No Reverse on the Bus

[lostagain]

That is what we had in the MC2s and 3s. It is not straight cut, is it? Or is it syncro?

I drove for Brewster's in Banff, L. Louise, Jasper, not on Vancouver Island. Same old buses though...

JC

[Bus Riders]

    The gears are straight cut. So then because I have bull low and 4 forward gears do they call that a 4 or 5 speed.

[bevans6]

It's unlikely that the gears are straight cut - straight cut gears whine like an SOB all the time, very loudly.  Gears are helical cut at an angle so more than one gear tooth is engaged at a time - both quieter and stronger than straight cut.  I would call it a five speed because it has five forward gears.  This differentiates it from the far more common Spicer four speed 8844, which was used in most MCI's from the MC-5 introduction forward.

[Stormcloud]

Friends of ours have an MC-3. Original transmission was a 5 speed (inc bull low gear). The parking brake was also a large manually operated handle that engaged a brake installed on the output of the transmission.

When the transmission failed, they had an 8844 installed. As part of this repair, they had to have a parking brake system installed which included new brake cans, air lines, etc.

Ex$pen$ive.

Mark

[DoubleEagle]

One advantage of having a Model 5 Eagle is that if the reverse solenoid does not work, for whatever reason, you can tie a rope to the lever that sticks out from the bar that goes across the solenoid, and pull it to go in reverse, as has already been mentioned. To go back to forward you need a slender board to push it back. I finally found a better solution years ago (short of actually spending money to replace the solenoid) when I used a forked cultivator to both pull and push the lever. The only problem is getting someone to do it for you.

[Bus Riders]

    I am glad you have an option with the rope.  I will be looking for a spare solenoid for sure  If anyone has one let me know.  Thanks Garry