New year... new problem :/

Geom · January 10, 2018, 09:07:44 AM

Thanks guys. I'll discuss with Kevin and figured out what size it is and perhaps reach out to Geoff or Clifford if those are the parts that will work.

On another subject, in working with my tow insurance company, I'm having difficulty getting them to send a landoll. They're saying one is not required for this vehicle and that it can be pulled conventionally with a typical wrecker.
He said they'd slide a lift under the wheels, pull the drive shaft and lift up for towing.

I called Kevin and he wasn't certain but said it should be ok, just more work for him to get it going again.
From previous posts and my own experience I thought a landoll is really the way to tow these.
I'm "discussing" it with their management now, but I wanted to get some additional input just in case.

Thanks!

luvrbus · January 10, 2018, 09:45:55 AM

You are fine with a wheel lift wrecker they don't damage like the old chain and hooks style,Interstate in Phoenix has 20 Landoll's and the wheel lift type.I use Interstate they have never damaged anything for me and they are probably going to be used by your towing co because they are the most reasonable in Phoenix 105 bucks a hour 3 hr min is what they charge me

Geom · January 10, 2018, 11:06:58 AM

Thanks Clifford!!

If the wheel-lift type is ok to use (after they disconnect the drive shaft) then I'll go ahead and approve having them send out one of those.
It doesn't have far to go anyway, I just didn't want to possibly make it worse.

I thought the towing instructions were in the book, but they're not. Kind of an odd thing for GM to leave out of the manual (considering they have an entire 20 page chapter dedicated to the pooper). But I suppose that speaks to just much GM expected these things to be towed, lol

bigred · January 10, 2018, 03:11:04 PM

Quote from: Geom on January 10, 2018, 09:07:44 AM
Thanks guys. I'll discuss with Kevin and figured out what size it is and perhaps reach out to Geoff or Clifford if those are the parts that will work.

On another subject, in working with my tow insurance company, I'm having difficulty getting them to send a landoll. They're saying one is not required for this vehicle and that it can be pulled conventionally with a typical wrecker.
He said they'd slide a lift under the wheels, pull the drive shaft and lift up for towing.

I called Kevin and he wasn't certain but said it should be ok, just more work for him to get it going again.
From previous posts and my own experience I thought a landoll is really the way to tow these.
I'm "discussing" it with their management now, but I wanted to get some additional input just in case.

Thanks! Have them pull the axle.Most decent wrecker company's have blank off plates to keep your axle grease from coming out.Whole heck of a lot easier than taking out the drive shaft!!

Geoff · January 10, 2018, 03:17:19 PM

I've had buses towed into my shop and the tow driver is supposed to put the axles back in, but I tell them not to bother because I am afraid that is all they are going to do-- put them back in. If I do it, I clean the surfaces and put it back together so I don't have any complaints about axles leaking down the road after the repairs are made.

B_K · January 10, 2018, 04:30:42 PM

Quote from: Geoff on January 10, 2018, 03:17:19 PM
I've had buses towed into my shop and the tow driver is supposed to put the axles back in, but I tell them not to bother because I am afraid that is all they are going to do-- put them back in. If I do it, I clean the surfaces and put it back together so I don't have any complaints about axles leaking down the road after the repairs are made.

Geoff I ain't try'n to argue with you, but in all the years I have been involved with towing we NEVER re-installed drive shafts or axles as our insurance company would not cover it if anything were to happen because we were not certified mechanics and very rarely did anyone at any shops complain. The only time I got complaints was from Joe Smoe private do it yourselfer that would have MOST DEFINITELY sued us had anything gone wrong!
I always told anyone who questioned me to call the office and if they told me to I would replace them. (never once did I even get questioned about it by the dispatcher, nor told to do it.)

And as you noted what is better a guy getting paid to put them back in and taking his time to do it right, or a "steering wheel holder" that just wants to slap 'm in and get the heck on done the road?

BK

Geoff · January 10, 2018, 04:40:22 PM

Sorry, BK, but this is Arizona and no tow truck driver has told me he was not allowed to put the axles back in. They always ask if I want them to do it.

Geoff

B_K · January 10, 2018, 04:46:20 PM

Quote from: Geoff on January 10, 2018, 04:40:22 PM
Sorry, BK, but this is Arizona and no tow truck driver has told me he was not allowed to put the axles back in. They always ask if I want them to do it.

Geoff

Hey no problem Geoff, but in IN, KY and TN where I have always worked when driving tow trucks our liability insurance would not cover it, so the bosses would not allow it. (I know for a fact I am smart enough to do it, and do it right. But why bother if it's going piss off the boss and create more work for me?)

BK

luvrbus · January 10, 2018, 05:19:50 PM

They always ask me and say no just leave me a new gasket

Oonrahnjay · January 10, 2018, 06:24:23 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on January 10, 2018, 05:19:50 PMThey always ask me and say no just leave me a new gasket

I've never had to do this. Am I right that you only pull one axle and let the diff take care of the other one?

Thanks. This will be good to know in the future, I'm sure.

Iceni John · January 10, 2018, 07:19:40 PM

Quote from: Oonrahnjay on January 10, 2018, 06:24:23 PM
I've never had to do this. Am I right that you only pull one axle and let the diff take care of the other one?

Thanks. This will be good to know in the future, I'm sure.

When I was towed last year the tow truck driver would NOT reinstall the axle! Besides, neither he nor I had a new gasket. He took out only the passenger-side axle because we were going only a few miles on slow streets, but he said if it were much further he may have removed both axles. He also said he really didn't like to remove driveshafts unless there were no other choice, but it still took many hard whacks with a BFH to loosen all the axle's split cones. Interestingly, the driver-side axle end is still pristine and unmolested, but the passenger-side one shows signs of having been removed before - obviously it's safer to not work next to passing cars!

I had to thoroughly scrape and clean the old hardened Permatex goo before I could install my new gasket. ABC Bus says they never use gaskets, only compound there instead, but gaskets are cheap and easy to use. It took a whole quart of oil to fill up the diff, and I jacked up the far side to ensure the oil flowed through into the bearing. After my first short trip afterwards I rechecked the diff oil level and it hadn't changed, so I guess all the oil had reached everywhere it should. I now keep a few spare gaskets and a spare quart of oil in the bus, "just in case" . . .

John

B_K · January 10, 2018, 10:10:20 PM

As said we preferred to pull axles on buses over driveshafts. And if it was a "short tow" (10-20 miles) we only pulled one unless it was a known rear end or axle problem to begin with.
If it was a longer tow or we knew that there was a "drive line" problem we pulled both axles.
But again we NEVER re-installed them and most times we used silicone with our covers that we removed to have for the next tow.

BK

chessie4905 · January 11, 2018, 03:49:19 AM

I would NOT pull driveshaft on a buffalo to tow. Extremely short and a real pita to remove. Very hard for access to differential end and would have to tie so as not to contact turning flange. Pull the axles only.

luvrbus · January 11, 2018, 06:17:06 AM

Quote from: chessie4905 on January 11, 2018, 03:49:19 AM
I would NOT pull driveshaft on a buffalo to tow. Extremely short and a real pita to remove. Very hard for access to differential end and would have to tie so as not to contact turning flange. Pull the axles only.

LOL I won't pull the friggn drive shaft on any GM to tow they are a real PITA with all the flange bolts

B_K · January 11, 2018, 07:21:24 AM

Pulling the driveshaft on ANY bus is a PIA! But that said there have been several occasions where I had NO CHOICE, but to pull the shaft.
Once I beat and beat on both axles for over an hour each and never could get either broke loose, so I finally did break down and raise the front of the bus high enough I was able to get to the driveshaft and removed it, what a PAIN it was like 14 bolts on both flanges! (but it beat buying the customer a transmission!)

BK