TDH 5303 top speed???

TradeCities · April 11, 2009, 07:54:37 AM

Hi everyone my name is Aaron Reeves I represent Trade cities entertainment llc. We are a christian rock group traveling in a 1967 TDH 5303. I am having trouble finding out what the top speed on my bus should be. I do not want to continue working on it if there is nothing wrong. It has a 6v71 and a 1 speed transmission. I am also having a major power issue. When I get to even the slightest hill I loose 5 miles per hour. I am afraid to take it into the mountains. You comments and advice will be greatly appreciated.

Lin · April 11, 2009, 09:18:40 AM

Losing speed on hills is normal for most buses. The link is to a speed calculator. It can help you see what the top speed for your setup is.

http://www.cwis.net/~mallie/page12.html

Paso One · April 11, 2009, 11:31:13 AM

Welcome Aaron

Most likely you have the VH9 2 speed transmission. If the bus has the 5:30 rear end your top speed will be approx 48 MPH

If you have the Vs2-6 transmission 75 MPH is possible

I have the VH9 in my 5303 but I have the 4:10 rear end I can cruise at 65 mph. I have a V730 to put in when I get the lead plate out of my back pocket.

With the 3 speed V730 mathmatically I should be easy in the 70's which is all I need.

Look for a VS 2-6 tranny as it is the easiest modification to do for speed.

But going up hills no matter what you have you will lose 5-10 MPH IMHO

TradeCities · April 11, 2009, 12:54:35 PM

My transmission is a one speed. crazy I know but that is what shows up when I search wiki answers on it. they say that most of the fishbowls had this one speed tranny and mine never shifts so I guess they are right. Does anyone know were the data plate is so I can find out?

TradeCities · April 11, 2009, 01:04:28 PM

Transmission SER# 6775426
Model # VH32184
This is what my tranny tag says. Does this mean anything to you guys.

TradeCities · April 11, 2009, 01:27:36 PM

The only tag I can find on the rear end says A3 3201L2898, 000972940 Can anyone identify this? thanks for everyone's help. or help me find the ratio tag

Runcutter · April 11, 2009, 01:41:40 PM

Aaron, something doesn't sound right. Old Look, New Look (Fishbowl) automatic transmissions all had at least two speeds. If I remember right, the later VS-2's (super v's?) had a lockup or an overdrive, so they had a feel of two shifts (3 speeds). My first experience with the V-730 was when I bought a fleet of RTS's, so that really post-dates my driving days.

How does the engine sound when you're driving? That may be the best way to find if it's shifting. I had a Superintendent of Maintenance reporting to me about 25 years ago, when we had a fleet of 35 foot fishbowls (4519's and 4523's). If I remember right, the 4519's had VH-9's (two speeds), and the newer 4523's had VS-2's.

The reason I mention the Superintendent is that he could never say the words "soft shift switch." Is yours shifting so softly that you can't feel it?

Listen to your engine, it'll tell you a lot (and Detroit Diesels sound great - I have a 6-71 startup as the ringtone on my cellphone).

Now, other than that - the speeds and driving characteristics that you're talking about sound entirely normal for a 40 footer with the 6-71.

One of the things we've found helps on this board .... post your location - or include it with your signature. Who knows, one of us might be right around the corner.

Arthur

Dallas · April 11, 2009, 02:07:51 PM

Arthur, I figured I was the only one that used a 6-71 Start up as a ring tone!

Dallas

Quote from: Runcutter on April 11, 2009, 01:41:40 PM

Listen to your engine, it'll tell you a lot (and Detroit Diesels sound great - I have a 6-71 startup as the ringtone on my cellphone).

Arthur

Paso One · April 11, 2009, 02:34:24 PM

Okay Aaron lets try another angle Post your serial # and we might be able to access the records from the bus museum in Ohio.

This will tell us what Transit agency bought the bus and will likley identify the tranny it was shipped with.

The 1967 TDH 5303 should have had the VH9 2 speed.

Lots of people think when driving the VH9 that is a 3 speed because when you start off, it shifts very smoothly into 2nd but there is a hard shift like feeling when the transmission goes into "lock Up " and people confuse this with another gear.

But in your case your not feeling anything like a shift.

What is the top speed your getting?? do you have a speedo??

If you have a speedo have someone listening at the back when you get to about 28 MPH and listen closely at the back it should softly shift into 2nd. The lockup should be easily heard or felt.

Your top speed should tell the story if it is shifting.

buddydawg · April 11, 2009, 03:28:37 PM

I have a 6v71, VH9 & 4:10 rear end setup and cruise at 63 mph. It is slow in the hills and can make it over a mountain (ask me how I know

)

TradeCities · April 11, 2009, 03:31:38 PM

coach #6139. There is with out a doubt no change in the RPM's and nothing that feels like a shift. Maybe its broken? I can not find my stinking rear end ratio. My speedo is really inconstant so I am going to throw the GPS in her tomorrow and take a cruise

TradeCities · April 11, 2009, 08:08:34 PM

I am from Dallas.

Charles Seaton · April 12, 2009, 05:48:29 AM

Look on your builders plate. (under front right windshield) and give us the number after 5303. That will be the serial number and from that we can tell who your bus was manufactured for.

Your late model 5303 with the VH-9 should shift under full power, so you might not be able to tell it's shifting. If the VH-9 is anything like my VS-2-8 was, the bus will not shift out of first if the fluid is low.

Dallas · April 12, 2009, 06:17:34 AM

TDH5303-6319 Delivered to Houston City Lines November of 1967

TC.... There are a number of bus nuts near you if you are in Dallas, and I'm just a short 150 mile jaunt down the road in Franklin. If you need help with the bus, just holler, I'm sure someone would be glad to help in your area, or, if you wanted to bring it down this way, we manage a campground where we usually have space to work on stuff.

Dallas

Runcutter · April 12, 2009, 09:57:27 AM

Aaron, when I said one of us might be right around the corner..... I'm in Carrollton, and technically tha apartments I see out of the kitchen window are within the Dallas city borders. A busfan living in Farmer's Branch is a retired GM Field Engineer - 50 years in the bus business. JLV is in Palestine, and Dallas is 150 miles south of Dallas (confusing, huh?)

If I don't have to go back up to Indiana this week, I'm going to try to take a little time off. Let me know if you want someone to go for a ride with you.

Arthur