Bus Day! This Saturday, 10AM - ? Come help!

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

As talked about at the club meeting, we're having a bus day this Sat, Jan 13, at my house in Cary starting at 10AM. If anyone wants to come earlier feel free, I'll leave the bus unlocked and open the garage doors.

There is plenty to clean/organize, so everyone is welcome. There are also a few SPECIAL PROJECTS that I NEED volunteers to take on. Some of these may extend past bus day to complete, but if it's possible to take care of them on Satuday that would be great.

I have included some comments below about each of the special projects so you can see what is and isn't needed. Please reply here if you can take something on or with other questions or to let us know you're coming. Feel free to bring tools and cleaning supplies if desired but I have plenty.

Should be 60's by the afternoon and partly sunny.

Google Map: 112 Picturesque LN, Cary, NC 27519
http://maps.google.com/?q=112+Picturesq ... iwloc=addr

MAJOR PROJECTS - NEEDING DEDICATED OWNER AND PLANNING
--------------
Send all timing equipment to JACircuits ASAP for refresh/repair?
Need someone to sort/test
Chuck Nelson will be doing the shipping
- Call JAC and discuss options. Send ASAP.
- new connectors on JAC boxes
- new wiring and connectors on all laser heads
- stress test all extension cables

Leaking roof PA panel
- Dripping into interior. Need to flush with water / locate problem / disassemble + repair.
- Also check all PA mounts, wiring integrity, etc

Bus mechanical maintenance
- Figure out what should be done and do it or plan for it
- Oil change?, Fuel Filter, Air filter?, Chassis Lube?
- Mechanical inspection.
- Nothing on hand. Can delegate to Melton.
- Suspect possible trans leak / check

Is Exhaust repair done?
- Check for rattles and/or repairs

Water damaged flooring?
- Check condition of soft floor in rear. Reinforce? Replace?

New brake controller install
Chris Suich
- Have Tekonsha Voyager on hand.
- Location needs to be changed away from knees

Replace bus accessory battery
Dustin Fredrickson
- should do this every year or 2.
- Battery is 12w 8 1/2h 7d

Replace invertors
- The invertor on the right side makes alot of fan noise and is driving your T&S crew to drink.
- Need to buy good new ones and replace (low wattage)

Low-voltage flashing warning light
- Want to have configurable low-voltage warning light.
- Need parts and plan.
- Also with big bright sign next to light that says
- "If this light is on turn key backwards"

Carpet under the driver's feet gets wet when it rains
- or when the bus windshield is sprayed with a hose.
- not sure exactly where it's coming from,
- but it's not coming from the area behind the driver's seat.

State inspection
- We may be behind by a year?

Louder bus stereo and speakers?
- Need parts

FRS headsets for T&S
??Todd Breakey??
- Need to figure out what to get, order, test, find storage, do training.

Broken passenger side convex mirror replaced
- Need part

PA cleanup and repair
??Rob Harvey??
- PA wiring cleanup
- PA wireless mic antenna problems?
- PA alternator whine? - Still happening?
- FRS to PA instructon label? Location?

Bus exterior cleanse? wax?
- (What products might help the gelcoat?)

Bent trailer end cap/skirt
- repair / bend back

Add caster wheel to trailer end
??Rob Harvey??
- to avoid future damage.
See Mike's car trailer for example

MINOR PROJECTS
--------------
CLEANING
Bus floor sweep / vacuum / mop
Bus interior wipedown / clean
Bus window cleaning in and out + rain-x windshield
Bus interior organization / labeling / go through all drawers
Bus + trailer exterior wash
Trailer interior vacuum, mop, wipedown
Trailer interior organization / labeling / go through all boxes
Clean and sort cones
Order new cones
Check condition of all timing heads and reflectors / list to order new
FRS radios - check all, toss bad, order new
Fix "broken" vinyl holes / seal with clear tape?
MAINTENANCE
Bus trans fluid check
Washer fluid
Tire pressures
Really annoying rattle in overhead bin. (PA board I think)
Repair / fix loose door handles and hinges
Hitch system lube

OPTIONAL - Needs clarification and/or "owners"
---------------------------
Check AC pressures
Driver's seat armrest
Hard-wire power to ammeter (req 12->9v conversion) - Need voltage regulator
Maintenance log clipboard/whiteboard inside
Relocate "Wait to start" light to a more highly visible location.
Install 12v fans on walls
Assess power/voltage requirements and future need for aux power
Bus high idle? - Need research

DONE
-----
Send Timer Display to Chronomix for tuneup
Mike Whitney/Chuck Nelson/Stephen W
- I have talked to them, just need suitable packaging
- Want to send ASAP, pref overnight

Everyone - warning, I'm going to be deleting off-topic posts and/or postings about stuff that get resolved. I want to keep this thread clean for legitimate questions and offers for help.

For minor stuff please PM me.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

ChrisSuich wrote:

MikeWhitney wrote:

Louder bus stereo and speakers?
- Need parts

hmmm... we have a club member who nickname is Audioman... and he works for a custom audio/visual company... hmmm and he equiped the Bovine Beater with an awesome MP3 player triggered by the horn button.

Yeah... that's the guy we need. :lol:

He just needs a little prodding and a budget. :wink:

The problem is simply that the single door speaker isn't loud enough to even be heard over the wind noise and diesel drone at speed. I don't think we should spend any money on it...

I've got a bunch of extra car speakers here atr home I'll donate. Someone just needs to find out if the head unit can drive another speaker or two, do the wiring and mount them.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Really need some experienced folks to step up for some of the special projects. Please help!

People coming so far:

Chris Suich
Gwen Baake
Todd Breakey
Carl Fisher
Dustin Fredrickson
Dave Spratte
Bernie
Stephen Westerfield
Les Davis
Rick Butters
Pete Guthrie

ChrisSuich · **Posted:** Thu Jan 11, 2007 3:59 pm

I'm researching the low voltage circuit...

And I can install new brake module, fans, power inverters.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Pete Guthrie wrote:

it might be that the temperature is too low because the engine thermostat thinks its cold, when a diesel is cold, its a pain in the buttoxx... so, i gotta think that it is possible.. my sentra when the thing thought it was still cold..
the car was on high idle, of course.. butif the bus is thinking its cold, perhaps the thermostat is not right, the diesel computer is very basic, fuel aind air, no ignition coils, only fuel and air... the sendign unit, often the car will not have the cooling fans come on, and overheat.. but if the fans work.. then the sendign unit is possible its ok.. electrical systems are not my specialty..
oil change i can do esay.. gettign to teh filter can be a pain, i can bring a few oil filter wrenches.. and a pan.. now the glow plug, it may be sticking on, although mostly that would cause a very small bit of knock.. not liek a gas engine though.. it COULD drag it down, but i doubt it...

Pete - I think the cooling system and glow plugs are fine. As for te oil change, I think we're going to take the bus to Randy Melton for routine maintenance.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

ChrisSuich wrote:

I'm researching the low voltage circuit...

And I can install new brake module, fans, power inverters.

Chris - I put you down for the brake controller. Dustin is going to be checking BJ's for invertors tonight. Can you do some checking around too?

Let's talk about options for the fan mounts. We want something that will last.

Dustin Fredrickson · **Posted:** Thu Jan 11, 2007 9:55 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

ChrisSuich wrote:

I'm researching the low voltage circuit...

And I can install new brake module, fans, power inverters.

Chris - I put you down for the brake controller. Dustin is going to be checking BJ's for invertors tonight. Can you do some checking around too?

Let's talk about options for the fan mounts. We want something that will last.

Got the deep cycle battery, but no luck yet on inverters for me. BJ's did have one, but 2 of the 3 on the shelf looked to be returns, not confidence inspiring, so I passed. Will keep looking though - if somebody else finds something, let me know.

ChuckNelson · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 12:38 am

My wife suggested BestBuy for power inverters.

Chris Brown · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 9:18 am

i'll be there

ChrisSuich · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 4:53 pm

ChuckNelson wrote:

My wife suggested BestBuy for power inverters.

There are some at Circuit City in Apex as well from $35 to $65

What's the power requirements for these?
150W, 300W, 400W

and our budget?

If someone in the club had an old UPS for computers where the battery went bad, we could scavage that to supply plenty of power.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

ChrisSuich wrote:

ChuckNelson wrote:

My wife suggested BestBuy for power inverters.

There are some at Circuit City in Apex as well from $35 to $65

What's the power requirements for these?
150W, 300W, 400W

400-500w would be good. The only things we regularly run from it is the laptop and printer. Laptop won't be more than 100w. (edit) Printers I found online take no more than 50w when printing.

Just try to get a good ones, name brand (ie vector / coleman / others). We don't want to have to keep replacing these every 2 years.

Maybe we should go for bigger ones to keep the usage low. I think the ones in there are 300 or 400w now.

Michael Westerfield · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:39 pm

ChrisSuich wrote:

If someone in the club had an old UPS for computers where the battery went bad, we could scavage that to supply plenty of power.

I don't know if they are rated to run at near/full load for more than 15-20 minutes as most smaller UPSs are standby units. You also need a fairly large DC link to supply 110-120AC. I don't think we want a ~100V+ DC link lying around on the bus.

MikeWhitney · **Joined:** Wed Aug 20, 2003 9:15 pm **Posts:** 4724

Re: Low Voltage Flashing Warning Lamp

Has anyone found an off-the-shelf solution for this? I have found some diagrams. It needs to be something bright and/or flashing that gets people's attention to click the key on.

Post up what you have found.

robharvey · **Posted:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 11:42 pm

MikeWhitney wrote:

Re: Low Voltage Flashing Warning Lamp

Has anyone found an off-the-shelf solution for this? I have found some diagrams. It needs to be something bright and/or flashing that gets people's attention to click the key on.

Post up what you have found.

Here ya go......
http://www.fourwinds-ii.com/lowvoltagem ... onitor.htm
http://www.yandina.com/acrobats/LoBatData.pdf
http://www.bainbridgetechnologies.com/i ... 66&site=v1
http://www.pkys.com/Victron/Battery_Monitoring.htm
http://www.micromediaplus.com/microlog_dmm-1.html
http://www.electricboatparts.com.au/cgi ... 1107141511
http://www.micromediaplus.com/Battery_M ... ctical.pdf
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Combiner ... 0071431675

Most of these have audible alarms (but that can be easily modified :twisted:

)!!

Carl Fisher · **Posted:** Sat Jan 13, 2007 8:58 pm

robharvey wrote:

Most of these have audible alarms (but that can be easily modified :twisted:

)!!

I think an audible alarm is probably a good idea, as long as it can be muted. When things get crazy in the bus, it could be hard to notice a flashing light, depending on where it's mounted.

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