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12-09-2017, 06:40 AM
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#281
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Nice color combo!
Celtic approved!
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12-09-2017, 10:33 AM
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#282
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Yeah, the paint job really does pull it all together! The bus interior has otherwise been done (enough) for years. Now I'm playing with mechanical things a bit more. Stopping oil drips, tightening steering components, smoothing suspension and so on..
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12-09-2017, 11:21 AM
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#283
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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I also started dinking around with a battery charger rig for those cloudy months again:
The charger consists of a snowblower (obviously ), a handful of pulleys and belts I had kicking around and a 90vdc treadmill motor.
I tried a similar thing last year, but I made the mistake of using a 2hp 2-stroke motor that I extracted from a busted up 900w Chinesium grade generator. You've probably all seen the generator I'm talking about at your local cheapo tool stores. They are shipped across the ocean, rebranded and resold all over the place.
I found mine at the dump. The engine ran fine, but it was loud and hopped around all over the place. Not a great candidate. Had to scrap that direction.
The snowblower, on the other hand, is a great candidate! It's self-propelled and has a new 6.5hp engine! I can't say for sure, but it seems that using that 6.5hp engine for dual purpose may actually be better for it in the long run. As it is now, the engine only gets used a couple dozen times in the winter, then sits around for the rest of the year. Using it more frequently should keep the bearings happy, cycle the old fuel through and remove condensation from the oil.
Now, one option currently is to use the 8000w generator (which I typically use for welding) and a battery charger. This turns out to be quite expensive. The generator has a 420cc engine that is turning at 3600rpm. The 6.5hp 196cc engine, on the other hand, only needs to turn at 2000-2200rpm to pump out a 60a battery charge.
The treadmill motors are nice for power generation because they are higher voltage than an alternator and use permanent magnets instead of field windings. Usually the voltage is somewhere between 90-150vdc. At those voltages it can be charging 100ft away with minimal line loss. My MPPT charge controller can accept up to 100vdc. As long as I get the pulley ratio correct I can keep the motor/generator in the happy spot.
However, the little treadmill motor that I had salvaged some time back doesn't have a shaft-driven fan! How silly. It's not rated as heavy duty as some of the better treadmill motors. So I had to rig up an auxiliary fan to keep it cool. The other day that fan stopped working without me realizing it and the treadmill motor/generator was smoking Whoops! I'm on the prowl for a heavier duty motor.
Something like this would be nice:
I'll be keeping my eyes open!
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12-10-2017, 11:41 AM
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#284
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Bus Geek
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Eastern WA
Posts: 6,401
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: All American RE (A3RE)
Engine: Cummins ISC (8.3)
Rated Cap: 72
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I have been considering something similar using one of the Chinese Yanmar l100 clones, a PM 12si and the bracket found here: https://theepicenter.com/emergency-p...generator.html
How has your charge controller worked out in this application?
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12-10-2017, 11:58 AM
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#285
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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frig yeah.. a little diesel would be great. Do you know how those little Yanmar's do at low RPM?
The charge controller has been holding up just fine. It's a cheap Tracer 4210rn MPPT charge controller rated for 40 (or 45?) amps. However, it wants to pull up to 60a when the amperage is available for the bulk charging. It seems to do that fine. The giant heat sink only gets warm to the touch.
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03-05-2018, 12:37 AM
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#286
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: southeast Mi.
Posts: 25
Year: 2000
Coachwork: international
Chassis: blue bird t444e 6 window at545
Engine: 7.3 international
Rated Cap: 2
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sorry learning how to do this
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03-05-2018, 12:43 AM
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#287
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Mini-Skoolie
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: southeast Mi.
Posts: 25
Year: 2000
Coachwork: international
Chassis: blue bird t444e 6 window at545
Engine: 7.3 international
Rated Cap: 2
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great solar info
I just bought a 2000 t444e with a 545 trans I sure appreciate all your knowledge new to the schoolies coming from a 85 dodge high top extended really like the solar setup
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05-02-2018, 02:33 PM
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#288
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Wow! Cool bus! what a strange paint job I wish mine had that extra 1 or 2 feet that yours seems to.
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05-02-2018, 02:53 PM
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#289
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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So long in the making, but I finally slapped together the WVO/WMO centrifuge system prototype (click the image to see the video):
Untitled
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05-07-2018, 06:52 PM
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#290
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Well, well, well! I figured out the cause of the recent drop in power!
^ That is the harness for cylinder 5's glow plug and injector.
^ and here's the valve cover gasket.
I put an order in on Rockauto. Should get 2 new gaskets and harnesses by the end of the week!
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05-07-2018, 09:47 PM
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#291
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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I've heard they go out but never saw pics.
Hows the weather up there this time of year?
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05-07-2018, 09:49 PM
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#292
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
Posts: 23,764
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jazty
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I keep forgetting how GREAT the bus turned out. I love the size, the look, the colors... Again- WELL DONE, keep up the pics and all that!
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05-07-2018, 10:21 PM
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#293
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: N.C.
Posts: 1,136
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Engine: DT466E
Rated Cap: 34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB
WELL DONE, keep up the pics and all that!
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And more pics of your missing bottom step, please.
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05-07-2018, 10:46 PM
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#294
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Bus Nut
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Damascus, OR
Posts: 681
Year: 2004
Chassis: International
Engine: T444e w/ 2000 Allison Trans
Rated Cap: 35
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paint job came out nice!
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05-07-2018, 11:06 PM
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#295
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Picton,Ont, Can.
Posts: 1,956
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Bluebird
Chassis: GMC
Engine: Cat 3116
Rated Cap: 72
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Great looking bus you have there jazty. Nice job!
You must be a very happy man.
John
__________________
Question everything!
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05-08-2018, 06:50 AM
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#296
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jazty
^ and here's the valve cover gasket.
I put an order in on Rockauto. Should get 2 new gaskets and harnesses by the end of the week!
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That is one weird looking "gasket". Are there gaskets that go in the gasket? That's hard plastic, where's the rubber?
Good to hear that Rock Auto has you covered tho. Better than ordering thru a truck service shop for 5x the price.
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05-08-2018, 07:19 AM
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#297
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Thanks for the complements on the paint job everyone! I'm quite pleased with how it all turned out. If you look real close you can see a couple drips and brush strokes, but using Tremclad (Canadian name for Rustoleum.. exact same stuff) and Valspar Enamel Hardener it smoothed out well without dripping too badly. From 4 feet back it looks just dandy All in one pass, too!
The valve cover gasket is about 1/4" thick and made of plastic. It has to be thick enough to pass the electrical pins through and hold a connector. There are two rubber seals (which you can just barely see in the picture) that are inset into the plastic on both the top and bottom. It is a reusable gasket as long as it hasn't gone nuclear, like mine did.
Here's a picture of the replacement:
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05-08-2018, 07:23 AM
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#298
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Oh, and in regards to the weather: It's been a beautiful spring! Can't complain. This season and early to mid fall are my favourite times of year for the temperature. Starts cool in the morning (7C, 45F) and peaks in the mid 20s (75-80F) with plenty of sunshine.
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05-08-2018, 07:42 AM
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#299
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Bus Geek
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Essex, MD
Posts: 3,738
Year: 1999
Coachwork: Blue Bird
Chassis: Blue Bird TC RE 3904, Flat Nose, 40', 277" wh base
Engine: 8.3L Cummins ISC 260hp, MT643, 4.44 rear
Rated Cap: 84 pax or 1 RV; 33,000lbs
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jazty
The valve cover gasket is about 1/4" thick and made of plastic. It has to be thick enough to pass the electrical pins through and hold a connector.
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No, it does NOT have to be thick enough to pass ANYTHING. That's kind of the point of a gasket in the first place. They CHOSE to do that. Every vehicle with fuel injection has at least injectors. Most have spark plugs in place of glow plugs but pretty much the same thing. Show me a car gasket with connectors.
Ford probably does something stupid like that. I've not seen the gasket in my B.B. but I hope it isn't like that. You've doubled your chances of leaking if nothing else.
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05-08-2018, 07:50 AM
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#300
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Bus Crazy
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
Posts: 1,791
Year: 1997
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: B3800 Short bus
Engine: T444E
Rated Cap: 36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob
No, it does NOT have to be thick enough to pass ANYTHING. That's kind of the point of a gasket in the first place. They CHOSE to do that. Every vehicle with fuel injection has at least injectors. Most have spark plugs in place of glow plugs but pretty much the same thing. Show me a car gasket with connectors.
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Can't say I've worked on any electrically actuated direct-injection gassers, so... I'm not sure how they do it. But a thicker gasket seems like a perfectly fine solution, in my opinion. It's not prone to leaking. It's reusable. The common fault seems to be with the glow plug connector making sloppy contact over time resulting in frying the wires. The new gasket I ordered takes a different approach with the connectors so this same problem shouldn't happen again.
Honestly, 370000kms on the engine and it burnt a connector.. Doesn't seem so bad to me. Even so, I drove it 900kms in that state out of necessity (gotta get to work on time)
Most cars I've seen they have extra holes through the valve cover to pass the spark plug wires. Then they seal each and every hole.. Mo' gaskets, mo problems? I don't know. Still haven't really had any problems with that technique.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Brewerbob
Ford probably does something stupid like that. I've not seen the gasket in my B.B. but I hope it isn't like that. You've doubled your chances of leaking if nothing else.
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I can't see how there's any more chance of leaking then other techniques. Hardly worth getting too excited about, either way.
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