MC7 4 speed

Diesel Oil · April 17, 2017, 03:06:56 PM

Hi, i recently purchased an MC7 conversion from a close friend that was sitting for 7 years after a relative of his who owned it passed away. My question has to do with the manual trans which i believe is a Spicer. It will shift from first into second no problem, but when i try to get third or fourth, the rod is just stuck, i took it apart in the front, but it seems the problem is either the rod itself, or the trans. Do these rods have bushings that age and bind, or is it more likely the forks inside the trans that are causing this issue? I've tapped on the rod from trans end, and it seems really tight.

ol713 · April 18, 2017, 09:13:03 AM

HI;
I would disconnect the linkage at the trans. Then run through
the gears to check for freedom of movement. That should
tell you if problem is in the linkage, or the trans itself.
Maybe before doing that, grease the linkage. It may have
dried out grease.
There is a distribution panel in the service bay just under the
driver seat. Sometimes that grease panel is over looked.
Also speaking of grease, be sure to grease the throw out bearing.
This is also over looked. The fitting is located on the bell housing
under the alternator.
Good luck, Merle. (MC-7)
PS;
What part of the country are you in?

Diesel Oil · April 18, 2017, 07:58:48 PM

Thanks for your reply. I will try what you have suggested in back, we did try in front under the driver's compartment with no success. I live in Sherwood Park Alberta Canada, close to Edmonton. Thank you Merle.

Stormcloud · April 18, 2017, 08:05:26 PM

Hi, and welcome to the madness!

I also have a '7' that I picked up 10 years ago at Edmonton. It was stored near the BusesRUs shop.
They did some work on it before I drove it home to Brandon, Manitoba.
Nice to have another Canuck on the board.
BTW. my shifter linkage from 3 to 4 was getting almost 2 handed it was so stiff, and no greasing would help....
I ended up swapping to an Allison automatic.....shoulda bought one with an auto already!
Good luck!
Mark

Diesel Oil · April 19, 2017, 03:55:12 AM

Quote from: Stormcloud on April 18, 2017, 08:05:26 PM
Hi, and welcome to the madness!
I also have a '7' that I picked up 10 years ago at Edmonton. It was stored near the BusesRUs shop.
They did some work on it before I drove it home to Brandon, Manitoba.
Nice to have another Canuck on the board.
BTW. my shifter linkage from 3 to 4 was getting almost 2 handed it was so stiff, and no greasing would help....
I ended up swapping to an Allison automatic.....shoulda bought one with an auto already!
Good luck!
Mark

Hi Mark, thanks for your reply. Yes, an Auto would be nice. I love the stick for old times sake. I drove this old girl for Greyhound as a young guy in mid '80s. I've decided to use the budget for other things that need updating. I will try to get some pics up soon...Cheers Greg.

HB of CJ · April 19, 2017, 12:58:15 PM

I do not how your "seven" shift linkage works. Years ago with my Crown Supercoach, the shifter was at first very stiff and balky. I was missing shifts to the RTO910. Impossible I said; I NEVER miss ANY shifts. But ... duhh ... I was!

Sossss .... I crawled under the Crown with a hand type grease gun, (not the machine gun) and I greased the 12 or so, (so it seemed) grease zerts on the big single shift rod. Also the U-joints on the shift rod which also had zerts.

What a difference. Then the mighty 10 speed Roadranger was like shifting a dirt bike. Snick, snick. About 2-3 pounds of effort. About one inch of travel. Shifting the old girl because very easy. Much fun except crawling under.

Hope this helps. Respectfully.

Diesel Oil · April 19, 2017, 02:42:41 PM

W

Quote from: ol713 on April 18, 2017, 09:13:03 AM
HI;
I would disconnect the linkage at the trans. Then run through
the gears to check for freedom of movement. That should
tell you if problem is in the linkage, or the trans itself.
Maybe before doing that, grease the linkage. It may have
dried out grease.
There is a distribution panel in the service bay just under the
driver seat. Sometimes that grease panel is over looked.
Also speaking of grease, be sure to grease the throw out bearing.
This is also over looked. The fitting is located on the bell housing
under the alternator. How do I apply grease to the linkage?
Good luck, Merle. (MC-7)
PS;
What part of the country are you in?

TomC · April 20, 2017, 12:12:06 AM

Unlike a Crown or Gillig mid engine that has a single rotating rod that also goes fore and aft, rear engine buses with 4 spd just have to rods that move fore and aft. This is why they have an electric solenoid reverse. To switch, you have to make linkage to facilitate the X-Y shifter (fore and aft, side to side). Good Luck, TomC

ol713 · April 25, 2017, 08:56:38 AM

HI;;
To apply grease to the linkage, you use the distribution panel. Next to each
grease fitting, there is nomenclature stating what it is for. The distribution
panel is located in the service bay just under the drivers seat.
Also, in the engine compartment there are more fittings at the end of
each shift rod. You will see them when you disconnect the rods at
the trans. Have you found the panel in the service bay?

Good luck, Merle.

Diesel Oil · April 30, 2017, 07:38:32 PM

Quote from: ol713 on April 25, 2017, 08:56:38 AM
HI;;
To apply grease to the linkage, you use the distribution panel. Next to each
grease fitting, there is nomenclature stating what it is for. The distribution
panel is located in the service bay just under the drivers seat.
Also, in the engine compartment there are more fittings at the end of
each shift rod. You will see them when you disconnect the rods at
the trans. Have you found the panel in the service bay?

Good luck, Merle.

Hi Merle, yes we disconnected the one stuck rod, trans shifts, so we used a long bar and pried the linkage rod loose. Man is it tight, worked it lot's but is still really stiff. We are going to grease those fittings as well as the throw out bearing while we have the airbox out.The old grease has lost it's lube abilities and i think it's the reason why there's a problem. Are those fittings in service panel connected to lines that run back to the bushings? If so that is lot of old grease to move out. I really appreciate your help...thanks Greg.

Diesel Oil · May 01, 2017, 07:03:33 PM

I located all the grease fittings, 5 up front and 5 in back and 2 more right on the linkage above the trans. Linkage is a lot better, but still quite a bit stiffer than the other one. I'm going to get it out on the road as soon as can to really work it, hopefully it loosens up even more.

Malamute · May 02, 2017, 05:29:06 AM

HI welcome to the site.Is your bus from the Bragg Creek area and was named Pigs Pen?
Herb

Diesel Oil · May 02, 2017, 07:58:16 AM

Quote from: Malamute on May 02, 2017, 05:29:06 AM
HI welcome to the site.Is your bus from the Bragg Creek area and was named Pigs Pen?
Herb

Hi Herb. From the info i got from the previous owners who are good friends of mine, this one came from Lac La Biche area, it has murals of mountain lakes on the sides. Greg.

biff · May 02, 2017, 01:16:51 PM

I don't know if a 7 has the same linkage as a 8. but mine has a bell crank at the back of the bus were the linkage comes out of the balk head. there is a grease line on the tag axel finder. you need a good flashlight to see the bell crank.

Malamute · May 02, 2017, 05:00:30 PM

No that's not it but I bet Pigs Pen is still for sale.403 931 1740 was the phone number on it. I bet u could get it cheap. I have pics but file size was to big to post but I would email them to you if u are interested.
Herb