4104 unable to move

[pennuja]

I tried to pick up my new to me 4104 today and it went much better than I anticipated with one exception.

We installed 2 new batteries and were able to get it started without too much trouble, it has been sitting for five years. After running on high idle for a few minutes the air pressure came up to 110 and I tried to release the parking brake, from what I can tell there was not a service brake like I have seen on some other coaches. The coach was sunken into the ground from sitting so we pulled it a few feet back so that I did not have to try to move it out of the ruts (The PO had just installed a new clutch before parking it and I did not want to
chance messing it up getting out of the ruts) and it seemed to move fine, I do not know enough about the brakes but it would seem that the brakes are not locked up. I did try to set and release the brakes by picking up on the parking brake switch to the right of the drivers seat, I also tried pressing and releasing the regular brake pedal. I do not remember seeing a specific procedure in the operators manual but could easily have missed it.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what to try when I go back tomorrow, maybe something to look for I really do not want to damage something by doing something stupid?

Thanks in advance,
Jim

[mung]

If you can move the bus by pushing it while it is in neutral and the tires are turning, it isn't the brakes.  Is the engine lugging when you let out the clutch?

[pennuja]

When I let out the clutch the bus starts to move (very slightly) but the clutch starts to chatter, I am not applying the accelerator pedal at all just slowly releasing the clutch.

The engine does seem to slow when releasing the clutch, I did not try very much I was afraid of doing damage. I figured it best to ask here first and try again tomorrow when I have more time.

[luvrbus]

You released the pedal all the way at idle and it did not stall the engine ?

[pennuja]

No not all of the way out the bus started to shake and seemed like it would stall and I stopped at that point, I was running out of time and needed to get back home so I figured I would just make sure I released the brake correctly before trying farther.

[luvrbus]

It's a high geared 1st in a GM the chatter is normal for a bus setting for 5 years even here in the desert you get rust on the clutch disks and flywheel on a GM go for it you will be fine that 6-71 does not have enough power to tear up anything 

I can almost guarantee the engine will stall first before it moves at idle

[bobofthenorth]

You could possibly have pulled it back against an applied brake - unlikely but possible I guess.  Did you try pulling it ahead?

(I see Clifford - AKA BusYoda - has already told you what to do - trust his word.  He's forgotten more about buses than I will ever know)

[pennuja]

Should I try to give it some accelerator pedal to move it or see if it stalls first?

[luvrbus]

To get it to move it will need throttle it's going no where at idle

[pennuja]

Thanks so much for the info!

[eagle19952]

just because....check the clutch adjustment...how much free pedal ?

[pennuja]

Thanks eagle I have the manual I will look it up.

[eagle19952]

Thanks eagle I have the manual I will look it up.

and linkage....

[bevans6]

If you can stall the engine with the clutch, then you have some clutch.  It won't hurt anything to stall the engine.  Then, put the whole dead throttle start away for a minute, and try to move the thing like it was a Toyota.  Rev the engine, in gear, balance the clutch against the load, and see what it can do.  Dead throttle starts are fine with a great engine and clutch on flat ground, but I have my idle set low and I can't do dead throttle anything if there is a 1% grade or a dead squirrel in the way...

Stop when the clutch either makes smoke or you can smell it, that is getting to the too much point...

Edit; clutch smells like "oh crap what have I done" and "that is going to be expensive"...  It usually isn't, they built these things for ruder guys than we are...  You'll probably just clean off the rust.

Brian

[mung]

You know, probably the most important thing here.  Where is the bus and what is the serial number?  Is it a conversion?