Bus Build Slide Show

[Tikvah]

This isn't done yet, but I thought I'd do a slide-show today
http://dave-amy.com/bus-project.html

Dave

[Dawgs]

Great Slide show!!

[Paso One]

Very nice slide show  good job.

[krcevs]

That is a great slide show. Makes me want to go out and work on ours!
You have done some fantastic work!

Ken

[Iceni John]

What is the broken thing in the phourth and phiphth photos?   Is that why the bus had to be towed?

John

[Tikvah]

I bought the bus in Denver, CO.  We flew into the airport and the owner (a tour bus operator) picked us put and took us to the bus.  We left his place and began the drive back to Michigan.  Good chance to get the dust off.
We got to Peru, IL when I-80 turned into a construction zone.  It was one of those construction zones when all the traffic on our side of the highway moved over to the opposite side to a single lane with concrete barriers on our left, and nothing but cones on the right.  The right side was simply a sharp drop down about 16"
As we drove along in the traffic my wife said "this would be a really sucky place to break down"
Within a couple seconds the engine simply turned off.
At the time I had no idea why.  I tried to move as far right as possible, but it really didn't matter; the road was barely wide enough for my bus.  There we sat in the middle of I-80 with a few hundred unhappy drivers behind us.
I noticed the bus had overheated, but I couldn't figure out why.  I went back to the engine and looked everything over, but everything seemed normal.   The water level was fine, no leaks, oil good, etc.  I was new to the bus, and really had no idea.
After about 15 min I was able to start the bus.  I did have some rather significant air leaks, so I had to sit awhile after the bus started.  Finally I got it to move and started going as quick as I could get out of there.  There was a tiny "emergency pull-off" ahead and when the engine stalled again I was able to coast into the pull-off.  Even then, traffic was only able to squeeze past by inches.
There wasn't any question that we needed a tow.  If I hadn't asked the road patrol would have required it to be removed.  The tow driver worked in a dangerous situation to air the bus, remove the drive shaft, and hook it up to the big truck.  He towed us about four miles to the next exit in Peru and left us at a 24 hour truck service center. 
The tow driver wasn't ashamed to ask me for $875.00 for his labor.  I paid gladly, but with a new determination to get towing insurance.
Anyway, to make a long story - well - long.  The problem was where the air cylinder tightens the fan belt, the bracket snapped.  Just a fluke, not a maintenance issue.  But the fracture allowed the belt to go loose and didn't cool the engine sufficiently.  Pretty simple.  But, enough to leave us on the middle of I-80
They welded the part (I just replaced it this summer) and spent a few days waiting for parts for fixing the air system.  I had a rusty air tank at the center of the rear baggage bay. 
Moral of the story - get some towing insurance!

I think the guys in the picture are trying to figure out how to get back down there and put the drive shaft back on so we could drive the bus into the garage.

It was frustrating and a bit comical that each shift would come in and I would explain what needed to be done.  They simply had to position the bracket, and weld a small bracket.  So, they would go have some coffee, look at other trucks, change tires, brakes and do other things around the shop and ignore my bus.  Then the next shift would come in and we would start all over again.  Finally one old guy grabbed the welder and made a really nice repair.
The other comical thing - when the bus was started, they couldn't figure out how to shut it off.  LOL... they tried everything.  They finally had to come ask me why it wouldn't shut off.

1

[blue_goose]

Very good slide show.
Jack

[Tikvah]

What is the broken thing in the phourth and phiphth photos?

I'm not good with swahili

[Iceni John]

After I had a hydraulic hose split and spray hydraulic fluid on my exhaust manifold on one of my first trips, causing biblical amounts of noxious smoke to the consternation of drivers behind me, I also decided that having towing insurance would be A Good Thing.   Coincidentally, it was also my cooling fan that stopped working when its hydraulic drive ran out of fluid.   Fortunately the engine didn't overheat  -  the smoke inside and outside the bus warned me in enough time!

John   

[solodon]

Great slide show.  Some nice ideas for the work to do in my conversion too.  You've done a nice job.
Don

[goldgiter]

I'll be singing that song all day!

Wes

[georgemci102a2]

Nice job Dave.

[mcidave]

Really interesting build...great job on the bus!
I have a couple of questions:
Where did you purchase tow insurance for a large bus and how much does it cost?
Also, What tools and process did you use in building the cabinet doors?

Thanks
David

[Tikvah]

Where did you purchase tow insurance for a large bus and how much does it cost?
Also, What tools and process did you use in building the cabinet doors?

I have Progressive insurance.  We pay about $50 or $60 per month for full coverage.  Supposedly it's about $50,000 in collision/replacement (although I doubt they would ever pay), some comprehensive, $4000 contents, and towing/roadside.

The doors were rather simple.  Four sticks,   Dado on the back for the panel, and breadboard plywood.  Everything glued and clamped with gorilla glue.  Sand - paint - hang.
Really simple, but they look awesome

[Seangie]

Dave,

We just watched the video.  Great video.  Brings back memories of building out our own bus.  You did an awesome job on your bus.  Very professional.  I love the layout.

-Sean