Jim's Flex in Distress

BusCrazyinFL · March 29, 2010, 05:25:05 PM

I was heading West on I-4 in FL near Disneyworld today and noticed a bus on the side of the road, with one wheel off. Luckily (and very much NOT the norm) I was able to cut across three lanes of traffic to get to where he was to see if he needed help. He already had someone on the way to bring him a rim and tire from Plant City. The bus was a Flexible and he was traveling from St. Augustine home to Sebring. He was wearing a Bussin 2005 T-shirt, so I knew in an instant he was a fellow Bus Nut, lol. I introduced myself and told him what I go by on these boards and then he knew who I was. We talked for a little while, I showed him a pic of my Eagle , which of course I always have on hand

It seems that the lug nuts were coming loose on the driver's side rear wheel, and the holes on the rim became oval and it broke one or two studs (see pics). He told me that a truck driver had noticed that his rear wheel was wobbling and motioned to him so he pulled over to inspect what was going on and noticed the problem. It's a good thing he did before that wheel came off, it could have flipped that bus over. Hopefully when he gets the chance he can chime in on this and let us know what happened.

I'm curious as to how common this is and what really causes it or how it can be prevented? I have my own ideas, but I'm interested in your input (fellow bus nuts).

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4119.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4120.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4121.jpg

http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q52/locktech005/HPIM4123.jpg

Outlaw · March 29, 2010, 05:42:21 PM

that is one nice lookin bus. glad it didn't roll over. sooo i guess the moral to this is: check your rims often. wow, lucky

Outlaw

luvrbus · March 29, 2010, 05:56:59 PM

Hard for me to believe a guy could not tell his lugs nuts were loose you can walk by a wheel with loose lug nuts and they will have a rusty streak on the wheel huh Dallas he is one lucky guy

good luck

Just Dallas · March 29, 2010, 06:18:17 PM

Removed

JohnEd · March 29, 2010, 06:58:55 PM

I used to take my Dad to Fla for the winter when he lived in PA. Old 74 Winnie. On one visit I was outside grabbing a smoke and the guy from across the way came over to chat. After only a minute he looked at my right front and said "the lug nuts on that tire are loose". I said "how can you tell that without a wrench?" He said he owned a truck tire store in

? and gave me his card. He was the one that told me about the rust streak running g from under the lug nuts being the tattletale. I never heard of such a thing and I wonder how many others here are getting this for the first time? I got an 8Th of a turn or less on those nuts. Fortuitous meeting for me....and Dad.

Hey, I'm from Pennsylvania and the only thing rust means to me is that I am from Pennsylvania.

Thanks, Clifford.

John

Chopper Scott · March 29, 2010, 08:00:28 PM

Looks like simulators on the right rear. I'm assuming the left rear was the loose one.

Jeremy · March 30, 2010, 04:32:48 AM

Trucks and buses here have plastic 'arrow' devices clipped to each lug nut - you can tell instantly if a nut is starting to come loose because the arrow will be pointing in the wrong direction

Jeremy

johns4104s · March 30, 2010, 06:13:23 AM

Jeremy,

They have the arrows here in the US, but I will be doing a similar fix by marking mine with a magic marker. I had the same problem on my drive axle. Noticed it when parked. Did not notice it on the 800 mile trip to Chicargo. Using never seize on the lug nuts I to have a little streak coming from under the lug nut. Before my next trip I will put the big torque wrench on every one of them.

John

PS Yes very nice looking flex, thanks for the pic's.

bottomacher · March 30, 2010, 06:27:59 AM

It's kinda hard to notice the rust streak when it's between the two wheels, especially with simulators. I wish I could figure how to spot things like that. It looks to me like the lugs weren't tight enough, assuming the broken studs are the result of wheel wobble and not overtightening.

bevans6 · March 30, 2010, 06:46:24 AM

The thing I worry about most is the inner nut on the rear Budd wheels. You can't check it without taking the outer nut off, and taking the outer nut off loosens the inner nut anyway, sometimes starts to take it right off. Those inner nuts are the ones I make totally sure are torqued correctly. I use the pointy plastic things, but man they are ugly...

Brian

kyle4501 · March 30, 2010, 07:02:00 AM

This could happen to any of us. This is the reason for checking the torque at reasonable intervals.

Same results can be caused by overtightening. Once the stud is overstretched, the load it can carry is reduced. Also, overtightening will deform the tapered hole in the rim, which reduces the ability of the nut to properly locate & clamp the wheel to the hub - which can allow the wheel to move relative to the hub - which can lead to wobble.

Stretched studs can require more torque to turn the nut, which leads to reduced clamping pressure for a given applied torque. = loose wheel.

We need to be sure we use the tools properly so we don't get complacent & start ignoring safety check procedures.
The indicators for nut position are a convenient tool, but only show if the nut rotates - doesn't show anything else, like if the nut bottomed out before the desired clamp load was reached or if there are other issues. We should also be using a gauge to check the stud holes in the rims too. . . .

I hope he gets all the studs replaced as part of the repair.

johns4104s · March 30, 2010, 07:24:13 AM

At the bus rally in Florida when using steel inside and aluminum outside it was brought up to use the plastic 10 hole gaskets between the inner wheel and outer wheel. I have added this to both my drives.

Does anyone else use this gasket?

John

DaveG · March 30, 2010, 08:22:11 PM

I understand the reason behind the plastic-to minimize or elimanate galvanic corrosion between dissimilar metals...in your case the steel wheel inside and the aluminum wheel outside. I personally don't think they are a good idea in practical application and may even be bad if they allow any wiggle or squirm between the wheels. Even the industry doesn't like too much paint build-up on wheels to prevent this type of movement. This is all just my opinion from 20+ years in HD trucking.

This is one reason why I prefer the uni-mount or Hub Pilot system, but it is probably not worth changing over from stud centered.

Are bus guys really having that much trouble with wheels? Maybe everyone should find a good local tire shop...and stay away from the truck stops when possible.

Nice looking Flex too!

One problem with wheel covers/simulators is the inability to visually inspect your wheels/lugs.

luvrbus · March 30, 2010, 08:47:12 PM

DaveG, in all the years I have owned a bus and traveled to 49 states I never saw a bus loose a wheel but now there is a different breed buying these monsters that know nothing about a bus they just go if it starts

good luck

jimsflx · April 01, 2010, 07:47:41 AM

thought i would correct a few things.first off is that i just did not buy this moster. i have driven trucks for 30 years including 12 axle steel train count the no of wheels

reply first off i did not just buy this monster. i retired from trucking driving a12 axle steel train grossing up to 160,000 ibs.for over 30 years. so count the no off wheels thats 44 for the ones that can0t count. i have never lost a wheel. the wheels on the bus are powdercoated i beleive that is why the lugs came lose. they had chrome top hats and lug covers that is the reason there was no rust stains. powercoat doesnot rust. this is the same old stuff people shooting there mouths off before getting the facts.anyone that wants to come and back up a set off doubles ? i did learn if you powdercoat wheels dont do the face. i am replacing the wheels with budd aluminun. i do thank buscrasyinfl for stopping and offering help hope to see you again jim