| Author | Message | ||
| Matthew Shaw (Greentowtruck)
Registered Member Username: Greentowtruck Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 24.113.12.84 Rating: N/A |
I am looking at a orion transit 35 with a 6v92t and a Doromat transmission. The transmission I am told does not want to shift into 3rd gear and may have a short causing it to shut down under load. Does anyone know where to find parts for this tranny or would I be better off converting to an allison 4 speed and highway gears. I am looking at this bus to haul all my stuff when I move then maybe a conversion to an rv. | ||
| Cable (Fe2_o3)
Registered Member Username: Fe2_o3 Post Number: 36 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 71.112.201.48  Rating: N/A |
My opinion is keep looking. You don't want to start out with headaches. You'll have enough later on anyway. Look for one that runs well for the move. Then start the headaches when converting...Cable | ||
| Matthew Shaw (Greentowtruck)
Registered Member Username: Greentowtruck Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 24.113.12.84 Rating: N/A |
Really this bus does run well it is just a transmission or transmission controller problem. The possible short causes the trans to shut down not the whole bus. I do know where there is an allison I could get my hands on. I was thinking that it would be a better choice for parts availability in the long run. I have not had any luck finding anything about the Renk Doromat transmissions, and I know orion started using allisons shortly after the 86 model year | ||
| Arthur N. Gaudet (Runcutter)
Registered Member Username: Runcutter Post Number: 30 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 70.122.250.111 Rating: N/A |
Matthew, how old is the Orion? In the 80's, they had a series (Orion1??) that had severe body issues, fairly early in their life. Sight down the side of the bus, looking just behind the rear axle. In the most severe cases, they looked like they were dragging their tails behind them. Another place to look is at the floor, just around/behind the rear axle. Arthur | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 852 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.32.83.4 Rating: N/A |
Here is the last number I had for Renk in SC 1-864-433-0069 parts are pricey for the Renk | ||
| Matthew Shaw (Greentowtruck)
Registered Member Username: Greentowtruck Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 24.113.12.84 Rating: N/A |
Arthur: this is an Orion 1 1986 model year it looks like it is in pretty good shape but I will take a closer look next time I go out where it is. Luvrbus: Thanks for the number I will try to call them in the next day or so. If the parts are too pricey I think I will just swap in an Allison if I get this bus. | ||
| George M. Todd (George_todd)
Registered Member Username: George_todd Post Number: 6 Registered: 2-2010 Posted From: 99.39.13.50 Rating: N/A |
If my old memory serves me right, this same question was posed here at least a year ago? This means that either there is a recurring problem with these transmissions, or this bus has been for sale for over a year, without a buyer. Welcome, and please think hard and look around before you buy. G | ||
| Matthew Shaw (Greentowtruck)
Registered Member Username: Greentowtruck Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 24.113.12.84 Rating: N/A |
Yes this is the same bus that was posted about a year or so ago. I know the owner he hasn't been trying to sell but I may trade out some mechanic work on his MCI 5B for the orion. I also know where I can get a couple of allison transmissions and that sounds like the best choice for repairs | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 606 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.238.13  Rating: N/A |
...try calling MCI tech line, they bough up Orion in the mid 80's from GM | ||
| Matthew Shaw (Greentowtruck)
Registered Member Username: Greentowtruck Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 24.113.12.84 Rating: N/A |
well I went and looked at the Orion again today it is an 86 and it is the larger 35 foot transit. Sighted down the said as mentioned earlier and she looks straight. It has good tires up front and decent tires in the rear. No apparent leaks inside from what I saw. It is already licensed as a motorhome and all the seats are removed but nothing built inside yet. looks like the only problem is the transmission and I think I am just going to swap in an allison. It also sounds like I am going to be able to get it for fixing the blower shaft on the MCI (just my labor they are buying parts) | ||
| clint hunter (Truthhunter)
Registered Member Username: Truthhunter Post Number: 607 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 24.129.238.13 Rating: N/A |
...at the least it will make a fine mobile storage shed for the effort... untill you find parts or decide to go all out and convert to a different transmission installation. ~Most parts can be located if you look far enough in enough of the right places (like HD scrap yards or parts suppliers by googleing). Happy busing | ||
| Arthur N. Gaudet (Runcutter)
Registered Member Username: Runcutter Post Number: 31 Registered: 9-2006 Posted From: 70.122.250.111 Rating: N/A |
Just to clarify, Orion was, and is, a separate company - no GM association. It's now owned by Daimler -- their website is Orionbus.com. Most of their buses were/are built in Canada. They did form a US subsidiary, Bus Industries of America, in Oriskany, NY - due to the Buy America regulations. Several of my clients are running current Orions, and they seem to be a pretty good bus. It's easy to get a little mixed up. Transportation Manufacturing Corporation (the MCI/Greyhound subsidiary) built Citicruisers, under licence from Orion. The Citicruiser was essentially the same as your vintage Orion (Orion 1 if I recall, but I'm not sure). That raises another question. You may want to check to be sure you have an Orion, rather than a Citicruiser. The only difference may be the builders plate/badge, but there may be other differences. TMC is in Roswell, New Mexico. Later, they replaced their city bus product with the RTS, which they did buy from GM. That may be when Orion opened the BIA plant in Oriskany, losing the Roswell solution to Buy America. By the time that happened, I wasn't buying buses any more, so I really don't remember all of the timing. Bottom line, you may get better information from the old hands at Orion, rather than MCI. I was General Manager of an operation that ran a small fleet of 30-foot Citicruisers in the early 1980's, and they weren't bad. They had turbocharged 6V53's so they were screamers. I could always tell when they were coming in, you'd hear them from blocks away. I don't remember what they had for transmissions. Matthew, if you email me off the board (runcutter AT runcutter DOT com), I can give you the name of a mechanic at that property. He was young enough, that he may still be there - and he may remember what transmissions were in them. Arthur | ||
| Matthew Shaw (Greentowtruck)
Registered Member Username: Greentowtruck Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 24.113.12.84 Rating: N/A |
Well the information I have been able to get so far shows this as being an Orion 1.507. Originally purchased by Intercity transit here in Washington state to make te run from Olympia to Tumwater. They were equipped with a 6V92TA and a Renk Doromat 874B 3 Speed automatic. After it was retired and sold it was used to provide relief supplies after Katrina. It was also used once as a float during a parade for a high school football team. Now it belongs to the 3rd owner and he has had the tranny problem since he got it. I have actually found pictures of it while still in service as a transit bus as #505 here. http://www.busdude.com/it/IT_505_2.jpg | ||
| Benjamin Edge (Busnut1981)
Registered Member Username: Busnut1981 Post Number: 6 Registered: 10-2007 Posted From: 67.189.4.175 Rating: N/A |
You could replace the Renk transmission with the Voith DIWA D863, as both sound alike. Orion, in 1986, I believe, started cataloging the Voith transmission, for that year also witnessed the Cummins L10 engine as an option. (Message edited by BusNut1981 on June 19, 2010) |