| Author |
Message |
ChuckS (Chucks) (66.167.142.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 8:26 pm: | |
Now that I've gone thru the trials & tribulations of obtaining a coach, (MC9) I have a concern I'd not thought about much before. I will have to keep the coach in a gated RV Storage place for awhile.
Let's start with this - the push knob on the front seems disconnected, you can open the entrance door without having pushed it first. Am gonna explore if a linkage needs adjusting. Am assuming that if it were working, you can put a padlock in to prevent it from being pushed in. Am assuming that all this does is give a shove to the driver's door lever, or would does electricity or air pressure have anything to do with it?
The bus does have a keyed deadbolt on the entrance door as well as on each bay door, but will have to get a locksmith to make keys, b/c current owner has none.
Would like to get a keyed start switch, but that can wait awhile. Just has the pushbutton now.
Does the over-ride panel in the engine compartment start the coach regardless of position of driver's front switch? Can anyone just walk up and start the darn thing?
And lastly, am concerned about battery door, fuel door and for that matter engine doors. Any great ideas on keeping teenagers and other neer-do-wells outta there?
I'm going to keep peppering you with questions until you tell me to stop! ;) And if you do, no hard feelings.
Thanks again!
--ChuckMC9 |
jim mci-9 (209.240.198.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 8:50 pm: | |
dont waste your money on a locksmith to make keys... pull 1 of the tumblers out yourself... match it at a parts store... mine is a double sided ford car door key.... 2 tumblers..new... were less than $10... same for the bay doors... take a tumbler out and match it... koenig tool box locks are the same as mine....you migh have to change the striker on the back... but its held on with a snap ring...this way you get new locks... instead of the old 1's... |
jim mci-9 (209.240.198.63)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 8:53 pm: | |
i forgot..... the master elect switch is in the battery compartment... with it off, you can't start from the rear... or anywhere else for that matter.... the bay doors also will allow a padlock to be used....get them all keyed alike... home depot... 6 locks keyed alike... $16....and they were master....wha year model is your "9".???.... |
Abajaba (12.217.194.92)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 9:05 pm: | |
If it is anything like the 102 series that I drive
the engine cannot be started from the back unless
the master switch is turned on at the drivers
position.
As Jim stated, the bay doors can be pad locked.
If it is there, there is a place at the bottom
of the entrance door where another padlock can be
used to keep it shut.
On the 102 series there are lock cylinders on all
the little access doors except for the engine room.
These doors did not have a lock on them. |
Lorin David McCleary (Wacoastmci) (148.78.243.121)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:39 pm: | |
Our 102D has airlock bay doors with switch just inside entry door. The engine compartment's 3 doors are not on this lock setup and must be locked manually with key. I know some MCI102's had an anti-theft feature which required the step lamp to be lighted before the engine could be started. Something like that could probably be wired-up on any bus. |
ChuckS (Chucks) (66.167.142.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:48 pm: | |
Man, you guys are great - LOTS of good ideas. I'll look at the bottom of the entrance door and if there's not some kind of place to put a lock, and by golly I can rig something up to work there if not!
Great idea about removing the tumblers & getting new!
And I had known about bay hasps but forgot.
I had also known about the master elec switch but forgot about that as well, so I could also actually rig up something with a padlock at the bottom of the battery compt. and prevent any starting. GREAT!
Now all I have to worry about is somebody dumping sand in the gas tank, and ya know, I'm not going to lose any sleep on that one.
It's enough stress BUYING A BUS!!!
--Chuck |
ChuckS (Chucks) (66.167.142.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 10:52 pm: | |
Oh Jim, it's a 1982 MC9 8v71 w/5onthefloor - learning doubleclutching is the next assignment. |
Nick Russell (66.82.9.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:25 pm: | |
Chucks,
I guess the guys covered most of your questions, so I'll just add don't hesitate to ask questions That's what we're here for. I have sure learned a lot from this board. |
ChuckS (Chucks) (66.167.142.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, October 22, 2003 - 11:30 pm: | |
Nick - I've been meaning to say hello to you offlist. I'm one of your new GJ subscribers (couple of months) and brother, it's YOUR FAULT that I caught this bus bug!!! Your conversion story was the first I'd ever read.
All the best,
Chuck |
Peter Aduskevich (Slowslowpete) (67.75.106.254)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 12:39 am: | |
I and my friends have had their equipment attacked by kids. It seems their favorite thing around here is to fill up every thing with dirt. When you have your batteries, fuel tank, rad. , and crankcase full of dirt its rather upsetting. I would lock every thing especially the fuel. If your bus quits at least you know no one put any thing in the tank . |
David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (64.24.236.140)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 8:47 am: | |
Definately lock the fuel. Last winter, someone siphoned the diesel out of the bus and left only a few gallons in it. It was over 3/4 full and I'm sure it took more than one night. Around where the bus is, alot of folks heat with heating oil. We are due up for more fuel. But first we will get locks! I would love to catch whomever got our fuel last winter. |
BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 11:27 am: | |
Chuck, I was lucky in that I got a key for my 96A3... the guy wanted to mail it to me... NO DEAL! Made him drive 15 miles to go back and get it.
But 4 of the locks weren't working, like Jim said they are Ford door locks, I used 86 Ford Pickup as a basis to order them by, bought 6 of them CHEAP. I carefully opened the old locks removing the tumbler cover, marked all the tumblers, and set them in plastic numbered bags. I then measured all of the tumblers and the spring followers with a digital caliper. Then for the locks that had lost their tumblers I had all the measurements and opened up the new lock cylinders extracted the tumblers + springs and filed the down the required amount until I had all new locks matched to my coach key! AND if another lock goes bad I can either switch the tumblers with a new lock cyl. or file down the tumblers to match.
Brian |
Sam Sperbeck (206.230.105.248)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 3:36 pm: | |
Hi ChuckS,
Are you confused about whether you have a DIESEL or GAS fueled bus? (You mentioned gas tank) Please don't make the mistake of putting GAS in your DIESEL fuel tank, the results could be costly. Since you are a newby I don't know if you are experienced enough to make that distinction, I am just trying to help, not offend you.
Thanks, Sam Sperbeck
La Crescent, MN |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.142.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 4:54 pm: | |
Oh MAN, Sam! COMMM ON!
OK, you don't know me so I won't be offended. Maybe. ;) The first post I did say fuel tank then slipped and said gas tank. Believe me, the first time I was exposed to the open engine doors of an MCI when it was running with that six foot blower belt just waiting to take my arm off, I was thinkin' WHATTHEHECKIZZAT? I was doing Hail Marys and I ain't even Catholic!
Even though these days they're selling autos to the masses with more horsepower, believe me, I KNOW that sucka ain't no wimpy gasoline engine!!!
Thank you for your concern - I will ask a lot of dumb questions, but will try to try to be SHO that I don't sound THAT dumb in the future! ;)
...and Brian96, buddy, you got a LOT more patience than I do. Measuring tumblers with a micrometer? Man, when I get everything else done, maybe!
All the best,
Chuck |
BrianMCI96A3 (198.81.26.104)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 5:09 pm: | |
Well, Chuck, believe it or not, I did a lot of the work at night sitting on my couch with a tray on my lap while watching tv!
Brian
ps:welcome to the club, bub! |
NIck Russell (66.82.9.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, October 23, 2003 - 11:53 pm: | |
Chuck,
Don't go blaming me now!!! LOL
Glad to have you as a Gypsy Journal subscriber and a fellow bus nut. I just updated the web site (www.gypsyjournal.net) today and added an update on the bus conversion project.
What part of the country are you in? |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.142.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 12:57 am: | |
Nick - nice addition to the story, and nice entrance door. Been planning to ask you about your pergo (or similar) floor - looks like you put it down everywhere then put bath/kitchen on top of it. Any concerns w/water seeping thru cracks? BTW, it looks absolutely terrific and I plan to do the same.
I'm in Dallas and one of my early contacts to make will be with the folks at Radiant Technology that you recommended.
Thanks for saying hello!
Chuck |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 1:44 am: | |
Nick, I noticed you left out Jack's Bussin 2004 rally in your schedule. I met you there last year I believe. Going back again this year?
Richard |
Nick Russell (66.82.9.45)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, October 24, 2003 - 7:02 pm: | |
Chuck - We used Shaw laminate flooring and, as you noted, put it down first and put walls, cabinets, etc on it. No problems so far, except one spot where a bottle of cleaner leaked and caused a bubble in the laminate. Fortunatly it is under a counter out of sight. Tell the folks at Radiant Technology I sent you, they'll treat you right.
Richard - Yes, we'll be at Arcadia. Look forward to seeing everybody there. |
DonTX/KS (205.187.92.222)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, October 25, 2003 - 10:15 am: | |
Chuck, when I did my floors all in "pergo type" laminate flooring, Formica brand was the only one guaranteed against water leaks, and even recommended for use in the bathroom.
I have done several that way, sure works nice. |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.143.229)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 1:22 am: | |
Don, I learned that you're now in H.... That's where my 'new-to-me' mc9 was last in service just a few months ago! |
DonTX/KS (205.187.92.171)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 6:12 am: | |
I guess that would make it a Valley Transit Greyhound or a Border Patrol bus then probably? |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.143.229)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 11:14 am: | |
Nope, a local operator, but good guesses! |
jim mci-9 (209.240.198.62)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 7:02 pm: | |
chuck....was it from daisy tours in san antonio??? |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.143.229)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 8:40 pm: | |
Nope, but similar business. What mattered was that she had kind benefactors during her adolescence (she just turned 21, after all) and that she hadn't been exposed to the ravages of that crystalline substance that consumes so many of today's youth. (hehe - road salt! ;) |
DonTX/KS (205.187.92.25)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 8:57 pm: | |
I got it, gotta be a Go with Jo tour bus, right? |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.143.229)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, October 26, 2003 - 9:38 pm: | |
No, No Jo for this sho.
My apologies for letting this thread go way off topic twice.
The good news is that I now have a key for the bays & entrance. Yay! Now to just rig the remaining compartments and I'll be vandal-proof! Well, maybe vandal-resistant. |
Clifford Neal (65.174.115.4)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, October 27, 2003 - 8:42 pm: | |
Nick,
I would be interested in seeing your conversion files if you don't mind telling me how to go about it. I am thinking about changing my flooring and would like to see what you have done.
Thanks |