Building the 102DL3 (continuation of "Bumper" thread)

[luvrbus]

I would not worry about the bull gear now, buy a Pro/Link with the Detroit and Allison software because you are going to need it.Hope you have a 12.7 the 11.1 is a good engine too but lacks power   

[luvrbus]

It might be great, but how much does it cost? The website does not give any indication of that. Being a marine product, it might be that if I have to ask about cost, chances are I can't afford it. 

They are around 2 grand and you have to dump the pee separate and ugly IMO 

[Jim Blackwood]

Wow! Great to hear is arrived with no problems and a super price.Now that I know you'll have money left to work on it, here: lol

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Charlotte-Pipe-2-in-x-10-ft-280-Sch-40-Solidcore-PVC-DWV-Pipe/3133041

Such a comedian. 
I'm still under budgetary constraints naturally, but I do have $10K in the bank and money coming in from time to time. Plus I have my genset, fresh water tank, and a whole bunch of small inverters. I think that's not a bad start. Oh, and I think I might also have a length of 1-1/2" PVC pipe around here somewhere too. Gotta think about the important things.

I'm not spending any 2 grand on a toilet. That's just ridiculous. Says it uses nearly a gallon per flush, well any new residential toilet can do better than that. They are required to do it with 7 tenths of a gallon. I don't see any advantage with that thing. Either one uses too much water so unless there is another alternative I guess it'll be a RV toilet and I'll just have to make the venting system work.

Bonus: The rear storage bay is HUGE. It extends rearward well beyond the door opening. Suddenly more options have opened up.

I stuck my head in the wheelwells, the air bag stancheons have very little rust and as a matter of fact there doesn't seem to be much rust under the rig at all. Some latches need WD40, some paint touch up wouldn't hurt. Rear bumper looks quite acceptable. Seats are held in by 4 nuts that an impact will remove easily, tires are 315-22.5, fuel capacity is 195 gallons. I'm going out in a few minutes to start it up and move it out by the workshop.

Jim

[buswarrior]

Do yourself a favour and throw away all your WD40.

Use good quality sprays that actually have lubricant in them.

Often, a spray grease is a better choice.

Good lube isn't cheap,
Crap lube isn't expensive.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[luvrbus]

WD 40 is what it is, mostly for water lock smiths love the stuff a big money maker for those guys when used on door locks and ignition switches       

[Jim Blackwood]

All the issues I now have that need addressed and you guys jump on the WD40? Seems like a lack of imagination. Much more important is figuring out the various switches and controls. What is the T handle on the left of the seat labeled "Lock"? What is the square push button on the front of the shifter console that leaks air? Why did the low air buzzer come on after I hit the Kneel switch even though the gage shows 120? What is the thing that is running back in the engine compartment after I turned the engine off? What is the yellow box with the toggle switches for?

I could go on.

Turns out my inverters are 900W each and there are 10 of them. That should be enough inverter power I suspect. This thing also has a BUNCH of batteries, I haven't counted them yet but holy crap, it looks like twice what Andy has in his Peterbilt.

Seems pretty easy to drive. Feels a little strange being that far in front of the wheels but I'll get used to it.

Jim

[thomasinnv]

I use tri-flo for a spray lubricant. Good stuff.

[richard5933]

Do you have the manuals for your bus yet? They will be a great help in figuring all these things out. Try and resist the temptation to fix or repair things because they seem wrong until you confirm what they are and how they work. Lots of stuff on a coach like this will be way different than one is expecting, especially a bus like your that may have been customized by the PO over the years to suit their needs. I've had more than my share of Oh $h!t moments because I opened something up I shouldn't have, only to find out later that the noise it was making was normal. Learned the hard way to read the book and ask questions first.

Congrats on getting the bus to your site without any difficulties. That was a huge first step that takes many a lot more effort and money to accomplish. Now the real fun begins.

[luvrbus]

I have the drivers manual for the bus if I could post photos here you could see what all the switches are for ,open the rear door on the drivers side and look up you may have a websato,you have a pump to fill the radiator on the passengers side be sure it is turned off,there should be 2 -tee handles on the floor beside the seat those are for the seat

[buswarrior]

Your first job is to get all the manuals and start reading.

Operator's, Maintenance and Parts.

We take a dim view of wasting our time typing, if the newbie won't get equipped to help themselves.

Get online, they're out there.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[luvrbus]

Try the E place the MCI manuals are in 2 binders plus the operators manual,the series 60 is 2 manuals same with the Allison 

[usbusin]

From MCI website.

102A/B/C
PART NUMBER    DESCRIPTION    EFF. DATE    TYPE
3K-15-1219C    Parts Manual w/o Section 3         Paper
3K-15-1223C    Parts Manual Supplement, Section 3, A2/A3         Paper
3L-15-582C    Parts Manual Supplement, Section 3, B3/C3         Paper
3L-15-306    Parts Manual Supplement, C3    01/1990    Paper
3K-15-1220A    Maintenance Manual         Paper
3K-15-827    Maintenance Manual Supplement, 102AW3         Paper
3K-15-1221C    Operator's Manual         Paper
7L-13-1480A    Wiring Diagram Manual,96/102         Paper

[Jim Blackwood]

OK, I can see where some of you guys might get a little short with me in this situation but please bear in mind I do not have your wealth of specific experience and knowledge about this particular area. You know exactly where to go to get the manual you need. I don't even know how to figure out which manual would be the right one, or where to find the identifying number that is used to get the right manual. And you know good and well that without being able to ask someone who knows it could take me weeks to even find out. so instead of telling me that I'm too damned dumb to even ask an intelligent question, you could spend 30 seconds posting a link to a good source and explaining where the number is hidden on the bus. Thank you very much.

OK, that was a rant and I should apologize for it. And I will, but not this moment, not after I've been told that as a BusNut I have to have a thick skin. If that applies to me it has to apply to everyone else too. I do realize that some of these questions may have been asked a bunch of times, not that I've seen them since I've been here but sure. And I'll do a search for the threads even though I realize that is often a futile exercise, After all how do you search for something if you don't know what it's called? Thingey? Yeah, that's gonna work.

Just so y'all won't think I'm being harsh though, I like you guys. I think you are all pretty doggone smart. I like what you are doing and I respect you for getting on here and trying to help. There should be more like you. I'm flailing around like a Newbie because I are one. Clueless. So I'm asking you to help me. I've downloaded online manuals before, I know fully well how difficult it can be, and that there almost always is the expensive, way overpriced option and the free version, but in some cases you might spend half your life looking for the free version. I'd rather not do that and I'm sure you guys know which option is the best, and why. Are you willing to tell me? Maybe not after that rant, so I guess now is the time to apologize. So I'm sorry. I shouldn't have gone off. I just need a little help is all.

Jim

[usbusin]

Jim, sorry I set you off I did mean to.  When I started my bus conversions in 1985 the plethora of information that is out there now was not available. Your bus experience will be a long process and really the conversion is never done until you hand the "keys" to the new owner!  We had our 4104 for 15 years and put 150,000 memorable miles on her.  Our 2001 truck conversion has 135,000 miles.

I am not familiar with your bus model as I had a 4104 and currently have a truck conversion.  I just went to the MCI website and that is what I found.  I think a phone call to MCI with your serial number in hand and they could tell you what manuals are pertinent to your coach.

With your background in cars you should have fun on the bus; things are just bigger and much heavier!

GaryD 

[Jim Blackwood]

Thanks Gary, and again I apologize for spouting off. I knew I shouldn't post that and I did anyway. Mea culpa, I'm guilty. And I'm just coming at this from a different direction. Some of what I know will help but some of it will be in the way and I know that. Like I said, on buses I'm a Newbie. Sorry for asking stupid questions. I'm trying to become less stupid.

So I have some photos.

Image 1, is the a Webasto? I suspect it might be. Is the yellow box the controls for it?

Images 2 and 3, the bus

Image 4 the interior

I have more to post.

Jim