I am considering buying a bus again!
Different route this time-
1996 Thomas Safe-T Liner ER MVP Cummins 5.9 Allison Auto.
We went and checked it out- next to a 1992 Blue Bird 5.9 Engine Front.
The Thomas caught our eye as a better option.. It is a newer bus, has less miles, is significantly more quiet and easy to access the engine on, has 4 inches more headroom ect ect.
The bus has 175,000 miles on it, and we are assuming the engine has the same.
Here is a Video of it idling:
https://youtu.be/a4Np5ZqYx0M
It runs really well- kicked over right away like 12v cummins' do.
The owner- who is the fleet manager for the YMCA, had the bus in service for around 3 years. Pulled off service because they got 3 new busses. Before that it was in service for a school district.
They are asking $3500 for it, but will take $3k.
It runs great, but the throttle, which is a pneumatic system, is not working. It is stuck at 1500 idle speed.
Couple questions
1. We have read some about this engine, and were previously fans... since we have a 5.9 Dodge D350 which has always been a great truck.. But were reading about how this engine is underpowered for busses, and how it has problems with reliability and the lift pump fails ect ect.
We aren't planning to drive it around daily, as it will become our house... but it being drivable and possible long trip-able would be a must.
(Do you have positive experience with this engine and trans setup?)
2. Can the bus be driven without throttle?
I know that is ridiculous.. but the bus is parked about 7 miles down a dirt road in the middle of nowhere and it would be hard to get a truck down there to tow it out. With the idle stuck at 1500 I would assume theres a possibility to drive it without adding giving it any additional throttle....
(No way?)
3. We are thinking of repairing the air leak and getting the throttle working with the bus parked where it is. The system in question is a Williams controls throttle, and the leak is coming from this junction block:
Video of air leak:
It is leaking from the Yellow lines that come in and out of this block.
https://youtu.be/Q40ZG5jDG84
HOURS on clock say 11,319.
Milage 175,739
Thanks and Im glad to be back here considering another skoolie project