Trouble with batteries.

[FloridaCliff]

This is just one of the reasons I have a solenoid that with the flip of a switch, will parallel my house batteries with my start batteries.

10 group 31's can really spin that starter, no matter what the temp is....

Those nusiance parasitic loads will kill your starts if you don't isolate them when parked.

Cliff

[tekebird]

both our 4108 are set up that the house batteries can run everything, the coach batteries can run everything or the can all be ganged together.

8D gels for the House side and 8D's coach side

[jjrbus]

Parking on hill works well in warm weather. If snow or ice present tires just slide .

[belfert]

has anyone bought 31's lately?  I just did a quick online price search and they were not cheap 180.00 and up thats what I paid for my last 8's a few months ago

I was just at a local truck part place yesterday.  $67.50 for group 31 batteries with 1000 CCA.  Sam's Club is at about $90 for group 31s.  The first batch of Dina buses shipped to USA had 8D batteries, but they switched to four group 31s after the first 40 or so buses.

[Blacksheep]

Regardless, I stand on my original opinion! Sometime in the near future, you might consider changing the 8D's to group 31's. 8D's may be bigger and badder but they just don't last and besides, if ever on the road and you need one late at night, good luck finding one or two! With the 31's you can find them almost anywhere at anytime to get you going, plus you won't need a fork lift of sorts to handle them!
BS

[Len Silva]

I believe that the Eagle 15's and 20's came with 3 group 31 batteries (12 volt bus).  They also had three battery disconnect switches which I think is a good idea.  You could isolate a bad battery until it could be replaced.

On my 4104, 3 group 31's easily fit in the space of 1 8D.

[luvrbus]

I believe that the Eagle 15's and 20's came with 3 group 31 batteries (12 volt bus).  They also had three battery disconnect switches which I think is a good idea.  You could isolate a bad battery until it could be replaced.

On my 4104, 3 group 31's easily fit in the space of 1 8D.
[/quote]   

Len you are 100% correct plus they had a test gauge for each battery and the coach air ,heat and lights had no problems with 3 group 31 batteries and room for 1 more if needed

[Sam 4106]

Hi luvrbus,
My experience has been that if you run a DD 2 stroke out of fuel it doesn't matter how many batteries you have. You just will not get it started by cranking because the gear fuel pump won't pull fuel from the tank. My method of priming a DD 2 stroke is a garden sprayer full of fuel. It has worked every time.
Thanks, Sam 4106

[jjrbus]

Sam, ahhh how many times have you run out of fuel?

[luvrbus]

Jim, you don't have to run out of fuel but a bad fuel filter puts you in the same scenario fwiw

[Sam 4106]

Hi jjrbus,
I have only run out of fuel once. That was when driving west accross North Dakota with a strong head wind. We usually get 7 to 10 MPG with our 4106 but that trip we only got 5 MPG. Without a fuel guage I wasn't aware of the need for fuel that soon. Now, with a diesel generator and the fuel pick-up  above the bottom of the bus fuel tank when the generator quits its time to get fuel.

However, I have worked for contractors that have had fleets of trucks and equipment with DD2 stroke engines and those occasionally ran out of fuel. Running out of fuel is not the only reason for having to prime a DD 2 stroke. A leak in the fuel line, loose fuel filter or bad gasket on the filter, and changing fuel filters are all causes of loss of prime. My point to luvrbus, and to you, in my other post was that no matter how many batteries you have, the gear fuel pump will not draw fuel without being primed.

Thanks, Sam 4106

[tekebird]

Priming 04 fuel system......fill filters, crank bus with almost full throttle.  if it does not start, repeat.

[Fredward]

Living in Minnesota, I have two group 31 Optimas in the original 8D location up by the fuel tank on my MC-5. They are at least five years old; the PO put them in after having bad luck with 8Ds.

The 8V71 65N will start un assisted down to 40F using the "bump and roll" method and 40 weight oil. Anything lower than that requires ether or the block heater. I can see where the 8Ds would be beneficial if I couldn't plug it in becuase the 31s run out of steam fairly quickly. It might help to locate the batteries next to the engine instead of 25 feet away. But I'm pretty happy with group 31s and figure I could always add one or two more to boost CCA.

That being said, i am seriously considering an 8D or two for house batteries instead of Golf Cart batteries and all the associated cabling. My house batteries are two wimpy deep cycle Optimas.
Fred

[TomC]

Vertually ALL big rig trucks use size 31 batteries now and all are 12v systems.  If it is a day cab, you can get by with 3 batteries.  With a sleeper they use 4 batteries.  I would suggest changing to 3 size 31 starting batteries if it is a 12v system (I use 2-31's from Interstate that are 950cca each).  If you're going to leave the bus unplugged in for many weeks or months, I'd highly recommend you to get AGM batteries like the Lifeline batteries.  Then when you park the bus, disconnect the batteries and they will stay up able to start the bus for a year.  Good Luck, TomC