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Message |
doug d (65.161.188.9)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 10:07 am: | |
Hello all-
I really enjoy your comments on this board! What an informative group of people to hang around with. I DO have a question though -
Has anyone started a conversion on one of the NJ Transit MCI's? What did you find when you tore into it, what good and/or bad things did you find, etc, etc, etc. I am within 1 to 3 months of buying one (probably) and would like to get the straight info on what everyone has been seeing when they get into the coach "guts". Things like rust, bowed members, rot, water damage, window seals, - I think you get the picture.
Thanks in advance for all your comments. |
Jim Nelson (166.90.108.178)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 5:30 pm: | |
Well, I haven't converted, but I've dealt with the Greyhound MC-9's and 102A3's at the end of their lifespan, and have some knowledge. MC-9's tend to rot out the radius rod pins - in extreme cases they will tear right out of the frame. The panel in the back of the spare tire compartment also tends to get perforated by rust.
102A3's are a little worse. Rust holes tend to develop in the front and drive axle suspension frames, and the drive suspension frame will break loose from the frame in the 3rd baggage bin area. The engine cradle will also have a large amount of fatigue cracking - unless NJT is as anal-retentive about repairing them as Greyhound is.
The windshield seals are always an iffy area on MC-9's, and many of them will have rust under the dash vinyl. The baggage bin floors will also most likely need to be completely re-riveted - the Monobolt rivets in the floor are very corrosion-prone. The muffler shield will also probably be loose - the rivets holding that in will also corrode. Look for blistering of the paint on the rear letterboard panel - that is where a majority of the corrosion damage to the letterboards will occur.
That's what we had to deal with on the Greyhounds, and I'd guess that NJT had similar difficulties. |
Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (67.235.168.203)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 29, 2002 - 8:51 pm: | |
Hi Folks:
Jim points out the places that MCI's, in general, tend to fail. And, he is correct.
There is a big difference between the Greyhound and N.J.T. operations.
Greyhound must support its fleet via ticket sales and hauling package express. This includes the purchase or lease cost, maintenance etc.
N.J.T. on the other hand operates their fleet (which is purchased with a combination of Federal, State & fare box money) and is maintained by a combination of Federal, State & fare box dollars.
It is like comparing Apples & Bananas!!!
To begin with, every bus in N.J. is inspected by the N.J.D.O.T. every 6 months from the time the bus is NEW until it goes out of service.
N.J. has always had the toughest bus inspection specifications in the country to the extent that we receive tons for Federal funds to support our State inspection program which has now reached out to include the N.J.State Police who have ramps & the necessary equipment & training to stop & inspect buses, and they do!!!
N.J. further instituted a program whereby our inspection program is largely funded by fees & fines, much as our State E.P.A. is.
Buses stopped for a spot inspection subject the owner to tickets and a mandatory court appearance and the fines for serious defects runs into the thousands of dollars.
My point is, that N.J. operated Coaches, in general, are not in bad shape, or the operator would not be in business.
N.J. Transit garages most of their buses under roof each night and part of their maintenance program includes pressure washing the undercarriage.
Unlike Greyhound, which run their buses day & night only stopping to change drivers and then stopping for fuel & servicing, N.J.T. in many areas run a commuter trip or Trip + 1/2 in the A.M. & then do the same in the P.M. On the weekend, most of the fleet is parked inside.
This varies from garage to garage & then again you have to know that N.J.T. provides buses to the independant bus companies in N.J. which provide transit service and then their maintenance is what it is, although they are subject to the same inspections & spot checks.
We have bought & resold a bunch of the N.J.T. buses & have bought a group of accident buses to part out. We have the benefit of knowing which garages they came from which dictates our choice.
Late last year, J.D. Dickenson from C & J Bus in Minnesota,who I have known for years called & needed a complete front truss assembly from an MCI for a converted coach customer who owned an MC-8.
Now the front truss assy. is basically the complete undercarriage front structure for the front axle & suspension, and Jim indicates this (and he is right) as a failure point on an MCI.
I told JD that we would have to pull into the shop an accident bus & check the quality of the structural truss assy. We did!!!
We hit the steel with a heavy hammer and all that came off was the original under-coating. I called J.D., told him this & he ordered the truss assy. from us. It took an 8 hour day remove it. We banded it to a skid & shipped it to Minn. About ten days later he called to tell me that, upon its arrival, he sent it out to be sand-blasted and that when it came back to his shop it looked like a "NEW" MCI part.
I guess this is a long way to say that the N.J.T. buses are definately worth a "Look-At", but typically when buying something "USED", it is a "Buyer Beware" situation because even the most Beautiful Shiney Apple can have a WORM inside.
I Hope I Have HELPED!!!!!
LUKE at US COACH |
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