| Author | Message | ||
| Bill Holstein (Billmoocow)
Registered Member Username: Billmoocow Post Number: 153 Registered: 5-2009 Posted From: 71.59.162.64  Rating: N/A |
Ok here goes.. Bought my bus with a rebuilt inline. Now knowing this, how much longer should it last. The rebuild was done about 60k ago and from what i understand it will last about 500k to 700k. Am i wrong? I did buy it because i thought it would last a lifetime. Better than a sticks and staples? God i hope so! At least it doesn't leak like one and i don't have to reseal it every year! | ||
| John MC9 (John_mc9)
Registered Member Username: John_mc9 Post Number: 1222 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.162.81.221  Rating: |
Well..... Bus companies retire a bus when it can no longer: A. Be depended upon to survive an entire trip B. Costs more to maintain that profits dictate C. Looks like crap. It's mostly A and B, however. A "lifetime"? For me, that's about three weeks. Seriously, a bus is a piece of heavy equipment, designed for heavy use on a continual basis. A "rebuild" is only as good as the one doing the "rebuild". Miles-wise? 500 to 700 thousand? Really? I think you'll find other fairly expensive issues aside from the "rebuilt" parts, that will manage to suck the Presidential pictures out of your wallet. Brakes, compressor, hydraulics, transaxle, etc., can add up quick. But on the bright side, a bus is about 2,000 times better than the best commercially made motorhome out there! When I had mine, I didn't look at the cost, or "loss" I'd take if I had to sell it. Selling wasn't in my plans, but damn near living in it, was. I sold it for a slight loss, but I miss the bus more than I will ever miss the money. If you love the thing and desire to use the hell out of it, don't pay attention to it's "possible" longevity; it will last your lifetime, because you will make it last your lifetime. Cheers! John | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 511 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38  Rating: N/A |
Bill They last a long time. Mine is 46 years old and still in great shape. We have run it for 26 years now and if my health lasts I expect to run it many more years yet. It came with a 6V71 and 2 speed tranny so I had to change that setup to an 8V71 and 3 speed tranny. The 6V71 didn't have the power and the 2 speed wasn't for the highway. I changed once more only because I got a deal on a new engine (6V92TA DDEC IV) and tranny (V731 ATEC) and sold the 8V71 setup to pay for it. Besides I love tinkering with it. They last a long time so don't worry about it and enjoy. Bill | ||
| Dan Clishe (Cody)
Registered Member Username: Cody Post Number: 127 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 206.51.120.170 Rating: N/A |
Like anything else, a person can kill them off early with neglect or keep them in good shape with care and maintanence, I expect my iggle to last long after I'm gone, my kids are already watching me carefully and trying to steal a peek at the will. | ||
| Cullen Newsom (Cullennewsom)
Registered Member Username: Cullennewsom Post Number: 171 Registered: 2-2009 Posted From: 216.230.236.42  Rating: N/A |
Engine service life is dependent upon the engine (DD made a ton of money by giving engines away, and selling parts at huge markup), and quality of the rebuilder's work. According to my Detroit mechanic friend, 300k is a long life for one. Practically, I'd expect one to lose a engine due to some component malfunction (thermostats?), maintenance mishap, etc. rather than wear it out. That is, unless you're on the road an awful lot. | ||
| Sam Summers (Greyghost)
Registered Member Username: Greyghost Post Number: 54 Registered: 4-2011 Posted From: 69.88.245.34  Rating: N/A |
While eating a Tootsie Roll that seems to never go away, I was wondering the same thing, maybe I'll put 'Tootsie Roll' in the Destination Window. Sam | ||
| Larry & Lynne Dixon (Larry_d)
Registered Member Username: Larry_d Post Number: 321 Registered: 7-2005 Posted From: 50.39.221.113  Rating: N/A |
On my 4905 the PO and paper work stated the 8/71 was out of frame rebuilt just 20K miles before I bought it. I lube oiled and all as book said or sooner. and on trip back east lost oil pressure in Tulsa, OK, took engine out, the oil pump gear was all beat up by the key in the crank shaft did't even hurt the crrank. Sooooo anything can happen. Beings we had it out we rebuilt the lower end. $$$$$$$. I had somewhere near 20K on engine also. Larry | ||
| Don Smith (Boxcarokie)
Registered Member Username: Boxcarokie Post Number: 8 Registered: 2-2011 Posted From: 72.214.97.65 Rating: N/A |
Native Americans say "Nothing lasts forever except the rocks." Which isn't exactly true ... rocks will erode over time. Our bus is 27 years old and like a fine old Timex, it is still tickin. I am the fifth owner and I hope it lasts "forever AND one day." That would be okay. BCO | ||
| Dirk De Bakker (Kelvin12)
Registered Member Username: Kelvin12 Post Number: 29 Registered: 1-2010 Posted From: 124.149.123.104  Rating: N/A |
20 years over here in Australia regardless, then its full strip down for a frame inspection and certification by an engineer and updating to new regulations, full seat belting roll over engineering etc. Just not worth the cost so they sell them off to us motor homers. Even some really good clean looking coaches are up for sale because of the economics of the inspection and updating requirements. Dirk | ||
| Luvrbus (Luvrbus)
Registered Member Username: Luvrbus Post Number: 1171 Registered: 8-2006 Posted From: 74.33.60.241 Rating: N/A |
The engine life is measured in 1000ths of a inch 1/1000th beyond the spec in the wrong place could mean death for any diesel engine. These new million mile engines take effort and cash to get to 1 million miles. I have a friend that is a heavy hauler the kind with 10+ axles lowboys he gets around 150,000 to 250,000 on his 625 hp series 60 engines good luck | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 728 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 74.2.251.162  Rating: N/A |
How many of us will drive it 300K, I dare say not many. It's all about PO build and preventative maintenance. How many miles do you get out of your car before it dies? Not near as much as a bus! Our kids are asking us who we are going to will it too! | ||
| doug yes (Dougg)
Registered Member Username: Dougg Post Number: 141 Registered: 1-2007 Posted From: 174.131.48.196 Rating: N/A |
Most bus companies sell the coach after 500-650K miles. | ||
| Donald P H (Eagle19952)
Registered Member Username: Eagle19952 Post Number: 77 Registered: 11-2007 Posted From: 75.204.3.242 Rating: N/A |
I expect my iggle to last long after I'm gone, my kids are already watching me carefully and trying to steal a peek at the will.ditto I have a bit more than $20.00 per day in ownership costs....The absolute cheapest livable or rolling piece i have ever owned and still own. Now calclating my Harley Davidsons would not be fair,although I can cook ON them they won't keep the rain off and more than one guest find them a bit uncomfortable (Message edited by eagle19952 on July 03, 2011) | ||
| larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member Username: Larryc Post Number: 359 Registered: 2-2007 Posted From: 207.200.116.13 Rating: N/A |
Buses last forever, just maintain them. Before clean fuel in the 80's we usually inframed engines at 300,000. Doubt you will ever get what a pro driver gets because there are so many driver sensitive tricks only and experienced driver uses. Over the road equpiment also runs hours at a time almost constantly with proper temps and that helps engine life. Just fix it when its broke, otherwise just look straight ahead. My Eagles were made to last a million miles. One is real low miles and the other is real high. They both have their advantages. I will leave the shop right now to go coast to coast and I'm damn sure either one will bring me home just fine. In terms of human life I always said one good Kenworth Truck will out live and run 3 drivers to death so I guess a bus must be good for at least 2 drivers. I have a shop in Jax and one in Seattle. I keep 17 rigs rolling and do some outside work. 2 million miles is not a big deal for a truck, 5 million is just as do-able if you spec common parts. You just need engine and gear men. The big difference between a bus and a truck is bumping your head all the time if you work on a bus. I don't take any bus work unless you break down in front of the shop. | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 1457 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 76.4.118.153  Rating: N/A |
Larry can we tow it and then maybe you will bang your head with us?? LOL They have a tendency to leave a big dent or scar wherever they want too! I love taking an Eagle head off. WOW Ain't it fun?? gomer | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 305 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
My 1977 AMGeneral Transit was sold in 1992 after 15 years of transit service. I bought it in 1993, so it has been a motorhome now longer then it was a bus. A bus can last just about forever as long as you keep the rust in check and regularly check for stress cracks in the frames and suspension parts. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| FAST FRED (Fast_fred)
Registered Member Username: Fast_fred Post Number: 1557 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 76.194.81.248  Rating: N/A |
A LACK OF USE HAS KILLED MORE BUSES THAN MILES HAVE! PM preventive maint , is all in your book, follow it religiously , BUT, Remember Da Book was written for over the road in service vehicles. Simply read the section , "out of service for over 30 days" in the DD manual , and you will get the idea , USE was expected/required . 100 miles a month of just a good drive is not hard to do, even for a full timer stuck in a campground. There is little PM for rust , so the Flx and Eagle owners have to bite the bullet at times and pull the outer skin and weld weld weld. FF |
