| Author | Message | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 1 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1 Rating: N/A |
Hi everybody, I'm brand new to the board. I just picked up my second bus; a 1956 Scenicruiser which was used as a band bus for a country band from constantly touring from 80' to 93'. To give you a little history on my experience with old coaches, about 4 years ago me and my friend pulled a 66' MC5A out of a yard in Vermont where it had sat for 15+ years while we were sophmores in college. When I graduated last year we worked on it full time for a few months restoring it and getting it back on the road. Last november we used it to move all my stuff and my car on a trailer down to Alamaba for my job, my friend then took it back to VT with him. I wasn't planning on getting another bus but I happened upon this scenicruiser and couldn't pass it up, and had it towed from Atlanta 3 weeks ago to a neighbors field. I got her up and going over the weekend and drove it to my yard. here is a link to some photo's of it: http://s623.photobucket.com/albums/tt317/busNstuff/ So with that I have a few questions for those of you with experience with the scenicruiser. I haven't been able to put it in reverse yet, I had been assuming it shifted in the same way as my MCI did, from neutral with a solenoid switch, but through searching the forum I found something that said to be in 1st before hitting the switch, is this correct, and where is the location of the switch? I'm fairly certain I have foudn it on the dash, but many of the switches are unlabled/worn off. Staying with the tranmission, when I got it out on the road this weekend I could not go past 2nd gear, when I moved it to the neutral position to hit 3rd it was like a wall between the right side of neutral and the vertical 3-4 line, does this sound like a linkage problem? Thanks everyone in advance for any help you might have, and I'm very glad to be part of the forum. | ||
| Cable (Fe2_o3)
Registered Member Username: Fe2_o3 Post Number: 29 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.112.211.206  Rating: N/A |
Rob; Congrat's on the bus. Great find. I've got a 4104. The reverse on it is 1st gear, push the button on the bottom left of the dash and hold it while pulling shifter into 2nd. That should put you in reverse. As for the other shifting problem. I would get the maint manual for the coach and adjust the linkage. If that fixes it fine, if not, you needed the book anyway and the linkage is adjusted now. Good luck...Cable | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 222 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.56.194  Rating: N/A |
Sweet ride! That genset is the same as mine, except that mine was for marine use. Runs smooth as can be and very quiet. That paint job looks like some of the old hot rod barn finds I see. Super cool! Glenn | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 524 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.216.5  Rating: N/A |
Sweet! It's always good to hear one more saved from the smelter. It looks to have Eagle rear tail lights, at least we're sorta cousins. Good Find! Paul | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 223 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.56.194 Rating: N/A |
Paul - you are absolutely right about being cousins. Rust knows no boundaries!  Sorry! I just couldn't help myself! Glenn | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 525 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.216.5 Rating: N/A |
Glenn, That's OK, I'm used to it, besides all that noise sometimes keeps me awake at night. That's why I wear ear plugs when I sleep! HA Paul | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 490 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193  Rating: N/A |
Reverse switch is second down on the left of the speedometer. I sent a picture (to your profile email address) of the dash with the lights & switches labeled. Too big to post here. Hope it helps. . . . BTW, what number is it? (Message edited by kyle4501 on June 29, 2009) | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 212 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 96.42.7.186  Rating: |
What a great looking bus Rob! keep us in the loop as you make progress on it. | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 491 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.12.105.243 Rating: N/A |
there are places for people like us . . . http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Scenicruiserdepot/ http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/Scenicruiser21/ You'll be surprised how much is known about your bus . . . . . | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 492 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.12.105.243 Rating: N/A |
BTW, The shifter linkage needs to be cleaned & lubed, there are cables from the shift tower to some bell-cranks to the right of the stairs as you pass the bathroom towards the rear. Then more cables towards the back to more cranks that connect to the transmission. As for the reverse issue; 1- You might need to clean the contacts in the reverse relay in the control panel (as you open the big door in the back looking at the engine, it is top right) in the engine compartment. 2- Then there is the solenoid on top of the transmission that actually pulls the linkage over to engage reverse gear. The dust cover also serves as a retainer to prevent the piston from extending too far. If it does, it won't work, so you'll have to 'fix it'. Hope this helps! | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 100 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.229.56.228  Rating: N/A |
nice looking bus, little rougher than mine on the inside but the same designer by the looks of it. Saw you got your wheel off, how'ld you do that with a 1' cheater bar?..If you have current to the reverse solenoide and it won't pull strongly enough, take it aprt and clean and lube it, mine worked after that. I tend to trouble shoot the electrics by running bypass wires directly to the component speeds up the process some. | ||
| Wayne Ellenburg (Wlnburg)
Registered Member Username: Wlnburg Post Number: 57 Registered: 6-2008 Posted From: 173.24.219.217  Rating: N/A |
Rob Great to see another bus nut in Alabama. I live just north of Huntsville. Awesome bus. I have a picture I took at the antique truck show in Huntsville several weeks ago. The pictures are on the bus nut facebook page. We are going to Gadsden Thursday camping at River Country Campground until Saturday or Sunday. | ||
| Jack Hart (Jackhartjr)
Registered Member Username: Jackhartjr Post Number: 54 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 205.188.116.203 Rating: N/A |
Welcome to the madness! Jack PD4501-945 | ||
| J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member Username: Roadrunnertex Post Number: 51 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.34.190.79 Rating: N/A |
OK that's a wonderful sight another Scenicruiser found and saved. Please post the serial number/VIN so us historians can keep track of it for our historical list. PD4501-XXX. Tom McNally or my self can give you it's Greyhound history. Thanks | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 2 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1  Rating: N/A |
Hi again everyone, I put a post up last night but I guess it didn't take to the board for some reason. So to recap; The husband of the woman that I bought it from passed away 5 or so years ago and it had been his baby, only he and 2 others were allowed to drive it and they only used one Coach Maintenance place in Tennesse for the 20+ years it was on the road. It was toured with for 5+ years with the original blue and yellow greyhound colors, and then was left at the maintenance shop and done up as a touring coach; the lights in the back were changed, the windows were removed and replace with plexi ( which i dont like very much) and the majority of the inside was built, and the coach was painted. They were originally from Chicago which is where the bus was purchased. It is #853 (now I'm doubting myself and wondering if it's 835, I'll have to double check) and from what I was told they bought it from a Chicago Greyhound subsidiary around 79' or 80', with a new 8V71 installed. After that it was based out of Tenn, and used 11 months out of the year for their touring, sounds like its been most places in the continental US and canada. Glenn - Do you know much about these generators? I've been looking around online at kohlers website and a few other places and have come up with hardly anything. The generator in my bus is running but leaking water from what I am assuming is the water pump. I know it's fairly new to this bus, according to the past owner they had an Onan that was used for years and years until it finally gave out, then this one was put in, but I don't actually know how old it is. It has run good enough though to power my air compressor while it was stuck out in that field with no electricity. Kyle - Thanks for that photo that clears some things up, I was using the Estop as the reverse switch which wouldn't have been helping the situation because of how the letters on the dash have worn making it look like the Overule was next to the 2nd switch, also the speedo has been removed and replaced with a Tach, so I'll be using my gps for mph. Patrick - The cheater bar in that picture worked for about half the lug nuts between the two front tires, but theres a story that goes with that. If you see how messed up those tires are in the front, it was because on the tow from Atlanta to here in what should have been 3.5 hrs, the duallys on the non drive axel on the driver side had the caps blow off. They had to move the front steers to the rear to make it the rest of the way so the bad tires on the front weren't tighened down as much as needed. For the ones I couldn't get off with that pipe and another one I went into work and borrowed a 3/4 drive air impact. Is there a general number of how many scenicruisers have survived? Thanks everyone for all the interest, I'll try to keep you updated as much as possible, thanks for all the help so far. | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 493 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
Tom knows of ~200+ that survive. But prevoiusly lost ones keep turning up . . . I'm guessing less than 300 survive in any shape at all. Less than 10% are still seated. Towing an old bus on a hook is seldom event free. I hope the caps didn't do any damage as they parted company . . . . I use a Landol trailer to take my orphans for rides & usually pay ~$100/ per truck hour which, so far has cost just under $4.00 / loaded mile. | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 3 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1 Rating: N/A |
Wow thats a wicked good rate, I paid a little more than $5 per mile. I had first looked around at a landol/lowboy, but I was worried about the overall height of the bus with the rooftop AC units figuring it would've been around 14-15' on the trailer. The caps didn't do any damage, although I keep finding pieces of rubber here and there. By the way, looking at your profile you have 6 PD4501's? Are they all on the road or in different states of storage. | ||
| J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member Username: Roadrunnertex Post Number: 52 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.34.190.79 Rating: N/A |
PD4501-853 From GMC to Atlantic Greyhound Lines Charleston,WV fleet number A2242 to A6440 to Southeastern Greyhound Lines Lexington,KY fleet number M5378 to Southern Greyhound Lines Chamblee,GA.Fleet number 5378. I am going to say the company in Chicago,IL was Hausman Bus Sales which was part owned by Greyhound Lines is the company that sold it to the people who bought it for a band bus. My records show that it was in Atlanta,GA in 2002. jlv | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 225 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.56.194 Rating: N/A |
Rob, I can't be sure of the parts supplier I have used, but my manual is in my bus and it has the contact info in it. They seem to be the only place to go for these old engines. Kohler really only wants you to buy new. I'm supposed to pick up the bus this evening and I'll post the info. I had to replace my water pump as well. Super easy. Glenn | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 544 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14  Rating: |
Rob::: I had to have rode on that bus because I used to go from Beckley WV to Hunington WV every 2 weeks in the summer when school was out. Golle, how time flys. Oh by the way WELCOME to the insane world of busnuts!!!! They is/was a 4501 here in Ocala Fl and it had been parked for 5 years before I saw it and was ROUGH and they wanted 5 grand for it then and that was 20 years ago. I may drive out and check and see if it is still there. I will let you all know in a couple of weeks. Gomer | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 719 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.54.207 Rating: N/A |
I know where one at that belongs to a Eagle owner I'll get the number for you guys.I know it has a very low number like in the teens and still has the seats with all the windows he has had it for over 25 years now and done nothing to it except pull the engine. . (Message edited by luvrbus on June 30, 2009) | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 494 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
Yes, I have 6 orphan 4501's. 1- Older conversion (that needs totally redone), but it runs real well, 2- 'just needs a starter' but is stone stock with only the seats removed, 3- is dirty & nasty from critters & varmits but is still seated & totally unknown why it was parked 4- used to be Hoyt Axton's tour bus & has suffered extensively since then, it's mostly a gutted & butchered shell, 5- converted to band tour bus (blue shag carpet floor to ceiling) & parked when motor locked up 6- mostly stripped to a bare shell with no engine, glass or transmission. . . I just couldn't let it get scrapped. (I probably have the most money in this one  ) We are currently using a 32' Airstream for camping & traveling while I fantasize about converting one of the orphans. | ||
| Jim Gibson (River_rat)
Registered Member Username: River_rat Post Number: 132 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 75.95.96.192 Rating: N/A |
Rob - Congradulations! I jopinjed the ranks as a bus nut about 4 months ago and it's a great hobby - lifestyle - and this is a great place to find help and meet some great people. I have a 4104 and am doing the same as you - I have about 3 month of hard work into it, and it's starting to take shape. There is a great site for info on generators - and other old engines, tractors, etc. http://www.smokstak.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?s=936b6de78e30c03bf67932d083ea52f9&f=6 Good luck, and welcome to the insanity! Jim | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 4 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1 Rating: N/A |
Kyle thats amazing, for the moment I'm what I am considering lucky enough to not have the space or money to save another one if I found one. I am a little concerned that one day I am going to wake up and walk outside to a yard full of busses. The scenicruiser had only been a dream of mine now for a year or two while I was using the MC5, and now that I have the Scenicruiser I have a bad notion of hunting for a MC6, and I also already found a Flxible Clipper which I think is a great looking bus too although it's in safe hands so I'm going to try to leave it alone for awhile. JLV - I haven't checked yet to double check my memory of the #853, but I'm certain that is that one as I pulled it out of Atlanta, and the Georgia registration on it reads 02'. The history and records you have are amazing. This bus has an air assisted clutch, and air power steering. Were those ammenities that were original or more likely added afterwords? Also what is everyones experience with rooftop AC units, this bus has three, and I have found several water leaks inside after a hard rain. I haven't traced them back to the source yet though because of the amount of shag carpetting and wood veneer on everything. These units bring somthing else up in my mind too, since the windows are all sealed plexi the only ventilation would come from those, are there many people who run their gensets at all times? | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 227 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.56.194 Rating: N/A |
Rob, I am sure you will want to get some widows that open as soon as you can. I'm not sure what your long term plans are for design, but these things get HOT without good insulation/ventilation. For now, try out those old AC units. They may work. Some older units also could be recharged - but I don't know which coolant these had. Nick Badame on this board could chime in there if you could put up some manufacturer info. Glenn | ||
| J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member Username: Roadrunnertex Post Number: 53 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 69.34.190.79 Rating: N/A |
The history and records you have are amazing. Well their are a few Scenicruiser fans that have the same information that I have thanks to a noted Scenicruiser historian in OKC,OK that goes by the name of Derf Namyar. My self my interest in Scenicruisers dates back to when Greyhound first put the Scenicruisers into service in 1954. You see my dad was a Greyhound driver until he retired in 1975 after 41 years of bus driving. He drove for Southeastern Greyhound Lines and later Southern Greyhound Lines during the era of the Scenicruisers and chances are that he very well could have driven you Scenicruiser. Thanks for the memories. jlv | ||
| Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Registered Member Username: Kyle4501 Post Number: 495 Registered: 9-2004 Posted From: 65.23.106.193 Rating: N/A |
The air assist clutch was added during the rebuild in the early 60's by Marmon-Herrington. That rebuild replaced the problematic twin 4l71's with a single 8V71. The 3 speed transmission with 2 speed clutch was replaced with a 4 speed & std clutch. All of mine have hydraulic power steering. As for collecting buses, I only consider the PD4501 worthy of the trip home. It also helps if your significant other doesn't have to look at them every day. | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 5 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1 Rating: N/A |
I'm hoping to come up with a solution to replacing the plexi with some sort of window that will open, while keeping the original window placement and dimensions the same. In the little time I've had it and had to work inside of it while replacing air tanks I think it has probably easily hit 115 deg F in there at the end of a hot sunny afternoon. I'll have to look at the power steering again, I could've sworn when I was moving it I heard the tell tale sounds of an air system leaking and venting, and all the front to back lines i've found have been air I think. But if all of yours are hydraulic it makes sense this one would also be. | ||
| thomas mcnally (Pd45017712003)
Registered Member Username: Pd45017712003 Post Number: 19 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 98.214.168.0 Rating: N/A |
LUVRBUS, Please let me know when you get that serial number from the Eagle owner. I keep a registry of all know surviving Scenicruiser serial numbers. I am curious if I already have that one or not. Thanks Tom McNally PD4501-771 PD4501-1001 PD4104-3462 | ||
| thomas mcnally (Pd45017712003)
Registered Member Username: Pd45017712003 Post Number: 20 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 98.214.168.0 Rating: N/A |
Rob Congrats on your purchase. Your bus has to be #853, as my records show 835 was scrapped. In fact I know who scrapped 835, and I saw the builders plate about a year ago. I had the exact same notes as John Vickers about 853. Great photos. Good luck and stay in touch. Tom McNally PD4501-771 PD4501-1001 PD4104-3462 | ||
| thomas mcnally (Pd45017712003)
Registered Member Username: Pd45017712003 Post Number: 21 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 98.214.168.0 Rating: N/A |
Rob I have attached below a post from the yahoo scenicruiser21 site that may be of interest to you. If you want Sean's email address, send me a PM and I can give you his contact info. Tom McNally Hi folks I was looking at a parts bus last week, an abandoned re-conversion, the owner had bought four Peninsular tinted windows for the Scenicruiser and they were never installed.. if anyone is looking for new-in-box 'drop in' windows that fit straight in with no cutting.. angled shape not square.. upper deck.. then drop me a pm and I will pass info to the seller.. price negotiable I was told, but they weren't cheap.. the bus/rv is also for sale, but it's a hollowed out mess, floor removed, rusty skins and bulkheads, good for a few parts only.. located in BC Canada.. cheers Sean | ||
| Rob Allen (Rob_allen)
Registered Member Username: Rob_allen Post Number: 6 Registered: 6-2009 Posted From: 194.69.148.1 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Tom, I'd be real intereted in those, I'll send you an email. | ||
| Glenn Williams (Glenn)
Registered Member Username: Glenn Post Number: 229 Registered: 6-2006 Posted From: 216.163.56.194 Rating: N/A |
Rob - Here is the info for the company that has parts and manuals for your genset: Michigan Generator Service, Inc. 5625 Van Born Ct. Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 313-291-4121 | ||
| Roger Dalke (Roger_d)
Registered Member Username: Roger_d Post Number: 16 Registered: 8-2007 Posted From: 205.206.150.110 Rating: N/A |
Saw three scenics in a compound in Gila Bend Az. One was converted the other two looked origional. | ||
| joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member Username: Joemc7ab Post Number: 359 Registered: 6-2004 Posted From: 66.38.159.33 Rating: N/A |
Roger I saw the same ones back in March when we were going through there. How are you keeping? Give me a call. Joe. | ||
| thomas mcnally (Pd45017712003)
Registered Member Username: Pd45017712003 Post Number: 22 Registered: 6-2005 Posted From: 144.195.6.10 Rating: N/A |
If you guys see Scenicruiser anywhere please get contact info and serial numbers. You can post here or send PM. Thanks Tom McNally |
