| Author |
Message |
Tim Nix
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 10:36 am: | |
Eagle rust problems are widely known, but I'm wondering how often MCI 8 or 9 'sidewall frame at floor' rust is found ?
Mr. Gumpy has opened two buses, and found the same problem with both. And, did an excellent and thorough repair!
So, my question- for those who have removed the inner skin, do you always find this same problem? Are some opened to find things just crudded up, but not wasting away ? Are any opened to find things in perfect shape ?
I realize problems are more likely with a northern salt history, but, do you think window leaks and a/c condensation cause similar conditions in western buses ? |
dug
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 11:13 am: | |
My MC8 had slight rust underneath the "D" windows at the front. About midway back, had to repair one 3 foot section of tube that was rusted severely. Also had some rust around where the marker lights are. And last but not least, had cracks in the tube steel above "D" windows (not due to rust).
HTH,
Dug
75 MC8
Arcadia, FL |
Brian Elfert
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 12:12 pm: | |
I've read that most of the rust is due to A/C condensation on the 8s and 9s.
A rust belt bus would tend to rust from the outside in I would think. A bus shouldn't rust from the inside like a car as the salt water shouldn't be getting inside the walls. I've seen a 102A3 with the sign boards completely rusted through due to salt exposure.
My thinking is a western bus would have more rust inside the walls as the A/C would get used a lot more.
Brian Elfert |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 12:17 pm: | |
Above and below the center of the windshield, is notorious.
Several bus operators I've known and/or drove for, had their
cleaners hose out the buses as part of their daily cleaning operation.
(let your mind go at it, here)
Buying a bus, is buying each day it lived it's former life.
It's kinda' like getting married, only the "consummation of the relationship"
is more frequent, lasting, and expensive... (and you're on the bottom) |
David (Davidinwilmnc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 2:48 pm: | |
My MC-8 is a '78. I've found some rust in a few places that don't seem so unusual for the model. There's some in the spare tire compartment. The rust mentioned by John above and below the windshield appears to have been caused (on my bus) from leaky clearance lights. The leaks are easy and cheap to fix. The rust isn't so bad on mine here. There was some rust in the side walls. On mine, this was caused by leaking windows. The seals that form a flap when the windows are closed were old, brittle, and cracked. This let water past and leaked through the rivet and screw holes where the window frames meet the inside alum. panels. My bus hasn't been on the road since last May and there were bags of insulation full of water slowly seeping out onto the steel frames. Mine wasn't bad and wasn't difficult to repair. I didn't have a welder or know how to weld, but I bought one and learned quickly! The only place that looks like a pain is a bit of the framework behind the front panels (where the door opener button is). I'm sure this is from the leaks above and from water being driven in. Since it's not too bad, this is a repair for a later time. |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 5:03 pm: | |
Expanding from the sidewalls to another area of "concern" which is the airbeams and associated structure above and around the fiberglass wheelwell caps. Rocks and other debris tossed from the tires fracture and pinhole the glass caps. These holes allow fine silt to enter and accumulate, in both of my MCI-9s, inches deep. This fine silt holds moisture and promotes corrosion probably worse than the soaked insulation in the sidewalls.
I was lucky, the corrosion to the top of the airbeams was visible but not substantial. No repairs required. As to the rest of the mild steel structure in that area ? ? ? Toast and will need to be replaced. |
Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 23, 2006 - 8:11 pm: | |
My 1980 MC9 had very little. Only one frame had rust but it wasn't rusted through. Just surface rust. The bus was operated in the Northeast it's whole life. I expected to see more rust than I did.
The rear airbeams had a little rust in the corners and were plated when I bought the bus. I really should have fixed them when I had the floor out, but I didn't. The bus rides fine with the plated beams, so I guess it's not a big deal. |
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