| Author |
Message |
Mike Serrano
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 3:03 pm: | |
Im super close to buying a clean "looking" MC-9 Jersey bus for 8500.00, They say that is has been updated when I ask about the air brakes. As a whole what should I look out for and what is a jersey bus and why do people say stay away from them. 6v92
Thanks a bunch guys |
evacuated from mississippi
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 3:15 pm: | |
I love mine...NO rust, great engine, great transimission good tire 90% good brakes 95%. What more can you ask for from a base. The double doors kinda sucks. |
Ed (Ednj)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 3:32 pm: | |
Mike
Go here and ask that same question -
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/NJTbusnuts/ ,
I do not have one but I don't see why you wouldnt want one.
The double doors do need to be changed. |
Glenn MC-9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 8:45 pm: | |
Hi Mike,
Our singing group bought a 1984 "Jersey Cruiser" last year. We've put several thousand miles on it without any problems (until last week). LOL Just about everyone that I talked to about them said that NJT had one of the best preventive maint. programs around. Our coach had very, very little rust anywhere.
Last week our engine blower went out and has got to be replaced. It's just one of them thangs.
I'm not crazy about the bi-fold doors either. But one of these days we hope to get them changed out.
Glenn
Tallulah Falls, Ga |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 10:34 pm: | |
People don't avoid them, they are decent buys. Charter companies do avoid the NJTs because they don't have restrooms, and they have bi-fold entry doors. The lack of restroom is a major plus for a coach conversion. The 87s have butt-ugly front caps, and all years of NJTs have bi-fold doors. The doors are expensive to alter. The front cap is not too bad to hide. Generally they were very well maintained. Any used coach for $8K is going to be a potential mechanics nightmare. With careful evaluation NJTs have a lot of potential. NJTs have heavy duty brakes, most have Alcoa rims, integral steering, automatic transmissions with retarders, and 6V92TAs. 87s are DDEC 1 units. Most have 600 to 700K miles. Most have relatively recent rebuilds (look for the purple "Barney" motors, or DD "silvers"), and you may get a lot of miles from one without major expense. And, you may not. NJT has an excellent maintenance program. Still, you must be careful of rust, and major problems that are often apparent...smoking engine, trans slipping. Check for smooth sides, no interior leaks or soft places in the floor. Look for obvious damage to the entry door frame. If wrecked, changing to a coach (sedan)door becomes more difficult. Be sure that all the bay doors work well and that the bays are dry. Most have air starters, which can be changed out to electric starter cheaply (<$250 DIY).
I've had an 87 NJT MC9 since '02 and am quite pleased with it. Generally, other than the items mentioned above, they are identical to other MC9s. NJTs top speed is approx 68 MPH. While they are called "transits," they are geared more like highway buses. They are rev limited to 1800 RPM, which can be increased to 2100 for better performance. |
marc schlabach
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, August 30, 2005 - 10:40 pm: | |
We have a njt bus . 1982 mc9 It has very little rust and in 4 years it has not given me any problems.Mine has the single door. No complaints in sarasota fl. Marc |
FAST FRED
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 5:49 am: | |
Some are air start , which can be changed to electric (not cheap) to recover the space of the huge air tanks.
Otherwise they have no more problems than any bus of that make, mostly rust issues.
FAST FRED |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:53 am: | |
My 83 has electric start and MUI engine and does not appear to be governed to 1800 since bringing it home I ran 75mph plus.
I replaced the bi-fold doors with a door from a salvage MC8 and used a stainless piano hinge instead of trying to take the whole MC8 hinge assembly. Although the 83s do have the bolt holes for the stock hinge up in the dash and the reinforced steel plates at the lower front corner under the skin.
Have Fun.... |
Mike Serrano
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 1:06 pm: | |
I really appreciate your words and most likely will go through with the transaction. I had an RTS and that was a POS. I hop that Ill be happier with the MCI.
Thanks again guys |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 1:39 pm: | |
Or at the very least, it might be a much bigger POS..?
It sounds like a decent deal. NJT flooded the market with them,
so you're paying a lot less than most of us, for a better/newer bus.
I wish I had waited the few extra months, to buy mine.
You should get it to a decent bus garage before forking over
the cash, tho. Don't make the same mistake some us have made.
Good luck! |
Mike Serrano
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:37 pm: | |
ABC is a large bus dealership and is nearby where I live. They painted it and cleaned it. They also say its been updated, Whatever that means. Do you think I should take it to a different bus co just in case? |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 9:56 pm: | |
ABC is good; very good. I wish I took mine to them
before I bought it.
It sounds like you're going to get a good deal!
See if they can get you some parts, service and owners manuals for it. |
Glenn MC-9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2005 - 10:09 pm: | |
Hi Mike,
If you have any contact with anyone about manuals, please let me know. I've been trying for some time to find manuals for our 1984 "Jersey Cruiser".
I'm not saying that manuals aren't out there, I just haven't made the right contact yet.
Glenn
Tallulah Falls, Ga. |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, September 01, 2005 - 9:20 am: | |
I had to order a manual set from Coach Information Network and it came on a CD, The manual was dated 1989 but covers all MC9's including my 83 model.
NJT probably destroyed the manuals when they dumped the 1,100 or so MCI's onto the market.
I bough mine from ABC Bus here in Florida for $7,100 but they hadn't cleaned or painted it.
I had them start up about 10 buses including some of the 87's. I didn't like the air starters or the front caps. The mechanics also had a lot of trouble getting the 87's started because of dead batteries and no air in the tanks.
I am happy with mine even if it shows a little age and abuse ( dings and dents ) It starts up and runs great. |