Broken Down on Freeway Need Help!!!!

Dave5Cs · December 18, 2019, 08:54:28 PM

Rear axles should be pulled or the driveshaft or it will do damage the the tranny

69M4107 · December 18, 2019, 08:58:35 PM

What's easier to do? And do I need special tools to do either?

Dave5Cs · December 18, 2019, 09:42:18 PM

Wrenches for drive shaft ( don't know on a GM but on an MCI it hard to get under it unless it is jacked up and blocked first to get to it but once there pretty easy to get out)and add a double jack or 10 or 20 lb sledge for the axles. A good tow driver know how to pull the axles, not hard but have to hit it hard on the end after pulling the end plate and drain the oil into a short bucket under it. It will pop out just enough to get hold of it with a bar and out she will come then it just has to be covered so it doesn't eak all over the place. A bit messey.
If not far a wheel lift under the front wheels or landall and put the whole thing on it. Do not pull it from the front hooks or lift it by them.
Look in the book it will tell you how and where.

69M4107 · December 18, 2019, 09:46:49 PM

If it were you would you pull the drive shaft or the axles?

Dave5Cs · December 18, 2019, 09:49:46 PM

I call Coach net which I pay for every three years and let them know where I was and tell them I need a landall come pick me up.

Then watch to driver to make sure he put it on the trailer correctly without bending it or scraping the bottom, etc.
If I didn't have them I would pull the rear axles unless I could get under it safely by blocking it up high enough to get to the drive shaft to pull it.

Glennman · December 18, 2019, 09:56:45 PM

I had my old fishbowl (Allison Automatic) towed once. The driver disconnected the drive shaft with little effort, and it towed just fine. By the way, where are you towing it to? I have over an acre that you can park it on for as long as you need to. You can work on it at your pleasure, or have mechanics come by or whatever. I work full time, so I cannot make it down there right now, but plan to take a drive your way this weekend just for the challenge of finding you in Grandview. Hope to see you there. Glennman

69M4107 · December 18, 2019, 09:58:29 PM

Yea... 👍

Glennman · December 18, 2019, 10:02:05 PM

I was going to mention that I am in Yakima Wash. Good luck.

69M4107 · December 18, 2019, 10:11:25 PM

Thanks Glen, that's very generous. I might just take you up on that. I'll shoot you a PM tomorrow when I figure out what my plan is.

Glennman · December 18, 2019, 10:21:55 PM

Ok, I'll be looking for it.

richard5933 · December 18, 2019, 10:40:59 PM

We had our 4106 with a V730 towed after our wreck. It took the tow driver about 5 minutes to pull both axles. They are used to doing this, and if they don't you will potentially ruin the transmission. A guy on one of the boards ruined his rear axle towing without pulling the axles, and another had his transmission seriously damaged.

These tow guys know how to do it - insist that the axle gets pulled. Lots easier than pulling the driveshaft.

According to the manual your hubs have greased bearings, so pulling the axles should only result in a little oil coming out and not be a terrible mess.

Agree that the front tow hooks will NOT support the weight of the bus.

Sorry to hear that you couldn't get it running on the roadside.

richard5933 · December 18, 2019, 10:50:11 PM

Can you fill us in on what things you tried and what the results of the efforts were? Possibly we can help you continue troubleshooting once you get the bus somewhere you can work on it.

Were you able to get the engine to turn over with the starter? Did it try to fire at all? If it's turning over, was there any smoke in the exhaust at all or any indication that fuel was flowing?

chessie4905 · December 19, 2019, 03:40:14 AM

Pull the axles and put plates over hub holes. If it has factory greased rear hub bearings, there will be plates behind axle shaft flanges to keep rear axle oil separate from hub grease. In that case, just securely stuff a rag in each axle tube. How far are you going to tow it? You could pull the driveshaft instead, but that would be a pita in your situation. The plates can be made out of cardboard or plywood.

luvrbus · December 19, 2019, 04:48:38 AM

It might be engine damage if the starter and batteries are good as he said 202 is hot for those cold temperatures,he needs to use a 1-1/2 socket on the cam pully and make sure the engine will rotate it is a bummer anyways

chessie4905 · December 19, 2019, 07:32:59 AM

Maybe coolant in one of the cylinders from a cracked head? Good point Cliff. Although he should get it towed now to where it will be easier to diagnose the issue.