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01-23-2018, 08:26 PM
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#21
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BullCityBus
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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01-23-2018, 08:46 PM
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#22
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BullCityBus
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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01-24-2018, 06:20 AM
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#23
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New Member
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
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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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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01-24-2018, 07:00 AM
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#24
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 61
Year: 2010
Coachwork: Thomas B2B
Chassis: 281TS
Engine: MBE 926 7.2L 211HP
Rated Cap: 29,000 LBS
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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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01-24-2018, 09:43 AM
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#25
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
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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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01-24-2018, 09:45 AM
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#26
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Fayetteville, NC
Posts: 61
Year: 2010
Coachwork: Thomas B2B
Chassis: 281TS
Engine: MBE 926 7.2L 211HP
Rated Cap: 29,000 LBS
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tango
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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Thanks Tango for the feedback!! I’ll keep my fingers crossed and hopefully all goes well on the road trip!
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01-24-2018, 11:07 AM
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#27
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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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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01-24-2018, 01:13 PM
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#28
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Twigg
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.
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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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01-24-2018, 01:16 PM
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#29
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Roger bus 223
....I am working on a gas line and heaters for a Detroit and Allison shop where the mechanics are happy to talk in spurts.
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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.
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01-24-2018, 01:18 PM
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#30
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Owasso, OK
Posts: 2,627
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Saf-T-Liner MVP ER
Engine: Cummins 6CTA8.3 Mechanical MD3060
Rated Cap: 46 Coach Seats, 40 foot
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Parent bores tolerate heat a little better
They don't have liner seals to fry.
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01-24-2018, 01:20 PM
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#31
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: SW New Hampshire
Posts: 1,334
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Aaah; thanks.
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01-24-2018, 04:12 PM
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#32
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Swansboro,NC
Posts: 2,988
Year: 86
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Ford B700
Engine: 8.2
Rated Cap: 60 bodies
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dan-fox
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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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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07-23-2020, 06:19 PM
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#33
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jun 2019
Location: On The Road
Posts: 17
Year: 1998
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: MVP
Engine: CAT 3126A RE + MD3060
Rated Cap: 84 kids or 56 adult
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jolly Roger bus 223
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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And...pins and needles here...?
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