How do you learn to trust your engine?

jav9956 · August 20, 2016, 01:16:27 AM

I have had this thought for a while; I am trying to figure out how to trust my engine because I don't have the best feeling about it. Perhaps it is like most things that you don't have a lot of experience with, it becomes easy to feel uncomfortable. I am just not sure what to think of the thing. It is an old engine so there are imperfections that I see but don't know enough to decide whether I should think into too much or not. I also question the bus's PO and the "rebuild" job that was supposedly done... however many miles ago.

This weekend I will try and take some pictures of a few things and hopefully get some more knowledgable advice. Also, if there is any thought on how to trust the engine short of going to counseling with it I am all ears. I suppose the best way is to drive the thing. Maybe shooting in the dark here but is there anything more than that?

Nel · August 20, 2016, 05:57:59 AM

In my opinion,forget anything the PO told you when you bought the bus unless you have written proof from the mechanics and even then no guarantees . Get all the service and maintenance manuals you can get your hands on for your bus, get use to being a mechanic or at least real handy, check and maintain all the systems as best you can or pay someone who will,make sure you have a good road side assistance if needed, take it on a few local trips to get a feel for the bus and last ,stop being a WUSS about it and go for it. If none of this sounds right to you, sell bus and go buy a new trailer. Sorry but welcome to BUS world.
Nelson
ps. If you don't want to drive it they make awesome sheds in the backyard.

bigred · August 20, 2016, 06:07:40 AM

Get a good road service plan and put the pedal to the metal!!!!!!

lostagain · August 20, 2016, 06:38:11 AM

Drive it.

JC

lostagain · August 20, 2016, 06:38:34 AM

Drive it.

JC

TomC · August 20, 2016, 08:27:06 AM

I have had virtually everything in the engine compartment rebuilt or replaced. While everything runs good, I'm always on pins and needles worrying about if the engine quits-mainly because it is so hard to find 2 stroke Detroit mechanics now.
The second thing you could do is learn your engine and work on it your self. Good Luck, TomC

jav9956 · August 20, 2016, 08:35:10 AM

Figured driving it is about the best option.

Thanks TomC- I suppose that I will come to learn with time. Good to know that someone else has had a little nerves about the engine.

Thanks for the advice Nel, I have driven the bus several times around LA traffic over the past year which is an entirely different beast. I am trying to do things smarter not harder and my biggest fear is just damaging the investment (time and money) that is the conversion itself. Like you said, I will have to dedicate my time to studying some service manuals and go through it as best as possible. I guess that while doing the conversion the focus has been on the conversion itself and not much on the engine.

I will probably be moving the bus an hour North in a month or two... I guess we'll see how she handles hills then

luvrbus · August 20, 2016, 09:24:31 AM

The old 2 strokes are like some of our wife's you learn what they are saying and where your limitations are

jav9956 · August 20, 2016, 09:52:39 AM

Quote from: luvrbus on August 20, 2016, 09:24:31 AM
The old 2 strokes are like some of our wife's you learn what they are saying and where your limitations are

I might be in trouble then

thomasinnv · August 20, 2016, 09:54:56 AM

Some of them can be like trying to solve a rubics cube.

Dave5Cs · August 20, 2016, 03:21:35 PM

What are we afraid of? We all bought an old vehicle with an old engine or maybe its been updated to a newer old engine. Its got a commercial drive train which is meant to be driven daily which we don't. Things with spaces fill with condensation when they sit and the weather changes back and forth which water is not good for oily things!...

You are not afraid of the engine breaking down, as much as what to do when it does/ Not if its when!...

Either you don't understand it enough to fix it yourself or you don't have the money to pay someone to fix it. A lot of us are independently wealthy,...

So if #1 study or take some classes to learn how to maintain it. Try yoga or Ti-chi to get rid of the Knot!...

#2 save money and put it away in an account just for repairs and or future rebuild or for a good take out motor to have ready when something bad happens. Figure about $3,000.00 a year to keep her going and if you don't have to use it then it goes toward tires or rebuild etc.

Also yes get Coach.net, good Sam's, AAA,Farmers Etc. or whoever as a roadside service. Most are cheap and well worth it.

When or as you learn , tackle one system at a time. I started with the air system and then electrical system and still haven't finished,LOL but I have learned as I went and from these boards. I am somewhat a Mechanical person but would only attack this thing if it was out of the Bus in my Barn. I do all the maintenance myself. But still don't know all I should about the drive train other than its no different than my truck and car except it is bigger and a lot heavier and the parts are hard to find sometimes and a Bitch to pickup.

I do see a lot of people getting in a hurry or losing interest and then it sits. Try and include all members of the family and make it a project especially if you have kids. They love it. At The ranch we sometimes take the Grand-kids with us to go fill up the fuel tank. Its 3 blocks away but we take the long way and they love it. Sometimes we drive it to go out to breakfast and the looks we get is funny.

If it breaks down on the road the only question even if you can't fix it yourself is do you have road service if yes then you will get to a place where you can do it or they will do it and can you afford it!... That is all any of us are afraid of. That's where that knot in your gut comes from.

Now get out there and learn, Drive it and be a Busnut.....

HTH Dave5Cs

DoubleEagle · August 20, 2016, 03:28:08 PM

Well said, the only thing I would change is that some of us are independently poor as a result.

Dave5Cs · August 20, 2016, 04:23:26 PM

Walter agree with that buddy... That,s what I am working on right now on our bus. We discovered somewhere in the plumbing system or other places there is a stuck Check-valve in the Money Drain. Its a slow but steady leak!...

Dave

luvrbus · August 20, 2016, 04:28:28 PM

LOL I have a good friend that owns a 2010 Prevost he and his wife purchased new,he is getting gray hair worrying about the 230 gal plastic fuel exploding everytime it makes a sound he ducks

Dave5Cs · August 20, 2016, 04:47:28 PM

Oh great now i have to worry ever time I pass a 2010 Prevost that the Plastic Fuel tank will do that. Thanks my adding to my list of thing to worry about.....

Dave