| Author | Message | ||
| Roger Baughman (Roger)
Registered Member Username: Roger Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 66.81.145.194 Rating: N/A |
I went for my first trip with my 1984 MCI-9 and the ride was very rough on the freeways of California unless they were very smooth. Comming out of Sacrenemto on I-80 west was the worst, a really hard ride. Any suggestiions on the air bags or shocks? | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 456 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.39 Rating: N/A |
Tire pressures? Is it a shell or conversion? Light weight will make for a rough ride with normal tire press. The original bus tire pressures were set for heavy loads, some conversions are nowhere near the original gross weight. | ||
| Tom Dessert (Mci5er)
Registered Member Username: Mci5er Post Number: 85 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 75.142.22.177 Rating: N/A |
As mentioned tire pressure and weight do affect the ride, but I'd also consider the road conditions. California has some really bad Interstate roads, that will shake you teeth loose. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 607 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.1.180.218 Rating: N/A |
I agree with possible road conditions. We hit a stretch of I-20 east of Birmingham that was so bad I was about to pull over to the check the bus when we got on to a different road surface. No more rough ride. The road surface did not look that rough from the driver's seat. Jack | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 459 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.55 Rating: N/A |
I've found interstate road surfaces like Jack describes all over the country. Some are brutal and I don't carry high pressure in my tires. It seems to be in every state, can't pin it down to any one area. Some states with the worst also have the best?? Some are so bad I just slow down and some RH lanes so bad I move over to the fast lane even though I can't go fast. | ||
| John Zabrocki (John_z)
Registered Member Username: John_z Post Number: 54 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 64.61.224.87 Rating: N/A |
Yep, this Feb i got on an east/west interstate in northern Louisiana that was doing a real good job of shuffling the plates! It was the worst road i have been on in years, and that includes some gravel ones! I would have thought the northern states would have the worst with the frost heaves from extreme cold, but this road was a real POS. | ||
| norcal kyle (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 174 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 76.105.27.223 Rating: N/A |
ive driven my Eagle from here in sacramento to the bay area numerous times in almost every lane and ive never noticed it to be all that bumpy. theres a few bumps now and then but nothing that ever made me take notice. taking I-80E coming back is different though. theres a few rough spots between vallejo and vacaville and a few more between dixon and davis. im going again later this week, so ill be sure to pay closer attention. kyle in norcal 1980 Eagle 10 #30223 | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 1973 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.81.96 Rating: N/A |
The very worst, all time rough Interstate that I ever drove on was several years ago on I-40 thru Arkansas, and I think I have driven on at least 90% of all the interstates. This was while Clinton was still in the White House. I have often wondered if they ever got it resurfaced. Richard | ||
| Bear Adams (Bear355)
Registered Member Username: Bear355 Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 74.224.79.134 Rating: N/A |
We have an MC8 and we were told that we possibly have plates under the airbags.These were most likely put on because the airbeams may have been rusty.Does your coach height change while sitting a few days or while airing up? You may have the same problem. I wonder if there is any way to reduce the air pressure on our setup? | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 176 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30 Rating: |
You may wish to consider changing to the rolling lobe air bags for MC-9s that MCI is pushing on their web site. These are being promoted as replacements when the air beams are being blocked off and I think they include the plates to do so. I gather, from the MCI claims, that these will give a better ride than simply plating off the original style convoluted air bags. HTH Dave Dulmage (Message edited by DaveD on August 21, 2007) | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 80 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 76.4.151.123 Rating: N/A |
dave; what is the web site for mci? I can't find it and wanted to see the kits for the air bags. | ||
| norcal kyle (Kylexisxrad)
Registered Member Username: Kylexisxrad Post Number: 175 Registered: 12-2005 Posted From: 76.105.27.223 Rating: N/A |
www.mcicoach.com kyle in norcal | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 460 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.19 Rating: N/A |
Richard, All that has been repaired for about three years, had nothing to do with Clinton. I remember it well, hauled a 13,000lb load on a gooseneck trailer over it and had to slow down to 25mph for fear the trailer neck would break. | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Registered Member Username: Drivingmisslazy Post Number: 1976 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.108.79.214 Rating: N/A |
Gus, sorry I did not mean to infer that it was Clinton's fault. Only to give a time reference. Richard | ||
| David Dulmage (Daved)
Registered Member Username: Daved Post Number: 177 Registered: 12-2003 Posted From: 142.46.199.30 Rating: N/A |
Marvin, Here is the link. http://www.mcicoach.com/parts-service-support/coachGuard/mc9AirSuspensionRetrofitKit.htm My experience with MCI has been that they don't respond well to e-mail messages, but I get very good service if I call the parts department on the telephone. HTH DaveD | ||
| Steveggt (Steveggt)
Registered Member Username: Steveggt Post Number: 26 Registered: 12-2006 Posted From: 71.116.72.37 Rating: N/A |
Hi Roger, I know this portion of I-80 west out of Sac'to very well, so I understand your plight (I live in the San Francisco Bay Area). You're on the right track by mentioning the air bags and shock absorbers. Make sure they're the correct type. Check the operation of your leveling valves. I apologize if this sounds insulting, but make sure your "trailing axle unload" switch is "off"...you'd be surprised with the difference in ride quality if the tag suspension is unloaded. Another thing to consider is tires. There are a lot of choices out there, and I was very surprised to find out how much difference the tires make in ride quality! Good luck! - Steve | ||
| John Lacey (Junkman42)
Registered Member Username: Junkman42 Post Number: 13 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 204.49.140.128 Rating: N/A |
Hi Steve, What do You mean by trailing axle unload switch. Do You mean that One should dump the air from the tag on rough surfaces? I still am at a loss as what to do with the tag. Dump in sharp turns etc. Any comment would help. Thanks, John | ||
| Justin Griffith (Justin25taylor)
Registered Member Username: Justin25taylor Post Number: 33 Registered: 4-2007 Posted From: 96.2.49.2 Rating: N/A |
I usually "dump" or lift tag axle equipped coaches when making sharp turns or to gain traction in ice. I may or may not be using the feature correctly. I would also like to hear others input. That stretch of I-80 is just plain rough. Might drive some other roads before you start looking for a problem. Be careful lowering tire pressure too far. I would never go below 10% of the recommended pressure. Many tire manufactures say if a tire has been run 20% low it should be dismounted and inspected. I couldn't agree more. I have blown many, many tires and most all were due to age and or under inflation. I would much rather have a slightly rougher ride than chance blowing a tire and killing someone due to something you had control over. I wont run steer tires less than 100 psi, or if they are over 2 or 3 years old. YMMV Best, Justin | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 463 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.27 Rating: N/A |
If I had a tag it would be up all the time except under unusual circumstances or unless it was a very heavy coach, especially a single tag. Those things were often added to buses to comply with with state axle weight laws, not because they were needed to carry the load. Some of the early GMCs could even be retracted out of sight. Dual tags may be different so I don't know about those but since many conversions are much lighter in weight than loaded passenger buses they may not need them. When I drove a truck tractor we only engaged the rear tandem when conditions were slippery, otherwise they stayed disengaged. With both engaged the rear tires wore much more on dry roads. I don't think buses drive both axles so this may not apply. I don't really understand why one axle would be dumped on ice since the free rolling tires could help keep the bus moving straight? | ||
| Justin Griffith (Justin25taylor)
Registered Member Username: Justin25taylor Post Number: 34 Registered: 4-2007 Posted From: 63.230.111.215 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the info Gus. My reason for dumping the tag on ice is to get enough traction to begin moving. Soon as I start rolling I drop it for the same reason you described. The buses I have driven do not drive the tag axle. It only rolls ahead or behind the drive axle. I should have been more clear. On another topic I am leaving Fargo in the morning headed to austin delivering one of the Megaliners from KSC. If you see me wave or if I am broken down stop and we can cuss it together. I will be heading south down 81 to I35 thru Ft Worth. If you see someone stuck under an underpass on the news laugh with me not at me.  Justin | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 466 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.35 Rating: N/A |
Justin, I sure hope your AC is working well, you are headed for some really hot country not to mention the floods. We're going to San Antonio the end of Sept so hopefully it will be a bit cooler by then. | ||
| Justin Griffith (Justin25taylor)
Registered Member Username: Justin25taylor Post Number: 36 Registered: 4-2007 Posted From: 71.216.140.189 Rating: N/A |
Yeah I gassed up the a/c before I left. Thank god it had already been converted to 134a and was only about 15lbs low. That bus without a doubt has the biggest A/C system I have seen. The compressor alone is about 2 and a half times as big as the Carrier ones in our buses. It took about 15 minutes to fog up the windows, man that thing cools. I wonder how may tons it is? Today about 300 miles into the trip I lost a drive axle seal/bearing and no telling what else. I also lost air to the front left airbags. Everything is closed till Monday so it looks like I will be here a few days. I wish the owner would cut his losses and scrap the bus. It does have a great running 8v92 though. It would take a million dollars to fix the rust, and another few thousand for a rear end. Oh well... I should have started a new thread instead of hijacking this one. Sorry about that gang. Gus when you go to San Antonio look me up if you have time. I would enjoy meeting you. I have met nothing but great folks on this forum. I have lurked for years but I am glad I finally joined. Best, Justin | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 469 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 63.97.117.20 Rating: N/A |
Justin, I'll be coming into SA on I10 so won't be anywhere near Taylor. A buddy and I are staying at an RV camp SW of SA about 20 miles while our wifes have a HS girls reunion downtown. If you go into SA during the first week of Oct give me a call at my cell, 870-710-0661. |
