| Author | Message | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 257 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 75.178.92.43  Rating: N/A |
Hi Guys - Been awhile since my last post (‘On the Pit”) but here I am again! Or as my buddy put it when I rumbled into his drive, “Like a bad Canadian penny… you just keep showing up.” Insults aside, I’m now basking in warm and sunny Cherry Point, NC, about a block from the gate into Camp Lejeune. Lots of boats and water and FRESH fish galore. And a great commissary on base (boy, don’t these Marines get some great prices!). So… after winding down the little mountain roads of VA, finally hit the 95, highballed south (my favored direction) to Smithfield, NC, where I treated myself to a cheap room complete with tub and TV – the first night away from the bus since Ralph’s place, way back in April. Sweet! And then a few hours down the 70 to here. All in all, an uneventful trip. Well, on second thought, maybe it being uneventful made it ‘eventful.’ Never happened before and I could sure get used to it. As for the bus, she just gets stronger with each mile – instead of struggling to maintain speed (like when I started this voyage) I have to feather the throttle (on the flat) to hold her down. Accomplished much on the pit, but more to do. I could have stayed but got too antsy… I love nature and such but, man, when that’s ALL there is, a little goes a long way (and I’ve had 6 straight months of it). Anyway, got the underside, running gear, etc. cleaned up and rust treated, greased the fittings I could find, topped off the fluids (rear end took 4 quarts) and changed that old oil I’ve been worried about; it’s been run less than 2500 miles but going on 3 years old (I kept enough to get analyzed… just for future reference). BTW, I couldn’t get the filter. I wanted to dump the old one but it as on so tight I was afraid to cut it or ruin the gasket. Can I still change it without losing a bunch of my new oil? Or should I bother, considering how few miles it’s been run? Whatta ya think? Oh! And I got the clutch working, my main priority since April… but so many things got in the way. Awfully nice to have a clutch again!! One thing bothers me though: I could find but one grease fitting on the drive shaft – the one just forward of the U-joint closest to the tranny. I know there are three because I greased them up in Vermont just before leaving… but now I can’t locate them. The shaft threw out a lot of the grease – it was all over the airbags. Any suggestions? Okay, that’s it for now. And I hope you’re all doing well. Nellie | ||
| David Lower (Dave_l)
Registered Member Username: Dave_l Post Number: 210 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 67.58.201.132  Rating: N/A |
Good to hear you are haveing a good journy! Dave L | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 451 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.175.110  Rating: N/A |
Hey, Nellie! Glad to hear you're rollin' again... I'll be glad when I get to that point again. Going to be a tough go though. Wilderness... It's a great thing, isn't it?  Just think back to what the early pioneers went through to get just a few hundred miles heading west... Sometimes that sounds exciting, other times it sounds absolutely terrifying. O.O You should head west sometime, over here to Louisiana! I'd love to meet everyone on this board eventually someday... Perhaps I'll finally run out of bad luck and get a bus that doesn't rust to nothing, just stop working or burns to bits and can make one of those bus meets I keep seeing everyone go to. Take care... -Mac | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 587 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.155.14  Rating: N/A |
Nellie; glad to hear from you and that all is going pretty good. Keep us informed!!! Mac; How are you a doing on your stuff?? KEEP US INFORMED!!!! Gomer | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 1702 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 76.66.19.108  Rating: N/A |
You GO girl! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| macgyver (91flyer)
Registered Member Username: 91flyer Post Number: 452 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 74.193.175.110 Rating: N/A |
Well, I wrote an update in my last topic... I'll create another to avoid hijacking threads. ;) -Mac | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 258 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 75.178.92.43 Rating: N/A |
Hey Mac- Feel free to hijack. Hope you're getting you bus in order... Geez, and I think I have problems! Kewp truckin'... it's worth it. Nellie | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 572 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 64.40.215.137  Rating: N/A |
At least you are heading in the right direction! Enjoy the journey! Paul | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 162 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.216.136.93 Rating: N/A |
South is good,...... West is better. :>) | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 163 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.216.136.93 Rating: N/A |
Maybe i should of put that on the flame war topic? | ||
| Rob Norgren (Robsedona)
Registered Member Username: Robsedona Post Number: 102 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.208.251.77  Rating: N/A |
Great to hear that! Their is a Seal On the shaft the 5C might be a little different then the 5A but its a Cork Washer 14B-1-14 Steel Washer 14B-1-11 and a dust cap 14B-1-13. In order to change them you have to remove the inner shaft. They did call the drive shaft a Propeller Shaft on MCI back then maybe still do? So I guess we Drive Land Yachts :-) So glad this last part of your trip Was Good! Rob | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 260 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 75.178.92.43 Rating: N/A |
Mac – I know a guy has a GMC bus in good shape – in fact, I got my tanks and toilet out of her. She runs great and is already stripped for conversion and registered as an RV (in Maryland). This guy had big plans for her (a ‘party’ bus) but – since he has at least 30 other buses – I doubt he’s done anything. I won’t say what he paid but bet you could nick it for well under 5 grand. I know another guy has a ‘Buffalo’ (is that a 4905?) – haven’t seen this one run, but know it was driven from Maryland to Delaware and looks pretty nice. Again, won’t divulge what he paid but believe you could pick it up within your budget. FWIW and good luck. Nellie Wilson | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 481 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.232.219  Rating: N/A |
-and when your done going south & west, try heading northwest to B.C. (while we have very mild & normally very short winters in the south okanagan, I recommend the spring & fall); if you were looking for my unsolicited input . ... on those unusual uneventful trips, it generally only happens if someone has done the upkeep at some point, so there really is no free lunch; although some do get "good" lucky for a time and end up eating the last persons lunch, some one still had to make it... ~ pleased to see another myth exposed that making "bus lunch" may be done by girls too; makes my universe seem a little more in balance, thanks for sharing your good example. | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 164 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 70.192.250.254 Rating: N/A |
Ahhh.... Clint? very mild and short winters? Looking at your picture there i don't think that looks like mild weather to me. To an Eskimo maybe, but not to me! :>) My idea of a mild winter is to be found in Yuma. They did have snow once, in..... 1932!!! | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 486 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52 Rating: N/A |
1932, that does sound a bit milder, somewhat less "fish eater like" kind of like the smart birds , hummmm. not that snow doesn't have it's place, up high in the mountains, as nice water | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 487 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.237.52 Rating: N/A |
& viVE , do get the oil filter change at first oppertunity, you will only loose a bit of your new oil, very import if it plugs up, won't be much of a filter. If your concerned about breaking things like the filter housing or threw bolt, make sure your park were you can stay when you go to change that filter. Spray things down with a good penetrating oil days ahead , helps soften up the dried old gasket. "FLUID FLIM" or something foamy with "wax wool" in it works best on those old rubber gaskets if you can get at them, clean them with brake cleaner first. -even if you do break it (the reusable canister/cartridge type) you can switch to a adapter and the disposable cansiter/filter type like on most cars. _if you can't feel or see your nipples (grease) on the driveshaft & unjoints, if they were loose or not tight when install, they nipple can vibrate out; at some angles the ujoint cups may be hiding them, feel or look again after you rotate the drive shaft & relocatet them. One heavy duty u-joints , they are useally on the end of the cup and not at the cross intersection/crotch & one more nipple on the female slider yoke for the splined shaft. ~ hadn't miss your questions, just had to make the time to answer properly, so don't neglect to finish your oil change as it make the odds of bad bus luck much greater. Make it perhfeck now | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Registered Member Username: Busted_knuckle Post Number: 290 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 98.66.36.135 Rating: N/A |
Nellie, You are most welcome to come west to the "West Tennessee Busnut Gathering" @ my place next week end! We could help ya get that filter changed and the chassis lubed too! (I keep the filters on the shelf!) And since yer in NC you could caravan with several others like Uncle Ned heading this way! Just a thought, but like I said yer more than welcome and we have a full service shop w/pit & help! ;D BK ;D | ||
| Bruce Henderson (Oonrahnjay)
Registered Member Username: Oonrahnjay Post Number: 456 Registered: 8-2004 Posted From: 70.60.107.113  Rating: N/A |
Bryce - Yeah, NC and TN are neighboring states ... easy to get between. Except they're looooong states! Nell could get back to Canada (either through Windsor or to Ottawa) in fewer miles than it will take to get from Havelock NC to Union City! | ||
| Nellie Wilson (Vivianellie)
Registered Member Username: Vivianellie Post Number: 266 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 75.178.92.43 Rating: N/A |
Bryce - I read your notice on 'the other board' and thought I might come... untlI I checked the actual mileage. Wow! Sounds a lot closer than it actually is... much as I'd love to join everyone, I think it would cost too much. But, darn! I've got to start getting to some of these events...it's a big part of why I wanted this bus, to hang with like-minded folks and have some 'family' on the road (plus, of course, to learn something about what I'm doing). Regrettably, though, I must decline your gracious invitation (this time). HOWEVER, I would like to swing through and see you when it's more on my way? Like when I go to Nashville, or maybe heading west. I guess you're going to relocate soon, so keep us posted, okay? Thanks again! Nellie | ||
| Bryce Gaston (Busted_knuckle)
Registered Member Username: Busted_knuckle Post Number: 292 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 98.66.36.135 Rating: N/A |
Nellie you and any other busnuts are always welcome @ our place! And I can assure you wherever we land there will be room for visitors, friends, and nuts too! ;D BK ;D And Bruce while it's true she could back to Canada in less miles. It wouldn't be as much fun, or as warm! LOL! ;D |