| Author | Message | ||
| Duane Bratvold (Connieandduane)
Registered Member Username: Connieandduane Post Number: 15 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 205.242.83.12 Rating: N/A |
Hey all. Made it home last night after a marathon day of driving. We left Black Foot idaho yesterday morning early and hit Bonney Lake Washington at 9:00pm. Got home to no power and trees down everywhere. So we will be living in the bus for up to another week according to the power company. Thanks to everyone for checking in with me. I do not know if this means I am a Veteran yet, but I did learn a few things; 1) turning too fast throws stuff everywhere. 2) Draining air tanks and lines is crucial. (Had a tank freeze up on me yesterday) 3) I love jake brakes! But coming off the continental divide in low gear, jake brake on, on icy roads still sucks! Low gear, Jake on, icy roads, ( I mean big rigs spinning out up hill.)(we should not have even been on the road)40 mph feels like 90mph! 4) Webasto's are great when they work. Ours quit 3rd day out. 5)If the generator quits working, it gets cold real quick. Choke froze 6) The guys on the "Board" at BNO BBS" are the greatest source of information. Listen to them. You guys had me very well prepared. I was ready for just about everything. My father in law is also one of you. If you get to Arcadia, check out his new Prevost. I have a new respect for all Bus Nuts. And now for a little braging........ My PD 4104 will keep up with you, any day, no matter what. I have loved this coach long before we got it. I love it even more now. See you on the road....... Have a great Christmas and a very happy New Year. Duane. PS. There should be a diploma given out to every new bus owner after thier first long trip. Maybe I will put something together for you all to approve. Thanks again. | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 471 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
yep...ya' learn to make a walk thru before you take off, I HATE for the toliet seat to fall when I take off,silly pet pieve.glad you made it,remember NO JAKES ON ICE & SNOW | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1139 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Duane - Lesson learned: Do not use Jake brakes on icy roads! "War Story:" I had an MC-9 get sideways on a frozen bridge during a severe snowstorm, WB from Reno on I-80 after cresting Donner Summit (7289 ft). No chains - chain control wasn't set up as I went thru Truckee, CA. Was IDLING along in 2nd gear (HT-740) on this 6% grade when the back end broke loose and headed for the guard rail. Think about it - IDLING along in 2nd gear, about 15 mph, and it still broke loose on ice. Moral of the story: SLOW DOWN ON ICE! (No, I didn't hit the guardrail. Just did a little "powersliding". . .) OTOH. . . Glad you made it home safely, even to the mess left by the storm. A week of living in the bus while the power company is doing their thing will give you a good perspective on full-timing! Am off to Arcadia next week - who's your F-I-L? Will keep an eye out for him and say "howdy". . .  | ||
| Ron Walker (Prevost82)
Registered Member Username: Prevost82 Post Number: 259 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 69.10.145.151 Rating: N/A |
I use may Jakes in snow and ice all the time, start on low and then switch to high. You are less likely to break loose, turning the bus into a big toboggan, using your jakes than using your brakes. I live in the great white north. Ron | ||
| Arnold J Molloy (Ayjay)
Registered Member Username: Ayjay Post Number: 54 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 151.203.103.166 Rating: N/A |
Hi: I'm new at this Bus stuff, but have been told from day one NOT to use jakes on wet or snowy surfaces, that you are only braking one of the rear wheels because of differential action. It was explained that it's like throwing the Bus, truck, car, into a lower gear and unless you have a locked differential you are asking for a "spin out" braking on one rear corner. C'mon experienced ones .... Which is the correct thing to do????? AyJay 79 RTS | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 472 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
only one person says use jakes in snow and ice...we will be reading about him in the paper someday | ||
| Dilip&ZOE mostlyDilip. (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member Username: Vintagehounds Post Number: 67 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 24.208.74.57 Rating: N/A |
maybe there arent any cliffs around so what the heck!!! Is there a sprint car type race for busses? | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
Registered Member Username: Ceieio Post Number: 280 Registered: 12-2004 Posted From: 206.212.230.165 Rating: N/A |
"And now for a little braging........ My PD 4104 will keep up with you, any day, no matter what." You sir, are incorrect! Unless your bus is having problems or you ride the brake, you will be passing my bus! She is OK on the flats, but we really get to see the sights (even I should be able to spell that one right...) on the uphill; down to 25 in places on Cabbage Hill. :-) Glad you made it home OK; isn't it nice to have a home away from home in the driveway at times like this? We were lucky - out in the sticks but the power was back on in a day - Half a mile down the road, still dark. Craig - MC7 Oregon (Message edited by ceieio on December 18, 2006) (Message edited by ceieio on December 18, 2006) | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 114 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.236.20 Rating: N/A |
Congrats on the trip home Duane! Sorta like graduating from bus driving school I suppose. Did you get the Webasto working again? Regarding Jakes and wet or icy roads....it ain't just Jakes....a lot of bus owners with hydraulic transmission retarders have the same rules according the manual. Turn off the retarder when roads are wet or icy. Cheers, JR | ||
| Mike (Busone)
Registered Member Username: Busone Post Number: 340 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 71.37.166.42 Rating: N/A |
I remember reading a few years back about a brand new fire truck that slid off an icy road and flipped. The investigation revealed that they had the automatic transmission retarder turned on. When the driver let off the throttle the retarder tuned on and away they slid. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 76 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 4.235.203.217 Rating: N/A |
Got home to no power and trees down everywhere. So we will be living in the bus for up to another week according to the power company. A good plan for every coach owner is a coach as spare cottage , or retreat in bad weather , or power source for the mud hut. 1) turning too fast throws stuff everywhere. Just means that flat surfaces need "fiddles" to keep gear aboard. Sharp turns are a fact of life. 2) Draining air tanks and lines is crucial. (Had a tank freeze up on me yesterday) Good practice , but the alcohol jar of break antifreez should have taken care of it. 4) Webasto's are great when they work. Ours quit 3rd day out. Great for NON liveaboards , not great for much 24/7 use. FF | ||
| Phil Dumpster (Phil_dumpster)
Registered Member Username: Phil_dumpster Post Number: 3 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 71.112.29.215 Rating: N/A |
Once you reach a certain level of experience, you will know when you can use your engine brake/retarder and when you shouldn't. However, it is not possible to communicate in the English language what that level of experience is. Perhaps it is best to tell an inexperienced coach owner never to use it on anything but dry pavement and let them figure out the rest. At least you missed out on all of the fun we had while you were gone. The ENTIRE eastside of Lake Washington all the way beyond the Cascades was dark on Friday morning. I just got my power back yesterday. I haven't even been able to make it out to Maple Valley to check on my bus due to fallen trees. At least the sweet sound of chainsaws doing what they were meant to do fills the air again. | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 477 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
Whenever I got my pilots license,they cut my shirt tail off & hung it on the bulleton board... I think for BUSNUTS....we need to start a tradition....all newbys...after their first 100 mile trip....everybody gets to give him a wedgeie | ||
| Duane Bratvold (Connieandduane)
Registered Member Username: Connieandduane Post Number: 16 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 205.242.83.12 Rating: N/A |
Come on Bob. Don't you think a wedgie is a little extreme. Maybe a hands on lesson on what happens when you forget to shut the waste vale and take off the hose. Oh wait, I have already had that lesson. Your going to have to gome up with something better... | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 479 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
yep...can see it now...Duane with about three feet of underwear hangin' out the back | ||
| Arnold J Molloy (Ayjay)
Registered Member Username: Ayjay Post Number: 56 Registered: 10-2005 Posted From: 151.203.103.166 Rating: N/A |
Just imagine the hose being blown off the macerator output! NOT a pretty sight:-). | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Registered Member Username: Sffess Post Number: 669 Registered: 1-2002 Posted From: 67.142.130.28 Rating: N/A |
Speaking of waste, there's a guy up here who used to run moonshine in a bladder in a big honey wagon (septic pumpout) truck. Deputies heard about it and decided to inspect him but couldn't find anything. Then the "smart deputy" decided to unscrew the dump cap just as the driver happened to release the vacuum. You can imagine the rest. I got this from the driver, but the event is 20 years in the past. | ||
| Robert A. Symonds (Bob_symonds)
Registered Member Username: Bob_symonds Post Number: 5 Registered: 5-2006 Posted From: 146.235.66.52 Rating: N/A |
"And now for a little braging........ My PD 4104 will keep up with you, any day, no matter what." I have to ask...what drive train and axle ratio are you running. | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 41 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
my newbe trip was from U.S.A west coast to nothern ont Can. then to break in the newer coach in, from there to Mexico along the Pacific coast down to Gutemala, across to the Gulf up to Tex. then home , now thats break'n her in lol, jim | ||
| Dilip&ZOE mostlyDilip. (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member Username: Vintagehounds Post Number: 69 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.166.131.55 Rating: N/A |
Jim this qualifies you as an international busnut.. Im still workin on my maiden in country voyage... Kuddos | ||
| Dilip&ZOE mostlyDilip. (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member Username: Vintagehounds Post Number: 70 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.166.131.55 Rating: N/A |
Does anyone know ( on the average what the top, safe, cruising speed on flat land my bus originally loaded with all 41 passengers should have achieved new from factory. Gm4104 3069 1957 . as delivered to greyhound south eastern new???? Is there an answer to this question or am I searching for something that could never be answered? | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 43 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
well thanks , but i got nothing but time and a sense of adventure, but that all may change now that i'm geting married, well time anyway lol jim | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 44 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
should have been 60 to 75 m.ph. some were govenened, so i was told .... jim | ||
| Dilip&ZOE mostlyDilip. (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member Username: Vintagehounds Post Number: 72 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.166.131.55 Rating: N/A |
Jim, Who,s your best man and have you had a good talk with him yet? Ha. Ha. | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 45 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
lmao , yep he's my baby bro and hes seen it all and lived it all with me , well alot of it ,and he aproves , so what can i say, he's a stand up kind of man and he just turned 44 yesterday, what a good friend and bro, i just hope he turns into a bus nut , then he would realy know what its all about | ||
| Bob greenwood (Bob_greenwood)
Registered Member Username: Bob_greenwood Post Number: 488 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 64.136.49.228 Rating: N/A |
MORRISON............. That was a LONG first ride....you get a super wedge...that's where we hang ya up with a chain hoist | ||
| jim morrison (Jim_morrison)
Registered Member Username: Jim_morrison Post Number: 52 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 72.142.29.218 Rating: N/A |
well the one to Mex, was and alot of fun but the one from the west was not , blew the motor in BC had her towed to Hope BC , re & re 'ed it and drove her home 11 gal's of oil later, had it over hallded top and bottom , new power plant now , then i went to Mex took 6 months and what a trip, now that was break'n her in , as for the chain hoist , ya best be bring'n some friends lmao even some south Texan's , was there for the best part of last winter , just down the road from ya Bob , i like it there but will miss it for the next few years , jim | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1141 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Dilip - See your private email for the answer to the question about cruising speed of your 4104. | ||
| Dilip&ZOE mostlyDilip. (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member Username: Vintagehounds Post Number: 74 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 67.166.131.55 Rating: N/A |
R. J. do me a favor and send it again.. D | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1143 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.181.163.170 Rating: N/A |
Dilip - Hmmmmm. . . wonder where it went. Anyway, I've resent the message. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 98 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 69.77.151.82 Rating: N/A |
There were 2 factory axle ratios for the '04. Our 4104 has the 3.55 "tall" ratio which makes her faster than the ones with the 4:11 ratio. I have my engine governed at 2150 which the 6-71 can do forever. The bus will do about 74 on flat ground. We cruise at about 68-70 which is a good speed given the stopping ability of this fine old coach. Remember that when these buses were engineered, the Interstates hadn't been built yet. A "Greyhound" doing a steady 65 was fast in 1957! Doing 65 on most country 2 lanes is fast enough for me. Jim-Bob |