MCI motor mount cracks

[Fredward]

Not sure how to describe this but I am noticing that where the rails that the engine and transmission sit on attach to the frame of the bus; the frame is cracking on the right side. Sort of like bulkhead cracks on a GM coach, I suppose. So if I do nothing, the rails, engine and tranny would fall off - from the looks of it. This is an MC-5a but I suspect the MCIs are probably all the same when it comes to repair.

Can this be repaired without removing the engine/tranny? Just lay a bead of weld in there? Is it stainless or regular steel that I'm going to encounter down there? Maybe its been this way for a long time. It looks like the left side has been repaired with a piece of 3" angle iron.

Fred

[Tom Y]

Fred, My 5C also had cracks there. Someone welded them up and some cracked again. Mine was steel not stainless. I had the drive out so I took it to bare metal and plated over it. Heres what mine looked like if you can see it.    Good luck.  Tom Y

[Sammy]

I supported both frame rails and the body evenly before making my repairs. Used a bottle jack when it needed a little tweaking.
Common area that cracks are found on MCI's. Ran a few 5's, 9's,96 A2's ,102 A3's and DL3's in the fleet we had. I'm no expert but I stop drill the cracks first - so they won't continue cracking in the same spot, v-grind the crack, weld 'em, grind 'em again, then plate and weld them. Nice repair you've made Tom.
Good luck with your coach Fred. 

[buswarrior]

Fred,

Just get under there and clean 'em up and add some metal. As noted, drill 'em out and have at it.

Adding some gusset material is popular.

I know a light mileage coach that needed a tune up almost every year in that area for the DOT inspection.

Regular steel in coaches of that vintage.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Ncbob]

Thanks for the tip guys..not something I had in my list things to check... my engine was pulled last year for a clutch and some other work and my mechanic, I feel, would have checked all that and made an necessary repairs.....but....

We can't really expect that some of our buses, mine is 39 years old, are going to be like a virgin standing at the altar can we?  It's going to be ongoing problems.

Nell's Bell's I'm 72 and I'm not in the best shape I've ever been in!

Uh oh, I've let the cat out of the bag again didn't I?

Keep on Busin'!

Bob

[gumpy]

We can't really expect that some of our buses, mine is 39 years old, are going to be like a virgin standing at the altar can we? 

Dang it! 

I had a really good response for that one, but thought better of posting it, as some might have mistook the meaning. 

[Fredward]

Tom,
Thats a good photo. Isn't that an air beam? So you need the repair to hold air as well? My cracks are way down on the bottom of the vertical channel right where the trusses that hold the engine attach to the vertical surface. Easy to get at. Did you have any trouble down there?
Fred

[Fredward]

Craig,
If you're going to make off color comments; come out here and make them in person so I can understand the full meaning! I'm kind of slow. C'mon out, lay on your back and smell what I'm stepping in!
Fred