Desperate

[Jerry Liebler]

I just got a phone call from a busnut in serious trouble.  He is stranded in Clinton Tn.  Jim Jenkins is driving a PD4108 and was moving from Pa to Fla.  His muffler has caused a nasty fire in the rear of the bus. What should he do???
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[compedgemarine]

how bad is the damage? a friend of mine works for fleetpride truck parts in Chattanooga and may be able to tell me who in that area would be a good shop to help him out.
Steve
compedgemarine@alltel.net

[JackConrad]

Look like he is close to Knoxville and Oak Ridge. Any busnuts in the area?  How bad is the damage Electrical?  Engine? Structural?

[Jerry Liebler]

Jack,
    From what I learned in a rather brief conversation the damage is primarily electrical, the 4ought battery cables.  The plywood floor is seriously burned and the rear window was broken while extinguishing the fire.  It probably should be moved on a flatbed.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[Barn Owl]

Sorry to hear about the trouble. This makes the third buffalo that I know of on this board that has had a fire due to a faulty muffler. I think all GM owners need to do a through check of their exhaust systems.

[Jerry Liebler]

Barn Owl,
    I had, before this, observed that 2 other buffalo owners had fires due to muffler failures.  So at BK's rally I talked to Dallas about how to prevent this.  Yes it is a serious problem we really need to try to prevent.
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[Gary LaBombard]

Jerry,
That is approximately where my S&S puked on me a couple of days ago, I know the area well!!!  If they need any hands on work done to get them repaired enough to continue email me and I can have the S&S suited back up with tools to come and help, welding etc.  It is about 4 hours from me.  If they are interested in this email me their cell phone number and I will call and talk to them also before leaving. 

I do not know of the exhaust system on the Buffalo buses but a heat shield over the entire muffler is something to think about to me or wrapping it in the heat blankets now being used on mufflers and will be on mine.  Only a suggestion before even seeing what you have, but what do I know.
Gary

[maria-n-skip]

a lot

[Chaz]

Hey guys,
  I just got done talking to Jerry and I am going to look into building a "pie pan" shaped piece, as Jerry called it, to put over the top.
  I haven't been under my bus yet to see what I am up against, but I would think it should be doable.
  From the drawing Jerry faxed me, I was wondering if it might be easiest to make the "pie pan" and slot it from the edge to the center so a person would not have to drop the muffler down far enough to clear the bolt? And then have yet another piece to put over the slot so as to not defeat the purpose.
  But like I said, I haven't looked up in there to see what I am up against yet. I just thought I would get some ideas flowing from others who know more about this than me. But Jerry sounds like hes got a pretty good idea going there. I think 19 ga. stainless would do the trick. I'm working late so it will give me a little something else to think about.
  I hope Jim gets things worked out! My heart goes out to him. I hear he has had a couple problems lately. Wish I could be of more help.

    Chaz

[Jerry Liebler]

At least 3 owners of GM highway coaches made after 1967 have recently had fires caused by muffler failure.  All these buses use the same exhaust system, at least did when delivered with an 8v71.  The muffler is a steel cylinder forward of the engine but behind the rear axle under the plywood floor in the center of the bus.  Inspecting the top of the muffler is very difficult and if holes develop apparently hot jets of exhaust are directed to the plywood above resulting in fires.  I'm proposing a heat shield to be placed above the muffler and below the floor.  What I'm thinking of is sort of an inverted pie pan made of stainless steel mounted above the muffler support cross piece but still below the floor.  The idea is that any jet of exhaust from a hole in the muffler would hit the stainless,have it's heat spread over a large area,  and not start a fire by hitting the plywood.  Does anyone have a better idea?
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

[gumpy]

I just got a phone call from a busnut in serious trouble.  He is stranded in Clinton Tn.  Jim Jenkins is driving a PD4108 and was moving from Pa to Fla.  His muffler has caused a nasty fire in the rear of the bus. What should he do???
Regards
Jerry 4107 1120

Ok, I don't get it...  You guys are slipping!  His question was, "His muffler has caused a nasty fire in the rear of the bus. What should he do???"  And not one of you gave the correct answer.


The first answer should have been an unequivical, "Put the fire out!"  

Probably a good thing I wasn't online when the question was first posted. I'm sure you didn't want to hear smart-assed answers at that time.  

[compedgemarine]

Jerry,
that is little more than the principle used by auto makers when catalytic converters first came out. in the first cars no one anticipated the extra heat caused by the converter and there where some problems with the floor getting so hot that it would cause a fire if the converter was too close to the floor. thats when the heat shields came out. any type of steel or stainless shield would absorb the heat and as air moves past it would transfer the heat out keeping the floor cool. it would really only need maybe a 1/2 inch of clearence to the muffler and a 1 inch to the floor to dissipate the heat. my truck doesnt even have that much clearance but if you have it on the GMC the more the better.
steve

[compedgemarine]

and Gumpy
years ago as a service writer people would call with a problem with their car and I would try to figure out what type of problem it was so I could schedule it. well with the less informed I would start with "does it start?" then "does it stop?" etc. well if they still couldnt answer anything my final question was " is it currently on fire?". imagine my surprise when one gentleman answered quite matter of factly "no they got that out would you like to speak to the fireman?"
so I guess no that was not such a smart a$$ answer.
steven

[Dallas]

Jerry,
I'm working on it.
I'll probably be there friday.
Gotta get Ron and Mike out the door first. If the guys still willing, we'll see what the damage really is and go from there. Most likely it's drivable after some minimal repairs.

I'll call you tomorrow.

Dallas

[NJT5047]

Cliff recently had an identical muffler related fire in his GM coach.  They patched it up and he drove it back to Florida from North Carolina.  He can probably shed some BTDT light on the subject.
A good bit of the wiring could be safetied out of the way.  Don't need much other than to get the muffler repaired or replaced. 
Cliffs muffler came apart on the top end near the bedroom floor. 
Sorry to hear of a busnut with issues!
JR