I know… I know... I am a rookie

RickB · August 28, 2014, 04:43:06 PM

Ran Prince's bus out of fuel in front of my house. There's a slight chance that I have an algae problem but I thought that I had plenty of time to get it refueled.

So two questions, there are fuel tanks on both sides of the bus and I have no idea if they both run the engine or if one is for the genset. Any clarity out there for me?

Also, is the series 60 any different to re prime? Take off the filter, fill it and start cranking or is there a built in pump on these things for repriming?

94 Prevost Marathon. Be gentle guys I know it was a rookie move.

Rick

belfert · August 28, 2014, 04:47:35 PM

The primary filter on my Series 60 is a Racor with a built-in priming button. When I ran out of fuel I refilled the secondary filter and then had my friend prime with the button while I cranked from the rear start switch. It started up fairly easily. My friend did have to keep pumping for 15 to 30 seconds to keep it running smooth until the air purged itself out.

robertglines1 · August 28, 2014, 04:55:11 PM

one tank for both on my 98 XLE 250 gal capacity fills from both sides. 5 Gal not going to budge it. Good luck. Bob PS. gen intake is set higher in tank so you still have engine fuel supply when you get low. Unless someone switched hoses.

gumpy · August 28, 2014, 05:12:39 PM

Just call ole Symbol Man up and ask him. I'm sure he probably knows the answer to all those questions. He seems like a busnut kind of guy to me!

RickB · August 28, 2014, 05:13:57 PM

Talked to Marathon. They recommended ether. I'm going to do my best to avoid that idea. This thing could probably use new filters anyway. I'll reprime the filters and crank it a few times if it doesn't start I'll have to find another solution. There's a lot of gremlins in this old girl. She needs to be taken out and run for a couple days straight. The tech said that I have 12 gallons once the lo fuel light comes on and stays. It blinked a half dozen times but the fuel gauge read almost a quarter tank on certain slopes and as low as an eighth on others. Sure hoping it's not algae or something else serious.

Glad it's not mine.

Has anybody out there driven a mid 90's Marathon conversion? I can't believe how hard this thing is to stop. I don't know if it's a brake issue or a weight issue. The guys at C and J said this thing is 20k lbs heavier than mine. Maybe it's just the extra weight but it sure takes a lot longer to stop than my MCI

RickB · August 28, 2014, 05:15:49 PM

Be nice Gumpster or I'll talk you into coming and helping me... By the way we're in Plymouth now. Moved back to the cities. The kids were sucking air out in the boonies and we wanted to do what's best for them.

RB

gumpy · August 28, 2014, 05:19:24 PM

Quote from: RickB on August 28, 2014, 05:15:49 PM
Be nice Gumpster or I'll talk you into coming and helping me... By the way we're in Plymouth now. Moved back to the cities. The kids were sucking air out in the boonies and we wanted to do what's best for them.

RB

Yeah, I know. But you only call when you need something. :-)

robertglines1 · August 28, 2014, 05:21:04 PM

there is a drain on bottom of tank . closer to curb side. On main tank but it should drain aux also. Is that coach brake pre disc on tag and steer? Bob

RickB · August 28, 2014, 05:23:34 PM

Bob, what do you do with the drain? Is that to purge the air in the lines when you run it out of fuel?

I'm under the impression that they are all disc's but I haven't looked.

RickB · August 28, 2014, 05:24:38 PM

Craig, that's because of the dude I work for. He's a bit... strange and needy too... lol

RB

luvrbus · August 28, 2014, 05:35:34 PM

You have 2 filters or 1 ? they came with the Fuel/Pro or the secondary and primary filters

robertglines1 · August 28, 2014, 06:54:21 PM

plug on bottom drains tank if you want to get crud out. Need a catch pan but suck as much out as you can before hand. Was thinking if it were near empty now might be good time. Really don't think your going to get much unless someone has been unlucky getting bad fuel.

RickB · August 28, 2014, 08:57:15 PM

Clifford, two filters but the folks at Marathon said there should be a clear separator on the bottom of the primary and I don't see that anywhere. Funny you give them the bus number and they can tell you everything about the bus in it's original layout. Pretty cool feed back.

Robert, the bus was sitting for a number of years (4 or 5) so that's why I was wondering about the potential for algae

There is still a fair chance that this is something else. I'm having some voltage surging issues that should've been fixed when Cand J replaced the voltage regulator. The tach, water temp and a couple other gauges are surging pretty bad. I lost power on the way home and it kinda righted itself. It did it a couple more times and I just assumed it was out of fuel but truthfully according to Marathon I should've had plenty of fuel because the fuel light was not even close to staying on. It had just blinked a half dozen times on the way home. I guess we'll get a better idea tomorrow. Hope it don't rain. Especially "purple" rain. Sorry, couldn't help myself

RB

Scott Crosby · August 29, 2014, 04:13:29 AM

My bus can easily loose prime on the fuel filters due to fuel starvation with anywhere near 1/4 tank of fuel. My pickup is all the way on the passenger side and if a road banks to the left at a good angle for too long I suck air and loose prime. For that reason I try to always keep it 1/2 full or more.

robertglines1 · August 29, 2014, 05:47:57 AM

Electrical has come into question??? Maybe not fuel? pump is mounted curd side of engine. with line coming from tank and going out toward rear of block (discharge) if you crack that fitting you should have fuel. Electrical problem ck ign relay in compartment just below ticket window drivers side or ign switch. Food for thought. Bob