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Old 09-03-2019, 09:48 PM   #1
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
Got her today!

So I got my 97 3800 blue bird cross breed today. Has a T444E 175hp, AT545, F15S 4.11 rear.i drove no problem (other then it was excurshiatingly slow) untill I stopped at the last stop sign 28 miles from home. I took off and magically all I had was 1st gear -.- , I had reverse, neutral, and 1st. No matter what I did it refused to shift out of first when driving. I pulled over and let it cool down and removed the cover on the electric modular (shift solenoid) and fluid poured out... So I diagnosed it as being bad and ordered another one. I've seen several other posts with the same problem and there mehanics sold them a new tranny. So I'll keep y'all up to date on if that fixes it.

Oh BTW! I drove the last 28 miles at 17mph!

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Old 09-03-2019, 10:06 PM   #2
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Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: MONTANA
Posts: 471
Year: 1995
Coachwork: AMTRAM
Chassis: INT
Engine: DT466
Rated Cap: Big Girl
Can’t offer any help on your problem, but geez what a way to start out skoolie life. Hopefully you got a good deal on the bus.
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Old 09-04-2019, 02:20 AM   #3
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
I wish I could say that this was the last time something like that will happen ...


That's Skoolie Life!
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Old 09-04-2019, 08:14 AM   #4
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
I wanted to show pictures but unfortunately this twenty-year-old forum doesn't have that capability without posting it to another site and then linking it back to this one I'm not going through that so yeah.

can somebody link me to where I can get 3.55 gears for this bad boy I can't find them anywhere
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Old 09-04-2019, 08:32 AM   #5
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Columbus Ohio
Posts: 18,758
Year: 1991
Coachwork: Carpenter
Chassis: International 3800
Engine: DTA360 / MT643
Rated Cap: 7 Row Handicap
those electric modulators are a COMMON failure.. mine was bad ion my red bus when I got it and took out the transmission ...



on the 444E there are 2 ways it is controlled..



1. by the ECM based on engine speed, load, etc.. its a kickdown device (thuis why you may get stuck in first if it never turned off).. the ECM was pretty terrible at controlling them in the early 444E;s..



2. WW williams created a "fix" by installing a reed switch on the go-pedal where when you got the pedal down about 70% it would always kick down.. this method in theory worked OK except in certain situations where you were under high pedal pressure / RPM but light engine load..



as for gears.. the easiest and likely cheapest way to re-gear is to look at the tags on your axle or call a navistar dealer with your VIN and ask what axle it has.. then look on the used truck parts sites for a complete third member. .. swap out the 3rd and go..



our busses typically have variants of spicers with floating axles so you dont have to take the wheels off to remove the axle shafts and diff member.. (it is HEAVY bastard though)...


I have 3.54;s in my shorty with small 19.5" tires.. it was a good ratio while I had an AT545.. but I wouldnt have wanted it if I had any bigger tires as it would really dog the 545 in town and make alot of heat...



if your bus has full size 22.5" rims with 10R or 11R tires, a 4.10 might suit you better.. ECCB has that setup on his shorty and its perfect..




now that I have overdrive that axle is way too much...

-Christopher
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Old 09-04-2019, 08:36 AM   #6
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 6,995
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Coachwork: International
Chassis: CE 300
Engine: DT466e
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Necro View Post
I wanted to show pictures but unfortunately this twenty-year-old forum doesn't have that capability without posting it to another site and then linking it back to this one I'm not going through that so yeah.

can somebody link me to where I can get 3.55 gears for this bad boy I can't find them anywhere
I think you need to have 5+ posts here in order to add pics. You seem to have 8 now so you should be able to do it.
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Old 09-04-2019, 09:43 AM   #7
Mini-Skoolie
 
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Posts: 37
Pics of the bus
Attached Thumbnails
IMG_20190903_190420.jpg   IMG_20190903_190402.jpg   IMG_20190903_190342.jpg   MVIMG_20190903_190325.jpg   IMG_20190903_190317.jpg  

IMG_20190903_190303.jpg   IMG_20190903_190250.jpg   IMG_20190903_190207.jpg  
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Old 09-05-2019, 12:49 AM   #8
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
Thank you for trying to post the pictures again.


I like the first one of the front of the bus. The lighting makes the bus stand out!
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Old 09-06-2019, 12:58 PM   #9
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
It was The GOVONER! Pulled it out and the nylon splines had ripped off! Quick trip to the junk yard and BAM! Driving perfect again!
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Old 09-07-2019, 03:01 AM   #10
Bus Geek
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 3,856
Year: 2002
Coachwork: Thomas Built Bus
Chassis: Freightliner FS65
Engine: Caterpillar 3126E Diesel
Rated Cap: 71 Passenger- 30,000 lbs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Necro View Post
It was The GOVONER! Pulled it out and the nylon splines had ripped off! Quick trip to the junk yard and BAM! Driving perfect again!

So now the real question is WHY did the "govna" strip out in the first place?
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Old 09-07-2019, 10:25 AM   #11
Mini-Skoolie
 
Join Date: Aug 2019
Posts: 37
22 year old plastic...
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