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Old 11-29-2015, 07:17 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 50
Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Rated Cap: 80
8.3 L Harmonic Damper

Yesterday I lost my harmonic damper, aka harmonic balancer, driving down the road. I was able to get home no problems, but I don't want to run the engine without one! Anyone have a source for me for the harmonic damper?

Thanks,

Drew

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Old 11-30-2015, 01:37 PM   #2
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: West Ohio
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Year: 1984
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: International 1753
Engine: 6.9 International
Rated Cap: 65
Go with a new one, and don't run the bus without one installed. You can break a crankshaft in short order if you do, and it's not worth the gamble of getting a bad used damper.
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Old 11-30-2015, 01:51 PM   #3
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Location: Montana
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Year: 1995
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: All-American R/E
Engine: 8.3 Cummins
Rated Cap: 72
Typical with 8.3's. The should be replaced ever so many miles, which I forget. Get an oil filled one. Hit eBay or Amazon.
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Old 12-01-2015, 03:35 PM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
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Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Rated Cap: 80
Got one on order... My wife was driving right behind me when it came off! I'm glad it flew off into the bushes and not through the windshield at her!!!

I'm just getting my feet wet in owning a bus. What other parts should I start stockpiling, or expect to be replacing soon?

1992 8.3L Cummins, 220K miles,

New parts I've already replaced: air compressor, thermostats, radiator hoses, hydro distribution block, block fuel filter, air filter, and deleted the air dryer. She leaks oil pretty bad from her 20 plus years of sitting in the bus yard, and then being taken on long trips, she was a travel bus for sports teams.

Y'all's advise is greatly appreciated!

Drew
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Old 12-01-2015, 04:31 PM   #5
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Why did you delete the air dryer?
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Old 12-10-2015, 10:54 PM   #6
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
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Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Rated Cap: 80
I deleted the air dryer at my mechanics recommendation. Abigail was obviously neglected by the school district she belonged to in the past as the dryer was never cleaned. The dryer gummed up with thick yellow sludge and killed the compressor. It was a $1500 fix while on the road trying to get back home to Austin from Seattle.
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Old 12-10-2015, 10:57 PM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
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Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Rated Cap: 80
Replaced the vibration damper today. It was fun by myself! After four trips to my local auto parts store for the required tools I finally got the old bad boy off, and the new one installed. Abigail is back up and running, just in time for our second trip in her over Christmas Break to Dinosaur Valley State Park here in TX. Check it out here: Dinosaur Valley State Park — Texas Parks & Wildlife Department

Should be a great trip.
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Old 12-11-2015, 09:54 AM   #8
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$150 for a Bendix AD9. You might be asking for trouble without one.

Glad you got the damper done.
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Old 12-11-2015, 10:28 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by opus View Post
$150 for a Bendix AD9. You might be asking for trouble without one.

Glad you got the damper done.
I was wondering about that! Thanks for the info, I will get on ordering a new one and get it installed. The last thing I want is a major system malfunction.
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Old 12-11-2015, 11:24 AM   #10
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Join Date: May 2010
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EBay is your friend.
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Old 12-11-2015, 11:25 AM   #11
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The old dryer was filled with yellow sludge because that is what motor oil will turn into when exposed to a lot of moisture. Odds are that your compressor was already worn out and that the trip just finished it off.

Quote:
Originally Posted by opus View Post
$150 for a Bendix AD9. You might be asking for trouble without one.
I agree. Unless you live in a dry area that doesn't freeze, I'd put an air dryer back on. Even if you do live in an area like that, your going to have to drain the tanks every day you drive it to drain the condensation and prevent the tanks from rusting internally.
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Old 09-09-2018, 03:38 PM   #12
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Austin, TX
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Year: 1992
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Freightliner
Engine: 8.3L Cummins Turbo
Rated Cap: 80
Hello once again friends and neighbors! I've been away for awhile and my prized conversion project, Abigail, has been sitting in storage. Life got in the way for a bit there. I promoted to Lieutenant in the fire department, and my 16 year old son from my first marriage decided to move in with my wife and I. Life's an adventure and ours is finally settling down enough to get back to my bus!

We have decided to sell the house and live in our bus when the last kid graduates high school and moves out. That means I have two and a half years to get my ducks in a row and quacking properly!

I'm glad to be back on this project.

D
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