Arghh another bad day (sort of)

[Busted Knuckle]

Well mom & dad left out early yesterday (Thursday AM) on a "cushion trip" where we have driver "spotted" down the road where he can get his 8 hrs off in a comfy hotel and be ready when another driver "cushions" the bus & group to him for the main leg of the trip!
Then they went to the Choo-Choo Express Garage to pick up one of our old buses we had sitting here for quite some time (since we'd bought and brought it home from Idaho) because it had a MAJOR oil leak (think 12 gallons of 40W & 2 gallons of Lucus in 1676 miles!), but it was a part of a package deal when we bought our '95 S217 (45 foot Setra) and got this '91 S215 (40 footer) that we drove home and a parts bus ('89 S215) all for the same $ for which the 45'er was worth. So it sat here until we decided it was time to fix it or sell it!
Well Joel from the Choo-Choo garage had been up here and re-assembled Mike Hill's MC9 that had been left here in pieces. And while here he checked it out and told us what the problem was and how much he'd charge to fix it!
So after deciding his quote was cheaper than we could do it ourselves, and we just flat didn't have the time we took it and dropped it off in Feb.
Well right after we dropped it off Joel injured his back while working at a part time job and was unable to do any work. So it sat for a while since we had no time to even pick it up let alone work on it!
Well dad and I decided it was time to go get it (after it sat down there several months) and get started on it during our slow season (now). Funny enough the same night we'd made the decision Joel called and told us he was back in action and could 'get'r done for us!
So we gave the go ahead. And he got started.
He had to pull the engine/trans, separate them, time all the accessory drive gears, remove them, remove their housing, replace the gasket, and reassemble all of this!
Well while he had it out he inspected it all for us. \And he called and told us he couldn't believe that he'd found someone had put silicone under the corner of the head to "slow down or hide a leaking" head gasket. They had also done a goofy make shift temporary fix on the rear main seal!
Well we told him to fix it where it'd be right.
After he got into it he found that even though it ran great, it had flat spots in the rollers for the cam on the heads, so we told him to fix that too.
Well he got the engine/trans back in and called to tell us it was ready. He then asked if there was anything else he could do to it to help us out and make some extra $ too! (since he was behind on all his bills from being out of work for several months!)
Dad told him sure we know it needs longer wheel studs "so Bryce can mount heis fancy flashy aluminum wheels!", and it needed brakes too!
So we had parts dropped off and had him do those jobs too!
When he called us and told us it was done we decided that it would work great for us to pick it up after cushioning a FL trip since we'd already be down that way, and we'd have a van down there to chase it home with.
Joel had gone over the entire coach and told dad it's ready to go all ya gotta do is detail it and put it in service!
So dad settled up with them and told them he'd pick it up in the middle of the night or early morning since he and mom had been up all night the night before.
Well they got a later start than they planned but got on the road this morning.
At 6:30 AM I got a wake up call from dad he was on the side of the road on Mont Eagle spewing coolant everywhere!
He asked me what my thoughts were on whether to tow it home or back to Joel or what?
After we talked and I gave him some tips on where to look in access panels he called me back and told me it was the auxiliary (standard on 2 stroke Setra's) radiator leaking about 8" from the top.
So we called around pricing towing both here and there and Joel did also, then Joel told dad he'd come meet them to see if there was anyway to repair it without towing it.
Well while dad and I talked while he waited on Joel I suggested to dad that we just bypass the aux radiator altogether to make it home under it's own power! (it has lots! It's an 8V92 DDEC ll rated at 475 HP, and Joel say's it's running at least 475 HP! One of the strongest running he's ever seen! {he never saw "the Hot Rod" as our first Setra #702 was nick named it was supposed to have been 500 or 550 HP I can't remember now! But I have to admit that #717 does seem to have lots of power too!)
Well Joel and dad were able to bypass the aux radiator and dad is on the way again!
Even though I'm sure we owe Joel for a road side service call, it was cheaper and easier than a $950 to $1,700 tow bill which is what the prices we got ranged from!

So all in all what started out as a bad day ain't so bad after all!   BK 

[Airbag]

Great story Bryce, I always enjoy reading them you have a way with words.

[FloridaCliff]

BK,

Ya just can't make up the stories that sometimes happen when you own a bus(s).

Good job reporting, flashy wheel guy...LOL   

Cliff

[Sojourner]

Busted Knuckle...It is good to read your fine report and was able to get it home for less cost than it could have been.

You are gifted to be able to write a report that is interesting, never tiring to read and the least confusing.

You are a great writer and with good memories to tell it.

Thank you for sharing and it help us to know what to pray for when needed.

Keep Looking UP!

Take care, Gerald

[MCI-RICK]

BK,

Ya just can't make up the stories that sometimes happen when you own a bus(s).

Good job reporting, flashy wheel guy...LOL   

Cliff

Great story Bryce, I always enjoy reading them you have a way with words.

Thanks for your stories BK! 

Rick

[TomC]

Except for the 10 "Well"s (but who's counting?) great story with a better ending.  Old equipment is always a challenge-but still cheaper then new (I have yet to own a new car).  Good Luck, TomC

[Busted Knuckle]

Update!

Well dad & mom did make it in last night (finally).
And dad said that Joel's service call was only $100! (Wow! I spent more than that in time on the phone checking towing prices! I wish!, really work much cheaper than that! LOL! But I did manage to down a pot of STRONG coffee by myself!)

Well I got up and fed the mongrals (Kross & Rhodes) early this AM. And while waiting for them to do their business I walked down and checked the bus over.

Looks good! Oil level right on the full mark, clean and gold colored (wait a minute it just got drove 320 miles and has 4-5 hrs idle time on it, and it's still gold? Wow I've seen them turn it black in 5 minutes!)!
No oily mess all over the engine or the back of the bus, no spots under the bus! Cool, this is awesome!
I can't really believe this! Trust me if you'd seen the way it leaked just sitting at a fast idle or driving it before you'd be surprised too! (actually it didn't leak B4, it pumped it out as a steady stream under pressure!)

Well I couldn't just look at it, so I did what any of you would have. I opened the door, turned the key, waited for the check engine & cruise control lights to go out (it is DDEC jest so ya know), then I started it VRRRRRROOOOOOOMMMMMM! Blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm, blm,(sweet music to my ears what a great sounding V8 diesel!). Pst, well air is built up so I released the brakes and took it for a spin, (wow the speedo now works too! How cool is that! It never has before in the 1996 miles I've driven it B4 from ID to here & here to Chattanooga!).
Well I took 'er out to the Hwy jest purr'n along down the country rd to the hwy! Once on the Hwy I opened her up. Wow what a sweet ride! Runs like a Deer, sounds like a Lion! I forgot what the sweet rumble of an 8V sounded like!
I think Robert just got #722 (my 45' Setra, that he & I shared), and I got me a "new Hot Rod" (#717).
Mom & Dad are still enjoying #742, and the rest of the bumper car drivers share #727 (down with a bad head right now), #737, #742, & #752.

So here is a run down of our current fleet!
#717; '91 Setra S215 40'er 8V92 DDEC / 748HT 51 seats
#722; '95 Setra S217 45'er 60 Series / B500      59 seats
#727; '85 MCI 96A3   40'er 6V92 / 740HT          47 seats
#737; '95 Setra S215 40'er 60 Series / B500      51 seats
#742; '05 Setra S417 45'er 60 Series / B500      56 seats
#747; '05 Setra S417 45'er 60 Series / B500      56 seats
#752; 97 Dina Viaggo 1000 60 Series / B500      52 seats this one actually is only leased to us at the moment by the man we bought "JUST 4 the FUN of it" from. Although we do intend to buy it from him, unless he finds a buyer before we can get the $ to spare! 

  BK 

Happy birthday USA!

[Hi yo silver]

Thanks, BK, for taking the time to post the roadside fix.  Ya just never know when this tidbit will help one of us who runs into a problem like that.  Every time you experienced guys share those stories, it is a tremendous help to all of us.  ...but you know that.  THANKS!  I look forward to meeting more of you guys down the road...

Dennis

[cody]

If you not careful you'll mess up your hobby and start making money, then you'll be sorry lol.  Libby said, "what happened to the beard"?

[Busted Knuckle]

If you not careful you'll mess up your hobby and start making money, then you'll be sorry lol.  Libby said, "what happened to the beard"?

Boy wouldn't that be a surprise!

Tell her "Chuckie" our bus cleaner saw a picture of me from several yrs back washing a bus back when I didn't have one and said "wow you look meaner without the beard!"

So before I headed off to NC the other week I shaved it so when I exploded they'd know I meant business!  Musta worked because they came around and saw things closer to my view without me erupting!  LOL!
  BK 

[Hartley]

You scared them....

They must have figured that if you were hot enough to shave they MUST be in trouble...

[RJ]

Bryce -

Great story, especially the epilogue!

Out of curiosity, what is the method to the madness of your fleet's numbering system??

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Busted Knuckle]

Bryce -

Great story, especially the epilogue!

Out of curiosity, what is the method to the madness of your fleet's numbering system??

FWIW & HTH. . .

Ahh, you caught that did you?
When we bought our first bus and started our company the company we bought it from on a lease purchase contract allowed us to operate under their authority, insurance plates, and etc. for a yr in order for us to get established in the business and all that set up on our own. But we had to leave their name, dot #'s and unit # on it. But after we paid the bus off in 5 months instead of a yr they informed us that we had to take their name & #'s off the bus and return their plate to them at once "and good luck"!  (what it was is they were used to having people buy buses on lease purchase deals and draging them out for a yr where they have the buyer run trips to work off the payments {at buyers expense for fuel & etc), while still mailing a bus and insurance payment every month}, but they wouldn't tell the buyer what his trips paid or his standing balance of his account was. Instead they'd just string him along for the agreed time on the purchase plan and pocket the extra $. But we kept close records as we had discussed what rate they charged and paid at length before doing this. So when we had it paid off we didn't send a check for the payment just the insurance. They got pissed off because we were smarter than all the suckers they'd screwed in the past {most let the buses go back to them long before the end of the lease!}, but they acknowledged we were right by demanding us to take their info of the  bus and send the plate back!)

So our first bus was # 702 (their #) and we decide to leave it that way since it was lettered already!  Then we decided to go up by 5's in the # system (my uncle used to go up by 10's example 10, 20, 30 and so on, when he sold his company he was on 170)
SO we have had
#702; "the Hot Rod" '89 Setra S215    sold
#707; "Mom's bus"   '86 MCI   102A3   retired (broken frame to be repaired before conversion starts)
#712; "parts bus"    '89 Setra S215     hauled in as parts bus, but it was the oldest of 3 bus deal!
#717; "Hot Rod ll"    '91    "    S215     in service ~ #2 bus of 3 bus deal in
#722; 'Big Bus"        '95    "    S217     in service ~ #3 of 3 bus deal and main bus of the deal!  
#727; "Gus the Bus" '85 MCI   96A3     in service ~ still the prettiest bus in our fleet! (lettering & style)
#732; "Blue Bus"      '85  "      "          Sold (regretfully! it was the strongest running 6V92 ANYONE saw!
#737; "Little Bus"     '95 Setra S215    in service ~ looks tiny compared to  #722
#742; "Touch of Class '05  "    S417    in service ~ company flagship as well as mom & dad's bus!
#747; "Jet Airliner"    '05    "    S417    in service ~ the # designated the name!
#752; "Dino"            '97  Dina Viaggo 1000  leased to us & in service

And now you know the rest of the story!  BK  

[RJ]

Ahh, you caught that did you?

Yup, shore did. . . I guess only someone with industry experience would ask such a question, eh?

[John316]

Thanks for the explain B. I kinda wondered the same, but was too dumb to ask .

Thanks.

God bless,

John