| Author | Message | ||
| frankdegroot (Coach)
Registered Member Username: Coach Post Number: 3 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 74.15.245.93 Rating: N/A |
Hello everybody I am a new BNO member and really enjoy the stories.I have a 1980 mci 9 which i am converting as i go.I bought it last year Oct did a bunch of work to it inside and took it to Florida in March.I suffered a lot of "the what ifs" anxiety for the first 2 hours but the more i drove it the more confident i became.Beautiful machine!Quite a step up from the 1974 Bluebird i had before this.The family and i are getting ready to go again in 3 weeks.I have put new fan and a/c belts,4 tires on the drives,new trany and fual filters.The oil looks good from lasts years service aprox 3000 miles ago and i am in the process of greasing it.Now i have traded the bluebird for a parts bus and have a spare alternator,air compresser,fualpumpand powersteering pump in a bay.My question to you all is should i seek counsiling> Hope to hear from ya. | ||
| H3-40 (Ace)
Registered Member Username: Ace Post Number: 949 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 75.250.33.227  Rating: N/A |
Frank where in Florida are you heading to? We live in Lakeland which is about 30 miles east of Tam;a and about 20 miles west of Mickey! Ace | ||
| Clint Hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 47 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.235.190 Rating: N/A |
...unless you looking to create some kind of hope; time & effort spent on "consiling" would be time better spent maintaining the bus as there is no remedy , only progression. This seems evident with your progression from a Bluebird to full blown MCI. Denial only delays acceptance. Oil is best changed once a year even if it only had 300 miles on it last year, if you expect it to do any real service duty again. A very short trip on a cool day with old oil might be an acceptable risk to some. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 706 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 66.82.9.54 Rating: N/A |
The book by Larry Plancho (sp?)will give the needed overview of the necessary preventive and current maint required to have a safe coach. Get a copt of Da Book , for your coach and DO IT ALL! Lots of maint is "not needed" in the eyes of bus camper owners, so go thru the maint charts and do EVERYTHING. FF | ||
| Roger Baughman (Roger)
Registered Member Username: Roger Post Number: 70 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 71.154.215.81  Rating: N/A |
Short hand is not my thing. What is Da, Book by Larry Plancho? Where is it available? Roger | ||
| Mark Renner (Boomer)
Registered Member Username: Boomer Post Number: 142 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 75.216.24.220  Rating: N/A |
Go to www.busmag.com | ||
| frankdegroot (Coach)
Registered Member Username: Coach Post Number: 4 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 74.15.245.93 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for responding fellas.We are planning a few stops.Our first is going to be Jedy Park in Cape Canaveral then Tropical Pawms in Kissimi and finally a few days in Disney.I have stayed in the first two before,does Mickey like coach conversions?Maybe i will look you up Ace. Hey Clint it will be a year to the day of the last oilchange and i run the bus every two weeks.Now after spending what i have this winter i have maxed the budget.I don t really feel right about the oil thing and after hearing from you guys i think i will go talk to my banker. I am going to look up Larry Plancho,the more i know about the bus the more comfortable i am going feel. Had the back of the bus up on blocks greasing everything i could see,u joints,suspension,break shafts,slack adjusters etc.Had to replace three nipples to get the grease to flow in the tag hinge.I was pleased. Everything that i have had to do to this bus has gone pretty well.Nice hobby! Well If the weather is good the front is going up and greased.I am undercoating with hydrolic oil as i go.Is that a good idea? Thanks for now and have a great night . Frank | ||
| Linda & Kirby Karlsson (Linda4104fl)
Registered Member Username: Linda4104fl Post Number: 29 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 173.110.11.118 Rating: N/A |
"Da Book" is likely a reference to a book written by Larry Plachno (not Plancho) titled "Beginner's Guide to Converted Coaches" -- you can probably Google it and find your best price. | ||
| Linda & Kirby Karlsson (Linda4104fl)
Registered Member Username: Linda4104fl Post Number: 30 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 173.110.11.118 Rating: N/A |
My apologies to Fast Fred -- actually, "Da Book" would be the manufacturer's maintenance manual for your bus. Linda | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 711 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.19.14.37 Rating: N/A |
"Da Book" would be the manufacturer's maintenance manual for your bus. Right! and included in the concept of Da Book is also any drivers manuals for your bus. A copy of the installation , operation , maint , and parts list for any installed items , noisemaker , air cond , water pumps is also a great help. Although installation with an eye towards repair is almost as important when something STOPS at 0 dark 30. If you cant maintain the coach yourself (almost requires a pit) the cost will be high to keep it in A1 condition and safe.. FF | ||
| Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member Username: Dnick85 Post Number: 267 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 76.124.92.192  Rating: N/A |
Hi Coach, Try and avoid Tropical Palms Fun Resort if you can. I have been going there for years until last winter. When I arrived, my reservation ment nothing.... The place was overbooked and there were 6 or 7 folks just like me stuck in the entrance lot with no sites available. I then learned that they changed ownership and it's down hill from there. Disney might be a little tight for us busses but, they treat you like a king. Have a great trip Nick- | ||
| frankdegroot (Coach)
Registered Member Username: Coach Post Number: 6 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 74.15.245.93 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Nick good to know I will tell my wife.Are you in the refrigeration business? | ||
| Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member Username: Dnick85 Post Number: 268 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 70.208.8.62 Rating: N/A |
Hi Coach, Yea, 32 years of it...LOL Mostly commercial. Nick- | ||
| frankdegroot (Coach)
Registered Member Username: Coach Post Number: 8 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 74.15.245.93 Rating: N/A |
.Hey Nick I own and operate a small refrigeration business as well.A one man independent doing service for local stores,resturants and a couple of small grocery stores. coach | ||
| Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member Username: Dnick85 Post Number: 269 Registered: 2-2006 Posted From: 70.208.8.62 Rating: N/A |
Hi Coach, Man, how I wish I were a 1 man show again.... I sure didn't make a whole lot of money but, life was simple then. Now, for the past 15 years I have become a professional baby sitter..Lol Have a great trip! and I hope to cross paths some day Nick- | ||
| frankdegroot (Coach)
Registered Member Username: Coach Post Number: 10 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 70.31.86.214 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Nick I am sure we will talk again. |