Question for FS65 owners

[o1marc]

How do you keep the door closed when parked. Sticker at the shifter says door switch must be in closed position when turning off the key. That closes the door, but when you turn off the key, it disables the door and it just swings free.

 

[MIKE N STEPH]

we just push ours closed keeps the honest theves away

 

[o1marc]

we just push ours closed keeps the honest theves away

That might work if parked on an angle towards the drivers side. I'm currently parked will a slight lean towards passenger, and the doors wing wide open.

 

[MIKE N STEPH]

hmm our doors must be a little tighter cause even with a normar road crown lean ours will stay closed

 

[o1marc]

I will say when they are closed mechanically, they are the tightest seal and quietest doors I've experienced.
The 1st pic shows where they end if left on their own.

 

[banman]

Mines on an electric actuator -- different setup than yours.

 

[EastCoastCB]

The doors are by Bluebird. My thomas has much beefier ones with a twist latch.

 

[o1marc]

The doors are by Bluebird. My thomas has much beefier ones with a twist latch.

I had that twist latch on the local BB I just sold. The only one that actually had a way to lock the front door. I have yet to figure out what the key switch in front of my door does.

 

[EastCoastCB]

I had that twist latch on the local BB I just sold. The only one that actually had a way to lock the front door. I have yet to figure out what the key switch in front of my door does.

It actuates a door lock if working. I've never had one that worked.

 

[o1marc]

It actuates a door lock if working. I've never had one that worked.

I see no locking mechanism on the door, must electrically actuate the pneumatic system. I have a key that fits it, but it doesn't turn.

 

[cadillackid]

my bluebird has a lock.. its a lock probsbly easily broken but ive never had my bus broke into.. the BB double out doors just send a pin upward into the foor frame.. but not one into the bottom..

 

[JDSquared]

my bluebird has a lock.. its a lock probsbly easily broken but ive never had my bus broke into.. the BB double out doors just send a pin upward into the foor frame.. but not one into the bottom..

That's the way my BB locks. Except I broke it by mistake on the way home from purchase. The door is just out of square enough to make the pin get stuck. It's on my list to repair.

 

[MIKE N STEPH]

Our doors are different that yours also we have front folding doors not swing outs i wonder if that makes a difference

 

[PNW_Steve]

That's the way my BB locks. Except I broke it by mistake on the way home from purchase. The door is just out of square enough to make the pin get stuck. It's on my list to repair.

Mine worked great until I left in parked overnight at the shop that did my insulation. Someone tried to break into my bus and jacked up the lock and door. It took me half an hour to get the door unlocked for the insulation installer. Now it wont lock

 

[banman]

Mine worked great until I left in parked overnight at the shop that did my insulation. Someone tried to break into my bus and jacked up the lock and door. It took me half an hour to get the door unlocked for the insulation installer. Now it wont lock

I think that's my biggest concern -- somebody prying on the bottom of the door and breaking the glass cause the glass don't bend...

 

[WIbluebird]

That's why I'd like to go with an RV door at some point. School bus doors are not secure and all that glass just invites curiosity and the wrong folks.

 

[PNW_Steve]

That's why I'd like to go with an RV door at some point. School bus doors are not secure and all that glass just invites curiosity and the wrong folks.

I won't give up the service door glass. I use it enough when driving that it is definitely staying. I will have a curtain that will obscure the windshield and service door when parked.

 

[WIbluebird]

I have condensation in the double panes and the air door mechanism is extremely finicky to say the least. I will try to find an RV door with a large window and try to position it to help passenger side visibility.

 

[EastCoastCB]

How bout an rv door with a window added to the bottom? Best of both worlds.
Or install a tall vertical window on a plain rv door.

 

[PNW_Steve]

I have condensation in the double panes and the air door mechanism is extremely finicky to say the least. I will try to find an RV door with a large window and try to position it to help passenger side visibility.

The condensation issue sucks...

The RV doors that I have tinkered with have all been pretty flimsy. Fortunately for me my service door glass is in good shape.

I am planning on adding a bit of framework to the existing door "halves" to make one solid door and removing the aft hinge so it will swing like a regular door.

A gent that I worked with here took out his bus door and scratch built a very nice custom wood and glass door. If I were not able to retain the existing doors I would probably follow his example.