Howdy, Newbee here.. I am Proude owner of 1970 Fishbowl

[superpickle]

Shes a T6H 4521 #271.  She has a Bright Green front end and looks like Princess Fiona from Shrek.
Just drove her from California a couple weeks ago with only some Battery connection problems. She has Shifting issues now. It appears the Air solenoids were mickymoused to get them to work for a while.  It will NOT shift anylonger. Also some of the wiring fell off the "Forward " button in the 3 button shift selector. We have the Wiring Diagrams from "Coach Info Network " But with the Solenoids bad, I cant test it to see if thats the Only trouble..
But we may need Solenoids ? OR, A way to change it to a Cable Shift ?
What would it take to put in a Manual tranny? Cost?

Any help would be Welcomed.. 

Thanks in advance..
Paul. in New Mexico..

Also. You guys have Nice pics of you Buses as an Avitar ? How do I get my bus there too ?   

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Paul,

Welcome abord!

I can't answer your questions but, I;m sure our members will chime in...

Good Luck to You!
Nick Badame-

[Dreamscape]

Paul,

Nice coach and Welcome.

I Love the look of older coaches. Good choice.

Go to your profile and you can post a picture of your coach and it will appear every time to post.

Happy Trails,

Paul

[Dallas]

Congrats!

T6H-4521-0271 Delivered to B E Q Inc/Central New York Coach Lines (NY) Unit #77    07/70
T6H-4521A-0271 delivered to Nashville Transit Company (TN) unit #731     06/69

Your coach probably has a VS2-8 transmission in it, which is pretty bullet proof. They aren't hard to fix and should last forever.
It should also have a Bennet air shifter, I think. The wiring is pretty simple and the air solenoids can be found many places.
I don't think you would be happy with the cable shift, but that's personal preference. As for putting in a manual trans, remember, you would have to run 2 shift rods and a clutch rod 30' along with mounting a shift tower and hanging a clutch.

I have an VS transmission manual if you need any thing scanned from it.

I hope that helps,
Dallas

[Melbo]

Welcome to the madness

We need more bus conversions here in New Mexico

You will find a lot of support and answers if you just ask

Melbo

[NJT 5573]

Paul. Your tranny has an external filter. If you have a pulse when you have it in gear then the pump works so just take the solenoid off and use your hand to move the valve in and out to see if you get a pulse when you touch the filter. Look closely at the oil for shiney stuff, it doesn't take much for the clutch surface to be in the filter and pan. Take a hack saw to the filter and look at the paper for metal. I think the solenoids will interchange, try trading them if you think one is bad. If the pump works but the bus won't move the trans will need to come apart probably for seals or a clutch. You can run a hot wire to the solenoid if you think you may have electical issues.

[superpickle]

Thanks all:
NJT:  She Rolls out fine if you get it to Shift. And It wont do any good to Hot wire it, Its a Pneumatic Solenoid, Air shifter.. .
So we need to find New ones.. they are so Gummed up I don't know if they are Rebuildable ?

Is it Normal for the V Drive to get so HOT, after a good run, you cant touch it. ?
I suppose its like that with Ever transmission

Paul...

[TomC]

Paul- you'll probably be able to fix the air solenoids and such to make the VS2-8 shift alright.  Just something to consider though-you have an obsolete transmission that few buses are left in active service using them.  What happens if that bullet proof transmission does take a dump when on the road-who will fix it?  I have an 1977 AMGeneral with a now turbocharged and intercooled 8V-71 with the V730.  While you could probably rig up the VS2-8 to be able to hold in a gear, consider the shift pattern.  You shift first from 1st gear in torque converter mode, then into direct lockup, then overdrive lockup.  If you are going up a long hill and you are in 1st gear converter you'll be creating alot of heat in the transmission that will also transmit to the engine.  Some others from the board have posted that this can be a problem in summer.
Now consider the V730.  It shifts from 1st converter to 2nd converter to 2nd lockup to 3rd lockup.  And with the throttle modulator, when I get down to converter mode in 2nd, I then shift to 1st (I have a floor cable shifter that says R-N-3-2-1), with my foot on the floor of the gas pedal, then raise up my foot about an inch and it bumps into 1st gear lockup!  I can then go up that long uphill in lockup with minimal transmission heating.  The V730 is still very much in use today and readily available with parts.  Except for the angle gear drive the basic transmission is a HT740 without first gear.  But, you'll do it your way!  Good Luck, TomC
PS-like your co-pilot!

[superpickle]

Paul- you'll probably be able to fix the air solenoids and such to make the VS2-8 shift alright.  Just something to consider though-you have an obsolete transmission that few buses are left in active service using them.  What happens if that bullet proof transmission does take a dump when on the road-who will fix it?  I have an 1977 AMGeneral with a now turbocharged and intercooled 8V-71 with the V730.  While you could probably rig up the VS2-8 to be able to hold in a gear, consider the shift pattern.  You shift first from 1st gear in torque converter mode, then into direct lockup, then overdrive lockup.  If you are going up a long hill and you are in 1st gear converter you'll be creating alot of heat in the transmission that will also transmit to the engine.  Some others from the board have posted that this can be a problem in summer.
Now consider the V730.  It shifts from 1st converter to 2nd converter to 2nd lockup to 3rd lockup.  And with the throttle modulator, when I get down to converter mode in 2nd, I then shift to 1st (I have a floor cable shifter that says R-N-3-2-1), with my foot on the floor of the gas pedal, then raise up my foot about an inch and it bumps into 1st gear lockup!  I can then go up that long uphill in lockup with minimal transmission heating.  The V730 is still very much in use today and readily available with parts.  Except for the angle gear drive the basic transmission is a HT740 without first gear.  But, you'll do it your way!  Good Luck, TomC
PS-like your co-pilot!

Co Pilot not included.. Previous owner.. 

Ya didnt have to get Snotty at the end there.. 
Im not apposed to getting a dif tranny. It just boiles down to money of course..
So, the V 730 will Bolt up to my engine ?
Got a Free one laying around ?  hehehe
I will try Rebuilding the Solenoids . Thanks..

Oh just in case anyone wants to see. Heres my Website..
http://www.matthewfarmery.net/gonermobile/documents/23.html
Go to Photoblog, and click on Permalink.. for the pics. 

[niles500]

Now I get the "Superpickle"

[trailblazer2]

 Welcome aboard; I enjoy those fishbowls too,as the company I Worked for had a fleet of them. I love the windshields(VIEW),ride,and the durability,as well. There is a lot GM parts that interchange with that coach. Have runderful time and enjoy!!
Bill

[superpickle]

Congrats!

T6H-4521-0271 Delivered to B E Q Inc/Central New York Coach Lines (NY) Unit #77    07/70T6H-4521A-0271 delivered to Nashville Transit Company (TN) unit #731     06/69

Your coach probably has a VS2-8 transmission in it, which is pretty bullet proof. They aren't hard to fix and should last forever.
It should also have a Bennet air shifter, I think. The wiring is pretty simple and the air solenoids can be found many places.
I don't think you would be happy with the cable shift, but that's personal preference. As for putting in a manual trans, remember, you would have to run 2 shift rods and a clutch rod 30' along with mounting a shift tower and hanging a clutch.

I have an VS transmission manual if you need any thing scanned from it.

I hope that helps,
Dallas

T6H-4521-0271 Delivered to B E Q Inc/Central New York Coach Lines (NY) Unit #77    07/70
Yup, thats the one.. 
And YES she has RUST issues.. but she was Cheep and Runs like an Old racehorse.. 
I bought all the Manuals on CD. $200.00 bucks of them  ..  But its ALL there..

still haveing trouble getting the Buttons for the Transmission to work.. No movement yet 
I wondering if it will be Terminel 
makes me Worry any hoo.. 

[TomC]

Superpickle- I apologize if you got the feeling that I was getting snotty at the end-not the case at all.  "Do it your way" is a saying many follow on this board-one of the big reasons we do the bus conversions is to "do it our way".
If you get the VS2-8 to work and you like it, great.  I was just pointing out the operation of the V730 so you could compare the VS2-8 operation to the V730.  Please continue to ask questions-this is why we're here!  Good Luck, TomC