What thing(s) would indicate a bus was never used as a hound or fleet service ?

[Bill in KS]

Taking a trip to look at a MCI 8 on Sunday and current owner stated it never was a " hound" or " in service".  I was curious what would / should show up if it truely had been a private RV conversion bus all of its life.
Thanks for any information

Bill in KS

[jackhartjr]

Bill, do you have the serial number?  If so a couple of the guys here can tell you the history of it.
Jack

[Bill in KS]

No.   Where would it be located on a mci8?

I can contact the owner tomorrow.

thanks
Bill in KS

[thomasinnv]

above the entry door, and inside the radiator blower compartment at the rear.

[JackConrad]

I have been told that if it was used by Greyhound, the fuel cap will twist about 1/4 turn to open, If not used by Greyhound, you lift the overcenter lever to open the fuel cap. I know my MC-8 started as a Greyhound, I have a copy of the original build order from MCI, showing that it was delivered to Greyhound East on 11/3/73. It has the twist stryle fuel cap.  Best bet is to post the serial & unit number on here.  Good luck, Jack

[roadrunnertex]

Here are the ways to tell if it's s ex Hound.
Do you have to turn on the chime and step light to crank he bus?
Is there a in station air conditioning door located on the left side of the coach  down below the 1st passenger window the door is 6"X6" approx size?
Does it have the aux fuel tank in the fwd baggage bin?
In each baggage bin look for loading decals yellow and white in color?
Is there a small electrical cover door above the steering compartment for in station lighting?
Roll the destination sign through from one end to the other does it have America on it ?
Also open the lavatory door and look to your right about knee height and there is a access door to clean out the paper waste basket look on the wall facing the side of rear seat and with a strong flash light see if the US Department of Sanitation  sticker is in place it will tell you who bought the bus new from MCI/TMC.
Now if it has a 4 speed non automatic transmission it's not a ex hound all hound MCI's after some of the last MC-7's were automatic transmissions.
Good luck.

[JackConrad]

Our coach had everything you listed except the chime and step light interlock.  Jack

[luvrbus]

Look for a lot of holes for license plates or the 2 rails for the plates at the bottom, on  a Eagle you can tell by a piece of the siding missing under the windshield in the center some people try and hide that section but it is impossible with out replacing the front end siding it always shows


good luck

[cody]

The easiest way to tell is if it is listed on Ebay, all buses listed on ebay were never hounds because that would indicate an abundance of miles and they were all also recently rebuilt. 

[thomasinnv]

my bus has/had everything mentioned above, but it was originally delivered to a private charter line in Kentucky.  never was a hound. 

[Bill in KS]

Serial number: S11718 and unit number: 31871 
thanks for any help
Bill

[Paladin]

I have been told that if it was used by Greyhound, the fuel cap will twist about 1/4 turn to open, If not used by Greyhound, you lift the overcenter lever to open the fuel cap. I know my MC-8 started as a Greyhound, I have a copy of the original build order from MCI, showing that it was delivered to Greyhound East on 11/3/73. It has the twist stryle fuel cap.  Best bet is to post the serial & unit number on here.  Good luck, Jack

Jack,
Are you suggesting that maybe a Trailways or other if not Greyhound?
Mine does not have a twist style but has the pull center lever type fuel cap, I also don't have stickers in the bays.

Here are the ways to tell if it's s ex Hound.
Do you have to turn on the chime and step light to crank he bus?
Is there a in station air conditioning door located on the left side of the coach  down below the 1st passenger window the door is 6"X6" approx size?
Does it have the aux fuel tank in the fwd baggage bin?
In each baggage bin look for loading decals yellow and white in color?
Is there a small electrical cover door above the steering compartment for in station lighting?
Roll the destination sign through from one end to the other does it have America on it ?
Also open the lavatory door and look to your right about knee height and there is a access door to clean out the paper waste basket look on the wall facing the side of rear seat and with a strong flash light see if the US Department of Sanitation  sticker is in place it will tell you who bought the bus new from MCI/TMC.
Now if it has a 4 speed non automatic transmission it's not a ex hound all hound MCI's after some of the last MC-7's were automatic transmissions.
Good luck.

I'm no pro by any means so a few questions:

I thought the chime and step light were commonly overridden?
Also thought the in-stations air and power were options that not all buses were equipped with?
I was also under the impression that not all got the aux tanks?


I really don't know the history of my bus though I know it was used to carry people, lot's of people judging by the trash found under the floors. I don't have any aux power or air connections. No aux tank and I can  start it without chime or step light though by now that means nothing.

If anyone can help me find the history on mine too I'd really appreciate it.

[JackConrad]

Jack,
Are you suggesting that maybe a Trailways or other if not Greyhound?
Mine does not have a twist style but has the pull center lever type fuel cap, I also don't have stickers in the bays.

Not sure. I worked on a 102A3 with the lever type cap that was delivered new to Coach America and have talked to a few busnuts with older factory conversions that had the lever type caps. My comment was based on those experiences.  Jack

[Lin]

Jack,

My 5a has the lever-type fuel closure but did start out as a hound.

[Paladin]

In houndsight  my question on Trailways was pretty broad based. I was saying Trailways I guess as a catchall for all others than Greyhound though after further thought this would be a huge market, larger maybe than the hounds of hell combinedl!!

...nevermind.....