Hello All

[paulrobie]

Hello... My name is Paul and I am new to this site. I have recently purchased, but not picked up as of yet, a new to me 1982 MCI MC9 out of Redmond, Oregon, (pics to follow). Purchased off of E-bay and taking the chance that the seller as is much of a straight shooter as he appears to be on the phone. I have been reading all of your posts, sucking up as much info as possible from here and across the web and look forward to being a member of the community of "busnuts". Just wanted to say hello to all and thank ya'll for the wealth of knowledge I've picked up so far from this site as I begin my journey of converting our future home on wheels...

I will be flying to Redmond, from Houston on March 3rd to pick her up so..... wish me luck!

[Busted Knuckle]

Paul,
1st Off welcome to the madness!
We all certainly hope all goes well with your purchase & trip home.

However there are a # of horror stories about these deals too. SO just be prepared that things could go wrong and be ready to roll with whatever may happen & you'll be OK!

And don't forget to take a laptop or phone with access to this site just in case there are members here that WILL find you the help you need if something does happen!
  BK 

[paulrobie]

Thank you sir, for the welcome.. I am, ( I hope ) ready for the horror... Seems to be a pattern these days of people taking advantage of others.. Always ready to roll with the changes though. Make the best of a bad situation has become my motto in life.... Thanks again for the welcome!

[JohnEd]

Paul,

Welcome.  You can't miss with this group.  Can't!  Get yourself set up with a laptop and a "air card" wireless service from Verizon or whoever cause that will save your bacon.  Pics and detailed instructions from experienced folk and the manuals that you don't have yet will be of great value.  Of course, your cell phone is a must have but that's a no brainer.  This group is a lifeline, make no mistake.

Road side assist/ towing insurance.  Must have!  A tow will cost you crazy money like $3 per mile and $200 hook-up and miles back and add till you puke.  A clogged fuel filter or flat tire will break your bank.

Make sure your bats are usable with a Specific Gravity float.  Get a new 8D for the trip if you need one.

Take a set of fuel filters with you.  Flashlights and bats., New fan belt if the old one looks worn at all.

Look up the list of Knuts that will do road side help along your return route.  I am on there for the stretch of I5 along Eugene, Orygun.  With me you get a taxi service, common tools and sympathy.  i am not bus or DD smart but I am a extra set of hands.  All of us have our email and phone numbers listed.  You will be in somebody's "patch" all along your routs.  You might want to stop and visit with the West Coast DD guru in Bakers field, Don Fairchild.  I don't know what he charges but it will be money well spent for being tutored on matters DD for those fresh to the MCI world.  His rep is sterling.

You need to be tutored on the correct way to drive/treat a DD.  Rule of thumb is to drive it like you stole it.  Hard and up against the gov on hills.  I am not savvy but after listening to all the posts on here over the years I think you should find a Knut where you pick up the bus and get some hands on time and a thorough brief before you start your journey.  You can destroy an engine in the length of the drive you will be starting.  

Did you know that a DD will be trash if you let the temp rise above 200 degrees on a hill?  Would you believe 199?  How about.....(Get Smart TV series quote).  Would you have declined to start you journey if your temp gauge didn't work and you didn't know that about these beasts?

Sometimes those seats are salable to tour operators and churches and the ilk.  They will remove them as a condition of the sale.  I have read that some sold really nice ones for $700.  Don't count on it.  Get rid of them on the way fi you can and get the buyer to remove them.  You will get tired of hauling then to the dump and paying the fees if that is the way you go.  Try Ebay for a buyer along the way and you paying a modest fee wouldn't be out of the question.  List your cities en-route.

Piece of cake....right?  I wish you safe and happy travels.  Write if you find work.

Tires?  Holy Crap!  Search on the topic and read long and deep.  They can kill you and it is avoidable.

"pre trip check list"?  Search on that.

Keep us posted cause many of us live vicariously.

John

[PP]

Welcome to the site and the ensuing madness! Good luck with your trip and don't hesitate to ask questions, Will

[Dave5Cs]

Welcome, Nice bus good luck with your new adventure.

Dave

[Red Rider]

Hello Paul,

This is great news.If your first trip is anything like mine you will be "one happy camper".As others have said, be sure to double check all your fluid levels including tires before you launch. Don't forget to check that driveline if your rig has been stored very long. Just keep an eye on the temp and enjoy the view out that big windshield.

That MCI looks really nice in the pics.

I have only had my 4106 for three years however it wouldn't even be running today if it wasn't for the contribution of so many on this board.Let me tell you, these folkswhere here to help long before I ever met any of them. After a few rallies I got a better understanding of how great the Bus community is.

Now that you are one of us --- Welcome and tailwinds.

[paulrobie]

Thank you all for the kind replies... JohnEd, thanks for all the great advice!After reading (what seems like a million posts before I joined) than another million after, my head was starting to hurt, (LOL) so I am really glad you reiterated some of that stuff for me because I am sure I would have forgotten, especially about the battery.
My plan is to get up to Redmond on Wednesday but will not be leaving until Saturday which I hope will be enough time to go over the bus, learn (some of) it's ins and outs and take it for a few test runs. I used to, (a long time ago in a land far away) drive big trucks, not eighteen wheelers but 8 speed dual shift Detroit's and always "drove em like I stole em"... And, no i wasn't aware of the temp issue at all.... more research I guess.

As for stopping anywhere along the way.... unless I break down that really isn't an option here as I have to be back in Houston on a particular schedule. I'm giving myself the better part of a week for the round trip but that's all I can take right now.

Regarding communications, I have a web enabled phone, laptop that tethers to my cell, and a CB radio I will be taking with me as well as flashlight(s)m batteries, a basic toolkit, lists, maps, etc.. I am sure that no matter what I will not have the correct tool on hand but.... (back to rolling with the punches).

I am, I hope, buying this bus from a reputable operator in Redmond. He has a mechanic on staff, and I have been assured that this bus will make the trip back to Houston with no problems. It was pulled from service, the day I placed a deposit on it and the current owner is changing the oil and fluids for me before arrival... One other thing I have going for me is that even though bought on EBay, this is a cash deal AFTER inspection. The absolute worse that could happen is that I waste a trip to Oregon, right...Ya, right... Anyway, I am optimistic about this but am going in with eyes WIDE open.

As for the seats... my thoughts exactly. That's why I offered them to the guy I bought the bus from for nothing, as long as he removes them. I think he's taking the luggage racks as well. Sure I could sell em' for scrap but I sure save myself alot of hassle in the end. I try to, in a project like this, put a value on my time and just seems like a win-win for me if the seats and racks are gone when I pick it up.

Thanks again all for the great advice and encouraging words and my wife and I look forward to meeting you at a rally in the future!

[Tom Y]

Paul, WELCOME. If they have a pit there ask them to put it over it and look under it. Look at the drive shaft if there are flanges on it make sure the bolts look tight. Goodluck.  Tom Y

[rdbishop]

Paul,

Don't know if you noticed but there going to be a bus rally at Franklin,Tx from Mar 30-April 4. I would be a good deal to meet some nuts and look at some buses for ideas. Throw in a bed of sorts, a heater, and elec cord and come join us. It's not to far from Houston. Luck on your trip.

Richard

[gmbusguy1]

Paulrobie, this is in your first post

"I have been reading all of your posts, sucking up as much info as possible from here and across the web"

Ok I will say what I feel here

are you Nuts?

I have to think that some of the above referenced advice included a little remark or two about never buying a bus sight unseen or maybe this line about not being on a tight schedule to pickup a new to you coach

You are going to run into some not so nice weather conditions and mountains on the trip home with your new bus. are you familiar with driving a coach in these road conditions? if not you might think about getting someone with a little experience to ride along with you.

also you should learn about operating a 2 stroke Detroit Diesel in general but especially in the mountains as a little mistake or lack of knowledge can be very expensive

these coaches are very big/heavy and can be very dangerous in the hands of someone who does not have the skills to operate them

Please know your limits and proceed accordingly

BE SAFE FIRST!

We are all here to help you get your pride and joy home safely  Just ask

Chris

[paulrobie]

Paulrobie, this is in your first post

"I have been reading all of your posts, sucking up as much info as possible from here and across the web"

Ok I will say what I feel here

are you Nuts?

I have to think that some of the above referenced advice included a little remark or two about never buying a bus sight unseen or maybe this line about not being on a tight schedule to pickup a new to you coach

You are going to run into some not so nice weather conditions and mountains on the trip home with your new bus. are you familiar with driving a coach in these road conditions? if not you might think about getting someone with a little experience to ride along with you.

also you should learn about operating a 2 stroke Detroit Diesel in general but especially in the mountains as a little mistake or lack of knowledge can be very expensive

these coaches are very big/heavy and can be very dangerous in the hands of someone who does not have the skills to operate them

Please know your limits and proceed accordingly

BE SAFE FIRST!

We are all here to help you get your pride and joy home safely  Just ask

Chris

gmbusguy1, yes as a matter of fact, I am nuts, why else would I buy a bus?  Just kidding. Actually I have done my homework on this, that's why I have opted to make payment after inspection, (granted I won't find everything that could be wrong with it but there is a learning curve here after all). If things don't work out or, if I feel that the buyer misled me in anyway, I'm only out the cost of a trip to Redmond... The deposit, paid through Ebay/Paypal I'll work out but feel comfortable in thinking I can and will get it returned. As for the tight schedule, that's only IF the bus is good to go, if not I have a little leeway and can always get it to a shop and pick up later if need be. I have actually set aside 7 days for the return trip so.... not too tight.

As for the weather conditions and vehicle size, I used to drive 66,000 gvw Vactors and even heavier boiler trucks... in New Mexico, in Colorado, in the mountains, in the winter, sometimes after working 12 hour days in the field. I know not the same as a bus, but weight and size is weight and size so I should, God willing, do ok. And I know the engines may be somewhat different but at least two of those trucks I used to drive were Detroits. I plan, no matter what on taking my time, taking it easy and arriving in Houston safe and sound. (BTW, I, up until 5 years ago had a class A CDL with tanker endorsements)

All that being said.... I appreciate your advice and plan to be 100% aware of my limitations and abilities. If there is any question on my part about them, believe you me I will pull over, get a room and wait for weather to pass. Not hurting others or myself is my primary concern in everything I do...

And I will ask, as so far I've felt very welcome on this board, (feel y'all are almost family after reading through almost every post here the last couple of weeks,  ).
I hope to gather a few names and locations along the way as I am so not above asking for help on things that are beyond me. I will post my route on here in the next week or so and, if someone wants to drop me a line with their info I promise you I will print it out and have it in my "big book o' stuff" I'll have with me because if there is one thing I am it's anally retentive, (also known as organized)  )

[Barn Owl]

Welcome, you know there where less expensive diseases to get. Sorry to report very few of us ever get cured. At least the support group is about the best you can find. LOL

[paulrobie]

Welcome, you know there where less expensive diseases to get. Sorry to report very few of us ever get cured. At least the support group is about the best you can find. LOL

Yea, but I figured that since you can't take it with ya..... 

[gmbusguy1]

Paul, with your driving experience you will do just fine.

Have Fun on the trip and please remember to take lots of porn or I mean pictures of the bus on the trip so the rest of us can get a look see

Chris