what I learned and did not learn about my bus today.

[Adarian]

1988 Flxible Metro B
Photos of bus, I don't have  editing software to reduce the size of the photos. I have just included a link to them
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/sideview1.jpg notice how low bus is.
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/frontview.jpg
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/passside.jpg notice how high bus is.
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/rear_control.jpg
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/front_view.jpg
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/rear_seat.jpg
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/drivers_area.jpg
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/airtanks.jpg secondary, closest to you, and primary air tanks.
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/mainair.jpg
http://www.palofitness.com/images/bus/airtank.jpg another air tank

If you start the bus from the rear controls and the bus has enough air pressure, the doors will close on you, basically locking you out of the bus.
I learned today to put the doors on manual when starting it with the rear controls.

The standard seat is pretty good when hooked up properly.
Still haven't learned to raise it or lower it.

The bus has a self kneeling feature. I left the bus and it was at normal height, I returned to it 6 and 1/2 hours later and I hear air being discharged from the front left and right side. Right behind the front tires. I don't know why.

Nothing really works on the bus until the air pressure comes up.

Most of the electrical system runs off of 24v.

The overhead lighting runs off of 110v, I was wondering why the box said warning 110vac on it.
How I don't know.

If the doors are open, the throttle doesn't work.

The bus has a lot of micro switches for safety purposes.

The speedometer and odometer are electronic.

I think I have 8 air tanks.

The only thing I have found not to work is the horn and the wheelchair lift.

I still don't know what the foot switch is for that looks like a sewing machine pedal. It is next to the steering column on the left side. I have three other switches in the area, two are for turn signals and one is for high beams.

The water tank has five fittings and I have no idea how to hook them up. One on top and four on the side. 3 of the four on the side are female and the fourth is a male fitting.

When buying a bus that the P.O. has started to convert, I learned to ask where was he going to mount the propane tank? Two furnaces and one how water heater, all hooked up and no regulator valve to be found.

I also learned to ask, why do you have two holes in the floor where the kitchen sink was suppose to be installed and how hole for where the shower was to be installed but no hole for where the toilet was to be installed. Along with no vent for the black tank and the grey and black tanks are already mounted under the bus.

I also learned to ask, why are these wires cut and what do they go to?

The dash wiring diagram and the rear engine control diagram are on the back of the panels.

This was the first day of really checking the bus over since bringing it home a week ago.

[TomC]

You can bypass the door lockout for the throttle. I would suggest taking the wheel chair lift out-that's at least 500lbs worth.  The sewing machine pedal might be the transmission retarder control. Although most transit buses had the retarder hooked directly into the brake pedal. Good Luck, TomC

[zubzub]

sewing machine pedal could be a now bypassed dead man's pedal.

[Bob Gil]

I know the feeling I too bought some one else's project.

Only mine had a little engine fire, all engine wiring, air duct, and inverts etc.. chared.  The person I got it from had bought it from the insurance company and he did not know much more than I did when I first looked at it. 

It has been 18 months and I think if all goes well I might make it to TBR this year with it.  Hopinh any way.

[Melbo]

I also bought a mystery novel in the form of a bus that the PO did not let me in on the end of the story.

Kinda fun to rewrite it the way you want it to end.

My novel isn't finished yet but I am having a ball solving the mysteries and finishing up what I can the way I want.

Good Luck and Have Fun

Melbo

[mikelutestanski]

Hello:  The wheelchair lift usually has 2 switches that the driver has to move and in addition limit switches on the device that cycle it properly.. DOnt try to cycle the unit unless you understand the operation because sometimes the thing will hang up whilst partially extended and you have to know which switch to hit or how to manually retract the unit.. I spent a fair amount of time trying to get one back into its travel position. And some phone calls to the bus companies mechanic who knew the operation..
    If you have no use for the working device you might find some value in some of the steel as supports etc..
    The 110 volt sign may possibly refer to the fluorescent voltage on the pins which is usually high out of the ballast or maybe they did not have the proper warning sign and used what they had ...  you may find a voltage/ capacitive device that can jack the voltage up on the incoming side to match what the ballast requires for input voltage.   DOnt know without inspecting your setup..
    If the bus has an air throttle and a valve in the feed to the throttle the throttle wont work until the air is up and the psi switch is satisfied and a valve lets air to the throttle pedal.  My transit works that way.
   Mine is an 89 orion 1 and has most of those features including the door lockup when the air is up unless the door is in manual.. ALso mine had a feature that would not let the transmission out of neutral unless the door safeties were satisfied.Usually you will find over the doors a switch that bypasses the door safeties for maintenance use but not always..
   A good set of prints from the bus company would really help you understand the safety features.  An operators manual would also help.. 
    FWIW
        Regards and happy bussin   mike

[Adarian]

I also learned that small gauge white wires provide grounds and black wires supply power.

The Cummins L10 engine seems simple enough. Mines has an oil leak that looks to be coming from the front seal.

I also learned the extra generator is for a DD motor. That thing is heavy.

I also learned the layout is going to work. These things are roomy. The bus will have a treadmill in the rear and one along the wall in front of the rear doors,  a 7 x 8 workout area, 6 x 3 bathroom area with shower and a 8 x8 office space.

I hope the lift will work as to make loading of equipment easier, since I can't figure out if the kneeling feature still works or how to operate it.

Still waiting on a manual to show up.

I have a Flxible ops manual, but is doesn't cover all of the features for my bus. But it is close and will do for now.

I contacted the previous bus company but they no longer had any info on the bus.

[Jeremy]

Treadmills inside the bus? Reminds me of this - supposably a Honda concept for a vehicle powered by people running on treadmills:




Jeremy

[NewbeeMC9]

...
I hope the lift will work as to make loading of equipment easier, since I can't figure out if the kneeling feature still works or how to operate it.

...

Try airing it up then see if it works when the door opens,  may be a switch to turn it off though  hope it is simple

[Adarian]

Treadmills inside the bus? Reminds me of this - supposably a Honda concept for a vehicle powered by people running on treadmills:




Jeremy

It would take a lot of people to move a bus! LOL

[Melbo]

I have a treadmill in my bus

It folds up for storage

Glad to hear I am not the only one

Melbo

[Adarian]

I didn't learn what the trans check switch is for?
There is no light next to it.
I understand why you don't get under a bus without proper support. They get pretty low when the air lets out of the suspension and on my bus, the front will start kneeling by itself after sitting for a short period.
I learned that it takes a lot to drain all the air tanks.
Just glad that filling them up is easier.

The steering was stiff when turning left requiring two hands, but returned to center easily, while turning to the right was a one hand affair. The PO said that it was normal. Learned that was not true. The bus turns left or right  now with little effort.

When someone tells you the tires are good, be sure they are talking about the whole tire and not just the tire tread.

All in all having a great time discovering. More fun than a car.

[Adarian]

I have a treadmill in my bus

It folds up for storage

Glad to hear I am not the only one

Melbo

I use them for demonstrating running and fitness exercises. I plug it into the generator. I use the bus to help market products from my fitness company. It is hard not to attract attention when pulling into a parking lot.

[Melbo]

Our treadmill is for personal use only

We just like to run and don't like to do it in the rain or cold or hot

That is the cool thing about a bus

YOU DO IT YOUR WAY

Melbo

[Gary '79 5C]

Welcome to the board, and we value that you stay on the board.

If you are working on the bus underneath the bus, make sure at all times it is blocked, with heavy timber, etc. The aired up bus can settle in a heartbeat crushing anything underneath.

Good Luck, explore learn and report back.