No Reverse on the Bus

Bus Riders · March 02, 2016, 07:48:26 PM

First run on Sunday everything worked perfect, Tonight I went to fill up the bus and where I park it I have to back in. I am not sure of the procedure but 2 days ago I hit the switch on the dash for the reverse solenoid and moved the gear shifter to the left and then pushed upward and into reverse and it worked. Tonight I did the same procedure and it would not go to the left to either bull low or reverse. We turned the motor off and I listed to the solenoid with the key on and turned on the reverse switch and I could hear the solenoid make a noise but it did not move anything that I could see. Looking for help. This is a 1961 MC-2 with a 6V71 Detroit Diesel and 4 speed and it has a switch on the dash to move the transmission to bull low or reverse.

Gary LaBombard · March 03, 2016, 11:36:40 AM

I am not sure about MC-2 but my first experience with my eagle was

1) I put the bus in neutral, then I Pushed in reverse button for a "moment" with bus still in neutral and then released button. Then I pulled the gear shift in 2nd gear / reverse I thought.

2) The reverse bus solenoid made a noise like it was working when I did press it in but I did not "HOLD IN" the reverse button while I put the bus in reverse /2nd gear & then release the reverse button.

3) long story short, I now know I have to HOLD in the reverse button until I pull the gear shift into 2nd / Reverse and THEN release the reverse button.

This may not help you but it was sure embarrassing to me when the neighbors watched me pull into my yard for the first time and I could not make the bus go in reverse when I got hung up making a sharp 90% turn. I ended up with my bus pulled into the side of my entrance fence opening on the passenger side. I RESOLVED This by taking my chainsaw, cutting out 8 foot length of fence!! YEP, no reverse needed that day but have since found out what I did wrong. Neighbors laughed like hell when they saw me toss the section of fence I cut out and tossed it into my yard.

Lesson here, don't just jump into a bus and believe you can know how to DRIVE it, it is not like a car in any way. If this does not help you out with your reverse problem, maybe it will give you a laugh at my in-experience. Wait till I finally get to drive my bus again, Oh Man to have a camera eh? I don't mind posting my mistakes as it makes it easier for newbies like I was / still am, to realize I am not the only one making these mistakes.

Tony LEE · March 03, 2016, 04:15:40 PM

And then there was the time the solenoid failed so I had to tie a bit of rope to the lever and when I needed reverse, Betty had to jump out, pull the rope until I got into reverse and then climb back on board.
All good fun.

bigred · March 03, 2016, 04:43:56 PM

We used to have an old 3751 years ago that we used for a quartet bus.Seems like we had to replace the "reverse switch "once a month!!!

Bus Riders · March 03, 2016, 05:20:07 PM

Gary I love the fence story. I am sure everyone has a story to tell on themselves, but that was a classic. I think I have the procedure down pat but I did research and found out something. By keeping the RPM'S up It gives the reverse solenoid more juice to the coil inside. Also I want to clean the one cable connection to the solenoid as it has been sitting for a couple of years. A little WD-40 on the external moving parts and hopefully it will work properly. I am going to try on Saturday as the weather forecast is a balmy Plus 8. Thanks guys for your input, greatly appreciated.

richardmc9 · March 03, 2016, 08:42:56 PM

When I put my 4 speed 01 Eagle in reverse I just push the shifter over to the right and pull back and it goes right in reverse , this is the first I've heard of any kind of switch to get the trans in reverse, I've had MCIs with automatics before so the manuel is new to me

richardmc9 · March 03, 2016, 08:45:27 PM

I forgot to say am I missing something here ??

bigred · March 04, 2016, 01:53:30 PM

What you are missing is that the reverse switch is /was only on strait drives .Not automatics.On the 3751 I spoke of earlier ,after we had replaced the switch a couple of times ,we started squirting Channel Master Color TV Tuner Cleaner in to the switch handle .Never did have to install another switch .That stuff was like Wildroot Cream Oil .Just a little dab would do ya!!

eagle19952 · March 04, 2016, 06:22:40 PM

Quote from: bigred on March 04, 2016, 01:53:30 PM
.Just a little dab would do ya!!

that was Brylcreem ....

bigred · March 05, 2016, 06:01:10 AM

Oh Well !!Guess that switch on my brain may need a little of that tuner spray!!! LOL

bevans6 · March 05, 2016, 06:13:48 AM

What gearbox does an MCI MC-2 have? Spicer 8844 same as the MC-5?

Brian

lostagain · March 05, 2016, 07:18:55 AM

I used to drive all those old MCI models in the '70s. My memory is getting fuzzier. But I seem to remember that MC1s and 2s had a 5 speed with syncromesh, like the Courier 96s. The MC3s had a 4 speed straight cut like the 5s. We never had MC4s.

JC

Bus Riders · March 05, 2016, 06:52:55 PM

Now I have reverse. Went today and after checking out the voltage and doing the proper procedure by turing on the switch with the engine off I could hear the reverse solenoid click on and off. By looking at the solenoid we sprayed WD-40 over all the gear linkage and also the clutch linkage. We also spray the shifter in the cab. It made the shifting much easier by far. The I tried the reverse switch again and it went into reverse. The bus had been sitting for a couple years and this really helped loosen up the linkage. So the way to get it into reverse is to put the transmission in neutral, turn the reverse switch to on and put the shifter into first gear. When in gear turn off the reverse switch. When putting the gear shifter into reverse you can feel it being different than just putting it into first gear. Thanks everyone for all the help. Garry

Gary LaBombard · March 05, 2016, 07:28:54 PM

Sounds like I was not too far off with my funny story after all of how I had to shift my bus in reverse. Glad it worked out for you and the lubing helped as well. You ought to hear my story about my 1978 Truck I owned, drove for 5 years and just hated it as the steering wheel was always uncomfortable to me all that time up in the air. What a stupid design I thought!! Well I finally traded it. I was so happy that day until the new truck dealing salesman got in my old truck to observe the inside and said to me, Hummm, haven't seen this in this year truck before?? WTH you talking about I thought, it is just an ole truck, but (HE SAID, TILT STEERING) as he pulled down on the steering wheel after pulling up on the turn signal lever. OH Crap, I used to drive with that truck and a pillow behind my back for 5 years!!!!!!!!!! The only time it was comfortable to drive was when I turned around to drive in reverse to back up, anyhow the Salesman saw my amazement in my face and asked, (You Knew this had tilt steering right)? Haha, this really happened, I promised. I have to tell this story at every rally.

Bus Riders · March 06, 2016, 10:05:18 AM

JC I am not sure what model of transmission I have. When you use the reverse button it puts the transmission into reverse or bull low, then when you push in the clutch which takes it out of reverse then you have the 4 forward gears. This bus was on Vancouver Island going from Nanaimo, Campbell River, Gold River etc. Perhaps you drove it at one time. It was Unit 601 (Which is still on the door) and serial number 611.