| Author | Message | ||
| Chuck Lott (68.19.110.207)
Rating: |
Now that my MC8 is road worthy, I need to turn my attention to replacing the clutch in my MC5. (it has a 8V71) So, I'm still at the point of standing behind it and scratching my head wondering what's the best "plan of attack". Here's the situation. The bus is sitting on a friends lot, which is fenced and locked, and is thankfully located on a level spot. Unfortuantely, the lot isn't paved. I have a diesel fork lift at my disposal. I also have "Da Book" and means to build engine cradle. I am hesitant, however, of building the MCI specified engine cradle (which is going to be of little use on a gravel lot.) I want to simply "slide" the engine trans combo out, R&R the clutch and slide it back in, without moving the engine/trans combo away from the bus. So what I'm thinking is to simply build an extension of the rails ( out of 2" angle iron) that the engine cradle is sitting on now, calculate how far out from the bus it needs to extend (6 or 8 Ft?). and then just slide it out onto the new rails. I can use the forklift to handle the trans, and other heavy work after its removed from the bus. So here's the question for those who have removed the engine/trans in similar situation. Am I "barking up the wrong tree"? If so, How did you proceed amd what were the pitfalls you encountered? Thanks Chuck Lott | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A |
Chuck, Is there any possibility of jacking the engine assembly up and supporting it on cribbing. Then pulling the bus forward to clear the engine and tranny? Maybe use extension arms on the leveling valves to adjust the bus height as necessary. The bus should roll easily on the gravel. Probably would need an external air compressor to maintain air for the brakes and leveling system. DISCLAIMER: I have never done this and have never seen it done. Just a wild idea. Richard | ||
| Peter Broadribb (Madbrit) (67.136.219.191)
Rating: N/A |
Another, "I heard it" method is to lift the air suspension, block or place the engine or cradle on a frame, lower the suspension and either roll out the cradle/frame or roll the bus forward. I had a motor cradle for sale for a longtime, but no one wanted to buy it. The motor sits in it on the pan rail. You could make something like that. Peter. | ||
| W. Bracken (63.164.59.188)
Rating: N/A |
Chuck, I built a motor cradle with wheels copied after one I seen at a bus garage. I layed 3/4" plywood down on the gravel and pulled out the engine and transmission in my eagle. In my case I put it in the garage to rebuild moving the plywood where I needed it in order to keep the wheels off of the gravel. Took a jeep to pull it out and two of us to get it in the garage with a 14.5 HP Ford garden tractor. Hope this might give you and idea. Willie | ||
| jim mci-9 (209.240.205.60) Rating: N/A |
i slid the motor and auto trans back from my mci-9... used my service truck to pull it back.... caught it on a jack right at the balance point... then used my auto-crane to lift motor, trans and cradle....it balanced good enough... but you can rig lifting chains to make it balance if neded....after i replaced the engine, i set it back in the cradle.. then shoved it back with the same truck... used a porta-power for the last inches....i had a 2- 1/2 ton gmc topkick with a 6000lb electric autocrane... |
