, 6 speed manual. I am not very familiar with Prevost cars, I have only driven them a few times. Where are the start batteries? Once we have them charged, we can go from there. I'll take the valve covers off to check that the injector racks are free. The bus belonged to a common friend that succumbed to cancer 7 years ago. He had bought it a couple of years prior, and converted it, (really nice job). I know it was in good running order when it was parked. It has been inside out of the elements. Only thing we are worried about is mice and rats maybe having chewed through air lines or wiring. Hopefully not. It should start and air up and away he goes home with it. Just somebody tell me where to look for the batteries, and I'll let you know how it went.

Thanks

JC

[scanzel]

If it was a coach bus before the conversion they should be in the last bay back behind a door that swings out. I have an 1989 Prevost, there are four of them, two for starting and two are for the vanner equalizer for the 12 v sfuff.

[lostagain]

Thank you Steve. Yes it was a passenger bus before the conversion. We are going there to start it tomorrow.

Also I am thinking about setting the tire pressures at 80 psi. Would that be close to correct? The conversion is not particularly heavy. I don't even know what size tires they are. We'll look tomorrow. I'm a MCI guy, know nothing about Prevosts.

JC

[RJ]

Also I am thinking about setting the tire pressures at 80 psi. Would that be close to correct?

JC -

That would be close enough for you to drive it over to a local truck scale so you can get accurate weights on each axle.

After that, using the tire manufacturers inflation spec chart for that tire, you can set the pressures properly.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[robertglines1]

to lite on tires especially old ones    100 on front  90 on drive and tag---  they are prob aged out!!! be careful!!  my 89 was 36100  on scale  11,400 on front.   low pressure will kill old tires quicker because of heat and flexing side walls.   Bob

[robertglines1]

prob two switches--= one master for 24volt accessible from outside door  --another for 12 volt and ddec?? if it is in rear ceiling of last bay passenger side ..  Was in a change over period as my 89 prevost had a switch there.  If it was off= no start/power to engine would turn over but not fire..   Bob

[lostagain]

Thanks again guys. I'll send him off with 100 psi and 90 psi. The tires were brand new when he parked it 7 years ago, and it has been inside out of the elements since, so should be OK, unless one is flat and sitting on the rim. We'll see, I'll let you know.

[lostagain]

Here is the story with that bus:

The PO, John, a good friend of mine, bought that bus about 9 years ago from Charter Bus Lines of Vancouver, BC. I went down with him to drive it back to Invermere, 8, 10 hr drive, because he didn't have an air brakes endorsement on his license then (required in BC). He then converted it, really nice job, and got a couple of years out of it before he died of cancer, sadly. It has been sitting since then, pending settlement of his estate. The widow offered it to me, but I said no thanks, I don't need another bus. Then Brian from Trail, BC, one of John's best friends, also a good friend of mine, calls me yesterday to say he just bought it, and would I please help him getting it started for him to drive home. I am really exited that he got it, because not only does it stay in the family, so to speak, but Brian has experience driving semi trucks and hockey team buses, and is a good mechanic, so it should be a good fit. He will likely catch on to shifting the 6 speed manual really quickly too.

JC

[lostagain]

We spent the afternoon yesterday getting it ready to start. The batteries (4 X Group 31s) are done, would not take a charge, no surprise here. The injector racks are all free. It has the newer control tubes with a spring at each injector, and just the one adjusting screw. The tires look like new, but the dates are 04. They all had air still in them. Top them up to 100 psi steer and 80 psi drives and tags. The strange thing is the sizes: 12R/22.5 on the steers and tags, and 315-80/22.5 on the drives. Is that normal on a Prevost? I told Brian to weigh the bus by axles to research what size tires to buy next. It also has those god damned wheel simulators that made difficult to reach the fill valves. I had a suggestion for him about them. It involved a garbage can... There is a block heater that we plugged in. It works. We ran out of day light. He is coming back in a couple of days. Stay tuned.

JC

[luvrbus]

12r's and the 315's are about the same size that vintage of Prevost the 12Rx22.5 was the standard tire  fwiw

[lostagain]

Got it started yesterday. Took a  long time to replace the batteries. They are buried deep in the belly of the beast. One trip to town to get 4 G31s, then finding out that they were the wrong kind of post. They have to be the screw type. So to town again to trade them. Started on the first revolution as soon as I touched the button! After sitting for 7 years! But made a pop, pop sound and died right away. Tried a couple more times: same thing, WTF... Ether would not keep it going. Scratch head... I thought: I have heard this noise before somewhere. Then a brain wave: the Jakes are on. Turn them off at the dash and all is well, it keeps running, and sounds good too. Aired up nicely too. The Jakes are not controlled by a buffer switch on the governor: there is the dash switch, then a momentary foot switch on the floor. So I am thinking that the foot switch is stuck closed. Anyway this morning Brian backs it out of the barn and promptly gets it stuck on glare ice that is all over the driveway. Took all morning to get it out to the street, but he is on his way, and is probably home by now. He called about an hour into his drive and everything was running good and happy. He's got lots of work ahead of him, but he is exited. We are taking both our buses to Laughlin, NV in April and towing our motorcycles to ride down there and take in the River Run rally too.

JC

[lvmci]

JC, might be able to meet you there, would be fun, what park you gonna stay at? Lvmci...

[luvrbus]

JC, stop by I may have some goodies you would like

good luck

[lostagain]

Tom and Clifford, I'll look you up for sure. And I usually visit Van too. We might be at the Riverside Casino RV Park, or do you know of a cheaper one not too far? Anywhere is pricey in Laughlin that week.

JC

[luvrbus]

You can park here at the place but we are 15 miles from Laughlin all the campground are full that time of year and they do jackup the price The AVI is close they have dry camping or full hook up check with them it's not far from Laughlin