| Author | Message | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Registered Member Username: Sventvkg Post Number: 171 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 208.107.134.202 Rating: |
Blew a Radiator....Hole right in the middle of it..I hope they can fix it enough to get me home...100 miles E of Rapid City, SD....5 1/2 hours at over $175 and hour Bus/RV rates...  Bike week here and no hotels to boot but i found one!! $150 a night! Freightliner has the bus and they are sending the radiator out to their guy in the am..I'll be luck if he rigs it up for me tomorrow and I can get on my way..If not, another $150 hotel!! Weee... By the way, this thing is running close to 50 cents a mile to operate at $3.35 a gallon for Diesel...Fun fun eh? Nice to be a bus nut!!! | ||
| dmoedave Unregistered guest Posted From: 71.125.20.202 Rating: N/A |
Hang in there Sean! Did you ever get an air seat installed? The air temps you described made me think to be more carefull in the future for offering a drivers position! Get the guitar out on the corner and serenade. Put a radiator shroud out on the ground to collect the $ bills. | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Registered Member Username: Sventvkg Post Number: 172 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 208.107.134.202 Rating: |
LOL no worries man..They have the Radiator out and the shop will plug it up and fix it so I can get home. Michael Kraft of Kraft tours designed a great bullet proof radiator with a company because he said the ones that are used on my bus and the MC7 didn't perform to his expectations. Takes 6 weeks to get them made and they are $1300 a piece. I guess I'll get em in this winter while I'm working on the bus in AK. She's running good besides the radiator going...Oh and I had to have my air dryer rebuilt as well. Gonna be closing in on $12K mechanical work done on this bus so far. i'm starting to think you can't have a decent bus for under $20K any way you slice it and I've heard that sentiment echoed by many owners including my guru Micheal Kraft. I hope i'm outta here tomorrow...100 degrees is just too hot for this Alaskan Boy! | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Registered Member Username: Sventvkg Post Number: 173 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 208.107.134.202 Rating: N/A |
Radiator was unfixable of course. MCI wanted $3K for ONE!...I can get 2 superior ones for $1300 a piece but they take 6 weeks to get. I don't have the time. Gonna store the bus here in Rapid City until I can get the Radiators made, then have the shop put them in. I'm either buying a truck and renting a Uhaul trailer to take my stuff home tomorrow or just flying home with what I need. Murphy doesn't want to leave me alone...It's not a money issue, it's a parts availability issue because if one radiator is bad, I need the other one done as well...Owning a vehical that is extremely difficult to find the parts you need for it, is a Pain in the A%$...But then anyone on these forums knows this. | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 284 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 70.222.44.216 Rating: N/A |
Hate the fact that your trip was/is up-ended but I'm sure you'll get thru it all in time. As for the parts being hard to get? Yea I kind of had the same feeling when I owned my 65 Model 01 Eagle AFTER I got it all done. I just didn't feel safe on the road not knowing if I DID break down, IF I was going to be able to find the parts, so the end result was to buy the Prevost I have now and deal with IT instead of something that may have to come from a salvage yard. Either one would probably end up being big bucks but Prevost is still making parts and they have a 24 hour call in service center. Not trying to sound PRO prevost against any other name brand, just giving you my opinion on why I went the route I went! Good luck and have a safe journey! Ace | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 978 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.70.16 Rating: N/A |
Sean, did you call Luke at US Coach about some good used ones? It might be worth it. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Registered Member Username: Sventvkg Post Number: 174 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 208.107.134.202 Rating: N/A |
Yea Tom, I called Sam Caylor and I called Luke...he is looking at a 7 they have tomorrow to see if the radiators are alright...If they are good I may just get them but i'm out of time to be able to get this thing back to Alaska as I have work related things to do starting Wednesday...So i'm flying home tomorrow at 4. Found a place to store the bus for a dollar a day and will come down in spring with 2 brand new radiators for her..... It's a shame because she's really a nice running bus...Were this any other vehicle I would be 1/2 way through Canada by now..No prob....This is probably the end for me and this bus because of the reasons ACE sighted....I'll put new radiators in her and she's gonna stay here somewhere for sale...I'll take a huge loss but she'll make someone with the money to convert her, a nice bus...Between the cost of running a bus with Fuel etc, I don't think I'm going to be able to use her for my original intent anyway...When I come down and get the new Radiators in, gonna take lots of pics etc and put up for sale all over the boards and Ebay..... | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Registered Member Username: Busted_knuckle Post Number: 260 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 72.155.194.33 Rating: N/A |
Sean I wish I'd seen this posted earlier, but I don't MAKe it over to this board much anymore ! I have a good friend not far from Rapid City, in Spearfish, SD. He and his dad run a charter co. same as my dad & I ! I would of gladly helped you get in touch with them as they have a bus shop & parking area, if your interested email me at kylakesidetravel at bellsouthdotnet ! Bryce Gaston aka Busted Knuckle ! PS I guess I need to start check'n over here more often! | ||
| Sean Mormelo (Sventvkg)
Registered Member Username: Sventvkg Post Number: 175 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 216.152.179.145 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Bryce...There's really nothing that can be done now as I have no time off work to tske care of this bus until Springtime at earliest. I reluctantly left her parked in Rapid City. Once I get a radiator in her she's going somewhere for sale. It's a good bus, just has a few things here and there as it's a 27 year old machine but I've put a lot of money in her. If you know anyone looking for a Saudi 5C I'll take 5K or trade for a Diesel Truck.... | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Registered Member Username: Niles500 Post Number: 658 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 72.77.226.82 Rating: N/A |
Sean - your making me feel bad (see post below)- I was kinda hoping things would work out - next time I'll keep my trap shut - probably would have saved you some $$$$$ - good luck in the future - Niles Posted on Thursday, June 23, 2005 - 2:42 pm: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sean - any bus (or vehicle/animal/spouse of any type) that will take you that far on the maiden voyage and doesn't leave you stranded - Is worth keeping (possibly even spendin some time and money on) - Niles |
