1991 Thomas Saf-T-Liner ER questions

nwarner2010 · 05-15-2016, 04:05 PM

Starting doing some work on the bus today and had a couple questions.

Should there be a high idle switch somewhere on the dash? Or did not all buses come with this?

I hooked up the air horns (they had been unplugged) and I can hear air coming out but no sound. Is there a reed or something that would need replacement?

Does anyone know what these two switches below the transmission shifter are for? The left on has a light on it when flipped up and I can here some sort of short burst of air coming from the rear when the switch is flipped up. The switch on the right appears to do nothing.

How do I drain the air tanks? I don't see a drain anywhere.

Can anyone recommend a trailer hitch that is known to work with this bus? At least a class 4. I think I may just get one of those multi-fit hitches. But would be nice if I could get one that lines up with the holes that are already there.

Been thinking of getting a front hitch too for a bike rack. Not sure on this yet. But it looks simple enough.

Put in a working radio today and got half the seats out. Had to stop as I ran out of cut off wheels. The dog likes the bus as well!

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powderskier · 05-15-2016, 04:13 PM

Use your air tank with air gun to remove the seat bolts much easier

Robin97396 · 05-15-2016, 04:22 PM

Good to hear about getting seats out of buses. The switches are something you're probably going to have to trace out as your build progresses. It's possible someone has a bus just like yours and can tell you what they are for, but it's also possible the bus barn mechanics added those switches.

I believe you should have an air dryer on your system. Don't you get the PSSSST! every couple minutes? Otherwise the tank drains are on the bottom of the tanks if they have them.

If you put on a front hitch you'll not only be able to carry bicycles, you'll be able to park trailers with accuracy like you wouldn't believe.

nwarner2010 · 05-15-2016, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powderskier

Use your air tank with air gun to remove the seat bolts much easier

Good idea!

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nwarner2010 · 05-15-2016, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robin97396

Good to hear about getting seats out of buses. The switches are something you're probably going to have to trace out as your build progresses. It's possible someone has a bus just like yours and can tell you what they are for, but it's also possible the bus barn mechanics added those switches.

I believe you should have an air dryer on your system. Don't you get the PSSSST! every couple minutes? Otherwise the tank drains are on the bottom of the tanks if they have them.

If you put on a front hitch you'll not only be able to carry bicycles, you'll be able to park trailers with accuracy like you wouldn't believe.

I do get that air noise every couple minutes, so that's an air dryer? So theoretically with an air dryer I shouldn't have to drain the tanks? Cool, good to know.

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nwarner2010 · 05-15-2016, 05:17 PM

Another question: should there be a glow plug light?

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Robin97396 · 05-15-2016, 05:38 PM

Some have a light that goes off when the glow plugs are warm, others don't. It's a given that the glow plugs are warming up if you're starting from cold. I just count the beeps. If it's warm weather, for in the mountains, I give it 30 seconds. If it's cold I wait at least 40 seconds. It won't start if it's not ready. You'll notice that it beeps faster when starting after it's already warm.

cadillackid · 05-15-2016, 06:43 PM

not all engines have them... My bus doesnt have glow plugs or a grid.. you just hop in start it and go.

im not sure if the cats have glow heaters or not.
-Christopher

superdave · 05-15-2016, 08:15 PM

i have a 96, the switch on the left is my high idle. maybe yours is leaking or broke

nwarner2010 · 05-16-2016, 08:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superdave

i have a 96, the switch on the left is my high idle. maybe yours is leaking or broke

What does your rpm go up to when you engage the switch?

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nwarner2010 · 05-16-2016, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cadillackid

not all engines have them... My bus doesnt have glow plugs or a grid.. you just hop in start it and go.

im not sure if the cats have glow heaters or not.
-Christopher

I'm thinking mine doesn't have them either. I have no beeping or any lights. Hopefully winter starting isn't too bad

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Tango · 05-16-2016, 09:53 PM

No glow plugs or grid heat on my Cummins but I do have a 110v block heater I could plug in if needed. The seem to be fairly common on skoolies...at least those I have seen.

cadillackid · 05-17-2016, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

No glow plugs or grid heat on my Cummins but I do have a 110v block heater I could plug in if needed. The seem to be fairly common on skoolies...at least those I have seen.

I think I have one of those too.. being its original in service is ohio.. the place where im going to store it indoors has power.. so i should probably remember to plug it in.. or that -10 degree day I want to take it out might prove difficult... or smoky at the very least

-Christopher

cowlitzcoach · 05-17-2016, 05:00 AM

If you have a Williams air throttle the switch is most probably the high idle switch. Those were famous for not working correctly after a few years.

Since prolonged idling is a no--no in almost every urban area when the fast idle switch stopped working they were rarely ever fixed.

The other switch, if it turns on a light might be for the transmission retarder.

Every one of your air tanks should have an air drain. It might be an automatic type or a manual type of drain. But there should be a drain on every tank.

Most newer buses have automatic spitter valves that help to keep tanks dry and/or an air dryer with a dessicant to dry out the air before it enters the tanks. Regardless of what type of dryer you have, you should manually drain every tank on a regular basis. You really do no want any moisture to get into your brake valves, brake air cans, or into any of your air operated accessories.

EschatonExpress · 05-23-2016, 06:37 PM

I've got a 91 Thomas as well. The air tanks must be drained manually. On that note, how often is "regularly" when you're talking about draining the tanks to prevent moisture?

EastCoastCB · 05-23-2016, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EschatonExpress

I've got a 91 Thomas as well. The air tanks must be drained manually. On that note, how often is "regularly" when you're talking about draining the tanks to prevent moisture?

I drain mine after I shut down the bus.

nwarner2010 · 05-23-2016, 07:41 PM

I found my tanks drains, guess I didn't look hard enough the first time, but when draining a lot of moisture came out. I'm going to start draining mine after driving it for the day.

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opus · 05-23-2016, 08:05 PM

What engine is this? That will tell us if you have glow plugs or not.

cadillackid · 05-23-2016, 08:06 PM

I drained mine a couple times esp aftyer being in humid florida but I never get any moisture out... does that likely mean my AD-9 drier still works like it is supposed to?
-Christopher

nwarner2010 · 05-23-2016, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by opus

What engine is this? That will tell us if you have glow plugs or not.

Hi, it's a cat 3116

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