| Author | Message | ||
| christopher l cole sr. (Muziklvr)
Registered Member Username: Muziklvr Post Number: 96 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.171.167.143 Rating: N/A |
well,just made the trip from nashville t to eastern nc (650 mi) with no problems. sort of. my right side rear wheel is slinging a little greese in the outside of the rim. could this possibly be a hub seal ???? if so how hard is it to replace?? also now i cant get bus into reverse,but can feel the pressure on the stick when i hit the reverse switch,but will not pull out of first into reverse(2nd).bus goes thru all forward gears w no issues. could the reverse situation be related to the greese in my rear wheel? | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 499 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.3.170 Rating: N/A |
Hi Christopher, Do you know whether your rear bearings are lubricated by the axle oil (oiled bearings) or packed with bearing grease (greased bearings)? A little "grease" in the outside of the rim could be oil coming from the axle flange/gasket at the outboard end of the axle assembly. It might be oil or grease coming from the inner wheel bearing seal but that is unlikely because it usually goes out between the dual tires. If there is enough leakage, see if you can smell the stuff on the wheel. Axle oil has a very noticeable scent. Bearing grease does not smell that way. Axle oil should be 140 wt which is "oilier" than grease. If this is just a little weeping and not getting on your brakes take it home & fix it in the driveway. You can properly check and service seals, brakes, bearings etc. and if you have to order anything you won't be sitting around for days. Now, as for the transmission, if the clutch is adjusted properly to easily shift into first at a stop, then probably there is an issue with the big electric solenoid on the transmission that shifts to reverse. get a helper, turn the "ignition" on but don't start it. Open the transmission door and watch the solenoid as your helper attempts (you'll have to show them how) to put it in reverse. When it is in first and they push the switch, the solenoid should pull the lever over towards reverse, then it'll go into reverse when they move the stick to "second". If it's weak or doesn't move, pull the little lever with your hand & see if it will shift manually. If it does, try a jumper to give a full 12 volts at the solenoid. If it works, it's in the wiring from the front. (broken wire, bad switch or connection, etc.) If it does not work with a jumper at the solenoid, but it does work with your hand, it's the solenoid. If it does not work by hand, you seem to have a tranny problem. My money is on wiring or solenoid. You DO know that you have to hold the reverse switch energized while you pull the stick from first to second, right? (I did not know this when I bought our bus & got it stuck across a road. Couldn't go forward, wouldn't go back under it's own power. A story to be told over an alcoholic beverage.) Hey, reverse is overated anyway. If you plan where you are going you ALMOST never need it. Just gotta get those "feelers" way out front. | ||
| David Guglielmetti (Daveg)
Registered Member Username: Daveg Post Number: 164 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 63.198.19.239  Rating: N/A |
Good response. My first thoughts were that the clutch may not be releasing all the way...time for a clutch adjustment. Regarding the drive axle flange leak, (assuming that is the problem) when you replace the axle might I suggest using Permatex Ultra Gray for a sealant rather than a gasket. Ultra Blue is okay if you are not using synthetic lube. Hope I'm making a contribution here..... | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 232 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 174.91.225.176  Rating: N/A |
Same as above for the reverse wiring with a plus..if the solenoid isn't pulling well with 12V at the stud, taking it apart and a nice clean up with some emery paper seems to help. It's tru that reverse can almost be avoided, (until it can't) and also 2 people can sometimes get it into reverse with one in the engine bay and some screaming and cursing. p.s. if you still have an old relay as the relay for reverse, these can suck or still be good with an adjustment and some more emery paper on the points (I know you're supposed to use a stone but the emery is faster and doesn't require taking the whole thing apart. I'm still using some original relays but must confess that i'm using a new generic ones on the starter and reverse relays. And FYI the '04 uses packed (grease) bearings. (Message edited by zubzub on June 08, 2010) | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 467 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 173.77.233.182  Rating: N/A |
Good post Jim, you too Zub. i made a horseshoe or u shaped bracket (out of paint sticks and a 2x3) so i could pull the solonoid/shaft out and wedge it in place then go back start it and have reverse. That was back in the days when no one would get in that bus with me! I had a rubber mallet for missed shifts. trying to knock the top shaft back onthe trans in the middle of the night on 301 in Maryland. Yep nothing like blocking the road!! and good idea about the beverage. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1179 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.164.69.37  Rating: N/A |
The 4104 rear axle uses grease. It is not supposed to be full, just the bearings fully greased and a thin coat of grease inside the hub. If it is filled with grease it will leak out when hot. As posted, if diff oil is leaking it will stink and you need new outer and inner seals. I had to special order the outer seal ($100+). I just recently went through this and it is not fun removing that heavy rear hub. However, it does give you a good look at the brakes and air bags. I recommend letting it leak for awhile. If it stops it has too much grease. If it gets worse it is oil. The slinger usually keeps oil/grease off the brake linings. Your reverse solenoid has two coils, a puller and a holder. If they are bad it will pull but not hold or not pull at all. Once again,you must hold the switch until it is in R. | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1199 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 99.12.241.82  Rating: N/A |
Your reverse solenoid has two coils, a puller and a holder. And require a proper adjustment (length of pull rod) to work properly. Procedure is in Da Book and is needed when a solenoid change is made. Basically you remove the solenoid cover and watch that the "big pull" points open. FF | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 500 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.3.170 Rating: N/A |
Gus, I asked if they were oil or grease because when I got our 4104, it was set up as oiled bearings. Someone had removed the outer seals and the inner ones were leaking. We just never know what has been done with or to these buses by the time we get them. | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1180 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.164.69.37 Rating: N/A |
Jim, So very true!! Sometimes the complete rear axle assembly has been changed. |