1986 TMC 102A3 - Slow Take off

[buswarrior]

Yes, drive the bus on errands.

How are your driving skills going to improve/maintain without regular practice?

Why would you idle the bus "while doing work"?

If your wife thinks yer fooling around... you better get her better involved in this bus adventure... many a bus project and many a relationship have suffered in this hobby...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[chessie4905]

I can't see oil clogging the muffler. You will see a fair amount of blue smoke from excess idling when you take it out for a drive, until it burns off. Then it should run clean with a little black smoke on heavy acceleration. Unless engine has issues, like worn out, etc.

[jraynor]

Why would you idle the bus "while doing work"?

Not necessarily while doing work, Just while I've been testing some functionalities like switches, lights, motors, air leaks, etc.

I had just "tied" off my baggage door air lines so I was making sure they didn't leak

[luvrbus]

His model of MCI should have a throttle delay it is not going to jump off the line till he gets the turbo boost

[buswarrior]

Yes, go ahead. Use fast idle and forget you ever read this thread, and the others like it.

Carry on, busnut, yer fine.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Not necessarily while doing work, Just while I've been testing some functionalities like switches, lights, motors, air leaks, etc.

I had just "tied" off my baggage door air lines so I was making sure they didn't leak

[neoneddy]

On the topic of wanting to drive the bus some and do work on it and my recent bathroom , shower and plumbing projects I have a thought.

Charge up your tools, etc, pack a lunch, drive the bus to the back parking lot of Lowes or Menards and get to work.   I swear over that few week process I burned hours driving there and back for a $1 fitting (5 mile drive normally).   Maybe this speaks to my lack of planning, but how nice would it be to go in, get parts, maybe more than ya need, then return what you don't need all in one afternoon.

[jraynor]

On the topic of wanting to drive the bus some and do work on it and my recent bathroom , shower and plumbing projects I have a thought.

Charge up your tools, etc, pack a lunch, drive the bus to the back parking lot of Lowes or Menards and get to work.   I swear over that few week process I burned hours driving there and back for a $1 fitting (5 mile drive normally).   Maybe this speaks to my lack of planning, but how nice would it be to go in, get parts, maybe more than ya need, then return what you don't need all in one afternoon.

Now that is a good idea. But I have to power my floor fan to keep the temperature bearable. Florida heat isn't a joke. But I like your thinking. I was working on finishing the wiring for my air horn that I  was installing and the darn ring terminal breaks off the hot side which I didn't need to modify. Did any of my ring terminals fit, No. What do I do, I cut the ring on the new terminal, make it a C, hook it on (C isn't big enough for it to slide off) and done. 25 minute drive to Lowes for a $.50 cent terminal. Ill replace it later lol

[sledhead]

air locks on basement doors . I used a angle bracket 1' x 2" and slid them in between the plunger and the hole that locks go in . I left the air lines intact with the leaky cylinders on just in case I wanted to lock the bays . I added a air push valve to stop the flow of air so they did not leak any more . look in the pic at the far left of the air leveling valves

dave

[jraynor]

How are your fuel filters? If intake plugged, you will get a lot of black smoke from exhaust. If filters plugged, you will see much less smoke on acceleration than you are accustomed to.

So I did some snooping around the engine today. Check the air filter and it's in good shape. I need to blow it out with air but just didn't yet. As for the fuel filters, mine has a full processor with the glass view done with the filter inside. It's only about 1/3 up the filter so that shouldn't be the issue. Talking with someone today they mentioned the turbo might be slagging and to check the cool side fin for wobbliness. Checked that out with a screwdriver pushing the bolt as there is a screen over the end preventing me from doing so by hand. It seems good. No wobble from the multiple angles I attempted. I do plan to maybe stick a camera down the intake vent from the side to verify no nests are found. Other than that, I may just take it for a good stroll one day and see if she improves

[buswarrior]

Take that old war horse out and RUN IT.

Find a long hill, several miles long, one that brings it to its knees, and go back down and climb it again...

Don't come back for at least 2 hours of highway driving, longer if you're having fun.

report back.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[chessie4905]

Did you check for smashed exhaust under neath?

[TomC]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again-DO NOT BLOW OUT YOUR AIR FILTER! You can cause small holes in the paper that will let dirt into the engine. Just buy a new air filter element if it is questionable-they're relatively cheap compared to an engine overhaul. Good Luck, TomC

[chessie4905]

You could install a restriction gage on your air intake at engine to monitor filter. Most have a memory and reset  after checking. Make sure to get one that is rated accurate. You need to note initial reading with new filter. Some will show some restriction, even with new filter due to particular air intake system in your coach.

[Geoff]

I can't see oil clogging the muffler. You will see a fair amount of blue smoke from excess idling when you take it out for a drive, until it burns off. Then it should run clean with a little black smoke on heavy acceleration. Unless engine has issues, like worn out, etc.

Like I said earlier, I have seen oil clogging up a muffler several times.  But when I asked about the air box drains, my message was hijacked by someone who is now on my new "ignore" list.  I have also seen where mufflers have collapsed internally and caused power problems.  I've been working on Detriots since the 1970's.

[chessie4905]

If you want to check for a clogged muffler, you could install a pressure gage in pipe before muffler and note pressure with engine against governor. Under load would be better. Would need some hose and have someone read it from bedroom.