4106 help.

[wdtjawshwdt]

Here we go.  I might be aborting work on the mc-9...I am getting tired of welding.  Craigslist is an interesting place and I found a 64 4106 and the guy is asking $1000.   It won't start.   Engine rebuilt 8000 miles ago, spicer transmission and tires only have roughly 500 miles on them. He said "I just sold the other one I had.   I started working on this one and then I took a break and now it has been 3 years"  I did perform a search on this forum but I just found info on the possible problems on the bulkhead and fuse box under the driver window.   Any tricks with the starter (he says it is the starter)?  I am very keen on tapping starters with a hammer.  Let me know what you 4106'rs got please.   Going to check it out this weekend. 

[RJ]

Josh -

Starter is hard to get to on an '06, it's between the engine and the bulkhead.

Sometimes it's just the solenoid - take it apart, flip the disc over, reassemble and try again.

For $1000, if it's close by, I'd say go for it.

See your PM for more info.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[OneLapper]

Josh,

As RJ *hinted* at, getting to the starter on the 4106 is difficult at best.  If you have inside access to the removable panel inside the bus, you're in business and the repair is much easier.

The first thing to do is go see the bus and determine what the issue is.  Dead batteries and bad start switch(es) can be ruled out in 2 minutes.  You can pretty easily jump the posts on the solenoid and see if it cranks.  If the starter needs to be removed, you can search the forum here for "4106 starter" and find several posts.  I know I posted about the tools needed to make the job easier not too long ago.

If you need to replace the starter, take the time to remove the exhaust manifold.  Removing will give much more room to work.  You can also get to two nuts by going under the bus (take note, be careful, air bags, etc etc.) and getting up into the bulkhead behind the rear axle.

I once bought a running 4106 for $950.  I thought for certain I could flip it.  Nope. I ended up pulling the axles and drivetrain, cutting up the rest.  I made my money and some on the scrap metal but omg the work wasn't worth it.

Mark

[Lin]

It sounds as if this is not a converted coach.  If it isn't, remember the bulk of the costs will be in the conversion, so a bargain on the shell is not necessarily a bargain.  If it is already a usable conversion, it's a deal.

[wdtjawshwdt]

Well we will see what happens.  The guy asked if he could schedule to show the bus with another party that is interested.  I said okay.    All up in the air now.  I was going to bring my batteries and tools, but I wish i knew what the intentions were of the other interested buyer.  I asked the owner if could connect me and the interested party to find out about intentions and what tools they are bringing or if they plan on towing the vehicle out.  Who knows.... I would help anybody out if they are more interested in the bus and it just isn't a scrapper.   

The reason I would be interested in this vehicle is that I already have many parts for the MC9, Furniture, generator, aluminum skin, AC, etc.   I have spent a lot of time so far attacking the rust on the mc9 but if I could pick up the 4106 for $1000 and it is in better condition, It already has  the seats removed. I might be getting into a better vehicle.   I wouldn't bother with buying it if it were a completely lateral move into another shell.   I have a pretty firm grasp on what is going on with the MC9.   


MC9 needs.   Differential seal kit, brake chamber, more welding! WELDING!!! and WELDING! I am going to assume at least 80 hours of metal work, windshield,  Complete reskinning.   

If 4106 for $1000 beats any of that then I will switch shells/platform.     

[Barn Owl]

The 4106 has a lot of advantages over the bigger buses. One of the biggest advantages for me is that it will simply go places where the others cannot. Also they are easy to work on, plenty of parts still available or manageable workarounds are possible, and being mostly aluminum, not too much rust to deal with. I can hardly imagine any 4106 with bulkhead problems still being around, they are either long gone or have been fixed. I cannot recall anyone posting that they have found one with that issue. I didn't find the starter to be that big of a deal, and I posted my experience about it here: 4106 starter swap; not all that bad. If you think it is a bad solenoid there is a cheat to start the bus. Before doing anything with the starter - Make sure the bus is in neutral! Open the side door at the transmission and locate the starter solenoid end cap located on the bell housing. Remove the cap and take a broom handle, screwdriver, or anything you can jam into the hole and engage the solenoid plunger. If all of your battery connections are good and the starter core is functional, you should be able to manually start the engine this way. Here is the post link, second post down, with photos of the bell housing showing the end cap I am talking about: Bad starter solenoid. I know of several 4106 buses heading for scrap. The dead conversion market and high aluminum prices are taking out even good running examples. I wish I had the time, money and space to save them, it does make the survivors that much more special.

[wdtjawshwdt]

I just wanted to say thank you.  The guy that picked it up had a tow truck so I lost out on the deal.   I don't know much more than that.   So back to work on the MC-9 and now the 4106 has me intrigued.   Maybe another future project if I find it for the right price.