Clifford I have a new problem !

[Fredward]

Hey Clifford, I got the bus out this weekend to work on installing the new generator and generally get ready for our trip to Texas later this month. And my pre-start engine compartment inspection turned up all kinds of rust on the bell housing that wasn't there before I replaced that blower oil supply line! Now why the heck didn't you send me green paint along with that oil line?? 
Fred

[johns4104]

Fred I had the same problem, cleaned the engine and it starts to rust!

[TomC]

Funny as is sounds, when the bus manufacturers switched to Series 60's they had to start undercoating the engine compartment since there was no more oil from the engines to do the coating.  Good Luck, TomC

[TedCalvert]

Don't paint it Alpine Green.  That causes oil leakage.

[robertglines1]

Fred; that is a self correcting problem. Just like a steam engine..    Bob

[Brian Diehl]

Fred - I'm totally with you on that one!  I had absolutely no rust in my engine compartment until I put in the Cummins.  Now I have a few bolts, brackets, and what not all proclaiming their age.  Hey - they are not supposed to be doing that.  No respectable bus of 30 years old would dare show (or speak) of its age.  I must not have a respectable bus - bummer!

Thankfully the propeller shaft (drive shaft) still enjoys slinging lube grease all over everything.  This keeps the area between the differential and the transmission rust free.  Makes me worry about fire in that area though.  If anything ever got really hot back there the grease would be a bad combination.  Ugh - I don't even  like to think of that scenario.

How'd I get so off track?  Well, back to rust, all I can say is to take some of the oil you drain from your next oil change and pour it down the back of the engine like the blower supply pipe used to do.  That should take care of your problem!  Well, now that I solved that problem for you what other problem would you like me to solve?  :-)

[TedCalvert]

Speaking of leakage and fires, when I got my first bus, 4104, it had leaks everywhere (big surprise to y'all).  We had it in to the local tire shop, and upon heading home it seemed rather sluggish.  I was on a county 2-lane and was passing under an Interstate when the engine room caught fire.  I got it out with a fire extinguisher, but soon the Fire Department showed up, having been called by Interstate drivers.  They wanted to know where were the pax!

Seems that an inquisitive guy in the tire shop was checking out the drivers area, and left the Johnson bar parking brake partially applied.  I never used and never checked this as the bus had spring brakes added.  The good advice my brother had given me to have a fire extinguisher aboard saved the day.  I still tease the tire guy about the incident.  Could have been a lot worse.

That particular piece of leakage, I finally found, was coming from the transmission output shaft seal.  Inside the brake drum.  Rather than removing the driveshaft and drum, I was able to use a crow's foot wrench with a short extension and tighten the bolts in the seal retaining ring.  Several turns each.  Guesstimated with a torque wrench.  Still good.