MCI 9, Blocking the Body correctly.

[johns4104s]

How and were do you block the body on the MCI 9, Front and rear. While working on the 4104 I have blocked at both the front and rear bulk heads, but the 9 is new to me.

Thanks

John

[JackConrad]

Under the post that the end of the radius rod opposite the axle attaches to.  Jack

[johns4104s]

Jack,

Is that the end of the radius rod or the radius rod bracket? Is there enough room under the bracket to get a big block?

How is the engine change out coming, any more pictures?

John

P.S. Some 20 plus years ago Tami and I drove to the Orlando area, and with the help of several great bus nuts, namely, Bartness who had the Pink MCI 7, with one of the first Cat engines, Claude Snyder who had the green 4104 with one of the first 8v71/730, s and a great guy, I don't remember his name, he had a blue 4106.
All the above helped me, sorry I helped them change out an engine in my 4104, great weekend we boiled 100 Ibs of crawfish.

[JackConrad]

Here are a couple photos of the jacking points.  Jack

[johns4104s]

Great,

Thanks Jack

[travelingfools]

So now that we know where to support the body, any suggestions on how you do it ? Ive got to change out my air dryer and Ive got a bunch of hardwood 4x4's and 3x3's Id like to use. I was thinking about cutting them into 12 inch lengths , bolting 4 together with threaded rod, then stacking them under the jack points. Anyone have other ideas ? How do you guys safely support your bodies ? Is it safe to support just front  or back or would that create to much of an angle when it settles ? And just so I understand, we are supporting the body at the jack points, correct ?

[buswarrior]

Careful here... There's more than one kind of "blocking the coach"

The point is to prevent being crushed by the unintended movement of something onto you while underneath.

We can block the wheels, to prevent it rolling onto us, or off the jack.

We can block the body in relation to the ground as Jack's pictures show.

We can block the body in relation to the axle by inserting something into the gap where the axle bump stop is mounted.

Which method you choose depends on the maintenance job you are about to perform.

In choosing which lumber to use, pay attention to whether the bus will act as a log splitter or otherwise take advantage of the weakness in the grain. opposing layers of plywood glued, bolted through and painted are common practice. These would be great for at home use, but not versatile while on the road. a set of boards to use as layers lends their use for other leveling chores at the campsite.

If you are stacking layers, be sure the footprint is at least as wide as the pile is as it is high so you do not risk tipping off your leaning tower of bus blocking.

happy coaching!
buswarrior