Ameutur asks: To bid or not to bid? help weigh pro's vs cons

[angelicadevries21]

Considering:
Local Auction

Year: 2000

Make: Thomas

Mileage: 249,808

VIN: 1T88U3B2XY1083920

Engine: ISB Cummins 7

Transmission: MD-3060

Capacity: 84 Passenger***

Condition:* Bus has leaking steering gear box

Below are some notes I conjured up and it seems the engine and trans are solid. So my question is should I leave it alone due to the repairs and mileage? Because with my lack of expertise I'm thinking it could still be worth $4k give or take. thoughts?

"The MD3060 is a four speed with overdrive and* lock-up torque converter. Go with a trany that has the* lock-up torque converter. You will usual get better gas millage over all and engine braking on the down hills. MD3060 on 1998 and newer. I also read that the MD3060 has the internals to be re-programmed with 2 overdrives. Making it a six speed."
*What bus to get, that is the question, part tali (two) | the journey visvi

*"I have an ISB in a 34' Newmar. On my last trip I got 8.73 mpg over 2760 miles towing a 4x4 extended cab ranger with 3 motorcycles (dirt bikes) and traveling 60-65 mph. It does slow considerably on the long steep climbs, but even there I manage to pass a lot of the semi trucks. I don't how much difference the extra 4 or 5 feet will make but obviously it will make some difference. If you can handle being a little slower on hills then I think you could be very happy with the ISB"

From pilotengines.com: A solid, high-torque, low-RPM six-cylinder engine, the Cummins B-Series is found in many over-the-road and industrial applications. The Cummins 6ISB, or Interact System, is the next generation Cummins engine and is a fully electronic engine.

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[Robin97396]

Isn't this a duplicate thread?

[angelicadevries21]

yes sorry Robin I couldn't find my other one so I reposted. Is there a way to delete?

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[Robin97396]

Don't worry about it. Just pick one and the other one will eventually get cut.

[angelicadevries21]

When I emailed about the tires I hot this response "*The tires on the school buses are usually in good condition. The buses are all on a maintenance schedule so stuff like that is usually not a problem. Just give me a heads up when you would like to come down and look at the service records."

I'm at a loss for what else to ask or what I'll be looking for when he shows me the service records.

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[Robin97396]

Don't misunderstand me and my opinion. That sounds like a nice bus with a preferred power package. The leaking steering gear could be a simple fix. Buyers often don't notice old or bad tires on a bus. I'm just saying if that bus needs tires consider the purchase price to be several thousand dollars higher.

[CaptSquid]

I'd say go for it.

[angelicadevries21]

Originally Posted by CaptSquid

I'd say go for it.

Do you think I should bid 3k? He said he'd relist it later unless he got a bid in the ballpark of 4k but idk if he's just saying that or if it's true.

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[Robin97396]

$2,500 to $3,500 would be a more common price for a decent bus, but that's at a bus barn, so at $3k you'd be right in the ballpark.

Have you researched the steering gear?

[CaptSquid]

I paid $8K for mine, but it had half the mileage this one shows and is 3 years younger.

Go ahead, throw a $3K bid in his direction. See if he bites. If so, shell out the shekels and have fun.

[angelicadevries21]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

$2,500 to $3,500 would be a more common price for a decent bus, but that's at a bus barn, so at $3k you'd be right in the ballpark.

Have you researched the steering gear?

I'm waiting for a call back from a friend who is a diesel mechanic to find out more about the steering gear box leak.

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[angelicadevries21]

I feel dumb. Steering gear box has nothing to do with diesel. Duh. Can anyone tell me if its easily accessible? We'd prefer to diy but with my limited knowledge I could be in way over my head.

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[Robin97396]

Is it the steering gear box or the power steering pump? You wouldn't happen to have a camera, would you? That's how you show us what you got going on. Our money back rates (free) are generally much much better than any diesel mechanic.

[angelicadevries21]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Is it the steering gear box or the power steering pump? You wouldn't happen to have a camera, would you? That's how you show us what you got going on. Our money back rates (free) are generally much much better than any diesel mechanic.

I can take a picture if I knew how to locate what it is you need to see. it's not the pump.

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[Robin97396]

Take a picture of the leak wherever it is. It should be easy for people here to identify exactly what it is and if it's a problem.

[angelicadevries21]

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Take a picture of the leak wherever it is. It should be easy for people here to identify exactly what it is and if it's a problem.

Ok I just emailed the auction guy that I'd be there Monday morning to take a picture and to ask the mechanics there to point out where the leak is so he can show me.

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[Robin97396]

Just take a picture of what you're talking about. Whatever leak you were talking about. We'll work out what it is later.

[angelicadevries21]

Thats the plan! Auction ends at 4pm Monday so hopefully I get quick responses.

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[Robin97396]

For the most part these buses are so reliable they remind me of old pickup trucks. Well built and for the most part well maintained. There are some areas of the country where the maintenance is questionable.
You got to do what you think is right for you. Were you able to ask them about the $3k offer?

[Brad_SwiftFur]

Steering gearboxes are a somewhat common replacement item in larger vehicles such as trucks and buses. Not terribly difficult to do, you just need some big tools (and some muscle) to do it. For a one-off job, the cost of having it done may be cheaper than buying the big tools to do it, but it is within the realm of DIY.

They can also be rebuilt, though this is often a "bench job" and if paying hourly labor on a shop, it may be much more cost effective to simply buy a rebuilt/reman unit and skip all that (and with a warranty, the job done professionally in a factory, who knows if the mechanic will get a rebuild right the first time?) Aside from that, there's like 4-5 big bolts (including the Pittman arm), separating that arm from the steering link (probably the hardest part of the job as it's usually stuck on tight), the steering input shaft, and a couple hoses. You may have to remove the Pittman arm and attach it to the new steering box (and some have a ball joint on the end - if there's *ANY* play in this ball joint, you may as well replace the Pittman arm while it's off).