Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 04-20-2018, 11:50 AM   #201
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Tahoe
Posts: 513
Year: 1997
Coachwork: International
Chassis: 3000RE
Engine: T444E w/ MT643
Rated Cap: 84 pass, 40'
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
thats the issue with an issue like that, it coulda been as easy as a blown fuse on the allison TCM... or it couldve been a bad allison TCM or bad wiring, solenoid, etc....

by time i got there it was already night and marc's time is limited .. plus the coolant and oil leak? just seems like a misrepresented bus on the auction..


was a fun ride talkin old-school Race cars on the way! thanks for some great race stories Marc! I made it as far a bowling green ky and snagged a room... id already been san antonio to OKC yesterday then to memphis..

I learned Redbyrd can Haul A** when it needs to.. Marc was ROLLIN WHEELS!! at the helm.. no slowin that dude down... not even heart surgery!! way to go!!
-Christopher
Sounds like y'all made some lemonade out of the lemons. What a fabulous testament to the benefits of this community!! May the next bus be 'the one' with a less interesting story about getting it home.

__________________
middle aged mom on a learning adventure
2martins is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2018, 12:02 PM   #202
Bus Geek
 
brokedown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
The Red Byrd is a bit of a hotrod and might put impossible dreams of passing people in cars into the minds of us mortals...
__________________
Keep up with us and our build!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter
brokedown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2018, 01:50 PM   #203
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,762
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by brokedown View Post
The Red Byrd is a bit of a hotrod and might put impossible dreams of passing people in cars into the minds of us mortals...
The Duck will be rolling even faster!

Hell- my bus is faster than my van.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-20-2018, 04:13 PM   #204
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,707
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
The Duck will be rolling even faster!

Hell- my bus is faster than my van.
that duck will definitely roll !! that little bus of EC;s is a runner!

knowing what marc is looking for. gives me some ideas of busses he might look for..

first off, trying to go over 75 in a school bus brings the manufacturer limits into play, from what ive seen most all highway-capable busses are built with 70-75 as the maximum.

for one, tires.. while we know that you lkikely wont explode a 75 MPH tire by driving it 80, a school bus manufacturer wont build a school bus that will exceed the norm for standard truck tires.. (and fleet managers dont want to have to buy special tires)...

Next, expected majority use-case. even school bus routes that require highway travel, usually require 20 miles or less of it.. and much of it around the city where limits are 65 or less.. a 70-75 MPH bus is still very adequete and isnt running against its governor for hours and hours..

from experience and testing, ive come up with the fact driving a diesel engine at 85% or lower than its max governor RPM is highly favorable.. this is non-lugging.. dont build it so low that it lugs at your cruise speed..

Redbyrd is over-geared.. i think we calculated last year that it has a mathmatical 117 MPH.. at 2700 RPM.. my highway RPM is so low that im always dropping a couple gears on any type of hill...

if you want a front engine bus to go 80 im thinking it may have to be built.

an Amtran High ceiling FE with a DT-466 and MD-3060 is probably going to be the best bet.. a mechanical DT-466 could easily be turned up to 250-300HP without much effort.. however those are not easy to come by..

a 230 HP DT-466E is out there.. just not sure if ive seen it in an FE or only RE.. for some reason most of the powerful busses are RE configuration it seems.. thats where you find the cummins 8.3's which is one of the best for highway cruising.. just not seen it in an FE bus.

the CAT 3126 is a good motor. but its not very powerful from what people say.

Im still thinking a DT-466E AmTran with an MD-3060 has the most potential to be a bus that can get you close to where you want to be out of the gate.. and still possible to find at a decent price.
-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2018, 12:16 PM   #205
Bus Geek
 
brokedown's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Weeki Wachee, FL
Posts: 3,056
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: Cummins 5.9
Rated Cap: 72
So are you back to looking for a bus? Where is this discussion happening if so?
__________________
Keep up with us and our build!
Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter
brokedown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-07-2018, 04:27 PM   #206
Bus Geek
 
o1marc's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Dawsonville, Ga.
Posts: 10,482
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Genesis
Chassis: International
Engine: DT466/3060
Rated Cap: 77
So I've had my heart set on a bus coming up for auction. Seller says it recently, while parked for the winter, sprung a leak at the tranny (643). This weekend he checked it out oping it would be a simple line leak and replacement. Turns out it leaking pretty good but coming out of the bellhousing. Any ideas on what it is and how hard to repair? This bus checked everything on my list, I'm extremely disappointed.
o1marc is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:19 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.