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Old 07-09-2015, 07:59 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 21
Year: 1986
Chassis: Ford-Thomas
Engine: 8.2 Detroit
1986 Ford chassis Thomas, with an 8.2 DD

The non-profit I work for had this bus donated to it. It had been converted into a bouldering bus, and we are making good use of it. But it is not without it's problems.

Just took the alternator off to get rebuilt, as it was running on batteries the last week or so (and we had programs lined up, so we need to keep the bus rolling). I get that back tomorrow, and will put it in in the morning. The rebuild shop informed me that the regulator is external, and could potentially be bad to cause the damage they saw in the alternator. So my first question, is how do I test the regulator, and where do I find it in the engine bay?

It also has some air issues. I don't hear the normal PSHH on occasion like I do when driving the military 5 tons. It cycles between being silent(air wise), to a hiss-hiss-hiss-hiss noise every so often. My neighbor advised that I should check the dryer. It doesn't hold air overnight too well either. How does one go about tracking down air problems?

One last big issue: it can only do 45-50mph here in Denver. I would expect it to at least do slightly better than that. Is this normal for this chassis, something wrong, or is it just worn out?

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Old 07-09-2015, 11:37 PM   #2
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Location: Nanaimo, British Columbia
Posts: 429
The speed issue... Is the engine hitting redline at that speed? Plug your governed RPM, tire size, rear end ratio and transmission gear ratio (probably 1:1) into an online gear calculator, and see what it spits out for top speed. Your rear end may just be geared for city use.

If the math doesn't add up, start troubleshooting!
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Old 07-09-2015, 11:39 PM   #3
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 21
Year: 1986
Chassis: Ford-Thomas
Engine: 8.2 Detroit
No tach in the bus, but it is floored at the time. Where can I find gear info?
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Old 07-09-2015, 11:42 PM   #4
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Data plates above the windshield? Maybe a tag on the rear diff, too, and one on the transmission somewhere.
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Old 07-09-2015, 11:42 PM   #5
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 21
Year: 1986
Chassis: Ford-Thomas
Engine: 8.2 Detroit
Ok, thanks
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Old 07-12-2015, 11:49 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 21
Year: 1986
Chassis: Ford-Thomas
Engine: 8.2 Detroit
Found out more about the air system. The shop this thing has gone to took apart the compressor a few months ago. They determined it needs a new compressor for some reason. They ordered the wrong one at first, but didn't clearly tell anyone they fixed that order, so no one knew they had the correct part waiting to be installed. However, they say it is a $1500 compressor, which is not going to happen. It does have a leak in the side. Is this thing fixable? Rebuildable or something? It puffs air out below this 'cap' piece out the side. Click image for larger version

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Old 07-12-2015, 11:57 PM   #7
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Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Stony Plain Alberta Canada
Posts: 2,937
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: TC2000 FE
Engine: 190hp 5.9 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
Quote:
Originally Posted by Speedwagon View Post
Found out more about the air system. The shop this thing has gone to took apart the compressor a few months ago. They determined it needs a new compressor for some reason. They ordered the wrong one at first, but didn't clearly tell anyone they fixed that order, so no one knew they had the correct part waiting to be installed. However, they say it is a $1500 compressor, which is not going to happen. It does have a leak in the side. Is this thing fixable? Rebuildable or something? It puffs air out below this 'cap' piece out the side. Attachment 7759Attachment 7760
They are rebuildable, and you can get rebuild top and bottom ends.

Find the brand name, and model number.

Many are made by "Bendex"

Then Google it, or start calling places that supply parts for MDT and HDT trucks.

Nat
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Old 09-27-2015, 11:37 PM   #8
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 21
Year: 1986
Chassis: Ford-Thomas
Engine: 8.2 Detroit
So I now know a few more things:

I fixed the compressor with a $50 kit from amazon. All it needed was some new gaskets to stop leaking.

The transmission is a 545, which is not going to be the best for the few times it has to go up in the mountains, since it does not have a retarder on it.

The speedometer is 5mph slow, at all speeds. Max it can hit is about 50mph on the dial, downhill.

No idea what rear end this is, but I did find the tag. Which of these numbers tells me what the ratio is? (it has Eaton stamped on the diff cover)
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Old 09-28-2015, 09:41 AM   #9
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Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,660
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
My guess is that it has a 6.50 with an open dif. Looks like someone painted over the tag at one point though so it's kind of hard to read.
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Old 09-28-2015, 10:40 AM   #10
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Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Assuming it has never had a gear change, you can contact the manufacturer for details. If it has been re-geared, you can determine the ratio by putting it in neutral, jacking up the driver side wheel, put marks on the driveshaft & wheel, then turn the wheel one full revolution. If you count the revolutions on the driveshaft for each turn of the wheel...that's your ratio.
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Old 09-28-2015, 12:32 PM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 21
Year: 1986
Chassis: Ford-Thomas
Engine: 8.2 Detroit
I got under there this morning with a wire brush:Click image for larger version

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Old 09-28-2015, 01:21 PM   #12
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6.50, you can pull tree stumps!
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Old 09-28-2015, 02:06 PM   #13
Bus Geek
 
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,762
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
My F750 had similar gearing. It WILL pull stumps!
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Old 09-28-2015, 02:10 PM   #14
Bus Geek
 
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Location: Houston, Texas
Posts: 8,462
Year: 1946
Coachwork: Chevrolet/Wayne
Chassis: 1- 1/2 ton
Engine: Cummins 4BT
Rated Cap: 15
Ya...but you will be pulling them veeerrry slooowwly.
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Old 09-28-2015, 03:16 PM   #15
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
Posts: 3,660
Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
Yep, 6.50 was right. Perfect for in the city or the mountains, terrible for the highway.
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