Cracked liners due to operator abuse - now in Camp Luke

[Jriddle]

I think BW is right on the money with this one. You are the only one that knows what happened. These engines are known for taking abuse. You might not have got that much coolent in oil till you stopped. I do not know anything about Luke as I am new to Buses and live across the country. Sounds like he is your man. Our decisions on repairs should be based on the kind of service we will put them through. How many miles do most drive per year? Do we make a living from it? How much can one afford? If the engine is toast a good mechanic will tell you. Ask lots of questions. Make him prove why you need rebuild. We had a 70 ton Haul truck at work lose a valve some of it stayed in the cylinder and some in the turbo. The engine had around 10,000 hrs. The CAT mechanic wanted to change engine. We decided to repair head, cylinder, and turbo and get another 5,000 hrs before rebuild. Two years ago when things were better we might have went with early overhaul. I think you are on the right track. I believe you can cut some corners and be alright, but I never cut corners when it comes to a safety issue. Good luck

John

[Busted Knuckle]

Thanks guys for the slap about the head - I needed that.  We were locked into a path that I didn't like but we were going ahead with it anyway because I didn't think we had options.  I spent the last 2 hours on the phone to New Jersey with various people and we are now waiting for a wrecker to arrive to tow us to US Coach.  Mama's even got Good Sam Roadside service convinced to pick up a part of the tow bill, for whatever that may be worth.

Stay tuned for the next chapter but at least it will unfold from somewhere where we can trust the advice we receive.

Right on Bob! Sounds like the master plan has been developed! I had really thought about suggesting towing it to Luke but I also thought "whew that'll add about $1500-2000 to the repair cost" But hopefully Good Sam will cover at least the hook up and say first 50 miles or so and drop it to about 1/2 the normal fee.

Oh and Don can still send ya an engine to Luke's too!

Well good luck with whatever rte you go!   BK 

[bobofthenorth]

$1500 plus plus is what I thought at first too BK but when I checked Flanagan's is willing to send a wrecker up here for $950 plus tolls.  I don't know how they can do that - I'd think twice about driving my pickup there and back for that price. 

[Busted Knuckle]

$1500 plus plus is what I thought at first too BK but when I checked Flanagan's is willing to send a wrecker up here for $950 plus tolls.  I don't know how they can do that - I'd think twice about driving my pickup there and back for that price. 

Hey great deal! & a great price too! But I'll bet you $ they are giving you a good deal because of the amount of business they do for LUKE!
But hey with the cheap price of fuel (compared to last summer!) it is easier for those of us in the transportation business to do better pricing!

Anyway glad to hear it! Of course tolls are gonna be probably $200 or so round trip! ("ya know it don't cost much to get into Jersey, but it does to get out! because nobody in their right mind would pay to go into Jersey, BUT ANY & EVERYBODY will pay to get out! LOL! " old trucking joke! )

Keep up posted as to the rest of the lucky breaks ya get from here on out! This could be a fun adventure! (at least for those of us who don't have to open our wallets! LOL but then again I did that before thanksgiving with the rear end adventure! LOL!)    BK 

[uncle ned]

Thats the reason i kept driving  every mile closer saved me dollars.

uncle ned

bob come by on your way south. will follow you to jacks.

I know luke will have you running in time to make it

[NJT 5573]

It takes a few miles to gunk up the bearings with antifreeze. You can always look at a couple of them and make a decision. Its been cold up there and head bolts shrink in the cold. Its not rare for them to pop a head off a bolt and let the gasket start leaking. I don't fix anything that ain't broke, but I do all my own work and accept the responsibilities if I'm wrong. A shop will error on the safe side and give you something that they can gurantee. In my business the true value of a mechanic is knowing what will run and what won't. Hope you can get fixed and rolling with some food stamps still in your pocket.

[buswarrior]

Excellent report.

Sleep well, busnuts, bob's in good hands now.

Keep us informed as to the great and many things you will learn while in Mecca Right Coast.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[bobofthenorth]

And I think there's a chance Bob will actually sleep well tonight too.  "Steve" from Flanagan's showed up in Cortland about 3:00 this afternoon.  What a pro he was - and what a truck - big red Ford (Sterling if you must) that they built themselves - about a mile long with a hydraulic boom.  I fired up the big noisemaker and moved the bus onto the street so we had a straight shot to hook up, we pulled one axle and we were on the road by 4:00.  The engine started right up and sounded good.  I started it from the rear and bumped it over until it had made a couple of full turns just in case it wanted to hydrolock but it seemed clear and started on the first full roll.  Steve didn't have a cut-off axle to put back in the hole but we stuffed it full of rags and put a styrofoam plate on for a cap.  There was a bit of oil splashed out on the tire along the way but it looks like we held most of it.  We followed Steve down the Pennsylvania Turnpike and stayed tight on his tail through Philadelphia. 

Its 11:00 now and we are bunking in at Luke's.  There's a yard full of busses to keep watch over us tonight.  It cost me $1050 to get this far but I consider that money well spent.  If I actually get a good night's sleep that will confirm the decision.

Oh - one other thing.  Cody - it was a LOT more fun reading about your escapades on the way to Florida last winter from the comfort of a beach in Mexico.  Now that the bills are starting to come due for this trip, how's about we swap places for a while this winter?

[Busted Knuckle]

Hey Bob great to hear that you made there! And also not a bad price at all, and hopefully you'll get a little of that back from Good Sam! And yer still $10,000 less than what I spent last month on that rear end so far! LOL! Good noght and I do hope you sleep well!   BK 

[John316]

Bob,


Glad to hear that you made it. I hope that the work goes well.

God bless,

John

[Paso One]

Great News Bob  Glad your in good hands.

[Sojourner]

That great you got it to the genuine Luke's US Coach. 

About towing cost...they may have a wrecked truck to tow back to help split the differance? ?

  Whatever....you are in the bus nut's paradise.

BTW...tell Luke and the crew that we said Hi from the Mak board, if you will.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[cody]

Bob, we all take our turns lol, I was sitting here thinking about you guys, it's always a bite in the wallet when something like that happens and it never seems to happen at a time or place that is really fun, I've never heard of a bus breaking down on the beach during spring break unless it's on Lake Erie, but I think Lukes was the best choice, a person can gamble and take a risk or you can go with someone that you trust, it's always a judgement call but when it's all done, you'll know your running a strong engine again.

[skipn]

   Bob,
   
     The towing cost was great when you compare I spent over $600 for 35 miles.
      also took them 2 hrs to unluck the daughters car......son-inlaw locked the
      keys in while we were waiting for the tow truck.
     Hopefully your good luck (if you can call it that) will hold up when they do
      the engine.

 
   Skip

[Busted Knuckle]

That great you got it to the genuine Luke's US Coach. 

About towing cost...they have a wrecked truck to tow back to help split the differance? ?
  Whatever, you are in the bus nut's paradise.

BTW...tell Luke and the crew that we said Hi from the Mak board, if you will.

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

Gerald I'm not positive but I believe the wrecker was from down in Luke's area and the one he normally uses!

But I could be wrong after all I did put a differential in upside down, and I did not stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! LOL!    BK