Lifting & Supporting the Bus

chessie4905 · May 05, 2019, 08:08:58 PM

Yeah, and the beer is warm because you have no ac to plug into and generator isn't hooked up yet and all the ice in the cooler is now water, and you forgot to pick up more ice on the way to your conversion that is 20 miles from home because that is the only spot that you can keep it and work on it...

buswarrior · May 06, 2019, 07:38:04 AM

And don't forgot all the first aid stops, no more bandaids left, ripped 2 new holes in pants, promised significant other I'd be home 2 hours ago...

Jack needs more oil, won't make full height anymore, and 3 different guys in the storage yard asked if I was scrapping the tires....

And the grease gun got left at home...

Oh sure, buy a bus they said, it'll be fun.

And we wonder why so many coaches are poorly maintained?

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

Oonrahnjay · May 07, 2019, 09:33:34 AM

Y'all know that we're just a bunch of beginners, right??? (Except for Clifford - he probably has a set of these.)

richard5933 · May 07, 2019, 10:34:13 AM

Yeah - it's an amazing sight to see my whole bus lifted up by a set of these when I take it to Interstate. They can accomplish in one hour what would take me all day.

GnarlyBus · May 07, 2019, 11:11:15 AM

A couple more questions:

Is it ok to raise the front of the bus using a bottle jack centered on the axle? (seems ok)

Is it ok to lift the back of the bus using a bottle jack centered on the differential? (this one feels less ok)

luvrbus · May 07, 2019, 11:39:50 AM

Those stands work good I been using that style for years except mine are rated at 28 tons made in the USA

robertglines1 · May 07, 2019, 12:42:11 PM

Late to game here: A lot of posted info is good! the soil under bus is sandy= prob 30 inch square pad /rock over sand I would treat like sand. high density (like yellow clay) can be supported by a 24 inch square pad..Also you need to use something other than pine. I use white oak 4by 6 x 30 inches long . Oak has a much higher compression factor. I have a heavy bus. base needs to be solid cover on first layer. because of compression load on up. FWIW I have a pit..stock you have 12 inches under jacking pad. experience 40 yrs as crane operator. chock lift block you only need one to fall to be fatal. Just food for thought. Look at a outrigger on crane most will have a layer of cribbing or be on solid base ( 6 inch concrete) Bob

chessie4905 · May 07, 2019, 03:59:07 PM

Using those coach lifts are nice if you have the headroom in the shop. If they lift it by the tires, no good to service wheels. Plus they probably cost more than 10 grand, and finally, HF doesn't sell them...YET😏

luvrbus · May 07, 2019, 04:29:04 PM

Quote from: chessie4905 on May 07, 2019, 03:59:07 PM
Using those coach lifts are nice if you have the headroom in the shop. If they lift it by the tires, no good to service wheels. Plus they probably cost more than 10 grand, and finally, HF doesn't sell them...YET😏

Yep double the 10 grand plus a few extra,I was going to buy a set for Scottsdale but the city gave me a bad time about even installing doors then I don't like the floor space they take up either

buswarrior · May 07, 2019, 05:00:46 PM

Oh, but they ARE lovely to work on the wheel ends!

Raise coach, axle stands, lower coach onto stands, undo axle fastener, fine tune height, wheel the whole kit and kaboodle out on the lift.

No more oily sheet of metal and lying on the belly fine tuning a manual jack can to slide it out.

There are always used ones around, shops trade them in, shops go bankrupt, all depends on the busnut budget...

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

chessie4905 · May 07, 2019, 06:03:04 PM

A local vo-tech school got a set like those, but were able to be rolled out of the way when not in use. They never knew why they received them. Too big for the cars they worked on. They just sat gathering dust.

luvrbus · May 07, 2019, 06:31:39 PM

Boomer had a set for sale , you really need a dedicate shop bay for those with plug end most are 3 phase and heavy to roll around plus buses are mostly engine work 90 % of the time. A set would be nice right now I have a Eagle here at the shop he lost the drop box ,rear end gear, drive shaft,probably the flex plate and the 740 all at one shot big dollars to repair this one

6805eagleguy · May 07, 2019, 07:21:04 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on May 07, 2019, 06:31:39 PM
A set would be nice right now I have a Eagle here at the shop he lost the drop box ,rear end gear, drive shaft,probably the flex plate and the 740 all at one shot big dollars to repair this one

Ulp...

How did that happen? $:-\$

luvrbus · May 07, 2019, 08:17:58 PM

Quote from: 6805eagleguy on May 07, 2019, 07:21:04 PM
Ulp...

How did that happen? $:-\$

Looks like it started on the drop box or the pinion drive gear went first,the section between the drop box and differential is broken too I never saw that happen before but it is a mess he did a job on it and I feel bad for him ,he sucked it up and said fix it though he was keeping the bus and it is a nice Eagle

buswarrior · May 08, 2019, 04:20:29 AM

Quote from: GnarlyBus on May 07, 2019, 11:11:15 AM
A couple more questions:

Is it ok to raise the front of the bus using a bottle jack centered on the axle? (seems ok)

Is it ok to lift the back of the bus using a bottle jack centered on the differential? (this one feels less ok)

And if it happens to tip while balanced up there? What side forces are on the jack then, if it stays in place...?

Get short cuts right out of your head when it comes to lifting a vehicle.

The coach has manufacturer installed jacking points nearby to each wheel end.

That suggests the strategy to use is one corner at a time.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior