Man does it ever stop?

[Busted Knuckle]

   Just got home and found out the NEW transmission has the same issue as the old one!

I drove the bus to Nashville today and it ran fine, but seemed to make several "hard" shifts!

When I fired it up to "warm it up inside for the girls" (softball team), the high idle kicked off and an alarm sounded with a warning display showing on dash the of a coolant reservoir tank. So I shut it down and went and checked the engine compartment.

Well the coolant sight tube (frost plastic tubing) was showing high and like a chocolate milk shake!
I disconnected the sensor and put a paper clip in it.

The tranmission fluid looked OK. So I went and started it back UP, and the alarm quit!   But I couldn't tell if it was low or not since I was parked on a hill.

Then about that time the girls came and got on the bus so I closed the engine compartment and headed home! 

While driving I called Booger and asked him to come in and meet me at the shop around 10:00 - 10:30 PM PM to help me diagnose it. Which he did. And after 2 minutes, he confirmed it was the same exact issue as before!

So now I'm stuck short a bus, got another $20,000 problem and have to tell a customer that we have no bus for them! What's worse is this was supposed to be a huge publicity deal since it was a group heading to Selma, AL for the Civil Rights March across the Bridge re-enactment with TV News crews covering the departure and a cameraman on board doing a documentary!

I tell ya, I am at my wits end and really could care less if I wake up in the morning or not!
  BK   

[PCC]

Don't give up, Bryce. You have so much support here, from all the support you have given to us, myself included.

Is there anything that would assist you? Say it, and I am sure help will become available to you.

Keith
PCC

[cody]

I don't know what to say bryce, this is hard to figure, why all the bad luck for such great people, is it an oman of some sort? I don't know.  Sometimes I think I'm better off with nothing, at least I can't loose much, everytime I make a payment to the horsepistal and see it almost covered the interest for the month I get the same feeling.  Hang in there and if there is anything we can do, let us know.

[belfert]

Did the transmission cooler break again?  I don't understand how a coolant issue with the engine would cause tranny issues.  Wouldn't all the parts you just replaced be under warranty?

I hope you get this solved without a huge cash outlay.

[robertglines1]

You have scared me off of any water cooled transmission and  Setra products..They look good but don't finish the race...maybe time to step back and take a deep breath...it will pass ...best of life to come....All our best wishes .....you friends Bob & Judy

[Busted Knuckle]

Keith,
Thanks for the support, but I really don't know what would help right now. Except maybe if someone would just shoot me and put me out of my misery since I don't have the guts to do it myself!

Cody,
Again I just don't know! And really don't care anymore! I'm back to the same old helpless feeling of many many years ago when I was in serious trouble and their were only 2 options a cage or pine box! Only this time I'm not facing a cage, at least not YET! (the day ain't over!)

Brian,
Yes it appears the cooler failed again! According to SETRA that is the ONLY place the 2 can mix!

But what the hell good does WARRANTY do, when you haven't been reimbursed for anything the first time, the coach is down, and not having it in service is costing more $ than the repairs by lost runs and possibly even losing customers!

Bob & Judy,
It's not necessarily the fault of the transmission, or even the water cooled part!
And the cooler is not made by Setra or even specifically for Setra as a company in Mishawaka, IN build and sells them to other manufactures as well!

We had just gotten our heads above water again and now this!

[wal1809]

BK I am sorry to hear of your troubles.  A cage nor a pine box is the way to go.  Your just going to have to pick up the pieces or quit it.  There is no other way around it.

[cody]

Bryce, I've known you and your mom and dad for a while and have seen both the good times and the bad, we've both been down that road, my gut feeling is that you guys were a whole lot happier with the smaller operation, let the damm bank have the buses after THEY clear up the mechanics leins and tell them to kiss what would commonly be in a dark area.  I had to start over, and I took a beating on it but I'm a lot happier now, you made money before BOA got involved and you'll make money after they've gone down the road.  I was never intended to be a rich guy, but maybe being a poor guy is a better way for me as long as I can flip the bird at will and not owe anyone.  You'll do a lot better without them riding your paycheck, you've never had to answer to anyone but family in the past and why start now.  Just my 2 cents bryce and not meant to be hurtful but I just get mad when good people get stepped on by corporations that don't give a damm. Just remember we're all here for you in any small way we can help, you've got friends.

[zubzub]

Hi BK, sounds like tough times.  Can't really help you with the bus problem so instead there's an old famer's saying  that goes
"the day the chores are done, is the day you die"
Sounds a bit morbid but it is actually very life affirming.  Basically we work and work until we're done.
  By the sounds of it you have lots of chores/life left.

[niles500]

BK - Can you just bypass the cooler? If it's one of BOA's coaches that's what I would do, and just run it down the road - FWIW

[rv_safetyman]

BK, I don't have words to describe how I feel.  Pat and I have been through a rough 8 months (family illness, bus engine, financial losses, terrible weather, etc), but it pales in comparison to what you and others have been through.  I think of Cody and Libby and their health problems, and Sonnie losing Pattie and lots of other stories and it makes my problems seem trivial.  Even so, I hit the bottom of the barrel a couple of months ago and, like you, wondered if it was all worth it.  I decided that I needed to get away and get my head on straight (as much as is possible).  Pat and I headed to Quartzsite to be with friends.  We could not afford it, but then again, I COULD NOT AFFORD NOT TO GET AWAY from the things that were dragging me down.  I thought maybe that was acting like a coward and avoiding the issues.  However, it was the best thing I could have done.

You have your mom and dad, and your health.  Take a long walk and get out of the office.  Maybe step away from the business for a day or two.  Do anything that lets you clear your mind so that you can take as objective of a look at the situation as is possible.  

I know that everyone here is pulling for you.

We have never talked on the phone, but if you need someone to talk to, give me a call.

Jim
three zero three 478-3501

[Zeroclearance]

Bryce, I assume that you replaced the failed trans cooler with a new unit.   There has to be a warranty for the "new" failed cooler??

You have two trans coolers knocking out 2 B500's..    Sounds like a manufacturing defect in the heat exchanger.

[DaveG]

I second the "clear your head" thing.

Business is kinda like maintenance...ya gotta keep up with it. I'm not talking about your maintenance...rather that the work is ongoing...kinda like the farmer analogy.

Hang in there

[trucktramp]

Give yourself a "mental health" day, take a time out, go fishing, etc.  Do something to get away from the situation even if only for a short time.  You do preventative maintaince on your fleet, now it's time to do preventative maintaince on you.  Things will look better with a little time away from the madness.

[JohnEd]

BK,

I know, from what you said, that the trans was run while the fluid was contaminated with water.  Can the trans be drained and flushed?  Does that B500 take ATF?  I don't think a little water for a short time should be death unless the item is made of sugar.

Have you proved that the heat exchanger was the culprit with the first trans?  Like air pressure one side of it and look for bubbles?  "Setra said"....Hummmmm!  Is that the same SETRA that gets the buses if you fail? 


What does the mfr of the failed item say?

Don't let that crap sit in the trans over the weekend. Call somebody if you have to to get it drained.  Maybe we can come up with a "hail Mary" play for a flush formula that has a prayer.  Keep us updated on what you try for a fix, please.  And please focus on the fix.   

Remember how many really bad times you have gotten thru and eventually conceded that "that wasn't as bad as I though at the time....Maybe even was a little bit entertaining".  They are all that way til the very last one that we will never look back on.

Hang in there Baby,

John