| Author | Message | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
Rating: N/A |
My air has been going down while sitting faster than normal. I just replaced the drivers area floor and found that my brake switch is leaking a minimal but noticable amount of air out of the copper tube that is the vent tube, not bad I can hold my finger over the end and stop it. Is this rebuildable or do I need to replace it? also where can I find an air horn switch like the old semi's used , the cable up above you pull by hand. It's hard to push the floor button and hold the clutch in at the same time. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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"switch"....is called a 'whistle swith'...available at truck supply | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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switch | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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Some may call it a whistle switch, but the actual name is more like "lanyard valve" since it is not a switch at all. You could use a cable lanyard if ure chime supply demand is not great. Works fine for most setups utilizing truck size and style horns. Most lanyard that I have seen, and the two that I have, are only 1/4" supply. U could also use an electric air solenoid and wire it thru the horn button or a conveniently located momentary contact switch. My horns require a 1/2" ball valve supply, 4 CFM supply. I keep trying to find a loco spring loaded valve, but they are always more than I want to pay when I find one. Mine are a set of early UP passenger diesel Leslie, 3 chime tones. With a ball valve and variable air you can make them sing. I keep them tucked away under the front of the bus since they are not generally legal for on-road use at 185db. | ||
| Jon W. Rating: N/A |
For the air horn I would use an electric solenoid valve that operates off the horn button, or if it does not have a horn button I would install a big mushroom cap momentary contact switch somewhere I could easily hit it with my hand. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Ok. You got me... Why would you want to blow any horn while your have the clutch depressed? | ||
| Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
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I once was going over the 580/680 junction and had a turkey in an oversized Lexus SUV forget that he didn't make the rules on the freeway (while merging at 35 MPH). I have an auto on the bus but a stick in my truck. (I remember hearing that electric horn for the first time that trip, kind weak...) Yeah, locking up your rear wheels, pushing the clutch (to avoid killing that sweet DD), and mashing the horn are all hand-in-hand (j/k). Tim | ||
| Ed Jewett (Kristinsgrandpa)
Rating: N/A |
When the guy in front of you, at the traffic signal, goes to sleep, when you need to get someones attention at a 4 way stop, to motion him thru, because he is blocking part of the intersection and you want to make a left turn. (BTDT) etc...etc...etc... Why do you ask? Ed. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
I dunno.... I guess 'cause the Trailways trainer said that if you needed to hit the horn, you shouldn't be driving a bus full of humans... His comment always stood out as the criteria for safe driving. In the years I spent driving, I don't remember ever having to use the horn..... With exception to calling the riders back to the bus.. I always drove like the vehicle in front of me was being driven by my wife (son, daughter, or mother). The HONK denotes rudeness, not "alertness". So what, if you have to wait out a second signal change? Would you feel better if you scared that driver into a hazardous condition or a wreck? I remember "Smitty" of Intercounty Motor Coach saying that how we drove our bus affected all his drivers. The average driver can't tell one from another, they'll just blame all the bus drivers.... You want to drive a bus; drive it like a bus driver. Man, youse guys.... | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
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obviously youve never driven with the stupid rude people on vacation on fort myers beach cutting in front of you. slamming on your brakes throwing stuff all over your bus. posably doing damage to your own vehichle. I realy don't care what "bus" drivers do or did, if you cut me off or do something stupid your gonna get a blast of skin curdling ear ripping heart attack giving air horn. | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
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how bout the brake air leak? | ||
| Mike (Busone)
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If you have a school bus you could mount a middle finger on the stop sign arm. If somebody is tail gating just flip them the birdie.  | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
Re: "auto flip-a-bird" Yeah, really! It'd do as much good.... Hell, you're a stage guy, maybe a loudspeaker and PA system on the front bumper and you can do a monolog about half-fast drivers... Ok seriously... the brakes... Re-buildable, or replaceable. And I wouldn't waste time getting it done. The horn isn't going to save you from killing someone, good operation of your brakes, will. | ||
| John that instigator Rating: N/A |
By the way, Ron... I drove the LIE, rush hours, into NYC daily. It doesn't get worse than that... Flor-ahh-duhh doesn't hold a candle to it. No horn; no accidents, and no "close shaves". The idea is to leave plenty of room (based on your own stopping distance requirement), and never allowing yourself to be "boxed in". Horns are great for telling people you don't know how to drive. (a personal/professional opinion) | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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will have to agree...with one exception,going thru Albuquerque..a stationwagon full of people could not decide what exit to get off,so...they just stopped in number two lane...pucker marks on seat,18 flat spots on tires... | ||
| linda alexander (Noopdoggy)
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Amen JTNG! I too learned in NYC, in Jamaica then drove the LIE everyday.I would say after living & driving buses in Caleefornia,NY,Vermont,Arkyland, and now Florida, This state by far has the rudest horn blowing idiots I have seen, I think everyone should have to take thier road tests on the interboro parkway...LOL Linda | ||
| captain ron (Captain_ron)
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leaving space enough to stop is some what of an oxy moron.... cause some moron will switch lanes in front of you only to stop and turn 50 feet further down the road. "THE AIR HORN IS YOUR FRIEND" use it. I already have plans to use a PA system on both front and back of bus "got idea from Jack Conrad" and will prerecord a few different messages for different occasions. hey Linda you living in the bus yet? and are you using that cheap modified sine inverter you bought to use your computer? you know, the one that every body says won't work. | ||
| Jon W. Rating: N/A |
"The idea is to leave plenty of room (based on your own stopping distance requirement), and never allowing yourself to be "boxed in"." I'm not trying to be offensive, but when did you give up driving? The concept of leaving enough room goes out the window with today's drivers. Every time I have what I consider sufficient stopping distance it takes less than a nanosecond for some idiot (including truckers) to fill the void. I could go on and on, but I'll just get more upset when I think about today's driving. | ||
| Craig (Ceieio)
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Wow - where I drive people lane change between your license plate and your bumper if they can get in there. They don't even give a glance at 15 tons of iron, just swing in front of it. Same thing with the Tahoe. The only thing they give a wide berth to is the Viper. I guess they don't want to block the view. :-) That said, I am not sure a horn will help, other than give a moment of visceral enjoyment. My air-horn foot switch works fine (I have an auto) but my electric horn doesn't. I think I want to fix that one so I can give a gentle toot to politely alert someone to resume driving duties. (Reading, makeup, organizing the car, and so on.) I think the electric would be nice to toot before backing up. I think the PA system might work better than a horn. I would play a loud recording of metal on metal brakes squealing and skidding tires. Adrenaline would get the point across better than anything. :-) Craig - MC7 | ||
| Jon W. Rating: N/A |
"I think the PA system might work better than a horn. I would play a loud recording of metal on metal brakes squealing and skidding tires. Adrenaline would get the point across better than anything. :-)" I'm waaay past that. I'm thinking howitzer or machine gun. Of course I would exercise extreme restraint. I would only use it on the idiots that cut in too close and then hit the brakes. | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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An outside PA is illegal in CA except for law enforcement. | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
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I had one on my bigtruck...in Va. once...there was a fire started about 10 feet in dia. & a highway patrol 1/2 mile up the road was giving a ticket to a 4-wheeler ..I said:.: "SMOKEY...A FIRE AT THE 123 MILE MARKER"....he IMEDIATELY stopped the ticket writeing & ran to his patrol car... | ||
| Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
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I'm going to have to agree with CR on this one. The example I gave was a typical case out here in the SF Bay Area. We have that rule: "When merging with traffic, match the speed of traffic before entering a lane." The problem with this is, people are sooo stuck on that rule that when they realized that they haven't adequately prepared for the lane change they just come to a complete stop ("when all else fails - slam on your brakes" drivers). This driver wasn't paying attention to the merge, and I began slowing down to let him on (as he obviously didn't notice that I was 40 feet long and wasn't going to be able to pass him...). When he finally looked to see if he was going to clear trafic (about 25 feet from where his lane ended) he realized he wasn't where he should of been. BUT... instead of matching my speed (I would have had three bus lengths at this point at 30 MPH), he slammed on his brakes (panic doesn't do anyone any good) just in time to merge in front of me. The CHP should be able to take people's cars away for stupidity... Tim | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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There would be almost no road rage if only 2 rules were followed - slower traffic keep right - and if people new the difference between merge and yield - probably only the 2 times you need your horn is when these rules are disregarded - Niles | ||
| Mike (Busone)
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Saturday we went to wally world to get some things. As we drove out of the parking lot I hear a loud car horn and then a bang. I looked back and saw a Volvo stuck into the side of a Subaru. What is it about Wal Mart parking lots and idiots that cannot read a stop sign. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
There's a certain pride that a bus driver has in the way they drive, that not many other types of commercial drivers have. There's a certain patience for motorists that just do not know the basics of survival on the highway. There's the respect for what happens when you don't take the time to be courteous, or give in, to an aggressive and rude motorist. It doesn't make a difference who's "right", it only makes a difference on who's dead.. The pro, or previous pro bus drivers know what I'm talking about. They're the ones that should make their views of good driving habits known here, since what you're driving is a bus; converted or not, it's a bus to anyone ignorant to the conversion process, or the type of people that drive them. (wow, was that heavy, or what?) | ||
| Tim Strommen (Tim_strommen)
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There's also a certain point when those of us who have that pride, respect, and patience... understand that some people are just neglectful behind the wheel to the point of being suicidal. And those ones will wreck your bus, while killing themselves and probably hurting you. I'm for one am putting a train horn on my rig for that >little< coaxing of attention. Tim | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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JTNG: You're right, that's heavy, but then as a kid working the feeding stalls, I learned that bullshit is heavy. Tim: Grover, Leslie, Nathan, all great if you want to coax attention. And if you really want to sit them up in their seat, a Buell Harbor Master will make them think the USS Constitution is about to broadside them, but you need abt. 12CFM for the horn alone. | ||
| John that newguy Rating: N/A |
You shouldn't have quit that job, James. So..... Some clown that wasn't paying attention, pulls out in front of you and your moving 11 ton vehicle. Now that the clown's already in a state of panic and trying to get out of your way, you're going to blast him with a shot of high Db energy. Nice! Smart, too huh? The trouble is, most temporarily confused drivers will panic; they'll either freeze with the sound of a loud horn bearing down on them, or try to escape what sounds like impending doom by stomping on the gas and moving into an even more dangerous situation... making your problems even worse. Instead of doing what you can to avoid the problem, you just created a bigger and better one by inducing panic by your method to "coax attention".. If you have enough time to blow a horn to alert someone of your presence, you should have enough time to avoid that vehicle in the event the driver, or vehicle, can not move. And for those that think blowing an air horn at someone that's just switched lanes in front of you is a great thing.... you gotta' keep in mind that my 84 year old neighbor might be three cars away, minding her own business... until she thinks that horn was meant for her. That air horn blast isn't selective; keep that in mind. I hate the horn blowing fools in Flor-AHH-duhh. Rather than remove their foot from the gas and allow a little courtesy, they hit the horn and disregard the fact that the other driver may not care about the horn blowing. The accident rate here in Brevard county is probably the highest in the nation. Why? Cuz they drive with their horns instead of their brains. And I'll tell ya' one thing..... If you blow your horn behind me at a light because I'm giving time to a pedestrian you didn't see, or to another motorist waiting to make a turn, you had better expect to wait out another full light sequence....... Why, I just might get out and open my hood... and let you figure out how to get around a stalled vehicle you've pulled to close to. They oughta' outlaw horns. | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
I drove a car that didn't have a horn for almost 6 years. My wife & one of my coworkers used to go nuts 'cause I couldn't "Give 'em the horn!!!". (I wouldn't have if I could have.) I used to ask my wife: "When somebody blasts you with the horn, do you get out of the way?" "Hell No!" "Then why do you think the next guy would jump out of YOUR way?" "Well, it makes ME feel better!" Maybe the horns should be installed INSIDE the cars! Jim-Bob | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
Hey Ron, Your valve is rebuidable though it may be cheaper to buy one than have it done. Many valves have replaceable "cartridges" that can be changed without removing the valve body. If you do remove it, sketch it & label all lines to be sure they go back where they belong. The 4905 has a very complicated brake system & one line in the wrong place will give you nightmares to figure out. There should be a part number tag on it, or go to: http://www.bendix.com/products/Valves.shtml and identify what you have. The kit may not be identified on the site, but go to your local truck "brake & spring" shop & they can fix you up. Jim-Bob | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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JTNG: You're right, it was a real stress free job, but I didn't like the 4am start time and then there was a little matter of money. Somehow, shoveling bs didn't pay enough to ever buy a (19) ton bus. You're 84 yr. old neighbor probably does not belong on the road, and if she is confused she definetely does not belong on the road. Truth is, I seldom use the train chimes, or the electric either, but they are there if the need arises. Besides getting someone's attention, they are useful for signalling my presence on the highway as fair warning to all. Nearly 47 yrs. on the road and not one collision yet: they must work for clearing a path at the least. | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
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Ron, I would go with a electric solenoid in the floor. And hang the electric switch to work it from over head with the pull rope like most trucks have. I also think the horn button on the floor is too hard to find and also hard to use when the clutch is down. A lot of dumb posts from stupid people here about not using the horn or they never need use one. And if you use it your not a good driver. Well I say BS. There has been a few times a blast of the horn saved a crash. Like when some one is backing out a blind driveway. You have no time to stop or room to swerve . So what will you no horn users do? Slam on the brakes and skid in to him? Or just blast the horn like I done and they stop backing out. Also some one does something stupid driving around me they are going to get a big F-you from my horn. And if that makes them drop there coffee or cell phone GOOD! Brian 4905 | ||
| R. Steve Nichol (N4rsn)
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As I was towing my toyota Tercel, with my jeep Cherokee, with a tow-bar, south on I-95 I think at Baltimore. The Hiway narrows from Many lanes, to 2 lanes comming to a tunnel. Traffic is stop and go, and I am in the correct lane. Several people, and myself, are courtous, and allowing every other vechicle to merge in front of us. As we were nearing the tunnell entrance, there was a horn constantlly blaring, and as I looked in my mirrror, I see this women Honking, and waving, the 1 finger salute, at the car I AM TOWING. She proceeded to try to cut the car off, and force in, between me and my towed car. It struck me so funny, the wife and I had a GREAT laugh, and started moving on through, not really caring if it was with an extra fender on the Toyota. But she made it out of the way. I love a good sounding air horn, and as a trucker for a few years, i have used them. BUT There is a time and a place. Thought you might be amused, as I was, with the story. Steve | ||
| Jim Bob Rating: N/A |
Brian, I didn't say NO ONE should EVER use a horn. Nor did I say I don't ever. Nor did I say you're not a good driver if you honk the horn. What I DO say is that 90% of the time, it's not productive or necessary. If you are driving anything, especially a 14 ton bus, and you are passing blind driveways, you should be EXPECTING someone to do something stupid, or a kid or dog to run out from between parked cars, etc. That's the core of defensive driving, be paranoid that somebody else will screw up. Even with that there will be the occasional time when a reasonable honk will do some good. A short toot at the distracted driver ahead who didn't notice the changed light is appropriate. (Wait a count of 5 at least, some folks around here synchronize their 30 second blast to the instant the light goes green.) Most of the time, and you just described such a time, we are honking to punish or "scream at" somebody for being rude or stupid. Those are the ones we can all do without 'cause the rude guy won't care and the stupid will still be stupid. And I believe that most of us do not know how loud these horns really are. Our bus came with a puny set of 140 Db marine air horns which my wife has a habit of honking as I am walking around the front of the bus. (To get my attention!) If you haven't been 8 feet in front of really loud horns, you don't appreciate how they startle the crap out of a pedestrian. Jim Bob | ||
| James Maxwell (Jmaxwell)
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Jim Bob: Last paragraph I can appreciate. Try blasting 180db into a sheet metal garage door (don't want to open it because it's raining hard out) Now stand 4 ft. behind them (and abt. 8' behind the door) and hit them w/120psi. No, I would NEVER blow them w/a pedestrian within 75-100' since I have had reports of hearing mine as far as 3 miles away when conditions were just right. | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
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This little incident happened to me today, and made me think of this thread: I was sitting EB, first in line at a LH turn pocket, waiting for the signal to change, driving my Toyota Tacoma P/U. A Chevy Suburban was on my R, in the #1 EB lane, with an Explorer behind him, also waiting for the EB signal. Directly behind me was a woman in a tricked-out rice-rocket Honda Civic, her "boom box" blaring - thump, thump, thump (you all recognize that sound). Well, the LH turn arrow changed for both EB and WB left turns, but I stayed put, as did the vehicle across the intersection going WB. The woman behind me immediately starts laying on her horn to "wake me up and get me going". I remained motionless, and calmly stuck my left arm out the window, pointing to my right at the oncoming Fire Department rig rolling Code 3, lights & sirens blazing. When she realized what I was pointing at, the look on her face was priceless, as she suddenly became very sheepish. . . Between her loud music(?) and the two SUVs on her right, she was unable to see or hear the emergency vehicle approaching. Had I taken off when she blew the horn, her little Honda would have been no match in the ensuing confrontation with that BIG 10-wheel ladder truck at speed. . . OTOH, a Buell Harbor Master sounds like fun! (pun intended ) FWIW, RJ PD4106-2784 Fresno CA | ||
| GlennMC-9 Rating: N/A |
Our singing group has a 1984 MC-9 "Jersey Cruiser". The only horn that I have is a electric. Wonder why? Glenn | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
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Here in Fla you have to give 'em the nautical one blast just to remind 'em to keep right when you pass - Niles |