| Author | Message | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 185 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160  Rating: N/A |
I have a 1984 MC9. Last night I bought the bus up to the house. I say up to, as our house is on a hill. When I parked it the tag axle on the passenger side was not touching the ground. The front of the bus was on level ground , however the ground does drop in elevation rather quickly where the back of the bus was. The drive axle and tag looked to be close to being level. In your opinion do you guys think this axle could be seized up? How much further down are these tag axles supposed to drop fron the drive axle? If it is seized am I going to break/ hurt anything if we use it? What are the chances of it freeing up with use? I would keep greasing it on route. I have never notice it locking up , but then I am a fan of jake brakes so I don't do very many heavy brake applications. We are getting ready to leave shortly and I am a little worried about it. The air bag is full. Thanks | ||
| john degemis (Degemis)
Registered Member Username: Degemis Post Number: 67 Registered: 3-2008 Posted From: 71.92.155.232  Rating: N/A |
Do you have a up/down switch? Mine has a small lever next to the drivers seat | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 186 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
I have a button of some sort that is located right beside the parking brake valve but have never tried it. Not sure what it was for. I guess it's time to give it a shot. Thanks | ||
| Larry Baird (Airhog)
Registered Member Username: Airhog Post Number: 163 Registered: 1-2001 Posted From: 75.217.170.244  Rating: N/A |
I had a flat out in the desert on the tag and kept going to the tire shop, as more of the tire came off the faster I went. When I got to the shop the wheel was off the ground and not much tire was left. On mine there is a hook you can chain the axel up if you want, I didn't. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_mc6)
Registered Member Username: George_mc6 Post Number: 888 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 64.55.111.6 Rating: N/A |
An MC9 should have a switch on the driver's left panel that says someting like "tag axle unload." Mine has a seperate valve above the tag on each side. Tags can be unloaded, then jacked up easily and chained up to the aforementioned hook. "The bag is full..." as in you know for sure there is pressure? I wouldn't run it far after checking it out, and finding no weight, as the wheel will lock from an easy brake app, and give you flat spots. ? G | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 187 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
I did see the spots to chain up the axle, however I'm really don't want to do this, rather fix the problem if there is one. Does anyone know what the button by the parking brake is for on a MC9? Small knob a little closer to the floor than the parking brake valve. MY tire is on the ground on the level, just when the drives are elevated the tag does not go further down, I don't think this is normal. I believe it may be seized as the bus hasn't moved much over the past few years, but I could be wrong. Just wondering if this is consistant with your MCI's. I think it may be quite a job as I don't believe I can put heat on the pivot joint due to the rubber bushing. Think I might just dump diesel on it everyday for the next week until we leave and it may free up when we get on the road. I suppose if I take the tire off, dump the air , then I should be able to jack the axle up with my bottle jack, and if I can't jack it up it would be seized. I don't believe there is much pressure on the tag axle so maybe if I were to apply more pressure with the bottle jack it my break free?? I just need to get pointed in the right direction Any thoughts? | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 188 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
Actually after re-reading your post Larry I think I get what your telling me. duh You lost some rubber and the axle did NOT push further down. That would make what is happening to me consitant with your bus. In other words , no problem. It must have a stopper of some sort so it the axle drops in a hole that it doesn't stretch or pop an air bag. Thanks | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 212 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 208.81.157.90  Rating: N/A |
What is the other side doing? | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 189 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
The other side seemed to be ok , on the ground. But having said that the way the bus was parked the ground was a little higher, or more level on that side. I guess I have never had to jack the bus up at the drive tires, so I don't know how far down the tags drop. I was kind of hoping someone would know so I didn't have to get into pulling the wheel etc if isn't neccessary | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 190 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
I suppose I could back the bus up on some blocking and let the tags fall of the end and see if they are consistant with each other. I'm just didn't want to drop them down too far, why I'm not sure | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 168 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132  Rating: N/A |
Grant is there a dump valve on the drivers side behind the tag wheel opening there could be a plate covering it. you would be able to dump the air then jack it up to check for movement, or put a block under that one tag and dump the air from the bus then the bus will drop and push the tag up. They do have a limit to how far they go down to prevent damage to the bag. Dave L | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 191 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
Perfect , thanks Dave, my guess is that it maybe had reached it's limit. I will run a couple of tests tonight. By the way do you of any reasonably priced places to park for a week or so out that way. June30th through to July 8th or 9th?? Would like to plug in but other than that we're ok. | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 169 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132 Rating: N/A |
I dont have much knowlege of camp grounds here but you can try ( rvparkhunter.com ) click on enter click on Canada then at bottom of page click on Ontario. then it shows parks in a bunch of places in Ontario click on them for there info. Hope this helps. Dave L | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 192 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
Thanks again | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1639 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.69.143.165  Rating: N/A |
Sounds like it is seized. The tag should be able to stay on the ground unless you've got the drives hiked high in the air and her underwear is showing. Quick check, release the tag axle air to that side, put the jack under it, and see how easy it goes up, then remove jack and see if it comes back down. It should go back down as you lower the jack freely. If it stays up, that's not good, try putting the air back on. Confirm that all those grease zerks are actually taking grease. Grease it going up, going down, keep working it to get the lube in there. Running around with the tag chained up will attract enforcement attention. Every do-gooder out there has a cell phone.... If one was to make a run for home with the tag chained up in these modern days, I'd be inclined to do it in the dark to avoid unwanted attention. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Chuck Newman (Chuck_newman)
Registered Member Username: Chuck_newman Post Number: 371 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 99.0.41.3  Rating: N/A |
I've done a lot of things in the dark to avoid unwanted attention. | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 170 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132 Rating: N/A |
Grant what ever you do follow BW's advise and don't travel with the tag chain'd up. If you pass Headingly weigh scale and they see it they will come out and stop you because that is like haveing a big sign on the side of your bus saying " Look at me I'm over weight on my drives" I know because I work'd with those guys at Headingly and Westhawk. Dave L | ||
| Tony LEE (T_lee)
Registered Member Username: T_lee Post Number: 62 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 59.154.2.62 Rating: N/A |
Do you have manual tag unloader valves just inside the right engine access door. If so, with the bus on level ground, operate each valve separately. As the air is released from the tag air bag, that side of the bus will drop a bit until the drive axle height valve compensates. Then load that tag again by pressurising the air bag. The bus will rise on that side and then lower slowly as the height valve compensates.Repeat for both sides. Note that the valve just unloads the tag, not raise the tag (off the ground) This will show that the swing bearing is not seized in that particular part of its travel. Next test would involve unloading both tags and having a 3" set of ramps to drive up on. Place the ramps in front of the drive wheels and drive up on the ramps. The tag should stay on the ground. Drive further forward until the drive wheels are off the ramp (put some blocks at the front of the ramp to ease the step) and the tags are on the ramp. Action of the swing bearing should be smooth with no catching. Keep driving forward so the drive and tags are on the level again. Smooth rotation of the swing bearing all the way. Put the valves in the load position and the rear of the bus should rise smoothly and then drop down slowly to the correct ride height. You could repeat the test with the tag loaded (to make sure the loading doesn't cause binding) and the up and down of the tags should still be smooth. The full range of the tag wheels is probably a little more than 3", but if you are on ground that rough on a regular basis you should swap it for a 4WD | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 247 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 4.248.62.157  Rating: N/A |
Hi Grant - Miss Dummy here, putting in her naive two cents worth. I don't have a tag (thanks to advice from friends that do) so this might sound lame. BUT, why not just drive the thing to more level ground and see what happens? I mean, heck, a few feet - or even blocks - won't break anything more than it's broke. IF it's broke. Nellie Gosh - so fun to have I-net for awhile, just can't resist blathering. | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 193 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
Don't worry guys I won't be operating it with the tag chained up, I'd rather run it in the down position even if it's not operating properly. Plus I can't get it in the up position anyway as it is seized. After running the tests last night the passenger side is definitly seized. Any tips to free it? I have removed the grease nipples cleaned it up as good as I could and dumped some diesel over it last night , and again this morning. I'm leaving early from work today to go work on it. Thanks | ||
| Don Evans (Doninwa)
Registered Member Username: Doninwa Post Number: 213 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 208.81.157.90 Rating: N/A |
I would put the drives on blocks and remove the tag wheel for access. Then unload the tag air bag and jack up the tag gently then lower jack and air up bag. Add a little grease at each extreme, repeat until it loosens up. If it is totally froze tear it down for rebuild. Remember, don't put anything (you) anywhere that there is not room if the suspension where to suddenly lose air or a frozen tag will be the least of your problem. Good luck, Don 4107 No tags to worry about!  | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 194 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Don , will let you know how it goes tomorrow morning. | ||
| Ralph Peters (Ralph7)
Registered Member Username: Ralph7 Post Number: 22 Registered: 3-2004 Posted From: 66.59.120.171 Rating: N/A |
First that bearing, is a brass bushing about a foot long. I changed both on my MC-8. Mine were worn out, still a little sloppy. One grease zerk under tube also. Remove wheel try to force kero/fueloil in. We used a hand operated power pusher/puller adapted to a grease zerk. If you need to pull it, call me. It's very heavy and to get the bushing out it needs to be cut, collapsed, and pulled. I did not use a torch to remove, it is alot of work. Jacking up an using the air bag to push down you hope works. Good luck. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1641 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.71.103.234 Rating: N/A |
Safety first! Block the travel when trying to get it to power down so that when it comes free, the shock is not put in position to have to catch it, you risk complete shock failure, and the axle swinging down until it hits something, scatters the shock parts like shrapnel and tears the bag open. the tag chain installed loosely is good, and don't let the jack get more than an inch away. Once it starts moving, it will loosen up with a few more up and downs, same as a rusted nut and bolt, you just have to patiently work them a little further each time and don't let it suddenly break free. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Grant Thiessen (Busshawg)
Registered Member Username: Busshawg Post Number: 195 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 206.45.93.160 Rating: N/A |
Thanks guys, Well I pulled the shock, and secured the tag from falling down too far, I wish. I greased the pancake clamp, loosened the pancake clamp and greased again. I had been applying different anti-seize agents to this portion for the last couple of days. It lookeed quite clean and is definitly taking grease much better and smoother that it was. I cleaned out the other two grease zerks, the inside works great but I am having trouble with the outside one. I did get some grease in it but not a whole lot. I jacked the bus up from the tag location, the bus was very close to being suspending in the air. Then I proceded to hit it with my big sledge. I had no luck, didn't move one little bit. I am thinking because it is seized in the run position , that I will back off the brake a little and run it, and keep trying to get grease in it along the way. There is pressure on the tire when sitting level. We plan on running about 5000 miles in the next 2 months. Then this fall I'm thinking about removing the grease zerks and modifying something to fill the tube with diesel and let it sit for the winter, then in spring attack it with a mind set. Any big problem with this plan?? | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 935 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.235.211.25  Rating: N/A |
Hey Chuck? Har de har har. |