| Author | Message | ||
| Austin Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 22 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 63.94.78.194 Rating: N/A |
I have a friend that has a late 80"s transit bus that has a Detroit Diesel V6 with automatic transmission. (sorry I don't have better details) He was told that he could remove the governor so he could get better over the road speed with the bus. Top speed now is 45mph. Is it going to be that simple or is there some concerns he needs to worry about? | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 235 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 4.227.114.47 Rating: |
he needs to worry...city buses were geared to go 45 mph.if he wanted to go faster than that,he should have bought a cross country bus.many people have made the same mistake,to change the gearing,will cost thousands,and then,the engine won't have enough power,so he needs to change it,thousands more and, after all the money,he still, has a city bus. if you turn the RPMs up ,the engine will only last a few hundred miles,he made a bad decision buying a city bus,if he plans on going out on the hiway.he either needs to get rid of the city bus,or stay in the city. | ||
| Austin Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 23 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 63.94.78.194 Rating: N/A |
That's what I thought also. He bought it to use as a "Party Bus" in conjunction with his bar. A lot of his use will be in city but he also wanted to use it to travel to some of the surrounding college towns for football games. . | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 209 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: |
Load it up with bar-flies (or co-eds) & enjoy the longer trip  | ||
| Kyle Pesely (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 60 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 216.220.208.237 Rating: N/A |
to play the antagonist here, I'm gonna have to disagree with that. although I own an Eagle, I think that transit buses can make rad conversions. just take a look at the people on here that are in the process of, or already have converted various RTS's, AMGs, GM/Flx newlooks, grumman Flx's, and New Flyers. (PeteRTS/Daytona and george myers Gillig Phantom come to mind, check those out). I will agree that a lot of transits have low gearing and smaller engines, but there are also a lot that are more than ready to build on as-is. most of the late '80's Phantoms that I've seen being released by the transit agencies over the last 4 years or so have 6v92's, so all that you'd have to do is change the gearing, and beef up the motor to 350hp(waaaaaaay cheaper than a repower) and away you go. or if you decide to take your time and shop, you could find one with highway gearing already there. transits generally have beefier brakes, and a tighter turn radius(the RTS is one of the nicest buses I've driven), which I would think would be beneficial to us nuts. as far as I can see, the only downside is less basement storage, and the wheel wells, but that can be overcome with a little ingenuity and careful planning. just because one bus isn't 100% ideal candidate, doesn't mean that the whole group is. just my opinion... FWIW..... kyle in norcal 1980 Eagle 10 #30223 | ||
| Larry Ward (Rts_parts)
Registered Member Username: Rts_parts Post Number: 37 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Some are not aware of how nice an RTS can be, take yours for example. Some of us that have owned Eagles, 4104's, MCI 7's MCI 9's (and gotten rid of them) and now drive RTS's because of, well, how they drive. Just no comparison. This is a great hobby though, we each have our own likes and preferences. That's what makes the world go round!!!!!!!!! | ||
| Larry Ward (Rts_parts)
Registered Member Username: Rts_parts Post Number: 38 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 205.188.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Austin: To better answer your question, Kyle is correct, if your friend has a 6v92 it is possible to up the horsepower pretty easy, and then with a change in the rear end differencial gearing (available from PeteRTS/Daytona by the way)get up to 80 plus. Most of my RTS's with the next to the highest ratios from the factory still go right at about 70mph, stock. Pete has the rear ends, Geoff is a Detroit expert that can advise you on what you need to change on the engine, and I have all the parts your friend will ever need. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 321 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.126.56 Rating: N/A |
Need more information on what model number and brand of city coach he has.He could change the rear ratio to as low as 4:11 if it is an angle drive design. Places like Nimco have used axles and chunks to change the top speed. The bus won't be as fast as the new ones, but remember that 6-71 4104's can be geared to run 80mph (3:55 and direct in high) and still get over the road quite well. Depends on the weight of the coach. A lot of coach owners have weights in the 30+ thousand lbs. range and need more engine to keep up with the smaller, lighter ones.DO NOT REMOVE THE GOVERNOR! BTW | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 918 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.68.35.64 Rating: N/A |
45 mph sounds a little slow for a late '80's transit... perhaps the governor is set a little slow? First thing, we need to know what engine, which transmission, which rear end gear, and what is the no load RPM of the motor? Easiest and quickest is no load RPM. Get someone with one of those optical tachometers to take a reading with the bus in neutral, and floor it to see how fast it spins. It may be quite easy and relatively reliable for your friend to increase the governor settings to get 55 mph or a bit more out of it. For the rest of us, this guy is trying out a market niche, MAKING MONEY. He'll know if this is a money maker before the engine life becomes an issue. If it isn't, bus is gone and the accountant will know what to do, if there is cash in it, a fresher bus will be in the cards pretty quick! 2300 RPM, or better, isn't the end of the world... if you are making money with it! Austin, get yourself a job as a consultant to purchase his next bus, and get on here for us to help you! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 682 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
Probably a 6V71 with a V-730 and 5.31 rear gear. Maybe was a Hertz shuttle?. Max to the governor at 45 but only geared for 54 mph. They did that also on some City buses such as the 80's model of the Western Flyers that had the 6V92TA's. Real PITA to change the rear gear to get over 55 mph. Since the guy doesn't even know what kind of bus it is or engine size or much else about the only way to figure it out will be a Vulcan Mind Probe? Oh.. Whom-so-ever is complaining about short answers doesn't understand that it takes more thought to have a short answer than a long one. "Bump Drafting in a Bus is not recommended" | ||
| Ray gongaware (Raven)
Registered Member Username: Raven Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.134.109.194 Rating: |
Well I am new here,but I can say this for Bob Greenwood he has helped me a great deal with some very sound advice,as has others I am gratefull that there are so many opinions out there and I dont expect them to all be the same whenever I ask a Question,we all are intitled to opinions,it is only after many are offered that we the ones with the questions now must make a decision on the info provided,as novice's we look up to you guys who know and have been there,we just dont look up quite as high when you guys belittle one of your own.Ray | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905)
Registered Member Username: Mike4905 Post Number: 122 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 24.28.40.72 Rating: N/A |
I drove for WDW in Orlando. They have a very large fleet of city buses, most are RTS's We had wide bodies the would run at about 70 mph and had some that would run at about 50-52 mph. Most had 6v92. I don't know what hp setup was, but great buses for what we did. | ||
| David Hartley (Drdave)
Registered Member Username: Drdave Post Number: 684 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.78.176.54 Rating: N/A |
Mike, I too made a few tours around WDW a few years back. Used to just laugh myself silly at the tour bus drivers trying to copy what "WE" WDW RTS drivers could do....Soooo Funny... That first 57 point turn in in the campground was hilarious to watch.... The worst fun they ( The Child "Leads") had was to forget I was on the Golf Villa's route for 7 hours. How did you like " Epcot Closings? ".. Whew !! | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1047 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Austin - In order for us to give your far more intelligent answers to your buddy's question (not that there haven't been some intelligent answers), please try to get the make of the bus, the VIN, and whether or not it's a 6V71 or a 6V92 engine. To determine whether its a 71 or a 92, all one has to do is look at the upper pulley on the tailgate side of the engine, radiator end. It will be stamped in the center. A pic would be nice, too! Your buddy's idea is intriguing, and if you surf around the web on the bus sales websites, you'll see that some other folk have done the same thing. HTH. . . | ||
| Austin Davis (Zimtok)
Registered Member Username: Zimtok Post Number: 24 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 63.94.78.194 Rating: N/A |
Sorry I haven't responded in a few days. I don't have internet access at my house and I've been off work since last thursday. Thanks for all the responses. We have a regular gig at his bar every tuesday and I will get more info then. And I will pass this info onto him. | ||
| Dallas (Dal300)
Registered Member Username: Dal300 Post Number: 135 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 172.128.78.12 Rating: N/A |
One thing that bothers me is that no one has mentioned that if you take the governor off a 2stroke detroit it won't run. Oh well, Just trying to save you a few bucks. BTW, if it's a late '80's, it may be turned WAY down by the P/O It most likely has a DDEC 2 or 3 or maybe even 4. Many of those are computer adjustable via the computor link. Dallas (Message edited by dal300 on October 21, 2006) |
