New MCI owner... What advice do you have for me?

[hogi6123]

Hi guys,

I bought my first bus, a converted 1981 MC-9 with 8v92t, about a year ago, mostly to be an extra bedroom.  Driving it is fun.  At this point I'm not sure I can come to terms with the maintenance aspect -- time and cost that will be required over time -- I'm starting to look at tracing air lines, and thinking about the engine, it feels like too much bus for me.  It seems to be in good shape but needs a few things, like an air bag replaced and some other air leaks fixed.

I am considering switching to some type of smaller bus, such as those built on a van or truck body.

Anyway, was wondering if anyone has any advice for me, and if you know of anyone near central Illinois that would be willing to go over it with me?

Thanks.

[ol713]

Hi guys,

I bought my first bus, a converted 1981 MC-9 with 8v92t, about a year ago, mostly to be an extra bedroom.  Driving it is fun.  At this point I'm not sure I can come to terms with the maintenance aspect -- time and cost that will be required over time -- I'm starting to look at tracing air lines, and thinking about the engine, it feels like too much bus for me.  It seems to be in good shape but needs a few things, like an air bag replaced and some other air leaks fixed.




I am considering switching to some type of smaller bus, such as those built on a van or truck body.

Anyway, was wondering if anyone has any advice for me, and if you know of anyone near central Illinois that would be willing to go over it with me?

Thanks.

  HI.
     I would suggest you put about 1,000 miles on it and see if you change your mind.
     air bags are not too hard to change.  I have done about 6 of them so far with two to go.
                                            Good luck   

[hogi6123]

Thanks for the advice 

A few specific questions:

Where should I order an air bag from?  The air bag that's (currently ) leaking is on my tag axle.

When I drive it, a sort of dirty oily smell comes out of the ventilation ducts.  Is this something that can be cleaned out or do I have to live with it?

[luvrbus]

Thanks for the advice 

A few specific questions:

Where should I order an air bag from?  The air bag that's (currently ) leaking is on my tag axle.

When I drive it, a sort of dirty oily smell comes out of the ventilation ducts.  Is this something that can be cleaned out or do I have to live with it?

Oily smell is a lot better than the prison  MCI 9 with a 8v92 bus I am working on but oily smells are easy once you find the source 

[ol713]

Thanks for the advice 

A few specific questions:

Where should I order an air bag from?  The air bag that's (currently ) leaking is on my tag axle.

When I drive it, a sort of dirty oily smell comes out of the ventilation ducts.  Is this something that can be cleaned out or do I have to live with it?

   Hi;
       You can get parts from Luke. He usually has most parts in stock.  Keep this phone number, he is a good guy to work with.

                                     Luke at US Coach  =   (856)794-3104   

[Melbo]

The bags on the tags are easy to change.

What part of central Illinois are you in.  Central Illinois covers a lot of area from way down south to way up north and from the Mississippi River to Indiana.

We will be near Macomb in late July

Melbo

[hogi6123]

LOL time to re-label my map...  I grew up in Champaign, and Champaign-Bloomington area has been "central Illinois" to me.  I'm just a little north of Champaign now.

[Branderson]

I found a good bus mechanic that was nearby and I replaced all the air bags on my MC-8.  It wasn't that expensive but then again I don't have the mechanical experience to do it on my own. 

[hogi6123]

I'm feeling ever so slightly more confident now 

I have plenty experience working on vehicles, this is just a HUGE jump from the size I have experience with.

I decided to tackle some other lighter issues before the air bags.

Figured out the headlights: the previous owner had connected several wires to the wrong terminals when hooking up the batteries.    My Vanner had been hooked up with both terminals to +24V.  Headlights on one side just didn't come on, and on the other side they immediately burned out. 

I aired up the bus several times with shop air, and after shutting off the air it drops pretty quickly to about 50 psi.  I think I need to isolate some circuits to narrow down where the leaks are at.  Also need to redraw the air diagram, it looks like tangled spaghetti to me now.

The smell is from the large area under the bus where the heater core is located.  Hopefully vacuuming out that area will reduce the smell.

I have large A/C units mounted in a storage bay.  Yesterday noticed water is dripping where it shouldn't be, it's not draining correctly.  Only problem: I see no way to dismantle the A/C unit with it in the bus!

Oil pressure gauge on the dash doesn't reading anything.  How do I track this down?  How does this gauge work, does the sending unit output a voltage or change resistance or something else?

I should replace most of the tires also.  Front tires are good, 6 years old.  Rear tires are 20+ years old.  Tires on the bus are 315/80R22.5.  I was given 2 new 12R22.5 tires, maybe I should put those on tag axle and get 4 new matching ones for the drives.  I know there's a lot more information on tires here if I just had time to read it all.

[jap42]

I have 12 R22.5 on the tag and 315 / 80 R22.5 on my drive. Works great.

I would love to see pictures of how those A/C units are installed. If they are the RV basement style I bet your drain pans/tubes are plugged. So the evaporator pan overflows. If you can see where the drains are you can use a shop vac to clear them out. Just hold the up to the end and use your hand to get as much suction on the tube as you can.

[hogi6123]

Ok, here's one a/c unit.  There's one just like it on the other side.  I intend to see if there's any blockage I can clear after removing the white drain pipe.  It's siliconed in there pretty good.

[jap42]

Replace that white pipe with something clear. It will help you see if there a stuff building up in there. That looks somewhat custom. At least the brackets are.

[TomC]

I have a 40ft transit I converted myself and been using it now for 20 years. Love the bus, but hate the lowness of it and the difficulty of servicing (putting up on blocks and crawling around to grease and change filters). This is why I'm converting my '85 KW with Cat engine. Easy to work on, parts still available from KW. And if I break down with the truck it is easy to get repaired. With the bus and 8V-71, where do you look for a repairman? I'm going to Boise, Id and a 1,900 mile trip. Am a bit nervous about breaking down even though I've rebuilt everything on the bus with low miles now. Good Luck, TomC

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Maybe I am biased, but in my opinion, anyone who buys a bus...or even thinks about buying a bus to convert, should subscribe to Bus Conversion Magazine and read everything you can about converting, maintaining, servicing, and traveling in a bus conversion before you spend one penny.

Before I bought my first bus, I did exactly that and I actually read almost EVERY issue of Bus Conversion Magazine before I bought my first MC-7 Combo bus.  It was reading the many articles about the ruggedness and flexibility of the layout of the interior that helped me decide to buy my first bus, and my second, and now my third. 

I liked the magazine so much, I bought the company and continue to run it 8 years later and really enjoy my bus and the great people I meet at bus rallies and in my travels.

Sign up today using Coupon Code 2020fathersday and save 50% off the subscription price and you will also have access to over 100 back issues and also several Books on PDF that will walk you thru everything you need to know about how to convert a bus to a home on wheels.

Gary

[hogi6123]

There was no blockage in the drain pipe.
The a/c unit is tilted away from the drain, but it shouldn't be too much: there is a deep plastic pan around the evaporator, and it stays basically empty.
The insulation in the bottom of the unit is filled with about 1" of water.
I'm guessing the drain pan is cracked.
We're pulling the unit so I can do a proper investigation and repair.