Bus repairs

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2014 2:35 pm

While I had the bus at the house, I figured I'd give it a power wash. Looking much better right now....

Several things I've noticed. First on the bus, all of the sealer on the roof needs to be replaced, it's starting to get very sun beaten and weathered. On the trailer, there are actually 2 stress cracks on the upper roof skin that are leaking. The upper air vent needs to be resealed, it's leaking and a front panel on trailer is separating from the curved part of the roof.

I've also gone over the dash, mainly to clean off all of the rallyx dirt. The solar panel wouldn't work due to all the dirt on it. When the rallyx team uses the bus, please keep the doors closed. All that fine dirt is getting into everything.

The bottom of the entrance doors are really looking bad in regard to rust. I know we have some talent here in the club in regard to metal work. Would someone take a stab at getting these repaired before the glass falls out? Maybe find some salvage yard replacements?

All that said, we need another bus day in the near future to address the sealant. We can ill-afford to have water damage in the bus.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Thanks Rodney!

A bus day would be a perfect opportunity for me to try out my homebrew on some of you. Doodle poll below. Respond with which days you could make it out and we'll schedule something:

http://doodle.com/a27z2tgcyff6qxkm#admin

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:40 pm

I've got a half roll of sealant tape for the air vent we can use - left over from a similar repair on my camper. For the roof seam, we'll need a heat gun - sorry I don't have one.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2014 3:41 pm

Nov 1 or 2 is the road rally, not sure if we need the bus for that or not but I'd imagine a lot of people will be out in Wilson.

Can you get some closeups of the door if you still have the bus around?

I'll volunteer Andrew's (HF) heat gun if we need it.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:34 pm

Cash Davidson wrote:

I've got a half roll of sealant tape for the air vent we can use - left over from a similar repair on my camper. For the roof seam, we'll need a heat gun - sorry I don't have one.

I've used that sealant tape before and it doesn't last long. There's some 3M stuff I initially used on bus and it's held up well. Suggest using that again to fill in the seam holes.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Fri Sep 19, 2014 6:59 pm

is the door rust you're talking about in the driver's front door or one of the other "bus" doors? I may have a used Ford van door to donate, can't remember if it's driver or passenger.

Cash Davidson · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 7:10 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Cash Davidson wrote:

I've got a half roll of sealant tape for the air vent we can use - left over from a similar repair on my camper. For the roof seam, we'll need a heat gun - sorry I don't have one.

I've used that sealant tape before and it doesn't last long. There's some 3M stuff I initially used on bus and it's held up well. Suggest using that again to fill in the seam holes.

Are we talking about the same product? I've used Butyl Putty Tape with good success.
http://www.amazon.com/Butyl-Window-Flange-Camper-Sealant/dp/B0070O93HA

But certainly 3M make great stuff.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 11:19 am

here's the bottom of the doors. One is in really bad shape. The other can probably just be sealed and left alone....

Is something that can be fixed or do we need to look for some replacement doors?

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Sat Sep 20, 2014 11:29 am

BriceJohnson wrote:

Thanks Rodney!

A bus day would be a perfect opportunity for me to try out my homebrew on some of you. Doodle poll below. Respond with which days you could make it out and we'll schedule something:

http://doodle.com/a27z2tgcyff6qxkm#admin

Sorry Brice, I can't make those weekends, I'm booked... Thanks for putting this together though, the inside can use some TLC and a good mopping.

BriceJohnson · **Joined:** Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:33 am **Posts:** 2230

Really? 2 people? That's what we got?

Come on people, our lovely THSCC bus needs your care.

jeremy gast · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:38 am

can someone measure those doors for me? i have a couple of that style vans here and can see if i have something that would work

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:59 am

RodneyWright wrote:

Is something that can be fixed or do we need to look for some replacement doors?

I'll have to look at it a bit closer. If it's just some square tube a patch could be welded in pretty easily. If Jeremy has something in the yard though I'd just go that route.

RodneyWright · **Posted:** Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:18 pm

jeremy gast wrote:

can someone measure those doors for me? i have a couple of that style vans here and can see if i have something that would work

Bus is back at Chris' unfortunately. Maybe if we ask nice, Chris can get some rough measurements...

RickyBeam · **Posted:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:27 pm

The passenger door is square tube, maybe 1"? Also, the fender(s) on the trailer are starting to fall off -- the screws have pulled through. I mentioned the missing gas cap to Chris a few months ago.

We might want to test/replace a number of the radios -- some displays don't work, some of them have mics that don't work, some won't transmit over 10ft, etc. (for example, the little cobra GPRS radios we use in the Duff car could hear the workers from the VIR rallyx from all the way up in the north paddock. none of the THSCC radios will work over that distance.)

A few of the timer cables need the mic connectors fixed -- the boots have pulled out and the wires are twisting up -- I never remember to bring my tools to rallyx to fix 'em.

Can we get a smaller, lighter printer that doesn't take a small reactor to power? The one in there does work, but it's a pain to get out (which is why I tend to strap it in the seat rather than lose fingers getting it back in the cabinet) and makes the inverter beep every time it warms up. I may have a dot-matrix I could donate. I don't think an inkjet would hold up well stored in a hot bus for weeks on end.

As for dirt/dust, I try my best to keep the bus closed up, but that dust just gets everywhere. I usually wipe down the tables before I leave, but the dash I never think about. :-)

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