Mechanic in Central WA?

jbnewman · March 16, 2026, 07:02:24 AM

I'm looking for someone to do a pre-purchase on a bus in Central WA. Anyone know anyone they'd trust looking over an 8V71?

luvrbus · March 16, 2026, 10:32:54 AM

Nothing in central Washington except the town of Wenatchee someone will need to come out of Seattle or Spokane and will probably a waste of money

Glennman · March 16, 2026, 09:00:06 PM

I'm in Central Washington (Yakima), but I cannot say I know of any reliable mechanics off hand. If you want, you can PM me and maybe I can take a look at it on the surface and in the meantime, I can look around. I know a guy locally that has some relatives that are into mechanic stuff (racing) and one of them works at a local diesel shop. I do know of one diesel shop that may be able to look at it, but I have no personal experience with them, except to say that they have good reviews. Their name is Beaman's Truck Repair. Who knows, I might even be familiar with the bus you're looking at!

jbnewman · March 17, 2026, 06:34:55 AM

Thank you for the replies.

PM sent.

For future reference, Beaman didn't have any interest. RWC, Freightliner (who has some guys who could do it), NW (several folks said Skeeter could do it) said no. Valley and Freight Savers didn't answer the phone or return calls. I've found a shop - I'll release their name _after_ we see how they do. ;-)

luvrbus · March 17, 2026, 07:17:58 AM

There is not much testing you can do on a 8v71 is why people shy away from writing a report. Have the seller send a video on the 1st start up just focusing on the exhaust, that and the 2 air box drains will tell you a lot about the 2 cycle engine, you can pull a cover from the air box but you cannot the oil rings that break in one.If the seller doesn't have or keep records it's a roll of the dice, a 20 dollar oil sample is your best friend it tells all

jbnewman · March 17, 2026, 07:31:09 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on March 17, 2026, 07:17:58 AM
a 20 dollar oil sample is your best friend it tells all

Who do you like for testing? Which oil tests are worth $$ for an 8v71?

windtrader · March 17, 2026, 04:35:12 PM

Clifford is living in the 70's.

Blackstone charges $40 now. Getting one is better than one but its value is highly dependent on the state of the oil, when it was changed and how many miles run since changed. If the oil was just or recently changed, it will not provide a full picture.

luvrbus · March 17, 2026, 05:23:26 PM

Quote from: windtrader on March 17, 2026, 04:35:12 PMClifford is living in the 70's. Blackstone charges $40 now. Getting one is better than one but its value is highly dependent on the state of the oil, when it was changed and how many miles run since changed. If the oil was just or recently changed, it will not provide a full picture.

I have never use Blackstone only CAT and their sample supplies, they are 30 bucks now with postage but I just drop mine off at the CAT dealer for 20 bucks, clean fresh oil and filter in a 8V71 would wave a red flag for me, I would drive it for 20 miles and then pull the sample it will show if it had a problem because you cannot drain all the oil from a 2 cycle DD with out pulling the pan the oil galleys, oil cooler and oil pump stay full till the new oil flushes the old oil into pan and they mix

windtrader · March 18, 2026, 09:28:52 PM

Thanks for the tip. I'm sure there is CAT dealer in Sacramento area. Yes, Holt is local. Not only cheaper but quicker results I assume. The mailing takes time to Blackstone and they get backed up so it's a couple weeks. I have a couple samples to get checked now.

luvrbus · March 19, 2026, 06:28:17 AM

Quote from: windtrader on March 18, 2026, 09:28:52 PMThanks for the tip. I'm sure there is CAT dealer in Sacramento area. Yes, Holt is local. Not only cheaper but quicker results I assume. The mailing takes time to Blackstone and they get backed up so it's a couple weeks. I have a couple samples to get checked now.

I have used CAT since the late 60's lol back in 70's it was free if you owned CAT equipment or CAT power

jbnewman · March 30, 2026, 04:58:28 PM

For what it's worth, PD-4106, #2418 left the seller under its own power. There'll be a lot of new rubber on it before we make our 2200 mile voyage home.

Glennman · March 31, 2026, 07:30:26 PM

Hey there JB! I took my bus to Precision Diesel today to have the Jakes looked at. I have an extra 8V71 gear driven air compressor. If you want it, I can have the guys put it in your bus so you'll have a spare. I know it came out of a bus with a reverse rotation from the '60s, but that's all I know about it. Let me know if you're interested. Your bus is very nice!

jbnewman · April 01, 2026, 03:36:14 AM

Quote from: Glennman on March 31, 2026, 07:30:26 PMHey there JB! I took my bus to Precision Diesel today to have the Jakes looked at. I have an extra 8V71 gear driven air compressor. If you want it, I can have the guys put it in your bus so you'll have a spare. I know it came out of a bus with a reverse rotation from the '60s, but that's all I know about it. Let me know if you're interested. Your bus is very nice!

Glad they were able to get you in! Yes, please - that would be great.

Boomer · April 01, 2026, 06:55:42 AM

Who is Precision Diesel and where are they located and do they work on 2 strokes? FWIW I do what Cliff does, go to the CAT dealer with my oil sample, buy the CAT SOS bottle, pour the oil in it and give it back to the counter man, they send it to the lab with all their others. You can buy a 3 sample kit or a single. About a week. Thanks

jbnewman · April 06, 2026, 07:34:30 AM

Quote from: Boomer on April 01, 2026, 06:55:42 AMWho is Precision Diesel and where are they located and do they work on 2 strokes?

They're the shop I found in Yakima to do my inspection and my pre-roadtrip work. They don't have a huge amount of 2 stroke experience, but for what I need, that's OK. They'll work on them, and seem to have a good sense of what they do and don't know - and are willing to go learn.