| Author | Message | ||
| Iver (Mciv)
Registered Member Username: Mciv Post Number: 46 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.69.131.252  Rating: N/A |
Has anyone moved the park brake control in a MC-9 to the dash? Any tips or recommendations? Thanks, Iver. | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 449 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 72.187.35.208  Rating: N/A |
Should not be a problem if the air lines are long enough to reach the new position. If they are not long enough, then good practice suggests that you should replace them and not splice to extend them. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1389 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 75.224.0.115  Rating: N/A |
When we moved our park valve to the panel below the switches on the left side of the driver's seat, we ran new airlines using DOT approved nylon line. Jack | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 609 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120  Rating: N/A |
If/when you move the park button, take care to place it where a dog can not accidentally push it down/in when you are outside walking around the bus. If that happens, the bus will invariably not be on flat ground. "Don't ask me how I know". I had moved ours to the panel to the left of the driver. It's amazing how fast an old fart can run around a bus when it starts to roll towards parked cars!!! | ||
| Bruce (Bgs4104)
Registered Member Username: Bgs4104 Post Number: 25 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 63.201.15.3 Rating: N/A |
Just remember the copilot need to be able to get to it if need!! What happens if the driver becomes incapacitated | ||
| Ken Turner (Pipesusmc)
Registered Member Username: Pipesusmc Post Number: 84 Registered: 9-2002 Posted From: 24.113.230.52 Rating: N/A |
(SNIP OUT OF MY OLD webpage) Nik Nik Turner certified Bus Mutt, he's on his way to the D O L to get his C D L he had stepped on the DD3 brake button while we were in a restaurant and as result had his first driving test in Oregon. I had to jump in the rolling bus and slapped my hand on the foot brake just as it rear ended a car and almost shoved everything into the front of the restaurant (Message edited by pipesusmc on March 08, 2011) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2043 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
must be some big dog to push that button down | ||
| Ken Turner (Pipesusmc)
Registered Member Username: Pipesusmc Post Number: 85 Registered: 9-2002 Posted From: 24.113.230.52 Rating: N/A |
It was a big German shepherd..... The brake button WAS upright beside the RIGHT side of the drivers seat...BTW John I DONT peddle BS!!! | ||
| Jack Fids (Jack_fids)
Registered Member Username: Jack_fids Post Number: 587 Registered: 1-2009 Posted From: 72.211.128.245  Rating: |
...he has an expen$ive Bicycle evidently.... sorry Ken, but when you leave the door open you have to expect surprises every now & then...!  (Message edited by Jack_fids on March 08, 2011) | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 610 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120 Rating: N/A |
John, my dog is a 30lb Jack Russell. I think the importand thing is not to mount it where it pushes down and do put it where others can reach it in a pinch. Of course, this means you have to discuss this with the "others". "What to do if...." | ||
| George Martinez (Foohorse)
Registered Member Username: Foohorse Post Number: 399 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 72.211.128.245  Rating: N/A |
My dachshund accidentally hit the master panel and fuel pump switch the starter switch was two positions over. I will change that in the upcoming refit. she stole the hummer for a ride once but I think the bus might be to much for her to handle no pedaling here either. ok maybe just a little.....  | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 2043 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.173.81  Rating: N/A |
Parking brake is on the driver's left in the new coaches, both MCI and Prevost for many years now. Co-pilot needs some practice using one hand on the wheel, the other on the foot brake. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Jim Wilkerson (Wagwar)
Registered Member Username: Wagwar Post Number: 135 Registered: 12-2009 Posted From: 69.152.168.208 Rating: N/A |
May be a dumb question, but where do the air lines for the park brake originate and do they terminate at the park brake? How difficult is it to run new lines? Thanks in advance. | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 349 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
The air lines originate from supply, and they end at delivery. The air is just passing through the park valve or not passing through. If they need lengthened or repaired it's common to use a plastic push/pull fitting made for this purpose. They are DOT approved and used everyday in the industry. Any local truck shop will have them as well as a few feet of DOT air line. | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2044 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: N/A |
my 4104 had a button that worked the opposite direction; could be a simple option. I knew that dog had to be big to push the button down as it takes some force. Course, you could glue a tack on it. | ||
| Iver (Mciv)
Registered Member Username: Mciv Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2006 Posted From: 70.69.131.252 Rating: N/A |
Actually with the DD3 system in the MCI-9 you need to push the button down and then depress the brake pedal to release the park brake. There are some pretty talented dogs out there but........ Iver. | ||
| Jim Wilke (Jim Bob) (Pd41044039)
Registered Member Username: Pd41044039 Post Number: 613 Registered: 2-2001 Posted From: 184.0.13.120 Rating: N/A |
Eagles use spring brakes but have a similar arrangement where you have to do a full pressure application to release the park brake. It really is better even though it brings some complication to the plumbing. If the Prevosts etc that have the button on the left have that feature there wouldn't be any inadvertant brake releases. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 2044 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.173.81 Rating: N/A |
The parking brake control buttons in the new coaches have a variety of guards around them. Lots of Prevost have a trick plastic housing, with a flip cover. You have to lift the cover to push the button in the centre, but to apply you can just push the whole thing, no fumbling. MCI has a curved piece of metal surrounding the button in the E and J models. The older MCI ABCD and some MC9/MC12 share that little metal flip cover over the button mounted on the driver's right side modesty panel. Safety reminder: as recounted, and argued at great length elsewhere, do not count on your DD3 to stay parked if the button is pushed in. It won't stay parked if the pressure applied to park via either/and/or the foot brake and the parking circuit has remained constant since parking. The locking rollers require the force on the chamber pushrod to weaken after being applied, in order to bind, then requiring the foot brake application. No weakening, no bind, release with button only. I expect most of us do not park with a heavy foot brake application applied due to the other stories of difficult release afterwards. In which case the parking tank's application will be the strongest force applied to the chamber pushrod, and the opportunity for foot brake free parking release rests in the maintenance of parking tank pressure. Which you cannot determine without adding your own gauge, as it resides out of sight behind a check valve from where your stock air gauge is plumbed in. A great strategy might be to drain the air system, or specifically the parking tank, on setting up camp. No ammunition, the opportunity for misadventure is removed? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2046 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157 Rating: |
take a piece of pvc tubing, cut it to fit between button head and panel control is attached to. Cut a slot along one side and slip it under button when parked to avoid accidental brake release. Cheap,easy fix. |
