Sad Safety Reminder

[Gregory OConnor]

My pop never fired back for me. told me "either run quicker or just
dont trespass".

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa>
>
> If he were to shoot at my kids, he'd be ducking 357 rounds in reply.
>
> Pete
>

[erniecarpet@...]

At our home in Texas, i use the lot beside the house. it has some depressions and I can drive the coach and position it wherever I need.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Montana

---

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[Alex Smith]

Hello, have been following with interest this safety topic and the tragic accident of a fellow birder. I too would like to have a safer and roomier means of working under the bird. My thoughts have been to drive the bus up onto two wide reinf concrete curbs, 12-16 inches high and just continue to use a creeper. I don't have the ability to do any heavy repair, just the routine stuff. My thoughts........
Alex Smith
82FC35
Tallahassee

[Pete Masterson]

You'll be alright if there is sufficient space for you to get out when the air bags are completely deflated. (Put the coach up on the curbs, dump the suspension, then take a look... 

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 10, 2008, at 5:37 PM, Alex Smith wrote:

Hello, have been following with interest this safety topic and the tragic accident of a fellow birder. I too would like to have a safer and roomier means of working under the bird. My thoughts have been to drive the bus up onto two wide reinf concrete curbs, 12-16 inches high and just continue to use a creeper. I don't have the ability to do any heavy repair, just the routine stuff. My thoughts........
Alex Smith
82FC35
Tallahassee

[jim riordan]

Better falling then fallen on!

jim riordan

----- Original Message ----
From: "PM7088@..." To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2008 6:59:25 AM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Sad Safety Reminder

PIts are wonderful to work in. They are also a huge liability as falling into one can be lethal. Building codes in many areas do not allow them.

Pete

------------ -- Original message ------------ --------- -
From: Pete Masterson <"aeonix1%40mac.com">
> I believe the shocks where stopping the droop of the axles, so the
> stress wasn't on the air bags -- From what I could see, they were not
> over-extended. This may not be true on older coaches -- but it
> appeared to be the case on my '95. Indeed, on some modestly sloping
> camp sites, the leveling jacks will bring the wheels completely off
> the ground, so BB must have engineered the suspension to allow for that.
>
> CCW in Riverside does not have pits -- I'm told they're looking for a
> new location (for the complete
facility) as they've outgrown the area
> they have, so they're not investing anything extra in the facilities
> they have beyond basic necesities.
>
> When the wanted to do a full examination of the underside (and wash
> the bottom of the engine, etc.) they used 6 "wheel jacks" -- huge
> hydraulic jacks that cradle each tire and raise up the coach
> (controlled by a computer that keeps them all moving together). It
> was an amazing thing to see. (I saw several busses raised up with the
> things while I was there.)
>
> However, for some aspects of the service, the work was done next to
> the "Blue Bird" section of the CCW facility. For example, the air
> dryer was removed (to be rebuilt) with the coach slightly raised to
> let the technicians roll under the coach on creepers. I think the
> technicians would be very happy to have a service pit -- and
perhaps
> one will be made available in the future when CCW finds, builds, and
> moves to a new facility.
>
> When I was at Henderson's Line-Up in Grants Pass Oregon -- seeing how
> they worked on the coach from their pit made it very clear what an
> advantage it was. To tell the truth, I wish I had room for a pit for
> the maintenance items I handle (but that's far from likely to ever
> happen).
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> "aeonix1%40mac.com"
>
>
>
> On Jun 9, 2008, at 5:28 PM, David Brady wrote:
>
> > This may not be true for all Wanderlodges, (I think it is), but
> > on my LXi the shocks will stop the drooping axles before the
> > air bags, thereby eliminating load
on the air bags. I called Koni
> > and Justin assured me that each shock can handle 8500 lb of
> > dead load (tension) in this static configuration; consequently,
> > there's no risk of damaging a shock.
> >
> > David Brady
> > '02 LXi, NC
> >
> > bumpersbird wrote:
> >>
> >> Pete,
> >>
> >> I've seen some shops use the technique of using blocks under the
> >> jacks to get the wheels off the ground and to get the coach in the
> >> air. I may be wrong but I think their is an issue of the air bags
> >> being strained beyond thier extension limits.
> >>
> >> Don't get me wrong I've had the wheels off the ground via the jacks
> >> several times, but I don't like to do it and I think it could easily
> >> damage the coach.
> >>
> >> I
would suggest a pit or a lift for the safest way for working under
> >> anything.
> >>
> >> Sometimes we take safty for granted, we think we know what what were
> >> doing, most of us have spent a lot of time working on our coaches and
> >> we know them intimatly. She can and will bite, if you don't mind her.
> >> You just can't be too careful.
> >>
> >> Kurt Horvath
> >> 95 PT-42
> >> Fayetteville TN
> >>
> > <snip>
> >
>

-----Inline Message Follows-----

I believe the shocks where stopping the droop of the axles, so the stress wasn't on the air bags -- From what I could see, they were not over-extended. This may not be true on older coaches -- but it appeared to be the case on my '95. Indeed, on some modestly sloping camp sites, the leveling jacks will bring the wheels completely off the ground, so BB must have engineered the suspension to allow for that.

CCW in Riverside does not have pits -- I'm told they're looking for a new location (for the complete facility) as they've outgrown the area they have, so they're not investing anything extra in the facilities they have beyond basic necesities.

When the wanted to do a full examination of the underside (and wash the bottom of the engine, etc.) they used 6 "wheel jacks" -- huge hydraulic jacks that cradle each tire and raise up the coach (controlled by a computer that keeps them all moving together). It was an amazing thing to see. (I saw several busses raised up with the things while I was there.)

However, for some aspects of the service, the work was done next to the "Blue Bird" section of the CCW facility. For example, the air dryer was removed (to be rebuilt) with the coach slightly raised to let the technicians roll under the coach on creepers. I think the technicians would be very happy to have a service pit -- and perhaps one will be made available in the future when CCW finds, builds, and moves to a new facility.

When I was at Henderson's Line-Up in Grants Pass Oregon -- seeing how they worked on the coach from their pit made it very clear what an advantage it was. To tell the truth, I wish I had room for a pit for the maintenance items I handle (but that's far from likely to ever happen).

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 9, 2008, at 5:28 PM, David Brady wrote:

This may not be true for all Wanderlodges, (I think it is), but
on my LXi the shocks will stop the drooping axles before the
air bags, thereby eliminating load on the air bags. I called Koni
and Justin assured me that each shock can handle 8500 lb of
dead load (tension) in this static configuration; consequently,
there's no risk of damaging a shock.

David Brady
'02 LXi, NC

bumpersbird wrote:

Pete,

I've seen some shops use the technique of using blocks under the
jacks to get the wheels off the ground and to get the coach in the
air. I may be wrong but I think their is an issue of the air bags
being strained beyond thier extension limits.

Don't get me wrong I've had the wheels off the ground via the jacks
several times, but I don't like to do it and I think it could easily
damage the coach.

I would suggest a pit or a lift for the safest way for working under
anything.

Sometimes we take safty for granted, we think we know what what were
doing, most of us have spent a lot of time working on our coaches and
we know them intimatly. She can and will bite, if you don't mind her.
You just can't be too careful.

Kurt Horvath
95 PT-42
Fayetteville TN

<snip>

I believe the shocks where stopping the droop of the axles, so the stress wasn't on the air bags -- From what I could see, they were not over-extended. This may not be true on older coaches -- but it appeared to be the case on my '95. Indeed, on some modestly sloping camp sites, the leveling jacks will bring the wheels completely off the ground, so BB must have engineered the suspension to allow for that.

CCW in Riverside does not have pits -- I'm told they're looking for a new location (for the complete facility) as they've outgrown the area they have, so they're not investing anything extra in the facilities they have beyond basic necesities.

When the wanted to do a full examination of the underside (and wash the bottom of the engine, etc.) they used 6 "wheel jacks" -- huge hydraulic jacks that cradle each tire and raise up the coach (controlled by a computer that keeps them all moving together). It was an amazing thing to see. (I saw several busses raised up with the things while I was there.)

However, for some aspects of the service, the work was done next to the "Blue Bird" section of the CCW facility. For example, the air dryer was removed (to be rebuilt) with the coach slightly raised to let the technicians roll under the coach on creepers. I think the technicians would be very happy to have a service pit -- and perhaps one will be made available in the future when CCW finds, builds, and moves to a new facility.

When I was at Henderson's Line-Up in Grants Pass Oregon -- seeing how they worked on the coach from their pit made it very clear what an advantage it was. To tell the truth, I wish I had room for a pit for the maintenance items I handle (but that's far from likely to ever happen).

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jun 9, 2008, at 5:28 PM, David Brady wrote:

This may not be true for all Wanderlodges, (I think it is), but
on my LXi the shocks will stop the drooping axles before the
air bags, thereby eliminating load on the air bags. I called Koni
and Justin assured me that each shock can handle 8500 lb of
dead load (tension) in this static configuration; consequently,
there's no risk of damaging a shock.

David Brady
'02 LXi, NC

bumpersbird wrote:

Pete,

I've seen some shops use the technique of using blocks under the
jacks to get the wheels off the ground and to get the coach in the
air. I may be wrong but I think their is an issue of the air bags
being strained beyond thier extension limits.

Don't get me wrong I've had the wheels off the ground via the jacks
several times, but I don't like to do it and I think it could easily
damage the coach.

I would suggest a pit or a lift for the safest way for working under
anything.

Sometimes we take safty for granted, we think we know what what were
doing, most of us have spent a lot of time working on our coaches and
we know them intimatly. She can and will bite, if you don't mind her.
You just can't be too careful.

Kurt Horvath
95 PT-42
Fayetteville TN

<snip>

[birdshill123]

Having spent part of my youth working for a large (600 employees)
chassis/brake/spring shop I am quite familiar with pits. You cannot do
this type of work on a hoist. Every truck alignment shop has some sort
of pit. Many of them have a continuous pit and the steel ramps can be
adjusted for different width vehicles. In many jurisdictions it can be
difficult to get a building permit for a pit. Other than the falling in
factor there are concerns about drainage, air changing, explosions due
to fumes in a confined place, sealed lighting and electrical switches
and more. There may also be regs about working in confined places
(OSHA). Older bus garages often have pits but all the newer shops have
either those wheel lifts ( BB has some of these in FT. Valley) or they
utilize those gargantuan hoists. The Greyhound shop where I live has
those hoists as do many of the larger RV dealers ( Lazy Days, Beaudry).
For BB owners another alternative are the HD ramps that OTC sells. I
think they are under $700 a pair.

Bruce
1988 FC35