| Author | Message | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 2 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.196 Rating: N/A |
Hello all my fellow busnuts! This is my first post. I have a 1966 TDH 4519 fishbowl,DD V 6-71 with a VS-2 auto tranny. I aquired her last Halloween 2008. I drove from Tacoma Wa. To Ellensburg WA.She's been a lot of work as she was converted in 1987. I spent this summer stripping the paint off the steel panels that blank out the original windows.POR 15 with tie coat sealer. Anyway I have not driven her much. We are planning on getting out of the deep freeze this winter and snowbirding @ Slab City and Mesa. My problem is that when the engine is not quite warmed up it will not go into gear as it grinds. I have to stop the engine ,put it in the desired gear, start her up then go. After it is driven for 30 minutes I can turn the coach off and restart it and it goes into F & R fine. The tranny fluid appears to be Delo 100 and the fluid level is fine. I have looked under the floor shifter and removed a cover to find 2 switches .They seem to be adjusted fine as I have metered continuity and voltage at both ends. I have looked at the linkage it appears to be OK. I am concerned that this tranny could be a weak link in reliability on our 1900 mile voyage starting the first week in December, as im trying to beat the snowfall here. Any suggestions or recomendations? Also I am concerned how to use the tranny on a steep downgrade as there is no way to downshift manually to use the engine compression as braking like you would with a manual tranny. I assume start downgrade at slowspeed and stab brake on the decline? Thanx to all and we hope to see our fellow busnuts in the warm sunshine this winter | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 147 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239  Rating: N/A |
Hi Edward I had the same problem with the VH9 tranny when cold. I installed a toggle switch that bypassed the neatral safety switch when starting cold. Worked like that for years. I would say that as long as it shifts when warm you are not going to break down on the way to the warmth for that reason. I was told by Loren Joplin @ Dreamliner that there was a Allison upgrade that apparently created that problem when cold. | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 3 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.175 Rating: N/A |
Thank you. That puts my mind at ease. It does shift ok. It is not as smooth of a shift as a passenger car. It looks like you have a fishbowl also. Is yours a 40 footer? She sure looks awesome! We will be taking I 84 and I want to avoid the steep grades on our way south. Mine has no speedo or tach only air psi, volts and engine temp for up front gauges. It was a crawl up I 90 from seattle when we brang her home. At that time I did not know that the VS-2 had a low speed lockup and kept my foot in it. I think I should have let up on the foot and wait for the lockup to happen. I now only use about 1/8 to 1/4 of the top available throtle. I don't know what to expect for MPG. I have seen posts claiming 9-10MPG but with an auto trans its hard to believe. Any thoughts . Thanx Paso 1 | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 148 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239 Rating: N/A |
I bought "Fishbowl Brians " bus to use as a donor/parts bus. It had a VS2-8 tranny with a 8V71 I drove it only 1100 miles home I figured I got about 7-8 MPG That bus cruised along at 70 + according to the pilot vehicle following. It definatly had harsh shifts but firm. My 5303 bus is the last Canadian built 5303 and it is a 40 footer. I installed 4:10 gears in the rear end and now I am currently changing the tranny to a V730. Coming home I built up speed going down hills to offset any slow down going up hill  | ||
| Dan West (Utahclaimjumper)
Registered Member Username: Utahclaimjumper Post Number: 209 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 208.66.38.60 Rating: N/A |
Ed, which dash number trans do you have??I have a VS2-8 and it requires ATF for fluid.>>>Dan( I'v owned and operated mine for 13 years) | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 4 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.159 Rating: N/A |
Paso 1 thanx for your update. Sounds like you've been doing some heavy duty work. She looks great! I like the way you make up road time lol. Dan hello, I also have the VS2-8. I don't have the dash # as I have to store her off sight,but that's another story. I have been reading posts here and been a member for about a year,but just began posting. I read a post about this tranny a while back and was amazed that some have been using delo 100 as their fluid. My fluid smells like delo and is amber colored like delo. Hmmm maybe I should start another thread and see what answers come up? Thanx | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1308 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 63.164.47.227 Rating: N/A |
IIRC, the VS transmission is solenoid actuated and can be made to lockup the converter whenever you like. Also, IIRC, that transmission locks up in direct and shifts to overdrive without unlocking the converter, so there is quite a surge as it shifts. It also has the best mileage reports of any of the early Allisons. HTH. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| ED Hackenbruch (Shadowman)
Registered Member Username: Shadowman Post Number: 189 Registered: 11-2003 Posted From: 75.208.187.123 Rating: N/A |
Ed, do you have a brother that is working for Goodfellow Bros. on Maui? | ||
| Paso One (Paso_1)
Registered Member Username: Paso_1 Post Number: 149 Registered: 11-2004 Posted From: 142.165.246.239 Rating: N/A |
Thanks for the compliment on the bus. Everything I own looks good from 40 ft. And from a picture it looks even better Yes I have done a lot of work lately Gotta love those upgrades. The VS2-8 in Brians bus ran Delo 100 as it had a small leak in a hose and thats what I used as recommended by Brian. Tom I think I remmeber you posting a wiring diagram years ago on how to wire the lock up to a toggle switch. Yes Tom I almost put the VS2-8 into my bus because of the good milage reports but was afraid with the 4:10 rear end I don't need 100 MPH If I could get it rolling from a dead stop. If I didn't already have the rear end changed the VS2-8 would have worked great with the 5:30 rear end that was originally in the bus. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 415 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.7.177 Rating: N/A |
I had a 4905 with a VS2-8 with the 4.125 axle & it ran great. Unlike the V730, this is essentially a one speed transmission (2nd or direct drive) with a torque converter ("first" when engaged) and an overdrive planetary "third". It is always in direct drive. It goes like this:"First, direct drive with torque converter, "Second", direct with converter lockedout, "Third", direct drive going through the overdrive planetary gears. Not a lot of grunt getting rolling (the automatic isn't like the solid push of a stick) but you just stood on the throttle & she'd get rolling. The converter locked up at about 25 and the overdrive connected at about 40. I never drove her fast enough to know what top end would go but I'd guess 75 or more. I have some schematics, etc from Don Schwanke on how to hook up switches & solenoids to control each shift. The F-N-R is a mechanical lever shift, operated by air or cable. If it is air, it will not shift properly if the neutral is not energized, it just grinds the gears down and if you can't stop the engine you can destroy those gears. If yours is air shifted be REAL cautious not to shift till you have full air pressure. If you do, it will not get into gear, but instead grind horribly and you won't have air to stop the engine. You'd have to run to the back, open the engine door & manually kill the engine. "Don't ask me how I know!" Some trannies have one solenoid and some have two on the top of the trans. Mine had one. The shift on mine is done with two toggle switches up front. One switch (single throw) gives you neutral (energize for neutral). This one often lights a little indicator light. The other, a double throw, is F-N-R. When you start the bus, you would have the neutral light on and the other switch in the center. WHEN YOU HAVE FULL AIR PRESSURE, you select F or R, then flip the neutral switch. When you want to shift from R to N or F, you stop, turn Neutral on, flip the other switch to N then F (if that's what you want) then flip the Neutral off (light off) engaging the transmission. It would definitely be worth your while to install some kind of normally open switch that disabled the shift circuit until the air pressure is up! | ||
| Dan West (Utahclaimjumper)
Registered Member Username: Utahclaimjumper Post Number: 210 Registered: 1-2005 Posted From: 208.66.38.115 Rating: N/A |
I wired mine with two skinner valves and one toggle switch with a center lock-out, I dont have your problems.>>>Dan (or complexities) (Message edited by utahclaimjumper on November 13, 2009) | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 416 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.0.219 Rating: N/A |
Dan, the air shifter IS a complex device, with an air solenoid valve at each end plus a switch at each end How do you move the lever with a Skinner valve? Does your VS2 have one or two solenoids on the transmission body? | ||
| Edward T McGehee (Bluesman)
Registered Member Username: Bluesman Post Number: 5 Registered: 11-2008 Posted From: 216.220.216.152 Rating: N/A |
Great info here. My 4519 is cable operated, from the shifter up front to the tranny. I can start the engine with the floor shifter in any {F-N-R} position. At the bottom end of the shift stick are 2 (1for F and1 for R) momentary contact switches that are actuated by the forks at the end of this shifter. I am going on the concept of a passenger vehicles neutral saftey switch that will not let it start unless it is in neutral. As I can start my bus in any selection I assume that I do not have a neutral switch at all. Tom what is the reason to have the option to lock up the converter whenever you wanted? Would that allow me to be able to manualy down shift going up or down a grade? That would be nice to have that option because one of my concerns is decending a steep grade and roasting the brakes. Jim could you email those schematics? Sure can come in handy. That way I can check out and compare what mine is set up like. My VS2-8 has only 1 solanoid with 2 wires going to it. ED Shadowman, hello. Yes he was in maui a while back doing some work, that's my bro Dave. He is in Idaho doing a project there. At least he still working in this economy heh. Im the only busnut in the family. | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 671 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
I have a 74, gmc 4905 with a VS2-8 and the floor shifter has F-N- R. On the left side panel I have a switch F-N-R, Now you have to put it in gear,before you start it or it will grind away, same with reverse. After that you push the toggle switch F or R and it will go wether you have it,Floor Shifter in F or R. It ain't rite LOL I have the book on it and haven't got into it very deep but, I will be able to look up stuff if need be for you. Mine has One solonoid also. Gomer | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 143 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
If you can wire in a manually controlled torque converter lockup, then you'll be able to keep it in lockup even in 1st gear. That will keep the temperature down going up a long grade-like out of Seattle, and keep from getting white knuckles on long down grades. You should also install Jake Brakes. I have the V730 and love the trans. I get 1st gear lockup if I pull the shifter to 1st. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Registered Member Username: Pvcces Post Number: 1309 Registered: 5-2001 Posted From: 65.74.65.156 Rating: N/A |
Ed, the other Tom answered your question. Good luck. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher Ketchikan, Alaska | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 291 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 64.12.116.203 Rating: N/A |
Hi Ed. Since you are in the area, you would be welcome to join the Black Diamond Bus Club. One of our members owned your setup for many years and could sure get you lined out on all the aspects of your bus and the VS2. Let me know, we are just over the hill! We do some fun runs all the time. I just did a Seattle/Richland/Portland/Seattle run over the weekend, wish I would have known, I could have stopped and said hello... |