The SpaceShip rides again

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Hey Folks:

Sorry to have been AWOL from the MAK board for so long. There's been a LOT of stuff going on in our world, some good/ some bad, that has forced us to re-plan our lives and travel plans this year. The trip to the Bay Area in April was scrapped, and so is an upcoming trip to San Diego.  The only thing "green lit" so far is a trip to IA and MN next week. I'm going to try to meet up with Craig (Gumpy) there, and see him again when they all roll through CO and WY in late July.

A few of you have written to see "what's up with us", and I really appreciated it.

Last I left you all, we had a grease-filled brake drum and electrical issues from our last trip in November. I'm happy to report that I re-built the entire RR axle and brakes this Spring... and they now stop the coach amazingly well. Even better than before. I did a big write-up on my blog, if you want to get all of the details:
http://www.brownland.org/blog/2007/06/07/grease-grease-everywhere/

Long story short: It was indeed a wheel seal failure... it was expen$ive and time-consuming to fix... but well worth it.

I won't be a stranger here any longer, since we're "back to bussin'"... for at least one more trip this summer. Crossing fingers for more.

Cheers,
Brian Brown and the Gang

[Brian Diehl]

Hey Brian, Stop by my place as well when you are in the neighborhood.  I'm only 30 minutes away from Craig's place.  Would love to see you and have plenty of space for a second bus.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Brian,

Glad to hear you and the family are fine.

I'm also glad you are going to use the bus next week even though the west cost trip was nixed..

Have fun!

Nick-

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Hey Brian, Stop by my place as well when you are in the neighborhood.  I'm only 30 minutes away from Craig's place.  Would love to see you and have plenty of space for a second bus.

Thanks much for the invite, Brian! PM me your address and a phone number. We plan to be in the Twin Cities area from Thurs. 6/21 through Sunday 6/24, driving up from the Iowa City area. We have a graduation party on Saturday at my wife's aunt's place in Eden Prairie. I'll see if I can get away one of those other days to hook up with some of you busnut brethren.

I'm not too worried about getting around in the big bus, since I've had it (and others like it) in downtown areas of major cities... but if any of you Twin Cities folks have localized advice on routes and ways to avoid, that'd be great. The family will probably want to do the Mall of America and some other attractions. Waaay back in 1990, my wife and I were there and I seem to remember that the Art Museum (a cherry and spoon comes sculpture to mind) was nice. Any other "family friendly" attractions? My boys and I are big MLB fans, but it seems we're going to miss the Twins by one day. 

Thanks,
Brian

[Brian Diehl]

Great BLOG entry Brian.  Well done.

[ChuckMC9]

You ARE still alive!

Welcome back and great post. Come do mine!

Stay in touch, BB.

[zimtok]

Great photos of your "project" on your blog.
I can only imagine how much it would have cost if you had a shop do the work.



.

[Paso One]

Good Job Brian  Glad your back to bussin so we can see the pictures after.

[Barn Owl]

Sometimes life gets in the way and you have to take a leave of absence. Mine was last fall. Glad to have you back. Can you go into more detail on what you did? $1500 is a real eye popper! Where I work, rear seals, brakes, drums, and bearings for both sides run about $500 (parts cost). Is the price high because this is a vintage coach and parts are hard to get and outrageous? I want to check my bearings this coming winter so I have followed your saga closely with much interest. You came close to getting a phone call on several occasions, probably would have gotten a email first; however, I have a tendency to fret over being a bother. It's good to know your still at it.

Laryn

[gumpy]

$1500 does seem a bit high.

I'm currently working on the tag brakes on my 9. Two drums, shoes, pads, wheel seals (x4), cam seals, anchor pins and nuts, and I'm in it about $800.  I decided not to change the bearings and races at this time.

The reason for 4 wheel seals is because I found that the drums needed to be replaced, so I decided to put the new drums and pads on the steering axle, and move the ones there to the tag, so I moved hubs, drums, and shoes since they are all a matched set.

craig

[Buffalo SpaceShip]

Hey Laryn and Craig:

I was likely adding in some tool costs in that number, since that what my "bus" credit card bill for that month. I don't have the receipts handy, but here's what I remember off the top of my head:

Drums: $175 each + over $100 in freight (for both)
Linings: $100 or so for both sides
Shoes: over $300 for the pair (I think I got screwed on those)
Seals and gaskets: maybe $100, including a wiper repair sleeve

They also charged me for nuts and washers for the linings. It turns out I could have bought the shoes lined had I known the shoes were bad in the first place... and probably paid a whole lot less.  Live and learn.

New return springs and s-cam rollers and a few odds and ends were from Mohawk, along with shocks for both sides, and it all cost less than $80 w/ free shipping (I love Mohawk!).

I did buy some serious (and cheap) tools from H.F.: 1400 ft. lb. impact gun, 1/2" hose, 600 ft. # torque wrench, 1" sockets, etc. + a bunch of 1/2" air fittings from Grainger. And all of that was in the $1,500, I'm sure. I should probably revise it to more like $1,000 for the rear axle and brake parts.

And I know I can do another axle for a whole lot less, since I'll shop around more for parts.

New shocks all the way around make an outstanding difference in my ride. Wow! No more "bucking bronco" rides in my air seat.

Later,
Brian