The Camel Conversion Project

[REDD]

Originally Posted by Tango

Excellent body warmers...thank you!

No kidding, well done.
....this is all I've got, not much of a body warmer.

[PDBreske]

Originally Posted by REDD

No kidding, well done.
....this is all I've got, not much of a body warmer.

Ouch. I'm sorry for your pain.

[DT75FLH]

Any new updates?

[PDBreske]

Sadly, no. While I haven't sold the bus, the conversion is on hold for now. I do still intend to finish it, though. Come hell or high water, it will be done!

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PDBreske

Sadly, no. While I haven't sold the bus, the conversion is on hold for now. I do still intend to finish it, though. Come hell or high water, it will be done!

Nice to hear!

[PDBreske]

I'm thinking of selling the Camel. It's been years since I did any work to it (really, nothing since the fire), and since then my life has changed so much. I bought a home and my disabilities still make manual work difficult, so it might just be something I can never finish.

I'm going to buy a new battery and see if I can even start the engine after all this time. Before I attempt that, does anyone have any recommendations for what I might need to do before starting it? I did treat the fuel tank with Sta-bil long ago, but I'm way outside the recommended lifetime of that product.

If it doesn't start, I doubt I'll sell it. A non-starting vehicle is practically worthless and I can bring myself to give it away. Besides, I'd like to use the money to fix a few things on my Jeep since that will become my primary travel vehicle.

Or I may decide to keep it and keep working on it. As I said, right now I'm thinking about it.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PDBreske

I'm thinking of selling the Camel. It's been years since I did any work to it (really, nothing since the fire), and since then my life has changed so much. I bought a home and my disabilities still make manual work difficult, so it might just be something I can never finish.

I'm going to buy a new battery and see if I can even start the engine after all this time. Before I attempt that, does anyone have any recommendations for what I might need to do before starting it? I did treat the fuel tank with Sta-bil long ago, but I'm way outside the recommended lifetime of that product.

If it doesn't start, I doubt I'll sell it. A non-starting vehicle is practically worthless and I can bring myself to give it away. Besides, I'd like to use the money to fix a few things on my Jeep since that will become my primary travel vehicle.

Or I may decide to keep it and keep working on it. As I said, right now I'm thinking about it.

How old is the fuel?
How full is the tank?

Let me know if you want any help, I'm over in Lake County. I'd love to see it.

[PDBreske]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

How old is the fuel?
How full is the tank?

Let me know if you want any help, I'm over in Lake County. I'd love to see it.

I was about to say the fuel is four years old, but that was from the last time the engine ran. It’s actually been maybe seven years since I filled the tank. I think it’s about three-quarters full.

You’re welcome to come see it anytime. PM me for an address in Belleview.

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by PDBreske

I was about to say the fuel is four years old, but that was from the last time the engine ran. It’s actually been maybe seven years since I filled the tank. I think it’s about three-quarters full.

You’re welcome to come see it anytime. PM me for an address in Belleview.

Ok, I'll send a PM!
WHy don't I pump out as much of the remaining fuel as I can and we'll put 10 gallons or so of fresh diesel with some Diesel Kleen and I'll bet it will fire up just fine.

[Quest]

Any updates? Did you sell it? Did it start?

[EastCoastCB]

We've been in touch, just haven't gotten over there.

[PDBreske]

I still haven't decided if I'm going to sell it. I can still find a use-case for keeping it and traveling in it by myself for shorter trips around the region, but I won't be living in it full-time like I was originally planning to.

Or I may sell it. LOL.

Haven't tried to start it yet. I bought a new battery, but then we had an unexpected medical bill(s). The bus needs an oil change ($100 for the oil, but the previous owner gave me a handful of filters with the bus) and coolant refresh, so it's going to be a little while before I can get it to the point I feel it's safe to start. The fuel tank is nearly full, so draining the old diesel out of it is going to be a hassle.

I also have a show coming up in October that I need to get ready for, so I have to buy some more mat boards and frame kits for my display. If this year's show goes as well as my first show at this event a few years ago, I will have some extra cash to throw at the bus.

[PDBreske]

Yesterday, I changed the oil and filter and hooked up a battery charger to top off the new battery I installed in July last year. This morning, I tried starting the bus.

It started right up on the first crank. Amazing.

However, not all is great in CamelLand. The "BRAKE PRESS" light and buzzer are on with the engine running. According to the bus operator's manual, those should go on when the key is on with the engine off, but should stop when the engine starts and is running. So I need to figure out what's going on with that. According to the manual, it's unsafe to drive without the booster system.

It has hydraulic brakes with a Hydro-Max booster system. The booster system appears to run the power steering as well as the brake boost and the steering works fine; I can turn the wheel left and right to full lock with virtually no effort.

I'm going to research the type of power steering fluid I need to get. Maybe it's just a low fluid level or maybe there is a simple electrical connection that is causing the warnings.

I'm very relieved.

[Quest]

That's awesome! Congrats. Hope it's just minor things from sitting for a bit. Must be a great feeling that it started right up!!!

[PDBreske]

Originally Posted by Quest

That's awesome! Congrats. Hope it's just minor things from sitting for a bit. Must be a great feeling that it started right up!!!

Feels great. I guess these old diesels really are built to last. 😊

[o1marc]

Is it building pressure while it's buzzing? On an air brake system the buzzer will sound until it reaches 60psi in the tank, buzzer will stop and pressure will continue to build until around 100psi. If it doesn't reach 60psi it will not release the brake and allow you to move.

[PDBreske]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Is it building pressure while it's buzzing? On an air brake system [snip]

It has hydraulic brakes.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by PDBreske

It has hydraulic brakes.

Why does it have a brake pressure gauge buzzing?

[PDBreske]

Originally Posted by o1marc

Why does it have a brake pressure gauge buzzing?

The Hydro-Max system has a reserve electric motor pump that supplies boost in the event the engine-driven boost fails or if the engine stops running. I suppose the warning gauge cluster is the same for trucks with air or hydraulic brakes, so it's just a way to direct your attention to a problem in the brake system.

In my case, it appears the electric boost pump isn't working, although the engine-driven pump is working fine. If I were to drive it like this and the engine failed as I was driving, I would have less than ten percent of the braking power available due to loss of boost. Not good.

[BlackJohn]

Your brake warning will likely be fine when you get the system bled and pressured again.


An internal pressure switch will be normalized shutting the buzzer off and restoring electric boost power.


John