Finally bought a Bluebird!!

[jerry_94110]

Hello,

I finally bought a Bluebird. I have been staying in the back ground of this group for quite sometime, but finally broke down and a purchased 1987 PT38 with an 8V92.

Last weekend I drove it from Arizona back home to San Francisco. Since I am still a working person, it was a fast almost non-stop trip traveling around 65 to 70 mph. I am planning to take it to a local bus repair shop in Alameda, CA called American Bus Repair. They are a member of FMCA. Has anyone heard of American Bus Repair? I am currently making a list of things I need checked out, but before I take it in, I thought I would get your guys expert advice. I don't want to pay for something that does not need fixing. Things I noticed driving up:

-The bus bounces a lot from forward to back like a dolphin swimming through the ocean. Is this normal? At some points it bounce so hard the air horns went off.

-When hitting a bump, it disengages the cruise control. Should this happen?

-Discovered an oil leak after stopping at a rest stop. Quite a large spot on the ground, but now that it is sitting in storage, just a notice only few drops under the engine.

-After stopping for about an hour to eat, when getting back into the bus, the front step was hanging limp and I needed to wait for the bus to air up again. How long does the bus hold it air?

Any insight would be nice, so I can sound some what intelligent when talking to a mechanic.

Looking forward to your help and knowledge; some day I hope to past all the knowledge I learn to my 7 year old son to keep this birds flying for a very long time.

Best regards,

Jerry Kocher

San Francisco, CA

PT 38

[Don Bradner]

On 5/8/2011 at 3:34 PM jerry_94110 wrote:

I'll take on a couple of those:

>-The bus bounces a lot from forward to back like a dolphin swimming
>through the ocean. Is this normal? At some points it bounce so hard the
>air horns went off.

Just sounds like it needs new shocks. The air horn was probably you stepping on
the floor switch - did you know it was there?

>-After stopping for about an hour to eat, when getting back into the
>bus, the front step was hanging limp and I needed to wait for the bus to
>air up again. How long does the bus hold it air?

There are three separate areas that hold air. First is the brakes. The
right-hand air gauge with two needles show the front and rear brakes, which run
around 120 psi in use. They should take a long time to drop.

Second is the air bags. The tag axle has a gauge, and should be around 60 psi,
but the others don't have a gauge and you will know that they are down only by
watching the coach "sink."

Finally there is the auxiliary tank, which feeds the front step. It has a myriad
of connections on things like the waste dump valves and anything else that uses
air. I've never been able to get that one to hold air for an hour - too many
small places to leak.

[jerry_94110]

Thanks Don....Since the coach is stored around 45 min from my house; the next
time I am there I will check the gauges that show the air pressure.

I will have American Bus check out the shocks. They are probably 24 years old.

Regarding the horn, I did find the foot pedal when pulling into the storage yard
at the end of my trip. The horn was going off for no apparent reason until I
moved the floor mat that my foot was on which was on the pedal. I thought to
myself that is why there is a fold down foot pedal to rest your foot on, so you
don't set the horn off.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" wrote:
>
> On 5/8/2011 at 3:34 PM jerry_94110 wrote:
>
> I'll take on a couple of those:
>
> >-The bus bounces a lot from forward to back like a dolphin swimming
> >through the ocean. Is this normal? At some points it bounce so hard the
> >air horns went off.
>
> Just sounds like it needs new shocks. The air horn was probably you stepping
on the floor switch - did you know it was there?
>
> >-After stopping for about an hour to eat, when getting back into the
> >bus, the front step was hanging limp and I needed to wait for the bus to
> >air up again. How long does the bus hold it air?
>
> There are three separate areas that hold air. First is the brakes. The
right-hand air gauge with two needles show the front and rear brakes, which run
around 120 psi in use. They should take a long time to drop.
>
> Second is the air bags. The tag axle has a gauge, and should be around 60 psi,
but the others don't have a gauge and you will know that they are down only by
watching the coach "sink."
>
> Finally there is the auxiliary tank, which feeds the front step. It has a
myriad of connections on things like the waste dump valves and anything else
that uses air. I've never been able to get that one to hold air for an hour -
too many small places to leak.
>

[mbulriss]

About the only thing to add to Don's comments is that some folks have reported
reducing the porpoising by adjusting the front shocks to their firmest position,
if the bus has adjustable shocks on front.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jerry_94110" wrote:
>
> Thanks Don....Since the coach is stored around 45 min from my house; the next
time I am there I will check the gauges that show the air pressure.
>
> I will have American Bus check out the shocks. They are probably 24 years old.
>
> Regarding the horn, I did find the foot pedal when pulling into the storage
yard at the end of my trip. The horn was going off for no apparent reason until
I moved the floor mat that my foot was on which was on the pedal. I thought to
myself that is why there is a fold down foot pedal to rest your foot on, so you
don't set the horn off.
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" wrote:
> >
> > On 5/8/2011 at 3:34 PM jerry_94110 wrote:
> >
> > I'll take on a couple of those:
> >
> > >-The bus bounces a lot from forward to back like a dolphin swimming
> > >through the ocean. Is this normal? At some points it bounce so hard the
> > >air horns went off.
> >
> > Just sounds like it needs new shocks. The air horn was probably you stepping
on the floor switch - did you know it was there?
> >
> > >-After stopping for about an hour to eat, when getting back into the
> > >bus, the front step was hanging limp and I needed to wait for the bus to
> > >air up again. How long does the bus hold it air?
> >
> > There are three separate areas that hold air. First is the brakes. The
right-hand air gauge with two needles show the front and rear brakes, which run
around 120 psi in use. They should take a long time to drop.
> >
> > Second is the air bags. The tag axle has a gauge, and should be around 60
psi, but the others don't have a gauge and you will know that they are down only
by watching the coach "sink."
> >
> > Finally there is the auxiliary tank, which feeds the front step. It has a
myriad of connections on things like the waste dump valves and anything else
that uses air. I've never been able to get that one to hold air for an hour -
too many small places to leak.
> >
>

[Ernie Ekberg]

Horn button is an easy relocate Ernie Ekberg 817-475-3991 83 PT40, 88 PT40 www.ernieekbergflooring.net --- On Sun, 5/8/11, jerry_94110 wrote: From: jerry_94110 Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Finally bought a Bluebird!! To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, May 8, 2011, 12:52 PM Thanks Don....Since the coach is stored around 45 min from my house; the next time I am there I will check the gauges that show the air pressure. I will have American Bus check out the shocks. They are probably 24 years old. Regarding the horn, I did find the foot pedal when pulling into the storage yard at the end of my trip. The horn was going off for no apparent reason until I moved the floor mat that my foot was on which was on the pedal. I thought to myself that is why there is a fold down foot pedal to rest your foot on, so you don't set the horn off. --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner" wrote: > > On 5/8/2011 at 3:34 PM jerry_94110 wrote: > > I'll take on a couple of those: > > >-The bus bounces a lot from forward to back like a dolphin swimming > >through the ocean. Is this normal? At some points it bounce so hard the > >air horns went off. > > Just sounds like it needs new shocks. The air horn was probably you stepping on the floor switch - did you know it was there? > > >-After stopping for about an hour to eat, when getting back into the > >bus, the front step was hanging limp and I needed to wait for the bus to > >air up again. How long does the bus hold it air? > > There are three separate areas that hold air. First is the brakes. The right-hand air gauge with two needles show the front and rear brakes, which run around 120 psi in use. They should take a long time to drop. > > Second is the air bags. The tag axle has a gauge, and should be around 60 psi, but the others don't have a gauge and you will know that they are down only by watching the coach "sink." > > Finally there is the auxiliary tank, which feeds the front step. It has a myriad of connections on things like the waste dump valves and anything else that uses air. I've never been able to get that one to hold air for an hour - too many small places to leak. >

[Don Bradner]

I've mentioned before my solution, which was to glue a rubber dog toy ring down
around it. Easy to remove if a future owner wants the stock function.

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

On 5/8/2011 at 11:21 AM Ernie Ekberg wrote:

>Horn button is an easy relocate
>
>
>Ernie Ekberg
>817-475-3991 83 PT40, 88 PT40
>http://www.ernieekbergflooring.net

[Fred Hulse]

Don

I enjoy your innovation,good thought!

Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown,Arizona
97 WLWB41

[Patticake]

Your shocks are probably original. With that being said, the fronts are
Koni(and they are adjustable), but the bushings wear out, and the rears are
Gabriel(I think). I replaced mine with Monroe(or NAPA). There are different
nos. for the drive and the tag.
When they are changed, you will notice a very different ride.
If the front feels too hard(after adjustment), dial them back one notch.

Good luck with your new coach.

Steve Gureasko
90WBWL401/2 Jus Chillin
Ponchatoula, La.

[mbulriss]

Ralph put the part number for the replacement Koni bushings in the files, if you
want to spend a half hour to change the bushings and readjust the shocks to
firmest setting before spending $200+ each on new shocks. Sources for new
shocks are in the Parts Database.

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Patticake" <sgureasko@...> wrote:
>
> Your shocks are probably original. With that being said, the fronts are
Koni(and they are adjustable), but the bushings wear out, and the rears are
Gabriel(I think). I replaced mine with Monroe(or NAPA). There are different
nos. for the drive and the tag.
> When they are changed, you will notice a very different ride.
> If the front feels too hard(after adjustment), dial them back one notch.
>
> Good luck with your new coach.
>
> Steve Gureasko
> 90WBWL401/2 Jus Chillin
> Ponchatoula, La.
>

[artw]

Be sure to have the garage check the air compressor coolent hoses.
If they're original they're probably brittle and liable to break at the
slightest provacation. I lucked out on mine. I only drove a short distance and
parked when I noticed the coolant leak and repaired it.
Could have been very bad had I been on a trip.

Art Weatherly
Riverside Ca
'85 PT 36
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "jerry_94110" wrote:
>
>
> Hello,
>
38
>