| Author | Message | ||
| john david lebrun (Davidlebrun)
Rating: N/A |
Well I got the report from Dean's and he said he had never seen a 4106, that hasn't been in an major accident. The engine doors are beat up a little, it needs radius rod bushing's and the blower seals have dried out from setting. I'm trying to get the owner to deliver the bus for $1/mile or about $400. I wasn't thinking that if any litlle problem would come up, blown rad hose or something it would be on him, and not me. Meaning I don't know squat about this thing yet, and the thought of going 400 miles and having something minor go wrong and me not know what to look for could get costly. Anyway, my wife wants to know how we can get the couch out and a new one in? Could somebody, recommend some training book on operating the unit. Thanks for the help David | ||
| mclough
Rating: N/A |
welcome to bus ownership, for me ( 1 yr bus owner) the best thing the previous owner did was say "its on you learn it". I tried to call him but he wanted me to figure it out and LEARN my bus. I got the manuel for it and made many calls to luke at U S COACH( keep his # handy) the first few months were a huge learning curve but after the obvious was done its getting more fun to drive. i drive almost everyweek so it doesnt have time to sit. Good luck with bus p s terry bennet in mcminville TN also does great work on old gm's morgan | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Get it looked at by a bus garage in the area before you buy it. There is no such thing as "free" or "cheap" when it comes to heavy equipment. You may be buying a house on a sinkhole. Take the time to have it inspected! | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
The archives are very complete on what inspectionS need to be done before purchase. Most folks simply open a side window and prop it ppen from the ground to remove most furnature. Really big stuff required the windshield R&R. Welcome to a great hobby! FAST FRED | ||
| john david lebrun (Davidlebrun)
Rating: N/A |
Fred, that sounds, good RXR the windshield. LOL The bus passed it's inspection, I got Gary Dean to do the inspection, and his vebal comments were that the radius rod bushing will need to be replaced in the next 6 months to a year. Plus the blower seals have dried out a little and could also need replacement shortly. One question, being new, I was thinking of having the rod bushing fixed before we bought it home. We then would have the summer to use it, looking for stuff that needs to be either fixed or changed. I think a bus is like an airplane, once put right, only maintance is normaly required for major repairs, and it should go for years. One thing different is that on airplanes you can get most of the things major repair records, so you can made a decsion based on some information. It's funny, we noticed two bus conversion's this weekend, never noticed them before, one looked like a factory job. We stopped in the campground were one was, but nobody home. thanks guys David | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
John- It's good to hear that Dean's inspection went well. As long as he's an experienced bus mechanic and looked at it on a lift or over a pit, and has driven it himself and feels it's safe to drive it at least 1,000 miles, I'd feel safe about driving it home. Re: "the thought of going 400 miles and having something minor go wrong and me not know what to look for could get costly." I kinda' sank into my seat a lil' deeper with each re-read of that. Things like changing a flat.... The engine quitting while you're stopped in traffic... There are tons and tons (literally) of things that can break, fall out, stop working, or start making horrendous noise when you least expect it... most of which, you will not have the tools or the expertise to repair yourself. I guess some guys here can do all their own work. Changing a tire is no big deal to them.... For me, it'd be a helluva' job to get it blocked and jacked safely while aside the road. And those lug nuts will be big trouble as well. I'd call for road $ervice. Looking for air leaks is a major job as well, unless you're really into working on heavy equipment wherever it falls apart.. Road $ervice again.. My bus sank into soft sand while is sat parked in storage. I had to have it winched out. Yeah... gotta' love it. Somewhere back a few thousand posts, on a now archived thread, you'd find my first posting... asking questions about repairs, etc.. Someone answered me with this insight: You now own a piece of heavy equipment, prepare to spend heavy bucks. That was back when I could still laugh. Welcome to the craziness. | ||
| John Rigbyj
Rating: N/A |
John, Very wise of you to have the bus pulled out of the sand, many a burnt clutch and or automatic problems have cost, not so wiser bus nuts including myself lots of money. John | ||
| John Rigbyj
Rating: N/A |
John David, What is wrong with the radius rod, only the bushing?? Which rod bushing is it? What will it cost to fix? John | ||
| DMDave Rating: N/A |
Congratulations! GM's rock! Deans probably has operators manuels as well as parts books etc. Also there is a Trailways outfit in Harrisburg that you should check out. They had a 4106 totaly redone, and the bus museum in Hershey. Good Luck with your coach. | ||
| FAST FRED Rating: N/A |
One word of info that may help . First gear is a great stump puller , however for some reasin REVERSE is closer to second than first in terms of power & gearing. SO ALWAYS back into a place up a hill , rather than pull in , with the hopes of backing out. Dont ask! FAST FRED | ||
| john david lebrun (Davidlebrun)
Rating: N/A |
John Rigbyi; According to Gary, both front and read radius rod bushing will need replacment in the next year, he also recomened that the shock's be replaced at the same time. I would think the bushing are probably the original equipment. After looking over the threads on this subject, I'm leaning to using the original rubber bushings. David | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Rating: N/A |
David - You're just a couple hour's drive from the best bus shop on the east coast - Luke's US Coach, located in Berlin, NJ. (1-888-262-2434 - memorize it!!!) My suggestion: Get out an USE the coach this summer, then have Luke's talented crew take care of the suspension stuff this fall/winter. Worn radius rod (or "dog bone") bushings will increase the tendency for the coach to wander a little, and could increase tire wear somewhat, depending on how worn they are. Worn shocks can also lead to increased tire wear, especially if the wheel/tire's out of balance. Also, David, email me privately for some 4106 literature. Simply click on my name in blue above. Oh, and for John the new guy - you're obviously not aware that Garry Dean is another one of the best on the east coast - has probably been in the bus industry nearly as long as Luke (40 + yrs). David had his potential coach inspected by someone who knows GMCs inside and out - a good choice. HTH, RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
RJ- You're right, I never heard of Gary Dean. I'm probably among a thousand or more bus crazed fools that haven't heard of him... But then.... I never heard about Luke before I started reading at this forum... I wish I@n would have a page listing garages, mechanics and parts suppliers that bus nuts have found to be good... Like the "Places we stay" section... He could call it "Places we didn't get ripped off at". | ||
| bowlingshoegiverouter Rating: N/A |
LUKE lets you go down in the pit & see the bottom of your bus... | ||
| Jtng Rating: N/A |
That sure beats laying down in the parking lot and having him drive over you! | ||
| Marc Bourget Rating: N/A |
JTNG, I bet you could avoid that by paying his bill! [not!]  | ||
| john david lebrun (Davidlebrun)
Rating: N/A |
We'll were going to pickup the bus this weekend. Drive down this weekend, get a temp tag, and practice driving/shifting sat and home on sunday. Outside of normal handtools, anything helpful to take along, I was going to change the fuel filter's before we leave and carry a spare set with us, anything else? Carol and I made a deal, whoever gets the shifting down right get's to bring the bus home (thanks RJ for the write up on shifting). In looking and using delorme topo, it's look like, for at least my first trip, the easy way home is up I85 to I95 to I83 to home, lower hills and less truck traffic then I81. David PS I'll be getting a quote from Luke on doing the radius rod bushing. I'm a firm beliver in getting the equipment up to a good standard of maintance and then you will have less problems in the long, just have to do PM. | ||
| Doug Roote Rating: N/A |
Dave, As a former PA guy myself (just moved down here to Alexandria, VA a year ago from Greensburg/Jeannette) just a word of caution about the DC Beltway corridor: 95 North as you enter the Beltway is very conjested up to about 11:00AM. Also, the merging area can be a bit tricky. Remember to stay right whenever possible as soon as you see the signs clearly marked exit. You will also have traffic attempting to pass you on the right. Be carefull! Once you cross the Potomac on the east side (assuming you are going that direction toward Baltimore NJ), conjestion can begin as early as 2:30-3:00PM. The same thing if you decide just to go straight home via 470/270/70 Breezewood. No bus for me yet. Thinking about returning to PA though, where there is more room, cheaper living, and more sanity (Except for perhaps rebuidling or converting a coach?)...Okay, skip the sanity part... If you want more info, I can E-mail my cell number. I think that's about all I can prove though. I still carry the 724 area code, so it may not be long distance... :-) Doug | ||
| john david lebrun (Davidlebrun)
Rating: N/A |
Doug: I run I77 to I81 to rt 30 and across. I81 is crowded with trucks, but not as crazy as DC. david | ||
| Doug Roote Rating: N/A |
>>I run I77 to I81 to rt 30 and across. I81 is crowded with trucks, but not as crazy as DC.<< Good to know and very smart. YouI was sweating bullets this AM, because as soon as I finished writing my last part, I found out on the car radio while traveling to today's jobsite that the Intercahnge that I mentioned will be shut down this for weekend and massive detours. They are rebuilding that section, which I affectionately think of as "the Mixing Bowl". Funny how many varieties of vehicles you can come up with just by trading a few fenders with others. Just my 10 cents worth (or few ounces of aluminum) Doug | ||
| ned sanders (Uncle_ned)
Rating: N/A |
if you are leaving mount airy go up i77 and try fancy gap. if it makes it you will not have any heating or climbing problems. if in try out of the bus on saturday and happen to get to 421 and then 18 to lenoir give us a shout. ned sanders 828 757 3823 4104 sith 6v92&730 "huggy bear den" |