| Author | Message | ||
| Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A |
How much play in the steering wheel would be considered normal for a coach? Should there be any play at all? Brian Elfert | ||
| truthhunter@shaw.ca Rating: N/A |
model and year would help as there are different styles and different tolerances. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
I've never driven a coach with less than 4 or 5" of play... 1/4 wheel was average... If it doesn't wander, pull, or shimmy like hell, I'd just drive it... But do have it checked out by a competent bus or truck garage. | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
"If it doesn't wander, pull, or shimmy like hell" John, are you talking about women? | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Ah-HAR! Yeah, that too. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Rating: N/A |
4 or 5"-1/4 wheel average??? You've been driving MCI's tooooo long,JOHN!!! Need to get a GMC!  sorry, couldn't resist. I'm running for cover now.  | ||
| Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Rating: N/A |
My 4104 has a Shepard power steering box on it and has 1/8 turn of play. To me this is to much and I will be replacing the box as all of the play is in the box its self. I have three 3751 and one 4151 buses all 1948 and none have even 1/32 of a turn of play, Of course they are all manual steering. The 91 flex 870 I am currently junking out has power steering and has little to no play. Needless to say I will be keeping the steering box out of it for use on one of the older buses | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Actually, all the fishbowls I drove had very little play. I drove an '04 on a fairly daily basis that had a few inches of slop, but an '06 the same outfit had, had power steering, so the slop wasn't as noticeable. The old Eagles were sloppy... 1/4 wheel as a rule.. And the old MCIs... ? Well, Chessie.. you said it all. To Brian.... don't fight it. It'll stay in lane, even in a crosswind. Fighting the wheel will only make you fatigued, and real weary. If you relax behind the wheel; turn it just enough to keep it in lane, and only that much, you'll do fine. Driving the bus is like flying a jumbo jet.. There's no "quick maneuvers", no "locking brakes", and no fast turns.. | ||
| Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A |
The coach I drove was a 1995 Dina. I'm worried that driving it long distances on the interstate may be tiring from constantly having to adjust the steering. It was hard to get a real good feel for the steering since the road was so hilly and full of curves plus it was a bit windy. I found out the hard way that the power steering was broken on the coach. I went to turn into a parking lot and the wheel become almost impossible to turn. I almost missed the driveway because the coach wouldn't turn. I had to crank the wheel with all my might to get it to turn. Brian Elfert | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Ahh... If the bus is equipped with power steering, there will be some added play when the bus is off, or especially if the power steering doesn't work! But do not buy any bus unless you get a bumper-to-bumper inspection at a qualified garage. You cannot believe how fast your bank account can shrink, until you begin laying our the cash for jobs you can't do yourself. At $100 plus an hour, those guys make as much as a good shrink. Getting your head examined prior to buying a bus, can actually be very cost effective! Road testing a bus on a windy day, isn't really a good thing to do, unless you've got some driving experience behind you. You have to learn to roll with the blasted thing, instead of trying to fight every lean.. You've got a 40' billboard on wheels, and every breeze will have an effect. The more relaxed you are, the less you'll find yourself fighting the play. It ain't goin' anywhere. Just tweak the wheel enough to keep it from going too far. Integral steering can be a big benefit, but it's a job to swap to it. (Chuck Lott did it himself, and is very happy) I won't tackle that kind of job, and it's too costly for me to pay out the 1.5 grand I was quoted... But if you can do it, it's nice to have. Buying a later model bus with integral steering, is of course, a wiser thing to do (see the note regarding the shrink). Have fun! | ||
| Sojourner (Jjimage)
Rating: N/A |
If no play in steering linkage and well lube un-worned king pins (non binding) and alignment done then read on. I am not sure which brand integral steering box you have…have TRW manual at bottom of page. Perhaps your integral box need adjustment….Information is HFB64’s manual when click on button. Look for “5 Cross-shaft or Sector-shaft Adjustment (With vehicle engine off)” on page 19a. If your brand of integral box is other than TRW…you can still follow the above procedure. Be sure its pitman in center of full L & R turns for straight driving position before adjustment or otherwise binding problem will results. Result of no play at steering wheel after properly adjusted. However still have won-de-ring steering condition, recheck linkage and king-pin dryness or wear. Manual http://trucksteering.trwauto.com/files/HFB64-Intro.pdf Disassembly http://trucksteering.trwauto.com/files/HFB64-Dis.pdf A whole new comfort of driving. FWIW Sojourn for Christ, Jerry | ||
| Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A |
I found out what was wrong with the steering on the 1995 Dina I looked at. The idiots had removed the power steering pump from the Dina I was looking at to put it on another Dina that was sold! They sent the power steering pump from the other Dina out to get rebuilt and it didn't get back until yesterday. So, the bus I was driving either had no power steering pump or a broken one! Brian Elfert | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
They don't sound like idiots to me. I'd go look elsewhere for a bus. | ||
| Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A |
Yes, I am getting any bus I buy inspected by a third party before purchase. I have lined up a place to inspect the 1995 Dina I want to buy. I picked the place, not the bus dealer. The bus was supposed to get taken up there to be inspected on Wednesday while I was in town. That didn't work out due to some issues at the bus dealer. The dealer was supposed to drive it over to be inspected Thursday, but that didn't happen and won't until Tuesday at earliest now. Brian Elfert | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
They keep breaking appointments, and your garage of choice may tell you to take a hike. Why won't this dealer let you take it to the garage? | ||
| Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A |
I was only in town for one day. My plan was to show up at 9:00 am, look at the coach, and then take it to get inspected. When I made arrangements with the dealer to take it to the garage, I never really asked if they were going to drive it ot the garage or if I was. I don't have a CDL, but the coach only has two seats in it. The salesperson took me for a drive in the coach as soon as I arrived. He got stopped by the State Patrol for not having a plate on the coach. The salesperson had to use my phone to call someone to bring out a plate. It ended up being so late that the dealer said they would take it to the garage Thursday morning for me. Wednesday evening, they got a visit from a State Patrol supervisor and were told they couldn't drive any coaches without a CDL. From what the dealer told me, it doesn't appear they have anyone with a CDL. They are going to take the CDL test Monday. The garage takes vehicles first come first serve and runs two shifts a day so it hasn't been an issue with them. I have talked to the service manager a few times. Brian Elfert | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Re: "From what the dealer told me, it doesn't appear they have anyone with a CDL." Man, this story is getting deeper and deeper... They're a bus sales operation and no-one has a CDL.... and they get stopped by the State PD to be told they can't drive around without a license plate... And they get visited by the State Police to be told they can no longer drive buses around without a CDL.... And they take parts off one bus they have for sale, to put on another bus they sold... And...uhh... you really want to buy a bus from them? Man... if you're that desperate, maybe I can sell you mine! | ||
| Jim Ashworth (Jimnh)
Rating: N/A |
Time to chime in on this one; the steering should be the same as a car. Maximum allowed by DOT rules is 2" on the rim of a 22" steering wheel. You guys won't believe what a pleasure it is to drive a bus with steering in new condition. One hand, two fingers, arm on the arm rest, aaahhhh. Jim | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Uhh.... huh? From the FMCSA DOT site:  | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Rating: N/A |
I been look'n an laff'n but really John 1/4 turn? And how did the fish react to you driving "their bowl"? Brian as I told you on da phone the other day, sounds as if the dealership has p'd in someone's cheerio's to all the sudden start getting all the attention they seem to be gett'n as I know dealers who never use a plate an test drive right past the scales, also let potential buyers drive with out knowing what it takes to get a CDL! And have no issues at all, if the owner of this establishment has a good reputation locally the police normally overlook silly stuff like this as long as they are properly insured! (which brings up another point ussually the insurance company's are so strict about being in DOT compliance, it's hard to believe that "NO ONE @ __________ BUS SALES HAS A CDL!" an is likely an excuse to delay/stall while trying to patch something up to make sure it passes the inspection so you'll buy it! As I told you I have no personal dealings with this dealership but somethin smells funny hear! And it ain't Johns fishbowl either! BK | ||
| ChuckMC9 (Chucks)
Rating: N/A |
Good link, John. Thanks! - Rube | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
"rube" HAR!!! Watta memory! Yeah.. didja' notice that 5-3/4" play for a power steered 22" steering wheel is Okay-Dokay? That's about 1/8 turn, ehh? Not much more to make it 1/4 turn! Oh well... life goes on.. beep-beep and all that. | ||
| Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A |
At this time I have decided not to purchase the bus in question. Price, parts availability for Dinas, and problems with the dealer all played into my decision. It appears the play in the steering would be considered in the normal range. I have no doubt the bus would pass inspection by a bus garage. I was almost wondering if the $300 to $400 cost of an inspection would be a waste of money. Brian Elfert | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Brian - Don't sweat it. Scroll up to "Casper4104, now the fun starts", and take a look at what he bought for under 8k. You don't need to worry about what you may or may not be passing up. There's plenty of buses out there, and complete conversions, for less cash than you need for a decent car. I think you've made a good decision; don't look back. |