Leave bay doors open?

[Tedsoldbus]

We took "Debt" for a drive today. Just to Blue Ridge (35 miles away) and had coffee and pastry just to run the bus. (probably only burned about 2000 dollars in fuel )  When we got back I parked outside the shop so I could flood and squeegee the floor. My neighbor saw the bus and stopped to say hello. I had half the bay doors open doing this and that. He does repair work on vehicles including gas shock work. He said "Since you now keep it indoors, unless you are prone to walking into the open bay doors, leaving them open extends the life of the gas shock because there is less pressure than when closed". Who knew? I already like it. No more opening and closing to get something out especially from the tool box. I have not walked into one.....yet.

[freds]

We took "Debt" for a drive today. Just to Blue Ridge (35 miles away) and had coffee and pastry just to run the bus. (probably only burned about 2000 dollars in fuel ) 

He said "Since you now keep it indoors, unless you are prone to walking into the open bay doors, leaving them open extends the life of the gas shock because there is less pressure than when closed". Who knew? I already like it. No more opening and closing to get something out especially from the tool box. I have not walked into one.....yet.

Interesting theory in that are the seals more under more pressure when closed verses open. I would say that when they are on the shelf waiting to be installed they are in the open position and you have two seals (piston and end) right next to each other.

However if you get some field vermin into the garage do you want them to have free run of the bus?

[Tedsoldbus]

Good point Fred but I think they would maybe get in there anyway. And my "adopt a hound" that lives in the shop has killed 4 possums (that we know of) where she used to live and chases rabbits on site. There also seems to be a number of Black Rat and Corn snakes on the property and a Sparrow Hawk has a nest just behind the shop. Hopefully a mouse won't be able to wander around at will. I am there at least twice a day and look hard for signs of rodents, spiders etc.
How is your bus coming along? I know many of us are almost as anxious as you to see the finished product and happy you are getting other gremlins addressed.

[richard5933]

Aren't these things considered a maintenance item typically?

They're on nearly every car sold nowadays on both the hood and trunk/hatch. They don't keep the open when parked, and the cylinders typically last 10+ years. When they wear out they get replaced.

Not sure how the doors on this bus are hinged, but on a GM leaving the doors open would put stress on the rubber hinges which isn't there when the door is closed. I'd rather replace the cylinders than the rubber hinges.

[David Anderson]

Mine is indoors, and yes, they are up most of the time, and yes, I do run into them sometimes.  Then I get mad and put them down
Lazy I guess.

David

[freds]

Good point Fred but I think they would maybe get in there anyway.

How is your bus coming along? I know many of us are almost as anxious as you to see the finished product and happy you are getting other gremlins addressed.

My bus is still sort of up in the air so to speak. They still haven't come up with a quote on the collision repair which I am going to start hounding them on.

In the meantime the bus is at a Prevost repair facility and I am having them do work on the bus. The initial quote was for $17,000.00 dollars and I have deferred what I can to get it down to around $10,000.00.

I had a very serious braking problem where the tag axle circuit sprang an air leak and my air pressure dropped to 80PSI (just above the alarm thresh hold) which reduced my available brakes. As a result after standing on the brakes I wound up stopping in the middle of a large intersection, luckily the other drivers saw me coming and didn't pull out in front of me.

This was about two miles from the Prevost facility. Raising the tag axle restored the system pressure back up to 120PSI.

Turns out there was a screw (in an area that I never worked on) that had penetrated the hard air line to the tag axles.

Most of my air bags are being replaced also...

[Tedsoldbus]

Thanks Richard. I had not pondered the stress on the rubber hinges. PO gave me a receipt for replacing 4 gas shocks. Aye chee wa wa price, but he got them from Prevost. I think changing a gas shock even I can do. Looking at the rubber hinges I dread learning what that involves. Might have to re thinketh my great new idea....

[RJ]

Looking at the rubber hinges I dread learning what that involves.

Ted -

Replacing the rubber hinge on the baggage bay doors isn't that bad - GM owners have been doing it for years!

Here's Scott Cook replacing the hinges on his 4106:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgqhdjqCVaI

And here's "Bus Grease Monkey" going one step further and adding stainless steel hinges to a coach:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx5naTu0ko4

FWIW & HTH. . . 

RJ

[luvrbus]

Rubber hinges and the cylinders will last 20 to 25 years on a Eagle if you buy good hinge material and lifts ,all the years I owned my Eagle I replaced 1 lift cylinder that was leaking and 1 safety latch that broke my doors where open about 50% of the time.I never cared for cafe doors so I kept the OEM setup   

[Tedsoldbus]

Thanks guys. I closed the doors today. I can see that keeping them open does bend the rubber hinge. Two of the hinges have very slight cracking but just in a few spots. They are in pretty good shape overall, especially if they are, as I expect, as old as the bus (1980). All the shocks seem fine and the doors stay all the way open so probably another thing I just need to leave alone. I have looked at the stainless and like the idea but my bus is a Prevost and trying to match the swirly paint job on the hinges would be a trick. I kind of like the clean look of the rubber hinges. One of my favorite usual wealth of knowledge guys (RJ) sent a U Tube film of the rubber hinge replace process and I will store that film in case it is needed.
Tomorrow off to NAPA to see if they have a 90 degree grease fitting. The one on my tach sending unit is not accessible except when the fuel filter is off. Should be an easy one to fix.....  But then, we are talking about ME doing a repair. Is there such a thing as a 90 for the end of a grease gun? I only have one place it is too tight for a regular grease gun so will just get the 90 degree fitting. but just curious.

[Van]

Ted, remote mount the fitting for easy  Access. Thats what I have done on my buses.😉

[luvrbus]

You can buy remote mount kits off Amazon and any type zerk or grease gun head the Lock and Lube grease gun heads are the way to go IMO  or build your own remote grease mounts time wise ready made remotes are easier and cheaper in the long run

[chessie4905]

paint the rubber hinges with Ruglyde.

[luvrbus]

paint the rubber hinges with Ruglyde.

I see MCI's and GM buses with tape over the rubber hinges

[silversport]

Having shocks on our bay doors for over twenty years, I don't think this is a problem. It is kinda like covering your tires to save them, after 7/8 years they are replaced anyway.