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 06-06-2017, 07:22 PM   #481
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Started up the diesel mower today. Started real easy once I figured out how to turn the fuel petcock on.
Mows REAL nice!!!

EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2017, 08:16 PM   #482
Bus Geek
 
Robin97396's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Willamina, Oregon
Posts: 6,409
Coachwork: 97 Bluebird TC1000 5.9
In this area most of that government equipment, like mowers and tractors, are sold off with plugged up fuel filters or simple leaking fuel hoses.
__________________
Robin
Nobody's Business
Robin97396 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2017, 08:18 PM   #483
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by Robin97396 View Post
In this area most of that government equipment, like mowers and tractors, are sold off with plugged up fuel filters or simple leaking fuel hoses.
The guards and inmates didn't like the push mowers, so these were BARELY USED!
I'd say they definitely had less than 500 hours on em.

I've never messed with a single cylinder diesel. This little thing is SO COOL! When mowing, it smells like a school bus.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-06-2017, 10:28 PM   #484
Bus Crazy
 
WIbluebird's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 1,259
Year: 2001
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American
Engine: 8.3 Cummins ISC
Rated Cap: 75
https://publicsurplus.com/sms/list/current?orgid=309249

That district in WV is listing two of those T444 shorties with the Spicer manual transmissions again. At least they added some more photos this time around. Seems like they're similiar in length to your bus. The 1998 and the two 1999 buses must've sold at the last auction.
WIbluebird is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 05:02 AM   #485
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
At this point I'll have to pass on these. I've bid on them for at LEAST a year. They top out at 55mph, too.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 07:13 AM   #486
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
im not sure where they came from but I passed 4 shorties in a caravan northward in kentucky last night.. 2 bluebirds like mine only 7 window. and 2 that looked just like EC's. 2 of them were T-444E's, and 2 had unmarked hoods.. not sure what those wouldve been.. seems not so many shorties on auction lately so not sure where they came from.. i did note I BLEW by them in my Silverado so they were only going like 55 or so..

EC - on that mower is it a PITA to pull the cord with a diesel engine? or is it one of those where you spring load the starter with the pull and then release it to actually spin?
-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 10:24 AM   #487
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
im not sure where they came from but I passed 4 shorties in a caravan northward in kentucky last night.. 2 bluebirds like mine only 7 window. and 2 that looked just like EC's. 2 of them were T-444E's, and 2 had unmarked hoods.. not sure what those wouldve been.. seems not so many shorties on auction lately so not sure where they came from.. i did note I BLEW by them in my Silverado so they were only going like 55 or so..

EC - on that mower is it a PITA to pull the cord with a diesel engine? or is it one of those where you spring load the starter with the pull and then release it to actually spin?
-Christopher
Its not hard to start it, but I pull start stuff ALL DAY.
You just push the decompression lever and pull the cord. 1-2 pulls and its ALIVE!

Saw some buses heading down 75 from GA. They were headed to a used car lot in Lakeland.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 11:11 AM   #488
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
so it has a lever that decompresses the cylinder until you get it spinning?
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2017, 11:21 AM   #489
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
so it has a lever that decompresses the cylinder until you get it spinning?
Yeah, you pull the cord just a tad till its a compression stroke, push down the decomp lever, and then pull start it.
So simple, powerful, and efficient!
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2017, 02:34 PM   #490
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Greater Houston, Tx.
Posts: 589
WC Door

I don't recall where you are on your w/c door, but I did get over to a place that I passed on Interstate 10, East of Houston. They told me that they did deal in parts, as well as busses, and gave me a business card. Their site is

usedschoolbusesonline.com Phone # 855-607-6559

Also went by interstatebus@gmail.com AND interstatebusrentals.com

They weren't too chatty, with me, but I mentioned you had a AmTram and might need a w/c door. They needed the size, which I didn't know, so they said to check the website.

Good luck
1olfart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2017, 05:43 PM   #491
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
ive noticed some newer IC busses that what looks like the exact same wheelchair door.. wonder if getting the VIN on a newer bus would help,

Paul's equiupment in ohio sometimes has quite a few scrapped out school busses..
-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2017, 11:21 PM   #492
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1olfart View Post
I don't recall where you are on your w/c door, but I did get over to a place that I passed on Interstate 10, East of Houston. They told me that they did deal in parts, as well as busses, and gave me a business card. Their site is

usedschoolbusesonline.com Phone # 855-607-6559

Also went by interstatebus@gmail.com AND interstatebusrentals.com

They weren't too chatty, with me, but I mentioned you had a AmTram and might need a w/c door. They needed the size, which I didn't know, so they said to check the website.

Good luck
Thanks I'll try them monday. I REALLY NEED THAT WC DOOR SEAL!
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-09-2017, 11:23 PM   #493
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by cadillackid View Post
ive noticed some newer IC busses that what looks like the exact same wheelchair door.. wonder if getting the VIN on a newer bus would help,

Paul's equiupment in ohio sometimes has quite a few scrapped out school busses..
-Christopher
Thanks! ANY leads appreciated.
I've tried looking on the web for IC, AmTran, Ward, and had no luck. I hate calling places. IDK why but I just do. Guess I need to make more calls. I'm getting to that point of NEEDING these few parts and its holding me up a bit.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 07:24 AM   #494
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
I cut the rust hole out of the back, and the entire inside behind it was completely crumbling with rust.


EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 08:00 AM   #495
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
wow what a pain that is.. looks like that back window mustve leaked for awhile.. my carpenter bus the back windows are sloped just a little and water always runs down along those windows... not sure why they built busses that way but ive seen a lot..
-Christopher
cadillackid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 08:04 AM   #496
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Yup, you're correct. It was the back window leaking, as well as the tail light.
The fiberglass that came out was MOLDY too.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 11:48 AM   #497
Bus Nut
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Greater Houston, Tx.
Posts: 589
You may check to see if you can get a complete door, with seal. Not the cheapest way, but might be 'the way'
1olfart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 02:30 PM   #498
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
IDK where I'd find that.
The few I've found online don't have the seal the door is hundreds and hundreds of dollars.
EastCoastCB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 05:22 PM   #499
Bus Crazy
 
CaptSquid's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Billings, MT
Posts: 1,269
Year: 2003
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: HDX
Engine: Cat C7
Rated Cap: 84 passenger
That's some NASTY cancer there.
CaptSquid is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-10-2017, 09:48 PM   #500
Bus Geek
 
EastCoastCB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Quote:
Originally Posted by CaptSquid View Post
That's some NASTY cancer there.
Everything in that rear wall under the window that wasn't galvanized rusted completely away. GONE!
The rest of the bus is virtually rust free. only the WC door and service door have any real rust otherwise.
EastCoastCB 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 05:45 PM.


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