Busnut Broke Down in Georgia/1-95 (Lewis Island area?)

[NJT5047]

Byron bought an '81 MC9 in Ohio, and has made middle Georgia where the blower belt came off and the bus shutdown. He installed another belt, but the blower belt keeps coming off.  There may be some simple solution to his problem...but it'll take someone familiar with the system to spot it.  He's apparently near Lewis Island Georgia. 
I have his cell phone number if anyone is in that area, and has a little time to spare, he could use it.  Byron's been on the road since early yesterday.   Most of the trip went pretty good...
He's heading to Tampa.  Got a ways to go. 
He has other issues, but the blower belt is a show-stopper.
I'm at 704 650 0235.  If you can help give me a call and I'll give you Byron's cell phone number. 
Thanks, JR 

[JackConrad]

JR,
Has he checked the switch on the air tensioner? That would be the first thing to come to mind. Also check the miter box for smooth turning. Although I have never heard of it, it might be a bad bearing in the miter box. The only other thing I can think of is an alignment problem, but I am not sure what might cause that. Let us know what he finds. Jack
PS: One other thing, is the new belt the same length as the old one. If his bus has the smaller pulley on the miter box, it takes a shorter belt than my bus.

[Jerry32]

JR , there's got to be something severely wrong there. I run from SC to OR with a belt that was too large and wasn't even tight and never had colling problems or belt staying on problems. Jerry

[NJT5047]

Yep.  Something's changed most likely.  DrDave may have hit on it with the regulator failure.  Byron said he had an air leak, but couldn't locate exactly where.   He definitely has air leaks. 
He last said he was 85 miles north of Jax.  Reckon a little above Brunswick.  They hadn't found a belt locally half an hour ago.  That's what is going down right now. 
I gave him all the numbers off my spare for comparison. 
He says the miter box is smooth and turns freely.  And it springs up without the belt. He has to have help to get the belt on.  Obviously the valve that controls the air cylinder tensioner isn't working.  Mine will slam the miter box downward if moved.  His will not do that.  We've been over that.   Last night.  He has not made much headway today. 
I'll bet that this is an education.  He's traveling alone. 
JR

[Hartley]

Here is a picture of what is on my 83 model MC9, Don't know if the 81 has the same thing.

[NJT5047]

For those following the saga of Byron, he's back on the road again. 
Installed a new belt that was delivered to him this evening. 
Apparently he had a non-standard belt, and the bell crank (see DrDaves pix below) was bound up pretty bad. 
Bill ("Bill 340") stopped by and helped lube the air tensioner system.
Byron says the bus aired up much quicker than prior??  Maybe a tensioner valve?  Or maybe the tens cylinder leaked in a certain position.
The new belt fits better than the old item.
Hope he makes it home tonight!
This guy has been posting on various bus boards longer than I have...and he's only about 19 years old!  He qualifies as a bonafide Busnut! 
Best, JR 

[prevost82]

He's going to be one sick "BusNut" by the time he gets to your age JR he may need counseling 
Ron