Need to rewire bus

[Michael_e]

It's been quite awhile since i was a regular poster here. A lot of things has happened, employment changes, physical challenges, economy, and now moving. Heck, nothing most of you haven't already been thru. Anyway, closing out this chapter of life in Denver and opening a new one in a small town in Kansas. Really hoping to take a lot of tension and stress out of my life. I'm thinking the best and safest way to move my bus is to have it trailered. Yea, i know, $$$. But, the tires are at least 8 years old and i've done so many changes to the bus and don't really have time to check all them out and to do the needed road tests, trailering just makes the most sense.

Oh, probably best to let you know what i'm working on/with; It's a 1955 GM Scenicrusier, repowered with a 8V92TA mechanical with jakes, Allison 754 automatic, original GM rear axle - 4.11/1 i believe, 11R24.5 tires, upper deck seat risers lowered to make upper deck floor level back to rear engine bulkhead (i didn't mess with that bulkhead), bathroom removed, stairs moved from center to drivers side of bus, and all of flooring in lower area replaced with new marine plywood. A lot of other smaller stuff has been done also.

So finally i come up with a question, I need to rewire the bus with enough wiring to start and move the bus enough to get it up on a trailer. When i was working lowering the upper deck flooring i had to move, among other thing, all the original wiring bundles. Well, they just started cracking and falling apart. I discovered numerous splices and cut wires, some were hot and not even taped of for protection. Some wires went all over the place and ended up just cut and coiled. The big thick power wire had chaffed and bare HOT wire was exposed. It's just pure luck it never sparked and burnt down.

So, what would be the minimum circuits required to get the bus up and running enough to get it on the trailer? I won't need any lights or turn signal stuff. Will i need to wire up the jake brakes?

Thanks,

Mike

[tekebird]

to move onto a trailer engine wise is battery to starter and power through the rear control panel.  you could shortcut that too but I bet that is all still in place.

no idea if you have any auto tranny stuff to worry about

[TomC]

If comes down to it, you could remove the start/stop solenoid from the governor-then it will be in the on position.  Then just jump the starter to get it running.  Once done, manually press on the stop lever on the governor to stop it.  Personally, I would tie a small rope to the governor, so you don't get caught up in the spinning radiator fan drive shafts.  You need very little to fire it up and move it.  Good Luck, TomC

[Michael_e]

Tekebird - ALL wiring is gone including the rear control panel. It looked like there had been a short in there at one time and some of the wires and relays were burnt to a crisp. I don't know how it ever worked.

TomC - Your plan sounds extremely simple, just what i need.

Others - I'm going to try and get some pics of things in the engine compartment soon so i can start identifing things.

Thanks,

Mike

[kyle4501]

OK, so much for driving her home 

I'd consider 2 switches up front ;
- off/on - to work the start/stop solenoid
- & another switch to engage the starter solenoid

That way you can at least look like you know what's going on. 

Lots easier to move around when you get home too.

[jjrbus]

Cant find the pictures, but we moved Jerry Jenkinsons bus with no wireing, no brakes no throttle linkage, no transmission linkage, just a running motor and steering. It took three people, one to run the engine, one to steer and I was the brakeman, I carried and placed blocks of wood at the tires to stop it.

This was done by professionals on a closed course and should not be attempted at home.

[Bob Gil]

When I bought my bus it had some what the same problem but they had allready gotten it to where it could be started with one of the push button start switches you use to bump a gas engine when working on them.

All I have is the main big wires to the starter and that button starter.  It works very well.  But I still have to pull the wire from the rear of the buss to kill it.

It should not be hard to get yours running, the wires going to the front many not even be necessary, if you can start it like mine has been.

I would say it is like crossing the solenoid an a gas engine.  Like I use to do on my old GMC when it had problems.  Or even the 1988 FORD that had a diesel in it I jumped the soleniod on the fender to start it many Times.

[Hartley]

Ah... Being able to crank up and move is a nice idea. IF

You are sure all the hoses and connections are hooked up properly.
You are sure that hydraulic lines are in the right places.
You are sure that you can get air into the suspension and it will
hold.

Otherwise, PD4501's roll very easy and the stock Landoll Trailer Winch usually
can pull them up onto a trailer and let them down.

If you trailer it you would probably need a landoll anyway due to height
limitations. $$$ but a safe way to go....

[Michael_e]

Well once we get all moved to our new life in Ks, i will have space for a bus visitor or two and maybe it will even have a place for a dump station. I've bought a small garage where i plan to work on old ( 1925 thru 1950ish) cars & pickups. Garage is not setup for a bus, but the garage is located on 2 large lots with plenty of parking. So, if you are ever off the main slab and in Kansas, specifically Beloit (intersection of highways 24 and 14, about 65 miles north of Salina), stop in. Won't be there fulltime until sometime this fall though.

Mike

[jackhartjr]

Mike, what kind of trailer are you going to use to move it? 

If it is a Landoll, like Dave said the winch on all of the Landolls and Trail-Eze's I have seen will pull it up there with their own winch.  You would not even need to start the bus.

Which number Scenicruiser do you have?  Mine is 945.

Jack

[Michael_e]

I've only talked to one heavy equipment moving company so far and they never used the work landol. I'll be checking others.

My crusier is #278. I'm going to try and get a couple of engine pics later today so i can identify some parts if i end up needing to get it started.

Mike

[kyle4501]

Mike,
Check around Kansas for a Landoll/ trailease operator. You have time, so look for someone who can work in a back haul . . . . that way you don't have to pay as much for the unloaded portion of your hauling job. 

[Michael_e]

This site is just so damm cool! Thanks Kyle, i never had thought of doing that. Anything that can save some bucks in this economy is greatly welcome. If you ever happen to be passing thru, we can spend the savings on barbecue & beer. Thanks,

Mike

[cody]

Jjrbus, was that the one in Jacks yard? 

[JackConrad]

JJRBus, was that the one in Jacks yard? 

Yes it was. Quite a sight to see!  We had to move the bus from under the roof to it's new spot behind the shop.  Jerry was steering, I was standing on the engine cradle working the throttle on top of the Governor (no radiator blowers or drive belt) and Jim was the "brakeman" throwing a 6X6 block in front of the tire.
   Note: This operation was performed by trained professionals on a closed course. Do not try this at home.