Turning Radius

[windtrader]

Thanks for the spec. Now I feel better missing those turns and clipping the curbs.

MCI 40-foot 7,8,9: Outside body corner, LH & RH = 50' '7" Outside tire, LH & RH = 47' 6"

[DoubleEagle]

As I understand it, raising the tag will let you make a tighter turn in reverse.  I don't know if it will enough for your needs though.  This is merely what I was told.  I never had one to try.

As Clifford mentioned, raising the tag will not affect the turning radius. The wheelbase between the front axle and the drive axle, and the amount of turning that the front axle can handle, determine how tight the radius will be. The advantage of raising the tag or bogie is less resistance to the turn, less tire scrubbing, and less damage to fragile pavement.

[kyle4501]

For comparison

GM PD4501 --
Outside corner radius - 42' 4-3/4"
Inside radius - 22' 8"
turning width - 13' 10-3/4"
Effective wheel base - 283-5/8"

[RJ]

. . . the wheel base for a MCI 9 is 285 inches, strange, huh?  Remove the stops and a 9 will turn in a 45 ft radius or shorter, fwiw. 

Clifford -

This is from an old post from 2012, but I'm curious as to where these "stops" are that you mentioned, and wonder if my 5C has them also?

RJ

[lostagain]

Lifting the tags, or having steerable tags, does help noticeably, because without the resistance of the tag tires, the front tires aren't being pushed straight ahead, they have more freedom to turn. Maneuvering a 45 footer with the tags up or steerable tags in a tight spot is quite a bit easier than one without. Also, the new coaches now have much tighter turning front wheels than the older ones.

JC

[HB of CJ]

Can you just make multiple backing attempts cutting it closer and closer with each attempt?  Backing.  Forwarding.  Are there any damage potentials rolling over stuff with the drivers?  (rear wheels)

My old Crown Supercoach 10 wheeler had the optional 16K front axle and the turning circle was very wide.  Equal to the old Queen Mary ocean liner.  Bad enough right hand turns were out.  Left only.

This resulted in some fore thought while cruising new towns and sights.  It was pretty much impossible to tightly back down, (with safety spotter always) without running over curbs, sidewalks and grass.

Could have enjoyed a much lower Reverse Gear also.  RTO910.

[Dave5Cs]

RJ turn our front wheels all the way until it stops and look in there you can see the stops where it stops against them behind the wheel. Don't know if ours can be removed without something getting hit by the tire though. Shocks, Airbags etc? HTH
Dave

[uncle ned]

Be careful with those stops. If you are in a old 4104 with big 24.5 tires and modofied steering gear.

If they get out of adjustment it cuts real sharp. also rubs the air bags and they blow at unexpected time.

Don't ask me how I know but it rides very rough when you put a big block in there to keep it from pumping out all the air while you drive it home.

uncle ned

[luvrbus]

Just get the adjustment right a 1/4 of an inch makes a big difference in the turning radius   

[Slug]

One of the good points of owning a European Bus turns on a penny, well a big one
James

[buswarrior]

The tag axle up or down, does make a difference.

How much? Not much, but sometimes that's all the difference...

Go to a big parking lot, bring some flat markers, like a few pieces of plywood...

Set the coach up turning a circle, steering wheel HARD to the lock, with the tags raised.

Get assistant to place boards against drive tires at 4 compass points.

Leaving steering HARD to the lock, sit still and put tags back down and WAIT for them to fill up.

Spin 'round the circle, noting the increased space from your boards.

You should return to right beside the first one every spin 'round, or you are screwing it up.

For a driver who can place a motorcoach between a bee's knees, it is very rare that the tag ever gets lifted for manoeuvring purposes. Raising the tag on someone's fresh asphalt parking lot is a respectful action.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[sledhead]

if I do not lift the tags on my driveway the tags will rip up the asphalt . don't ask me how I know that . when I put the coach in reverse the tag axle moves forward about 3 " to help the turn . but only in reverse not in forward

dave