| Author | Message | ||
| Phil Leadbetter (Philibuster)
Rating: N/A |
I'm brand new to this forum, and this is my first post. I'm getting ready to purchase a 1983 MC9 standard shift, 8v71 Detroit engine. 40 foot converted to an entertainers coach. I have a few questions: How often should you change oil/filters? What should the "standard maintainence" be on this bus (like, what should I do every so often??) Is there a certain plan for rotating tires? Does anyone know of any good service garages (or individuals) in the Knoxville, TN area? I sure appreciate you time and help! Great forum. Phil | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Phil!!! Whoa! First thing you'd want to do, is get the bus to a bus garage for a complete inspection. If there is any reason you can't, don't buy the bus. "Entertainer coaches" are usually rented (or leased) vehicles. How happy would you be, to buy a Hertz rental? A standard shift coach ( I would love one), is very difficult to re-sell. It's also difficult to drive, if you've never driven with a non-syncro transmission. It's great for better fuel mileage (if shifted properly), but more costly for repairs, if you don't know how to properly shift and wear out the clutch disc prematurely. Phil.... I drove these things (part time) for a living back in the 60's thru 80s.. Drivers were not required to know anything about maintenance, or other mechanical duties. I can tell you now that I own one, that there's major things to take care of, compared to the average car or RV. As it was said to me, I'll say to you: You now own a piece of heavy equipment; expect to pay heavy prices for maintenance.. Take your time Phil. If you've waited this long to enter the realm of diminished retirement funds, you can certainly wait just a bit longer, to get what you really want, without the headaches us idiots have gotten, from not waiting. Take your time. Have the bus inspected at a bus garage. And -that- is, the bottom line! | ||
| airless in Jacksonville Rating: N/A |
Knoxville Help in general. First Detroit Diesel out off 1-640 hasn't a clue about your motor. If it is not a series 60 they do not work on it or so they told me a number of times when I first purchased my bus. There is a really great mechanic on Middlebrook pike. If you come from Western and Middlebrook Pike go toward west Knoxville You will go under the interstate twice once with the railroad tracks. Just on your left from the railroad tracks is some state office buildings. You will see on your right a crane company. If you go about a half a block further west on your right will be a road across the street will be a ICE companay. Turn right on this little road. Just after you turn right you will see a dirt path on your right directly behind the buildings Turn on this path follow it about 75 yards you will be there. I am afraid I do not remember his name. He is rather a older gentleman but everyone I ever spoke to said this guy was the only one they would ever allow to touch their DD. At the same location there is a Eagle bus sitting going to waste. Orange looking straight with engine and tranny pulled. As I understood it the bus with rebuilt engine and tranny replace would be around 12k. I really thought hard about purchasing it but was afraid since at the time I did not have the knowledge of the fellow building the motor. (deal seemed to good to be true). Toward Alcoa there is bus yard I think it is BB bus charters. They are right near where Pillisippi Parkway and Alcoa highway. They are off to the right about two blocks. I want to say the name of the road is Rockford road, but I am not sure. They are pretty honest but have dealt mostly with Eagles. Out in Maynardville is a bus yard or used to be called SEYMOUR BUSES. The young guy there is not anyone to speak with but the Older fellow named SEYMOUR is really great guy. They are more Jack Legged mechannics but the fellow had charters for most of my lifetime. He also had a Mci that he was converting for sale but I am not sure if he still has it. This is out highway 33 almost to Chuck Swan WMA. on the left at the end of Union County. I finally went across to Christianburg Va and purchased from Sawyers bus. Nice people but make sure everything they claim actually works as they claim. They are honest I feel just make sure you ask everything. | ||
| morgan Clough (Mclough777)
Rating: N/A |
im in Tellico about an hour south of Knox. I have gone to freightliner by the flying J in an emergency. they will work on 2 stroke detroit, but very VERY expensive. The other place that i go is a very experienced bus guy is in Mcminville 2 hrs west. Terri bennet used to own a shop in fl and moved to tn. luke recommend him and he has done a power steering change for me and a few more items. | ||
| T. (Bluegrass)
Rating: N/A |
Morgan Try this guy he Is in Briceville Tennessee very good Mechanic and will take your engine out on the site and take It home and rebuild It bring It back and put It back In. and If I recall he Is very reasonable Roger Hooks 865-426-7644 865-426-7656 Tony | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
"A standard shift coach ( I would love one), is very difficult to re-sell. It's also difficult to drive, if you've never driven with a non-syncro transmission. It's great for better fuel mileage (if shifted properly), but more costly for repairs, if you don't know how to properly shift and wear out the clutch disc prematurely." Of course every one has a far different "Learning Curve" but most folks seem to master the stick shift with 15 minuets of INSTRUCTION. As with flight training ,an onboard instructor and Monkey See Monkey Do , works the best . To loose the advantages of a stick , better milage more controll up & down hill with no overheating,and an $800 clutch rather than a $2500 rebuild to ease the first half hour of driving is silly. Sticks ARE harder to sell to newbees with 0 driving experience , because of postings like yours. But since the $2.50 fuel will be going thru the engine forever at a 25 to 40% higher rate its a VERY expensive skill not learned. DA DD book has recomendations on oil changes , most severe is for transit busses and refuse service, longest for ORT trucks. Mostly our coaches just sit, 20,000 miles a year is a lot , where 200,000 in a truck is just breaking even. I use 6000 miles as much of our cruising is on SLO Canadian or US blue roads . Sure a quickie transit North - South every year helps keeping her in good shape from a day or two on the gov., but not enough to keep the old oil aboard. A few bucks for a filter and 7 gal of oil is a cheap price to pay to never worry . Get Da Book , it shows all required PM and replacement maint. Works for me, FAST FRED | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
FF - "Sticks ARE harder to sell to newbees with 0 driving experience , because of postings like yours. " (Oh man! What have I done; ooooh, what hAvE i done ~~) Fred, damn near all new buses are automatic, as requested by the companies buying them. Many, many new trucks are now being sold with automatics, to the owners of trucking companies, as requested... Why? Less maintenance and more driver comfort. I don't know where you can get your clutch replaced for $800, and I sure wish you'd share that information with us. For a $5 rear main seal, they're quoting $1,500+. The automatics last nearly as long as the vehicle they're in, with only maintenance of filter and oil changes. One trip of a driver slipping the clutch, using it as a foot rest, or having it improperly set, and you're faced with some headaches. Changing the throw-out bearing is just as costly as replacing the disc.. Most companies don't want to see any down time, aside from the repair bills.. You really think it's due to my postings, ehh? Man, I must be famous! | ||
| Donald Lee Schwanke (Dontx)
Rating: N/A |
We are considering building you a shrine John. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Wow! A shriner! Will I get to drive one of those tiny cars? | ||
| R.C.Bishop
Rating: N/A |
Just paid, last week for new clutch, rear main seal, service and a couple of other minor things, including new trasmission fluid, just short of $2500. Good price, local rate and great facilty, family owned. Clutch only was around $800 as I recall. FWIW. RCB '64 Crown Coach (HWC) Las Cruces, NM (Valley Diesel the facility--highly recommend, but might want to contat me for referral --*possible* better rate  ). | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
? "Clutch only was around $800 as I recall." If they had to pull it apart to change the rear seal, the price to change the clutch sounds kinda' high, since it's already apart for the seal change.... $2,500 Total. I was quoted around $1,500 for the seal, since they have to take everything apart just to get to it. Labor ain't cheap. I guess it doesn't matter if it's part of the clutch job or the seal job, it's gonna' cost ya' just the same. | ||
| Doug Wotring
Rating: N/A |
I agree with Fred, A Manual is cheaper. yes you must maintain it( Keep It adjuc=sted and know how to drive it) But you also must maintain an Auto. Yes new buses and alot of Semi's come with autos.....not because the company wants them....but the age of Professional Bus driver's, the kind that can live on their retirement is gone for the most part. It's just hard to live on a Bus Driver's salary in most parts of the country. Therefore the type of person you get may be of a lower quality. I know of a company that has driver's call in sick, come in with medical excuses etc when the driver is asked to drive the manual coach. mainly because they are F'in Lazy.....not that they don't know how to drive. Owing an Auto Coach and a manual myself, I prefer to drive the manual in all situations. It also makes you a better driver IMHO......more in tune with what your vehicle is doing rather than pushing on the stop and go pedals. As for your 2500.00 Clutch quotes.......I suggest you find a better shop.....keep in mind......a non bus shop, or a bus shop that does not want to do the job will quote high....same in any field that does qoutes ( plumbers, Contractors etc....) if they don't want to do it or don't really have the time to do it....the quote goes up.....a nusance fee if you will Clutch job, 800-1000.00 in parts and labor......but I really don't want to work on that ragged out bus......but I will if the owner pays me twice as much As for new vehicles with autos......alot Different than a mid 80's auto. Computer controlled and all....they are almost as efficient as a manual, True.....they are also alot more costly to fix due to the computers | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Rating: N/A |
After loving all the "slush pumps" vs "crash box" wars on this board I just want to maybe mention one thing in favor of a auto over some manual trannys. We are joining the dark side (auto) after 7 years driving our 4 speed coach. I loved shifting and always considered myself a good truck driver, no clutch needed except to start off etc. but....1st thru 3rd was fine but that long lag between 3rd and 4th is a killer for our bus. An auto just shifts thru the gears quicker and less lag between the gears and most important keeps the engine revs up. You guys with 9 and 10 speeds just go smile to yourselves about how lucky you are. Just wanted to add to this hijacked post. PHIL-- we change our oil every 2000 miles the way we use ours.I used to do it every 1000 when I first got it! We run our front tires and send them to the back when we get new ones. Never have put new anywhere but on the front but now are getting more educated about tire age from this board. Its not about miles for tires usually. Good luck with getting a coach. You gotta check out the buses for sale here and on the NEW BNO links Horizon Coach for great listings. | ||
| Dale Waller (Happycampersrus)
Rating: N/A |
How much for a KNEE replacement?? Last thing I would want to do on vacation is press and release a clutch peddle a million times while waiting in line to get to the parking space at a NASCAR or NHRA event. Auto works best for me, but make sure it would suit you needs. I get 9mpg or so. I guess I could get around 12.5 with a manual according to others here. I would have to see that to believe. FWIW, Dale | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Hooo boy.. After all the dust finally settled with the "Prevost or Bust" crew, we now have the "Pedal Prouds"! (HAR de HAR HAR!) Man ~~~ Like Dale says, moving a spot at a time in the stop & go traffic, can be a real pain the lower back. I did it all too often on the lung gisland "expressway", the cross Bronx, and the BQE. Oh yeah... gotta' love a shift! Back then you could run 1st and set back a dozen spots behind, and just let it walk.... Down here in FlorAhhhDUH, they'll squeeze in front if there's 2" of space between you and the car in front, making stop & go down here is worse than the NY ^%$#. But none of all this ranting helps Phil... As I said in the first post to Phil, I love standards. It's nice to feel you have control over your bus. The automatic just doesn't have that "personal feel" to it. But aside from satisfying the mushy, touchy-feely aura of the "control freak" in us all, an automatic takes a whole bunch of pain out of a sciatica riddled body (should you have one; I do). And it makes life much nicer while you move ahead in traffic three foot per minute at two minute intervals. And do I dare say it again? (yeah) There's less trouble with an automatic. If you're buying a used coach, you have absolutely no knowledge of how it had been driven previously. (I once sat in a coach, as the driver of it slipped the clutch away, as a hill holder while waiting for the light to change). And I do not feel in any way, shape, or manner, that a pay scale indicates the quality or ability of the driver. There are good employees, and there are bad ones, just like any other industry. Some people take pride in what they do, regardless of the job description and/or wage; others don't give a damn. I wish you much luck Phil! Don't make the same mistake as many of us have. Get the thing gone over bumper to bumper prior to buying it. | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A |
I know this has nothing to do with Automatics Versus Manuals But, I was on I-75 the other day coming back from Bobs Rv Salvage and there were two wrecks in the Northbound lanes caused apparently when a line of 5 cars decided to squeeze (CUT) in front of a semi that only had room for 3 cars due to a lane closing for construction. all 5 cars were wrinkled a little. The truck wasn't hurt but 6 more piled into the truck from the rear when the truck driver had to stop from running over the mess on his front bumper. 3 Rubber neckers in front of me in the southbound lane bobbed for the dummy awards and wrinkled their cars. Then 10 or so cars and trucks with a group traveling together scattered across all three lanes and hit thier brakes and pulled to the right shoulder to have a chat on who was leader and nearly caused several pileups at 75 mph as all started random no warning lane changes. The drivers of the Fedex double and the Yellow freight double trucks to my right and left both had white knuckles. I had an SUV on my bumper. I was glad to get home...at all! I am glad both my buses have automatics especially when I get stuck on I-4 trying to get past Disney in that mess... | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
Fred, damn near all new buses are automatic, as requested by the companies buying them. Many, many new trucks are now being sold with automatics, to the owners of trucking companies, as requested... Why? Less maintenance and more driver comfort. With drivers being turned over at 300% a year the skill level of the driving pool is very very low! Anything the companies can do to keep these steering wheel holders a few more weeks is a plus. Many just purchased a CDL, there are DMV scandles in many states. The newest auto trannys in trucks are really electric clutches and a computerfor shifting. So were back to efficent stick trannys (brain not dummy controlled) and better fuel milage , that ALMOST makes up for the loss of efficency (15%) from the "polution" junk forced on every engine. The adverage torque converter slushpump in most aging coach conversions is really expensive to operate and repair. Whu do you think there is a HUGE heat exchanger on the slushpump , to put your diesel cash into the atmosphere! FAST FRED |