Tag wheels

[jaybe_2]

I dont like the look of the tag wheels, just seems out of place to me. My brother has an 06 western star tri axle and the tag runs a single style rim ( no offset). Has any one ever tried to put one of these on a bus tag? I took some mesurements and it looks like it would make the tag line up with the out side dual. Any thoughts?

[TomC]

My not matter, but reversing the rim will also throw the wieght differently on the bearings.  One set will take all the weight and the other not.  Good Luck, TomC

[Dallas]

Jay,
Try turning your tag axle wheels around so that they are the same orientation as the drive axle.

I'm sure that there are tables and charts for the weight and bearings and axles and probably many other sources of trouble.

Keep an active log of what is going on with the wheels, tires, and orientation, then see if something is not kosher in the state of confusion.

Good Luck.

Dallas

[jaybe_2]

Im not going to reverse the rim. That would make the wheel stickout beyond the body.The rim I'm talking about will only move the tire out about 3" or so. This is the best pic I could find It is like the front rim on this truck just a bit narrower.

[Gary LaBombard]

Jay,
While at Arcadia last year I met the most interesting bus converter person ever, MR. Sonnie Gray, he has done what you want to do and perhaps can give you more insight to consider for your project.  I have a photo of what you want, go to: http://community.webshots.com/user/converter101
go to the following location to find the photo I know you will appreciate.
Album #2 ("Buses of Ingenuity")
Photo # (Imoo3645), this is Sonnie Gray's bus with the cat engine in it also.
Contact Sonnie through this bb'd.
I hope this helps you out on your project.  I will try to post that photo here if I can figure this out.  If I can't go to my site to see this photo.  Wish me luck!!

Gary

[Dallas]

Jay,
That's a pretty Pete, however..... those wheels are built for heavy haulers. Typically 20K on the front axle.

If you want to use those wheels, .... great. If you have the cash to invest in something you will never see a return on.
Not many people really realize what those wheels cost and what they do.

Again, Good Luck!

Dallas

[DavidInWilmNC]

As much scrubbing on the pavement that the tag tires do, wouldn't making them stick out more cause them to drag more in tight turns?  Every time I go out to my car, I see the black marks on the street and driveway from the tag tires when I was backing the bus down the driveway. 

[jaybe_2]

Davidinwilmnc Tire scrub is not a concern ( my bus has a liftable tag for those tight turns).
Dallas I am not going to run the large flotation tires and rims, the rim is the same width I have now and the tire will be a 12-22.5. The rim is not a bud It is made to run as a single. I will try to get a pic of my brothers tag wheel tomorrow I think that will explain things.

[DavidInWilmNC]

As weird as the tag wheels & tires look being recessed, and for as long as they were installed like that, I wonder if there's a reason bus manufacturers did 'em that way?  I mean, if there wasn't a reason, why have their buses look odd like that?

David

[RJ]

David -

Don't know exactly why the manufacturer's place the tags where they do, but if you look closely, they basically sit between the duals, inline with the steering axle.

Might have something to do with straight-line stability?

FWIW & HTH. . .

[jaybe_2]

I have been told that the tires run cooler when offset like this.

[BJ]

Well, I was told by an MKO Safety inspector and Bus accident investigator that the tag helps the bus to run straight. Back in the days of no tag there were problems with buses turning sideways so the industry added the tag. Keeping the bus straighter around corners, etc.  Just my two cents...

[NJT5047]

If using Super Singles, you won't have spare for the tags.  They may be hard to find in some areas.  VERY expensive. This also eliminates a spare for the steering and drive axles...maybe...you could probably install on on the steering axle. 
The SS does look good.   Is the SS rim size compatible with your other bus wheels (24" v 22.5)?  I have no idea of SS wheel available diameters.
Most tags don't have much weight on them...about 2K lbs.  Probably wouldn't be any wheel bearing problem...may scrub the wide tire off rather quickly.  Looks as though the tags axle support bearings (not the wheel bearings) and support tube may be damaged by additional side loading when turning.   
The pix Gary posted looks cool as H.   Definitely better looking. 
If you do this thing, post some pix. 
There was an MC7 or 8 pictured in BC Mag that had "true" duals on the tags.   Wonder how that came about?
JR

[Hartley]

What he said !!!

Tags are spares, Why fool with something that works...  I know...I should be quiet..

[RJ]

JR -

The MC-7 you saw in BCM was one of the "combo" cars that Blitz Body in Chicago put together for Greyhound in the mid-70s, when the Scenics were starting to be retired.

Basically, they stuffed the Scenic's rear suspension & axles under the MC-7, reinforcing the frame in the process, and shortening the wheelbase (rearmost baggage bin is shorter).

This was their answer to the booming package express business Greyhound was experiencing back then - when the only competition was the Post Office and UPS.

Set up to carry 10 passengers, with a wall separating the parcel area in the rear.

More info can be found in Larry Plachno's book "Modern Intercity Coaches", available from Amazon, eBay sometimes, or directly from the publisher at www.busmag.com

FWIW & HTH. . .