More replacing on bus - Printable Version

On Sun, Apr 26, 2009 at 4:18 PM, Bob Lawrence <"bobandarlene@earthlink.net"> wrote:

Hi group,

Well, just got done with the last (for now)repairs on Whirlybird.

Replaced the air compressor (500cfm)with a 700cfm. Repaced the air governor with a new one.

Replaced the air protection valves. Interesting. Got 2 new ones from Ryder Truck. One swapout, no problem. Replaced the second one and the problems started. Seems the old one has a set screw on the bottom that adjusts the pressure on the tag air bag. The new one didn't. Put the new one in and watched the air bag gauge almost go to 150 lbs!

Couldn't figure out the problem for about an hour. Looked at the old one and saw the difference. Took the old one apart and saw the diaphram was in excellent shape, so put it back in the system. Pressure dropped to 35psi, like it should be.

My bird only has two protection valves in the back on it. I am assuming the PT40's have a third one in the front.

Valves only cost 25 bucks each so not to bad.

Air compressor was $550.

Still have a slow leak on the dash gauge "Air Pressure Front". Squirted soap over everything and can't find it. Hummm...

Also replaced the fan on gen set with an electric one ($33). Noise dropped to the 85 db from 95-98db. So better.

Also had a shaking of gen set and smoke.

Had had the injectors replaced before we left Seattle, helped a little, but not to much.

Turns out the injection pump needed to be moved a little.

Here's how....3 nuts holding injector pump on, take them off and loosen any fuel lines going to pump. Use a pry bar to move pump out or in as needed. In my case, had to move it in about an inch.

Make sure you tighten the bolts before starting the engine. Fuel will leak into the oil if you don't.

Smoke went away and motor doesn't vibrate anymore.

Easy fix, took about 15 min. to do.

Gotta take a break, now.

Bob Lawrence

84 PT36

Mathis, Texas (Soon on the way to Houston)

In high school, I was a member of the engineering club that had built a scoreboard for the football field -- but it was too far from the grid, so we also ran a generator to power it. (This was in the early 60s.) It's been way too long, so I don't recall what brand generator or its size but it was an old "surplus" model ... it was mounted on a small trailer and had an air-cooled 2 cyl engine. It was a bear to start with a pull-cord (but we were young).

After several games using their traditional stop-clocks to check against the scoreboard, the timekeepers started using the scoreboard clock for the official time (using a wired remote to start/stop the clock). That's when we discovered we could speed up or slow down the clock with the Hz -- when our team was ahead, we'd speed it up and when the team was behind, we'd slow it down. We could operate the clock by plus or minus 5% or so... because of time outs, etc. nobody ever got wise to what we were doing. After two years, they put in lights for night games, and then wired the scoreboard to the grid, and we were out of the time manipulation business...