Bus won't start: How to I open this door to the batteries?

[EastCoastCB]

Well, my bus came with three batteries and the tray is clearly designed to hold three of them. Having just bought and installed three replacement batteries, I'm interested to know whether I could have bought just two or one instead.

2 will do. But you folks up north typically have 3 due to the colder climate and need for more CCA's.

 

[david.dgeorge07]

2 will do. But you folks up north typically have 3 due to the colder climate and need for more CCA's.

^^^^This

3 for severe duty. 2 standard. One will often get the job done in a pinch.

 

[railbus5]

Batteries

My Bluebird CSFE has only two batteries. However they are D8's. This is for cold starting because of a fuel pre-heater and a grid heater. Also because I have hydraulic brakes. If the engine quits for any reason there is an electric motor that runs the brakes and power steering so you can safely pull over and stop.

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Aw, whadya need pre-heater for. Not like it ever gets particularly cold in ME..! [emoji849]

My Bluebird CSFE has only two batteries. However they are D8's. This is for cold starting because of a fuel pre-heater and a grid heater. Also because I have hydraulic brakes. If the engine quits for any reason there is an electric motor that runs the brakes and power steering so you can safely pull over and stop.

That back-up motor for the steering and brakes sounds pretty nifty. Were they OEM, or after-market?

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

That back-up motor for the steering and brakes sounds pretty nifty. Were they OEM, or after-market?

They're factory equipped, 99% of the time.

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Dangit!!!

They're factory equipped, 99% of the time.

Ya got me pondering on that remaining 1% now... [emoji848]
I must now stretch and limber, to exert my maximum Gu-Fu!
(Thanx!)

 

[Brad_SwiftFur]

They're factory equipped, 99% of the time.

Dangit!!!Ya got me pondering on that remaining 1% now... [emoji848]
I must now stretch and limber, to exert my maximum Gu-Fu!
(Thanx!)

Probably much closer to 100%, but I'm sure there's an odd one out somewhere .........


Imagine trying to wrestle the steering and stand on the brake when the engine power assist goes out? Especially for some poor ol' granny somewhere?

 

[railbus5]

It is OEM. The CS series were transit style buses. They now paint standard buses white and sometimes leave out the flashing lights.

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Kinda figgered, buts its ha'ad tellin' not knowin'...
Thanx for the confirmation. If, Gawd forbid, the engine ever craps out while in motion, guess I'll just have to go all Incredible Hulk on it!

 

[railbus5]

The heater is OEM. This bus was first sold in North Carolina according to it's VIN history. Later it went to a dealer in New Hampshire. They sold it to Sunday River Ski Area. When they bought it, it had less than 5000 miles on it. They ran it about seven or eight years. A guy purchased it from them to use for a youth group he was involved with. When he found out he had to commercial license it and himself, he freaked and put it up for sale. I purchased it from him for $4600. The odometer is broken, but I think the bus has around 20,000 or so miles on it. When I registered it I high balled it and said 40,000miles. The motor stars and runs beautifully. There is no smoke if you run it regularly.

 

[HazMatt-SKO]

Day-yum! You hit the jackpot, chum!
Mine hailed from WV, was bought by a guy in MA, who has a cottage in Biddeford, so titled it in ME, before his finacee decided "they" weren't Skoolie material.
The only thing remarkable about my bus is how completely unremarkable it is...