Roll your own

[schoolmarm]

I have a scooter like that, mine is black. Luv it!

[crazycal]

I almost bought a scooter like that but they wanted too much for it since much of the plastic was trashed. Yours looks cherry.

[milkmania]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Came across a nice deal on a clean, old-man-owned Honda 80cc scooter. It even matches the bus (for now).
Had to splurge... I LOVE these.
Picked it up yesterday in Cocoa Beach.

that truck sale money was just burning a hole in your pocket, wasn't it?!?!?!

It's ok, I'd have hit that for the right price too!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by ArmyChap

Is your scooter National School Bus Yellow? Some states might require you to paint it! ;)

Nah, not here in the sunshine state.
Although, I'm painting my bus something less attention-grabbing.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by crazycal

I almost bought a scooter like that but they wanted too much for it since much of the plastic was trashed. Yours looks cherry.

This was some old guy's sunday cruiser.
4300 miles on it. Its nearly new looking and is a 2001.
$700 out the door isn't bad.
Even have a legal tag on it already!


Changed the oil in the crankcase and rear end. Took less than a quart to do both so I splurged on some Amsoil.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by schoolmarm

I have a scooter like that, mine is black. Luv it!

I think I'll have to do some sort of rack on the front of the bus for this little guy.
I LOVE scooters. I grew up on dirtbikes and have had the occasional street bike here and there as an adult. My last was a ZRX1200. I rode the hell out of that one. But scooters have always been my favorite. I think they're the most fun.

My last scooter was back in 03'. Cheap Chinese knockoff of a Yamaha Vino 50. It was pitiful. Slow and unreliable. Fun for a week or two. I gave it to a friend.

The CH80 is the scooter I always wanted. Fun, reliable, and will cruise at 45.

They look good in black, the yellow is pretty cool. Too bad it won't end up matching the bus in the end, but oh well.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by milkmania

that truck sale money was just burning a hole in your pocket, wasn't it?!?!?!

It's ok, I'd have hit that for the right price too!

Downsizing from several vehicles, I figured I should make sure we have a backup form of transport!



Just about finished up with the black goo removal. We knocked out quite a bit over the weekend but this damned rain has been non-stop.
Hopefully it will dry up and I should be beginning the roof raise in the next few weeks!

[EastCoastCB]

I have a buddy who's going to help me with the last of the goo over this weekend. Should be all finished with the stuff after that.

Then the plan is to drive it over to the flattest concrete on the property and start bracing everything and prepping for this roof to be raised!!!!

[c_hasbeen]

wow you have really put the effort into your bus!

[EastCoastCB]

Yeah I believe in doing HARD work and doin things right.

I took lots of "weeks off" with this heat though.
When I'm at it though, I'm AT IT!

I still maintain that if one buys the tools and does all the work themselves, anything is possible. I laugh at some "converted" buses I see for sale. Judging from some of the prices I've seen lately this sucker should be worth an easy 50 grand!

Can't wait to get the roof raised and the vents and windows in.

Next things to shop for are a generator and some more windows. And I need to figure our how much steel to order.

[c_hasbeen]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

Base Model Starting at:
$3,604.00

If I were made of money, I'd have one of these.


But the Handler 140 by Hobart is a VERY respected machine and will fit my needs just fine. Will be great for bus projects and trailers.

$499.99

I suppose I should move to a wire welder some day, I currently have an old arc welder (Foeney) that dad bought right after the war when he broke a driveline on an old truck. He had the drive line out and on the ground by the barn when a salesman pulled in and was selling welders.
Dad said he asked if it could fix his driveline, the salesman welded the yoke back to a functional part and dad bought the welder, a book on how to weld, 50 pounds of nickel rod and a welding shield.
Same welder I learned to weld with in grade school with dad instructing after I read the book.

My neighbor calls it a buzz box

Perhaps I should step into something newer than WW.II. technology like you are using.
Thanks Cliff

[EastCoastCB]

Maybe so. When I took welding classes back in the day the main unit we learned on was the Hobart mig.
But if you're good at it, that ww2 tech welder can do all sorts of things.

[Tango]

There is nothing on a bus you can't weld properly with that little Hobart. My Miller 140 will handle 1/4" plate with excellent penetration and the Hobart is it's twin brother. And I have welded much heavier material as well.

The Hobart & Miller are virtually the same machine these days. A couple of years back, Hobart (Miller's economy line) was distinguished by having a lot of plastic where the Miller had steel (like the drive system). Today...they have been upgraded to all metal and are fantastic bargains. I have two Millers, but if I were buying today, I would not hesitate to go with the Hobarts and put the difference in the bank. Good call...have fun!

[HolyBus]

I had a "buzz box" stick welder that I picked up cheap and learned on. Burned up the side of a vw bus and half my pants. Now I wear glasses. Lesson learned. Then again, I used to lean up against the speakers at concerts in the 70s. Now I wear hearing aides. Lesson learned.

[c_hasbeen]

Originally Posted by HolyBus

I had a "buzz box" stick welder that I picked up cheap and learned on. Burned up the side of a vw bus and half my pants. Now I wear glasses. Lesson learned. Then again, I used to lean up against the speakers at concerts in the 70s. Now I wear hearing aides. Lesson learned.

haha, I am an old hippy, I don't know what to do!, should I hang on to the old? should I grab onto the new?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzdvQOXxRD4

[EastCoastCB]

Just tryin real hard to adjust?

[sojourner]

In a lot of respects the smaller MIGs are better for working on something like our buses. I have a Miller CP250 with a monster spool. While good for shop type fabrication, even though it's on good dolly wheels, it's a royal pain when having to move it around a lot simply because of it's physical size. For instance, when I do the roof raise, I'm going to have to lift the unit to inside the bus with my tractor Not something I'm looking forward to. Maybe it's time to break out my TIG with a very long torch since I'm not in a hurry.

[c_hasbeen]

When I put new cables on my old arc welder I was lucky and had a great deal on salvage welding cable, I have 28 ft cables.
The cables came to me as free SO I USED THE WHOLE LENGTH
I do not have a tractor to lift stuff with anymore, I toasted the engine.

[EastCoastCB]

Yeah, small and portable is good for me when it comes to welders.

[dond]

I have a Hobart 140, built many projects with it.