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Old 01-23-2018, 08:26 PM   #21
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
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Year: 1999
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Originally Posted by BullCityBus View Post
I was just about to ask what y'all thought about the 545 & the 5.9 Cummins....From the searching I've done it seems like the transit style Blue Birds seems to come with the Cummins more often that the Thomas busses I've seen, mostly CAT engines there. The Blue Birds seems to also come with the 545 most of the time too. So I gather I should keep my eyes open for something better or just factor in an eventual upgrade?

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It's vastly cheaper to find one specc'd the way you want it, than to upgrade later.

We just had one upgrade, albeit to a brand new MT643, for $5000. That's $1000 more than my 40' Thomas pusher with Cummins 8.3L and MD3060 cost in the first place.

Remember, buses don't come with engines. Buses get the engines the School wants, picked from a list at varying prices. The bigger CATs, DT466, DT530 and Cummins 8.3L are all expensive options. They don't go into route buses in most states.

They do go into Trip and Activity buses, in many states, and those buses also have an easier life on the road.

Plenty of them come up for sale, at decent prices, but you may have to be patient.

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Old 01-23-2018, 08:46 PM   #22
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Originally Posted by BullCityBus View Post
I was just about to ask what y'all thought about the 545 & the 5.9 Cummins....From the searching I've done it seems like the transit style Blue Birds seems to come with the Cummins more often that the Thomas busses I've seen, mostly CAT engines there. The Blue Birds seems to also come with the 545 most of the time too. So I gather I should keep my eyes open for something better or just factor in an eventual upgrade?

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Depends. On how you want to use the bus. The terrain, the speeds, roads, etc.
Its probably best to find one with a better trans from the get-go. The 545's are always mated to a lower-hp engine even if its a DT466. But it really does depend on what kind of use your bus will see.
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Old 01-24-2018, 06:20 AM   #23
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Depends. On how you want to use the bus. The terrain, the speeds, roads, etc.
Its probably best to find one with a better trans from the get-go. The 545's are always mated to a lower-hp engine even if its a DT466. But it really does depend on what kind of use your bus will see.
It'll be used for full time living and we plan on travelling, so I think I'll add a better transmission to the search list!

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Old 01-24-2018, 07:00 AM   #24
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Join Date: Dec 2016
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Engine: MBE 926 7.2L 211HP
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I’ve heard about CATs, Detroit Diesels and Cummins but what about Mercedes 900 series engine? How good are they?


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Old 01-24-2018, 09:43 AM   #25
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MB's are kinda' like Cats. As long as nothing goes wrong, they are fine. But if anything goes South...be prepared to spend WAY more money repairing them than any other engines. Parts and service on both can be crazy expensive.
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Old 01-24-2018, 09:45 AM   #26
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MB's are kinda' like Cats. As long as nothing goes wrong, they are fine. But if anything goes South...be prepared to spend WAY more money repairing them than any other engines. Parts and service on both can be crazy expensive.


Thanks Tango for the feedback!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully all goes well on the road trip!


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Old 01-24-2018, 11:07 AM   #27
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You are most likely to find Mercedes engines in newer Thomas Built, because Daimler owns both companies.

Quite a few of our School fleet have them.
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Old 01-24-2018, 01:13 PM   #28
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A note on the CATs. There is little evidence that they are more prone to breaking, at least not the 2004 and earlier.

Indeed, they are more resistant to over-heating than are engines with wet liners.
How do we know this? NB: I don't own a bus and I know nothing about large diesels. What I know I heard here. But, this "wet sleeve engines are more prone to overheating" is new to me. I've heard it here, but only a couple of times and only in the last year or so.

Are you saying that "Cats are more resistant to overheating" or "parent bore engines are more resistant to overheating"?

Thanks.
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Old 01-24-2018, 01:16 PM   #29
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....I am working on a gas line and heaters for a Detroit and Allison shop where the mechanics are happy to talk in spurts.
While you're talking to them, find out what you can about unlocking 6th in a 3060. Is it against their religion? Will they do it after hours for a couple of Benjamins? Are they scared silly of being sued by Allison if they get found out?

Enquiring minds want to know.
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Old 01-24-2018, 01:18 PM   #30
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Parent bores tolerate heat a little better

They don't have liner seals to fry.
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Old 01-24-2018, 01:20 PM   #31
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Aaah; thanks.
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Old 01-24-2018, 04:12 PM   #32
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While you're talking to them, find out what you can about unlocking 6th in a 3060. Is it against their religion? Will they do it after hours for a couple of Benjamins? Are they scared silly of being sued by Allison if they get found out?

Enquiring minds want to know.
I will the last time I was there they had 3or 4 3060's out and on the stands and I asked what was going on with them and the mechanic opening one up said that they have to replace the front pump bearings in two or three a year.
But I will talk to them more about the 6th gear idea
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Old 07-23-2020, 06:19 PM   #33
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I will the last time I was there they had 3or 4 3060's out and on the stands and I asked what was going on with them and the mechanic opening one up said that they have to replace the front pump bearings in two or three a year.
But I will talk to them more about the 6th gear idea
And...pins and needles here...?
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