| Author | Message | ||
| JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
Registered Member Username: Jwsmythe Post Number: 245 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 63.138.16.2 Rating: N/A |
Good morning all. I just wanted to post a little note thanking Pete publically for his help. I ordered a set of 4.10 gears for my RTS from him a few weeks (err, just over a month?) ago. He's been clear about how long it would take, when they would arrive, and even put up with of my own insanity about when they'd get here. Somehow, he managed to get them in with perfect timing for me to come get them, that fit into my suddenly insane schedule. A friend of mine started asking me, "Do you know this guy? How do you know that you can trust him? Maybe he just ripped you off." I can honestly say that you can feel safe dealing with him. I know personality doesn't necessarly reflect perfectly online, but he is a great guy both online and in person. After loading up the gears in my car, he let me tour his bus, take lots of pictures. I have full faith that there will be no problems, and if there are, I'm sure he'll be very helpful. I'm sure I could have spent hours talking to him about lots of things, but this trip was mostly a pleasure trip, and I couldn't torture my girlfriend for much longer with guy talk. Thanks again Pete! | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 26 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 209.50.74.6 Rating: N/A |
JW Although I have never met Pete in person when I worked with him over the phone (slow acceleration problem) I got a feeling he was a great guy to know. He has a vast knowledge of bus workings along with other things. A real credit to the BNO board. Someday I hope to have the privilage to meet him in person in FL or if he ever comes to Canada. | ||
| Pete/RTS Daytona (Pete_rtsdaytona)
Registered Member Username: Pete_rtsdaytona Post Number: 254 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 72.40.3.15 Rating: N/A |
Hi All Arvin Meritor's build cycle for 4.10 V-drive gear sets is about 90-120 days. Somehow this one just appeared in their inventory the day I called and asked for estimated shipping dates for my order. Poor JW is about to make multiple trips from So. California to Tampa Florida using his RTS as the moving Van - His current gear set is 5.38 ?? - so this should make a great difference (from 60 mph to about 78 top speed) - or better yet if he stays at 60 mph he will reduces his RPMs at 60 MPH from 2150 to about 1700. (Allisons V730/V731's have a 1 to .88 final drive gear ratio - kind of an overdrive - so a 4.10 rear with .88 final equals about a 3.60 in a straight thru drive train) I understand that for every 100 RPMs lower (from 2100 to 1700) fuel EFFICIENCY increases by 1.5 percent) - because you start running in the better part of the fuel comsumption curve - so hopefully that alone will yield 5% saving Couple that with the 31 percent change in gear ratio - JW may have to make frequent stops to offload fuel to prevent his diesel tanks from overflowing ;-) Thanks for you kind comments - but we all here on these bus boards are a nice bunch | ||
| JimG
Unregistered guest Posted From: 64.0.112.50 Rating: N/A |
I have met Pete and he is very straightforward at giving good informatiohe has aquired good information/knowledge on the RTS. We have also dealt via e-mail and I am well pleased. When I need a cruise control, I'll check with him also for the Rosta unit. Jim G. - Ohio 1979 RTS-II | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 966 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.70.16 Rating: N/A |
We bought Rostra parts from Pete, and it was first class treatment, as far as I can see. Ours works wonderfully until we turn on the turn signals, but that's our installation problem. He's given us the information that we need to solve the problem. If I need help, I plan on calling him. And he's a long ways away from here. For what it's worth. Tom Caffrey Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| JW Smythe (Jwsmythe)
Registered Member Username: Jwsmythe Post Number: 248 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 71.98.174.112 Rating: N/A |
Pete, I don't think I'll have any problems with excess fuel.  The trip is actually starting to sound interesting. My mom wants to drive with me on the trip to California. She's never done it, and wants to see what the country really looks like. I already told her, we'll be pulling in line with the big trucks, and holding their speed. 99% of the trucks I saw driving on I-10 were holding 70mph. My mom already expressed frustrations of the past with me. When she traveled in the past with my dad (rest in peace), he pretty much insisted on doing all the driving, so she was left sitting with a map and nothing to do. I told her, if she wants to drive all the open highways, I'd be more than happy to sleep. She's in her mid 60's now, and developing night driving vision problems, so I know I'll still be doing a lot of driving. At least she'll get to see the country from the comfort of a somewhat decent vehicle, rather than the class C motorhomes and long travel trailers that we did a lot of traveling in when I as a kid. My girlfriend (who you met) will be making the drive back. Part of the reason for our move is that we're expecting a baby in Feburary. I know pregnancy will mean piss stops every hour, like it or not. I thought about putting in a temporary bathroom, but that doesn't seem like a great idea, since I'll just have to redo it all later when we go with the final version of the bus conversion. In all, it should be an interesting drive. Too bad it won't be in the full creature comforts of the bus. It'll be more in the big-rig style. A small 12v fridge, one air conditioner, a couch, and TV/DVD combo, with a partition wall just behind the front wheels, so we aren't cooling the whole bus (and so cargo won't smack me in the head). The trip back from LA should be interesting, with my girlfriend, 3 cats, and our dog (Siberian Husky). If I'm *REAL* lucky, I can move the parition wall back one section (5 feet in these buses), to give a bit more leg room. The cats don't mind being in a cage for a while, but the dog doesn't like not being able to run around for extended periods. I noticed that just about every rest stop on the interstates had dog runs, so I know we'll be visiting lots of them. I made the drive in the car you saw me in a couple weeks ago. I had a webcam running most of the way, except with some electrical problems thanks to my cheap power inverters. This time around, I'll probably be making it available to everyone on here. I@n was impressed (laughing with me the whole time, I'm sure). Hopefully you guys will see road, and not a tow truck. This will be a maiden voyage for me in this bus. |