| Author |
Message |
DonTX/KS (66.82.9.41)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 5:55 pm: | |
The smoke story should remind bus owners to check their rear wheel bearings lube requirements if they are not sure. I find most merely "assume" that their rear wheel bearings are lubed from the differential grease. They might, and might not. ALL of the GM's for instance (RTS may be exempt), required the bearings to be periodically packed by hand with bearing grease, the same as fromt ones. Some have been changed over to "oil seals" and are then lubed by the gearset lube. NOT a good thing to leave to chance or guesswork. |
Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (63.224.197.10)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 7:25 pm: | |
Excellent point. In my case I had assumed (dangerous word!) that the front wheel bearings on my Crown Super Coach were of the wet type. Wrong!
One fine afternoon I took a closer look and behold...the front bearings are lubed with plain old grease, supposingly on a regular basis.
Which...makes me wonder what else about my coach I had been assuming about...and incorrectly. Thanks for the great input. CROWNS FOREVER!! |
T Gojenola (24.237.70.61)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 8:56 pm: | |
The main lesson to be learned from this incident is one that applies to us all. Its not a good idea to drive for 11-1/2 hours non-stop under any circumstances, in my opinion. But when you do it in a coach you just picked up and have little knowledge of, you are asking for trouble. I have had my own coach for several years, yet I will never drive more than a hundred miles or so without stopping to check things. I carry one of those laser gun thermometers, and each time I stop the coach gets a full walk about - the tires, hubs, and about everything else will get a visible check and a temperature check. If there's a bad hub, low tire, dragging brake, I hope to find it before it becomes a serious problem. Its easy to do all this, and while I'm at it, listen for air leaks, look for new oil leaks, or any changes. It may be that the gentleman did all of these, but there was no mention of it. Of course, all this effort is no guarantee of trouble free service, but I believe it to improve the chances.
tg |
dumplin9 (66.82.9.18)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 07, 2004 - 9:46 pm: | |
Very wise. I think they should require a laser gun thermometer for all drivers. At my advanced age and lots of miles, I have calibrated fingertips, and even in a car, feel each tire and hub at each stop, which is pretty frequest at my age. Virtually everything gives lots of heat warning before failure. |
Geoff (Geoff) (66.238.120.38)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 10:07 am: | |
The RTS's have grease packed rear axle bearings that are sealed so the differential lube doesn't get into them. I can't tell you how many times I have seen trucks or trailers lose a dual wheel when the bearings went out and the duals went for a walk-- did you see the latest BC Mag where a single truck wheel came flying over from the other side of the freeway and crashed through the bus windshield? |
Erich (216.132.61.162)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 1:19 pm: | |
When putting an old car back on the road, I follow the 5/50/500 rule.
Drive it 5 miles. Fix what breaks.
Drive it 50 miles Fix what breaks.
Drive it 500 miles. Fix what breaks.
Now you are ready to rock and roll for a long trip.
If you try to make a 5oo mile run right away, you still get to do steps 1 and 2. Just on the side of the road. |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 2:56 pm: | |
Man, if my bus was such a shape that I felt I had to check everything every 100 miles, I would never put it on the road!
Richard |
Tony (64.215.196.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 3:24 pm: | |
You Know Richard I was just thinking the same Thing,
I was wondering why he had to check It out that Often, didn't he put It together right or what.
I have went from Ohio to Illinois to Tennessee
back to Indiana without checking anything but the oil, and a general walk around when I stopped for Fuel. In a MCI-7
Tony |
Jim Wilke (12.46.52.74)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 3:54 pm: | |
Hey Richard & Tony,
I read a different meaning. I thought he meant he stopped after the FIRST hundred to check these things. Especially in an unfamiliar or just re-awakened coach. I do that myself on an unfamiliar vehicle. Have saved a number of potentially nasty breakdowns by finding things wrong before they failed. I usually stop the first time after about 10-15 miles.
I wonder why somebody doesn't make a system with multiple infrared senders & a readout/alarm panel for vehicles. The senders could be installed aimed at each wheel asm & would scream if temps rose above preset limits.
Jim-Bob |
T Gojenola (24.237.70.61)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 5:12 pm: | |
Jim-Bob, you got it right. I do not make it a point to stop every 100 miles or so only to do all these checks, but certainly will do so within the first 100. After that, the checks are made at every stop for whatever reason. One needs to stretch the legs anyway, have a smoke, etc., and its no trouble to check the rig at the same time. Not because I feel I have to, but because I simply want to. This coach is in Alaska, sits over winter, and may go unused for long periods of time.
tg |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 08, 2004 - 9:37 pm: | |
"I have had my own coach for several years, yet I will never drive more than a hundred miles or so without stopping to check things."
I was basing my remarks on the above sentence in your post. Sorry I misinterpreted it.
Richard |
FAST FRED (65.150.247.46)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 5:28 am: | |
"Its not a good idea to drive for 11-1/2 hours non-stop under any circumstances,"
I dont believe it can be done unless your traveling at 1200rpm.
Most coaches would have been refuled a few times in an 11 1/2 hour drive.
Sounds like a walkaround might have helped.
FAST FRED |
Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy) (24.196.191.70)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 8:43 am: | |
I have driven 11 1/2 hours with re-fueling, but definitely would have to make a few pit stops. LOL
Richard |
Gary McFarland (Gearheadgary) (209.128.86.118)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 12:01 pm: | |
My Calculator says my bird can go 13 hrs. I on the other hand have to stretch my legs once and a while and fight fatigue.
Gary |
DonTX/KS (66.82.9.65)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 12:21 pm: | |
My last drive in a 4106 went waaaaaaay beyond 11.5 hours on a tank of diesel. Charleston SC to Topeka KS, and had enough fuel left to go halfway back to Charleston!! |
Jim-Bob (152.163.252.163)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 7:34 pm: | |
Hey Fred,
11.5 hours at 60 is 690 miles. I carry 140 gals of fuel & can use 120 which would be 1200 miles (20 hours) without refueling. (At 10 mpg.)
I've driven 12 hour days but not without breaks.
How come your bus uses so much fuel??????
Jim-Bob |
Tony (64.215.196.165)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 9:08 pm: | |
Jim Bob
Ant you heard FF has that bad 50 series In his 06 |
JJJ (172.132.77.224)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 10:29 pm: | |
The guys in the band used to drive from Va Beach, VA to Milwaukee, WI with no stops whatsoever. Had an old MC7. Used the cheapo cruise control ... broomstick stuck under the dash to peg the pedal to the floor. When it came time to change drivers, the new driver would hold the wheel while the old driver slipped out from behind the wheel. Young and foolish. |
Larry Baird (Airhog) (4.10.203.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, January 09, 2004 - 11:54 pm: | |
OK,OK,OK. This bus just came out of the shop with a full service and all new tires. It has more gages then a 747 and a ladies voice that checks all systems and tells you when to take a leak. It holds 400 gal. of fuel and at 1900 RPM (72 MPH) gets 5.5 MPG. We stopped 4 times and looked at everything. Sometimes things break and for the money I would think you should at least make it home on the first trip. If I didn't think I could drive my MC7 11 1/2 hrs. with only a few stops I would go on a Grayhound, think they stop every 100 miles? |
FAST FRED (65.154.177.3)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 5:54 am: | |
On the east coast fuel is only cheap in GA and NJ, the rest are high tax states,We plan $tops.
MY coach (at 9.5mpg @ 70) was not the one that burned up from an unnoticed failed bearing.
Cept for the 04 & 06 , many coaches only get 5.5 to 7.0 mpg and will have a hard time running 11 1/2 hours non stop.
6 mpg is 11.5 gal. per hour at speed,
11 1/2 hours gets close to crud sucking ,
a real gamble with an unknown "new" coach.
FAST FRED |
Larry Baird (Airhog) (4.10.203.136)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 10, 2004 - 6:21 pm: | |
You need to clean your tank more often if it sucks crud with more then 1/2 tank left. |
Johnny (63.159.152.227)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 12:13 pm: | |
Larry has that absolutely right.
Everything I own gets the same treatment: I usually ignore the gauge completely. Reset the trip odometer (or write the regular mileage reading down in a notebook) when I fill up. For the first couple tanks, top off when the gauge reads about a third of a tank. Figure the MPG, then go from there.
My 1986 Caprice Classic Landau holds 25 gallons of gas, & averages 20-21MPG (4.3 V6/TH200C) in cold weather. I run 400-450 miles per tank, & generally pump 20-22 gallons, with a "reserve" of ~50-75 miles.
If you're sucking crap into the system at any time, it may be time to take that tank to the local radiator shop for a boiling-out.
Figuring about 6MPG from my 460 gas-powered Ford B700, & fuel capacity of ~60 gallons, I'm looking at 300 miles per tank. Not great, but doable. |