Replacing kingpins
 

Replacing kingpins

Started by redbus, June 02, 2010, 06:14:38 AM

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redbus

June 02, 2010, 06:14:38 AM
On the way back from Texas where we spent the winter we noticed the front tires were wearing. Took bus to a big truck dealer to check the allignment(figuring it needed some parts). They checked the front end and found the kingpins bad and for only $1200.00 plus misc. they could fix me right up! :'( So not having pocket change of $1200.00 I brought the ole girl home to fix myself.Two days ago I jacked up the driver's side and started tearing it apart. A local truck garage could order the kingpins if I could find the axle number.So then...after scraping off 26 years of grease I found the needed number and got the kingpins ordered. I found a local machine shop to fit the new pins and started the process of getting that done. The big truck dealer said the whole job would take 10 hours and I now have 4 1/2 hours in tearing down the driver's side. If things continue the well it looks like I will be making $50.00 to $60.00 an hour by doing it myself.That is pretty good money for a 63 year old retired farmer! ;D The bad part is waiting on everone to get what I need ordered and delivered.
Terry
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, Believe in them, and try to follow them." ~Louisa May Alcott~
www.awayweare.blogspot.com/

FloridaCliff

#1
June 02, 2010, 06:36:45 AM
Hey Terry,

Sounds like your just having all the fun.

I also read your blog and the work just keeps on finding you.

Ya have to think of this as the off season and your just getting prepared for all the fun you have the rest of the time.

We really enjoyed visiting with You and Connie, Tom and Fran.

Make sure and call us anytime your near here.

Cliff
1975 GMC  P8M4905A-1160    North Central Florida

"There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things, and people who claim to have accomplished things. The first group is less crowded."
Mark Twain

redbus

#2
June 02, 2010, 07:35:09 AM
Oh yes! Lots of work/fun!! Come on up and you can help us. We need another strong back and weak mind! LOL! Do you fit that bill?!

AND... we are smoking a pork butt today so we will have a good feed after working! Maybe even an adult beverage to wash it down.

We sure did enjoy our time with you and Julie and Tom and Fran. It was just too short.
Terry
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, Believe in them, and try to follow them." ~Louisa May Alcott~
www.awayweare.blogspot.com/

redbus

#3
June 02, 2010, 04:23:44 PM
Well 3 hours today i had the drivers side back together except for the brake drum. Now I am waiting on new oil seals.What fun grease up to my elbows.
Terry
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, Believe in them, and try to follow them." ~Louisa May Alcott~
www.awayweare.blogspot.com/

JackConrad

#4
June 02, 2010, 04:37:15 PM
So Terry, was it harder than we discussed on the phone?  Jack
Growing Older Is Mandatory, Growing Up Is Optional
Arcadia, Florida, When we are home
http://s682.photobucket.com/albums/vv186/OBS-JC/

redbus

#5
June 03, 2010, 05:52:41 AM
Jack
The drivers side went pretty good. As I told you I have replaced kingpins in School buses several times but boy are these parts BIG and HEAVY.
I hope the passenger side goes as good.
The rain has set in now for a few days so I may get a much needed rest.
Terry
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, Believe in them, and try to follow them." ~Louisa May Alcott~
www.awayweare.blogspot.com/

TomC

#6
June 04, 2010, 07:04:08 AM
As you're finding out-the most time consuming aspect of any bus converting is either waiting for parts to come in, or the constant running to the store for the next project.  If we had all the parts in hand (like a bus conversion company), the actual conversion time would be a fraction of what we spend on them.  Good Luck, TomC
Tom & Donna Christman. 1985 Kenworth 40ft Super C with garage. '77 AMGeneral 10240B; 8V-71TATAIC V730.

bevans6

#7
June 04, 2010, 07:20:18 AM
I find the waiting  for it to stop raining is a big time waster too!   :D  I hate working in the rain with water dripping down my neck...

Brian
1980 MCI MC-5C, 8V-71T from a M-110 self propelled howitzer
Allison MT-647
Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia

JohnEd

#8
June 04, 2010, 11:31:24 AM
I used to resent all those hold-ups and delays.  Now I look forward to them and am grateful.  Some of my phone calls to shops and vendors has left them confused:  "Its going to take how friggen long? Aw, I  could just kiss you."  Some have been frightened.

And never forget that a bus project and good friends is God's way of saying he is sorry for your family.  Everybody won't understand that one but that is a good thing and either way....it is bus related.

John
"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.
The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
—Pla

robertglines1

#9
June 04, 2010, 02:34:15 PM
Terry if your home it looks like your getting hammered again..Quack! can you float them in? looks like first round missed you..but the weather man says your going to get...stay dry...
Bob@Judy  98 XLE prevost with 3 slides --Home done---last one! SW INdiana

redbus

#10
June 07, 2010, 06:20:40 AM
Well the rain held off but we helped with a Blue Grass festival this week-end and didn't get it done as soon as I thought. But I did get it done! Since I did the driver's side first and had the learning curve there the passenger side went much faster. Total time for the job was about 15 hours and the big truck dealership said they could do it in 10. So I had a $900.00 savings give or take. Not a bad hourly wage for an old man! :) In keeping with the "keep everything green trend" I am proud to say my shop is solar heated in the summer, air conditioned in the winter and with a natural limestone floor!!LOL! So working under those "near perfect" conditions it naturally took a little bit longer! ;D And we lived in the bus during the whole process.
Terry
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, Believe in them, and try to follow them." ~Louisa May Alcott~
www.awayweare.blogspot.com/

JackConrad

#11
June 07, 2010, 03:07:16 PM
Congratulations!!  I knew you could do it!  Maybe our paths will cross again this summer?  Maybe some kayaking?  Jack
Growing Older Is Mandatory, Growing Up Is Optional
Arcadia, Florida, When we are home
http://s682.photobucket.com/albums/vv186/OBS-JC/

JohnEd

#12
June 07, 2010, 04:22:49 PM
Great post Terry.  Thanks for the laughs.

I only saw king pins being done twice.  Once when a young man I saw a poor mech having his arse  kicked by pins that refused to come out.  Pennsylvania rust being the cause.  He beat that Pups with a large sledge hammer and then used a ram and that didn't work either.   I left before the Grand Finale that, I believe, involved TNT.

The one they put in my S&S went smoothly but they were to tight and it would not return to center.  Took two people to steer.  How did you get your kings turned down to the correct size and how did you determine that.  In my case they kept reaming out the hole till the king slipped in. Hammered in, actually.  Don't say it.  What did I know?

John
"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.
The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
—Pla

redbus

#13
June 07, 2010, 05:06:10 PM
Jack
We still hope to get to Mi. later this Summer so maybe we will see you there.

John
I took the spindles pins and bushing to a local machine shop to be fitted. I only had to redo one bushing because it was in wrong but all in all it went good plus now I have a new 1in. and 3/4in. impact wrenches for the next job.
Terry
"Far away there in the sunshine are my highest aspirations. I may not reach them, but I can look up and see their beauty, Believe in them, and try to follow them." ~Louisa May Alcott~
www.awayweare.blogspot.com/

JohnEd

#14
June 07, 2010, 05:11:53 PM
A machine shop you say?  Now that is a salient fact in the story.

thanks

john
"An uneducated vote is a treasonous act more damaging than any treachery of the battlefield.
The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men." Plato
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light."
—Pla
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