Bus mechanic in San Diego

[windtrader]

Honest Bob of H.B. Industries was to go to guy but he is no longer available, passed a few years ago. From all reports, very good. One fellow stated there are hardly any independent shops with bus lifts anymore, kind of lines up with another who stated most bus repair/maintenance is done in-house. Even a smaller tour operator I visited had his own mechanic and shop for all but the largest jobs.

Any qualified place even still operating in San Diego?

[ol713]

      Hi;
        Check with a local tour bus operator.  Ask the shop foreman if any of
        his mechanics do work on the weekends for extra money.
                                       Good luck,     Merle.

[windtrader]

Thanks Merle,

Kind of bummed today. Spent a lot of time chasing down qualified mobile bus mechanic in San Diego. Will try tour companies as suggested.

[B_K]

If shop foreman is unable or unwilling to help with an after hrs option ask if the company would do it in their own shop for a hourly rate.
  BK 

[chessie4905]

Your description says you're researching......  Did you get a coach yet? If you have or get a coach with a four stroke, you can get work done at a place that repairs heavy duty trucks, as far as the drive line and brakes and exterior lights. Those systems are basic to trucks also. Engines, well that is a different issue. Make note of the hourly rate the shops charge.

[Geoff]

chessie4905


I'm sorry for the interruption, but what is that tiny bus picture you have posted on your profile?

--Geoff

[Iceni John]

chessie4905


I'm sorry for the interruption, but what is that tiny bus picture you have posted on your profile?

--Geoff

That's not a tiny bus!   It's the biggest frickin' bus ever.

(OK, I'm being a pedant . . .)

John

[windtrader]

@Chessie - Passed research, actively shopping, found a couple needing inspections. DD 2 strokes with Allison auto.
Close to end of hunt for qualified bus mechanic with 2 stroke experience that will go mobile. Odds against finding a single pro who can do the full inspection from running gear to bus coach systems to custom house systems.

[chessie4905]

Geoff, I used to have this bus but wife complained there wasn't enough room, so we bought the one in our signature.....


https://youtu.be/bPpBGsFddao

One other issue we started having. Most of the mechanics for nuclear fueled  turbine engines started to retire and it became very difficult to get service in places like San Diego, for example. The last place we had it serviced was in PA., at a place called Three Mile Island, near Harrisburg.



Here is some info on the one we have now; When we saw the article about it, we fell in love with it and had to have one. There are some roads we can't use with it though.

http://transportblog.co.nz/2015/04/01/birkenhead-transport-orders-triple-articulated-double-decker-bus/

[daddysgirl]

There is another source of 2 stroke mechanical knowledge that is often overlooked.

Wherever you are, find the number for the local government fleet maintenance department. They still use 2 strokes in much of their equipment. Ask them who they recommend, and/or if there is anyone who does side work on the weekends.

[luvrbus]

You need to get away from worrying about the 2 stroke if it starts and run good without a lot smoke on start up after a few seconds it clears,heavy black smoke could be low compression and the compression rings are the only rings that can be inspected by sight.
They are like all diesel engines even a inspection is no guarantee it will last.Do your home work and inspect your own buy ask questions and save the 1000 to $1500.00 inspection fees it is not that hard   

[windtrader]

@daddysgirl - I was asking myself, "What about fire engines?"  They run really old trucks that are exempted in CA. Will call around for those sort of fleets still in operation, must be some.

@luvurbus - thanks for the vote of confidence. I know my way around cars, to the bolt, but since I have have zero practical first hand experience with bus running gear, I just don't trust myself. Of course, I can suss out hissing and visible leaks and excessive belching of smoke and all the obvious stuff but for a few hundred bucks, to me it is cheap insurance if something does get picked up that I would miss.

To me, basic risk/reward. Missing a failing alternator in a car is a 100 buck mistake at most, in a bus could be 1000. Failing to detect air bags on borrowed time is an expensive oversight.

[Iceni John]

Here is some info on the one we have now; When we saw the article about it, we fell in love with it and had to have one. There are some roads we can't use with it though.

http://transportblog.co.nz/2015/04/01/birkenhead-transport-orders-triple-articulated-double-decker-bus/

Wonderful!   The name of the German manufacturer, Unglaublich Grossbusfabrik GmbH., and the date kinda give it away.   If you drove around a small roundabout you could potentially have a head-on collision with your own vehicle and also rear-end yourself, all at the same time  -  I wonder how the police would ticket that one?

John

[Oonrahnjay]

Wonderful!   The name of the German manufacturer, Unglaublich Grossbusfabrik GmbH., and the date kinda give it away.  ... 

      Too silly!  Nobody want's a double-decker bus!

[chessie4905]

Of course! Especially when you can have a quad!!!


http://m.yemen-nn.com/news/11677/#.WMU3knIpBJ8