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Search took 0.00 seconds. Search: Posts Made By: mantis
Forum: Mechanical and Drivetrains 05-17-2021, 11:51 PM
Replies: 12
Views: 1,080
Posted By mantis
Thanks to this thread, I now know I need to make...

Thanks to this thread, I now know I need to make sure I have a working EGT gauge.

To give you a bit of confidence, I may have driven my auction bus the 1200 miles up from LA to Seattle on I-5...
Forum: Titles, Insurance, Registration and Money Matters 04-27-2021, 12:02 AM
Replies: 2,293
Views: 538,942
Posted By mantis
YUP. I mean, that’s the whole point of...

YUP.
I mean, that’s the whole point of registering in Vermont, and I took the paperwork nice and slow.
Forum: Titles, Insurance, Registration and Money Matters 04-26-2021, 10:46 PM
Replies: 2,293
Views: 538,942
Posted By mantis
Sigh, just got my registration (and plate...

Sigh, just got my registration (and plate sticker) in the mail, and it still says BS as the body type instead of MH (for MotorHome).

I suppose I'm on the phone to Vermont tomorrow to see if...
Forum: Conversion Tutorials and How-to's 04-06-2021, 10:43 AM
Replies: 110
Views: 46,232
Posted By mantis
As the owner of a bus with a janky instrument...

As the owner of a bus with a janky instrument cluster that's mostly hidden by the steering wheel, this thread is super-informative and inspiring.

The results you've achieved so far could be...
Forum: Electrical, Charging and Solar 03-25-2021, 11:08 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,428
Posted By mantis
Okay, so I pulled all four batteries, charged...

Okay, so I pulled all four batteries, charged each of them up to 100%, and tested each at ~13.3v after they sat overnight.

I cleaned a few contacts that looked dirty, and hooked it all back up in...
Forum: Electrical, Charging and Solar 03-22-2021, 09:21 AM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,428
Posted By mantis
Okay, that makes sense if two 8D batteries were...

Okay, that makes sense if two 8D batteries were the original equipment. Thanks for the insight!

Charging/testing individual batteries begins today…
Forum: Electrical, Charging and Solar 03-22-2021, 12:05 AM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,428
Posted By mantis
Yeah, I didn't mean to imply the A/C compressors...

Yeah, I didn't mean to imply the A/C compressors were actually powered by the lead-acid batteries, I was just answering the question of "what other mess does the bus have going on" from a previous...
Forum: Electrical, Charging and Solar 03-21-2021, 06:19 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,428
Posted By mantis
Cool, but how do I charge them? Pretend I have...

Cool, but how do I charge them? Pretend I have no experience in this area.

The bus did have 2 large A/C units, so maybe that's the reason for the extra batteries. They're all wired together, so...
Forum: Electrical, Charging and Solar 03-21-2021, 06:16 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,428
Posted By mantis
My main question is about your first comment:...

My main question is about your first comment: "Get your batteries up to a full charge before starting your bus."

What's the best way to do that? Do I pull all 4 batteries and charge them from the...
Forum: Electrical, Charging and Solar 03-21-2021, 02:40 PM
Replies: 17
Views: 1,428
Posted By mantis
vehicle battery issues

Hey, so, my 1995 WestCoastER came wired with 4 12v batteries in the tray. Three were > 10 years old and were replaced the day I got the bus, and the fourth (that seemed okay) was replaced last week...
Forum: Heating, Cooling and Appliances 03-19-2021, 10:37 AM
Replies: 34
Views: 5,453
Posted By mantis
I haven't tried it myself (yet), but I've heard...

I haven't tried it myself (yet), but I've heard people having success with a curry comb to manually scrape the foam down.

Google "curry comb" or "steel shedding blade" for examples.
Forum: Skoolie Conversion Projects 03-11-2021, 01:50 AM
Replies: 0
Views: 999
Posted By mantis
The Mighty Columbia

https://i.imgur.com/LYRismb.jpg

The Mighty Columbia is a 1995 Thomas WestCoastER that I bought at auction from the Los Angeles Unified School District.

It has a Cat 3116 engine with an...
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 03-11-2021, 12:28 AM
Replies: 11
Views: 1,338
Posted By mantis
Hey, me too! My A/C lasted all of one day before...

Hey, me too! My A/C lasted all of one day before the compressor seized. Other than that (and needing new batteries) it's in pretty good shape.
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 03-10-2021, 03:21 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
The speedometer sometimes shows the correct speed...

The speedometer sometimes shows the correct speed and sometimes is off by 20+ MPH. I noticed it when it said I was going 10 MPH when I was quite obviously doing 45+. After a while it seems to "warm...
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 03-09-2021, 11:16 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
I looked more closely at the pictures I took of...

I looked more closely at the pictures I took of the faded info placards, and it seems to say I have an MT640 transmission, if there is such a thing.

Not sure about the modulator issue... I for...
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 03-07-2021, 12:14 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
Yeah, so I jumped in feet-first and bought an old...

Yeah, so I jumped in feet-first and bought an old bus at auction.

https://i.imgur.com/LYRismb.jpg

It’s a 1995 Thomas West-Coast-ER with a Cat 3116 and a transmission of unknown provenance. The...
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-26-2021, 12:28 AM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
Yup, I'll definitely call to get a feel for the...

Yup, I'll definitely call to get a feel for the situation before flying down to LA to drive it off.

It does sound like I need to get a one-trip permit from the CA DMV, but I'll ask about that, too.
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-25-2021, 04:20 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
Okay, new question for those who have done it (or...

Okay, new question for those who have done it (or similar situation):

If I buy a bus at auction from a school district in California, will they hand it over to me to drive off out-of-state (to...
Forum: Classifieds | Buy, Sell, Swap 02-24-2021, 01:08 AM
Replies: 38
Views: 4,527
Posted By mantis
musigenesis, what do you do for rust like that? ...

musigenesis, what do you do for rust like that? I’d be worried about structural integrity, and more as-yet-undiscovered rust.

The price is certainly tempting!
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-23-2021, 09:51 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
Makes sense. Anyway, my reply eventually made it...

Makes sense. Anyway, my reply eventually made it through the tube and is up there where it belongs.
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-23-2021, 02:05 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
It seems like the forum ate one of my replies,...

It seems like the forum ate one of my replies, saying it needed to be approved before posting. Hmm. Maybe because I included a hyperlink?
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-22-2021, 11:08 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
I was under the impression that it was (legally)...

I was under the impression that it was (legally) a commercial vehicle until titled as an RV, given the number of seats and GVWR. I'm sure this varies by state, but in WA, that's what I've heard and...
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-22-2021, 03:14 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
I just went back to look at those listings to...

I just went back to look at those listings to make sure I didn't just miss out on something awesome.

Those did look good, though they did not have the large storage bays that I'm looking for,...
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-18-2021, 10:24 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
Right on. I have 3 kids, so maximum space is...

Right on. I have 3 kids, so maximum space is desired. I’ve seen a few that fit my criteria, but they’re usually down in California or $20K from a dealer.
Forum: New Member Intros - Say Hello! 02-18-2021, 04:09 PM
Replies: 27
Views: 2,217
Posted By mantis
Howdy from Seattle!

I don't have a bus yet, but I'm researching and planning.

I'm looking for a

Not Rusty
Blue Bird All-American RE
with an 8.3L Cummins
and basement storage bays

This bus will be primarily...
Showing results 1 to 25 of 25

 
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