OK, another quick thinking roadside fix!

[Busted Knuckle]

Yesterday I was carring the first of 7 little league baseball teams from Nashville Airport (BNA) to Martin, TN for the 11-12 yr old World Series! While I had seen 2 other of my our buses going the other way about an hr before headed to they're pick ups. We had stopped at a KFC/Taco Bell combo next to a Wendy's & Cracker Barrell. When we went to leave I had trouble with the B500 not wanting to go in gear, and had a "do not shift" light on. Well I'd had a problem once before and was able to "trick" it into going into gear by letting it roll while pushing D. Well no luck this time, and to top it off we were no stopped in the middle of the access drive to all these places. OK well one other trick someone had told me once was to try and trick it by turning it off, and back on real quick while holding in on the D. Guess what? Nope no luck there either. Engine dead and won't crank at all! Crap what do I do now?

Well I asked the coaches if they thought we could push the bus one way or the other and get it outta the way! Well here we are pushing it out along the side of the road, and I look back (I'm pushing at the open door, so I can jump in and stop it or steer it.) & see the boys pushing and the coaches watching, laffing and 1 taking a picture of it!

OK so now we're out of the middle of the road and on the side of the access rd. I open the engine compartment, and check the belts they are all there and tight. Hm-mm, OK what else would cause this? So I grab the wiring harness going to the alternators, and shake it. Ah ha, there it is. The main wire from the main alternator (this SETRA has 2 identical ones on it!) to the batteries drops down, and I can see it has broken loose at the end of the lug that had fastened it to the alternator.

OK I've called dad and told him to turn around and come after my group since he was like 5 Min's behind Robert when I passed them on the Highway, and he wasn't scheduled to be picking up until 3 hrs later. I tell the coaches I've found the problem, and just in case I can not get it fixed I have another bus coming. (Just what they wanted to hear! LOL! My bus is the 2ND bus they had been on today! They had been at the Louisville airport and American Airlines had canceled they're flight to Chicago & the connecting one out of Chicago to Nashville! So AA put them on a bus to Nashville Airport (BNA) which I met just north of Nashville and transfer ed them to my bus for the trip to Martin.) The boy & coaches go over and sit on Cracker Barrells porch in the rockers and play checker while waiting.

Now what to do with this wire broken of at the lug? I open the rear hatch and get where I can see the back of the alternator. OK get some tools out. Crap I've left my "big" tool box I take everywhere with me in the shop, as these little airport shuttles are such short hops and should be trouble free!  Yeah right! *&%$#@(*!

OK well I have some little $20.00 "emergency tools" that I keep on every bus, and I have a Rubbermaid tote that has odds and ends in it. (just not battery cable ends! LOL!)
So I take the lug off the alt. hoping it is one of those that has the split in it where I can split it back open take out the wire in it and reuse it! OK my name ain't MURPHY, but he's a close cousin! &%^^$#@+&%$##$! No luck, it's one that has been stamped, and stamped hard!

Hm-mm OK now what? I can't just put the wire on the post and twist it, it'll never hold. Not to mention it'd probably short out around the stud.
OK what now? Do I call for a service truck?, Do I wait for dad, and catch a ride to a parts store? What do I do? Crap if I only had my other tool box! I know there are 2 of those stupid lugs in it! Crap! Well, OK lets calm down and just look through every thing I have and see if there isn't something I can take apart to use.

Walla wow, right on top there it is laying in the Rubbermaid tote. A roll of "plumbers strap"! I take it, a pair of side cuts, some needle nose pliers, roll of duct tape, roll of electrical tape, and some "zip ties". I go back in the back of the bus, and start by reeming a hole out at the end of the plumbers strap to fit over the post with the needle noses, then I cut it out about 3" long. I take the broken wire and strip it back about 1" and take and separate it into two parts. I put one through one hole and the other through the next one, then I bend the strap to bring the holes together and twist the wires tight! I take and wrap it tight with the duct tape, then I go over the duct tape twice with electrical tape. I use a zip tie around the wires and another one through that one and secure it to the alt bracket to keep the tension & weight off it. I put the "new wire lug" on the post and tighten the nut.

Now for the moment of truth, I turn the key on, then I twist it to the start position..................................~!@#$%^&*)(*&^%$#@!~!@#! Nothing! Again I try it just in case I didn't do it right the first time. Nothing! 

Oh yeah when I saw the problem I was at the rear of the bus and had switched it to no start!

OK I' left the key on, and I'm at the rear control panel. I put it on rear start, and push the starter button! Vvrrrroooom! Sweet 60 series hm-mm! YES IT DID IT! OK AM I A GENIOUS OR WHAT?

OK I put tools away and fasten the hatch back down. I back up to the Cracker Barrell open the door and step out and ask if there is anyone wanting to go to Martin, TN. I almost get run over and knocked down by a herd of 11-12 yr olds!  On the road again, I can't wait to get on the road again!

OK I called dad and told him I had it fixed, and was pulling out. He said "are ya sure?, I'm only 8 miles away coming up on the next exit" I said "Ya I'm sure if ya come on all ya gonna see is some some we left behind as I floored it getting on at this one! LOL!!"

Wow problem solved!

Might not have been a clever cork fix, but I was able to fix it with what I had and got it back on the road! Now I'm off to the shop to fix it right! C-YA!   BK 

[gyrocrasher]

Good story, BK. I enjoyed it. M

[JackConrad]

So BK, is your middle name McGiver?   LOL.   Sounds like a very ingenious roadside fix. Jack

[cody]

Ok, good sentence structure, lots of paragraphs lol, I think your english teacher would be proud lol.

[edvanland]

Sounds like a case of Mexican engineering to me.  Glad you were able to get it going.  Can not imagin being stuck with a load of kids.
ED
MCI 7

[gumpy]

Very good! I like it. You get high points for inventiveness, and extra credit for use of all the man's tools! Duct tape, electrical tape, and zip ties, let alone plumber's strap! I think I only have two of the four items on my coach.

[Sojourner]

Quick thinking roadside fix!...is one of my favorite post to read. Always learning whatever the person have done to get it fix until home base with user friendly tools.

Sorry that you had to confront the problem and with limited material to work with....but commend you as a good thinker and doer to get it done.

What we can learn from this is to always taking your emergency tools & etc on a very short trips. Also to be patients with having many children and their leader.

Your folk are proud of you!

Thanks for sharing your news from your heart.

Take care.

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[letz4wheel]

Your right...your a genius  Plus you have an ending...craig is just going to string us along untill we each pay the quarter he is asking!

[white-eagle]

my grandpappy used to say duct tape and baling wire will fix anything.  that's my emergency kit.  but your fix would make pappy proud.

nice job!

i've got to get to western tn some time just to meet you.  i got another 5 ac in parsons to look at, are you on the way?

[Skykingrob]

Hey BK

We are going to have to deduct points 'cause you didn't use baling wire, ya used "zip ties". Everybody knows ya got to carry and use baling wire!

Anyway, glad to see ya saved the day

Rob
91 LeMirage XL
Missouri

[quantum500]

Ya know this could be a sticky "The art of the roadside repair."

[gumpy]

Your right...your a genius  Plus you have an ending...craig is just going to string us along untill we each pay the quarter he is asking!

Oooo, good idea!  Maybe I can pay for the next bottle of Bus God Wine! Ok everyone.... ante up!

Hey, that might be a good name for the next batch from the Dungeons of the Moosibou Winery!

[white-eagle]

you greedy bastar*!!!  first you tantalize us with chocolate fudge, then beer can chicken and now you want to hold us hostage to your wine and methods for road fixes.

your as bad as bill!!! (gates). 

[white-eagle]

sorry, let me be clearer.  BK, this was meant for Gumpy, not you. 

[gumpy]

Yeah yeah yeah.  When I get as much money as Bill has, I won't be so greedy. Till then... pay up!!

Did Jack share any of the fudge I sent him last New Years? I told him not to give you any.

How's Fran? Still guarding her laundry carts?

Hey, did  you ever put that gasket on your engine heater?  Did it leak?