Serious question

[Donald Spithaler]

The ZF tranny is in Earth Hauling Equipment -- Cranes -- City Bus's It is a heavy duty transmission. I bought mine when I didn't know much about. I have had good service with mine for 5 years
Don Spithaler

89 SP 36'
Butler, PA

On Weoughd, Oct 29, 2008 at 9:27 AM, Henry Jay Hannigan <"hank_87us@yahoo.com"> wrote:

Dear Forum members:

For those concerned about the ZF tranny........go outside and watch

the garbage trucks zoom zoom..by...many of them have ZF trannys made

by a German company that makes all the trannys for BMW & MERCEDES. I

understand the ZF got a bad rap in 1989 when BB initially installed

them due to a VOLTAGE PROBLEM in connecting the ZF.. BB finally

corrected the electrical problem by making a better connection....had

nothing to do with the ZF tranny which in my opinion is BULLETPROOF.

Regards,



Hank Hannigan..(still in Vegas)...send money.....

90SP36

--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com", "bubblerboy64"

wrote:

>

> Leroy, Don't get me wrong good points have been made as to the pros

> and cons PT to SP. The problem really centers around the ZF

> transmission which some have reported as inferior others as never

> having heard of one needing rebuilt. The 3208 is said to be weak

and

> a "throw away" by the PT crowd. The owners report few problems and

> criticize the detroits for slobbering oil and poor fuel economy. No

> one has dates, times, or places to support any of this to the best

of

> my knowledge so I must assume it is anecdotal, but hearsay might be

a

> better word, Very similar to the diesel truck forms. It was

> concluded that the best truck hands down was the Ford truck with a

> Dodge (cummins) motor with the Chevy (allison) transmission. Sorta

> how I feel personally at this point about the buses. I am going to

> find the one I like best. I will consider everything which as been

> said but I will in the end decide. As stated having seen the SP I

am

> impressed it's so much more then my ole FC. I two weeks I'll be

able

> to see touch and experience several PT's so perhaps my position

will

> change. At this point I am not worried. I feel pretty certain I

> could be happy with either.

> John Heckman

> central Pa

> 1973 FC

> >

> > I don't understand the anecdotal evidence issue. Hearsay or

> expansion of a tale perhaps.

> >

> > Differences between a PT and SP are significant in several

> respects. SP's have a 3208 CAT I believe although I do not own one.

A

> PT generally has an 8v92. SP's have two axle's and PT's three. Most

> PT's have front entry although there are two or three with side

> entry. SP's have side entry as far as I know . I like side entry,

> that is one reason I like a Newell.

> > One needs to decide what weight and power they desire, how one

> intends to use it and floor plan. Maintenance cost also enter into

> the equation. Heat, gas or hydronic. Floor plans cannot be

> significantly different in 300 sq. ft. although Mike B has a vanity

> and sink in his center hall isle. Nice bus he has.

> > Take your time, drive them and decide from there. A full record

> accounting is quite good.

> > Leroy Eckert

> > 1990 WB-40 Smoke N Mirrors

> > Dahlonega, GA

> > Royale Conversion

> >

> > --- On Tue, 10/28/08, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> > From: bubblerboy64

> > Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Serious question

> > To: "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.com"

> > Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008, 10:02 PM

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > Brad, Thanks so much for that heads up which makes a

> lot of sense. I

> >

> > will factor that into the equation which is getting very long and

> >

> > complex :-) The debate continues about the PT vs SP but neither

> camp

> >

> > has much in the way of more then anecdotal information. I am

going

> >

> > to drive several of each and pick the one I like the best. I will

> >

> > look at the Newell but its more money then the others anyways so

> its

> >

> > a dark horse in the race. Not say that it's totally a dead horse

> but

> >

> > it's fading at the back nine.

> >

> >

> >

> > John Heckman

> >

> > central Pa

> >

> > 1973 FC

> >

> > >

> >

> > > John,

> >

> > > As a former Newell owner, I'll give you a little of my

> experience.

> >

> > If you have trouble on the road, the easiest, most universal

> coaches

> >

> > to be fixed on route are Marathon, MCI and Prevost because they

> have

> >

> > so much in common with trucks and OTR buses. Blue Bird is

probably

> >

> > next with identifiable components you can often replace on the

> road.

> >

> > Newell is more of a proprietary coach. If you have a mechanic

with

> >

> > experience with Newell coaches, you're fine at home. On the

road,

> I

> >

> > learned the hard way that most truck, bus and RV shops are

> clueless.

> >

> > Just the air-leveling system on the Newell had three different

air

> >

> > tanks, automatic road, automatic park and manual park leveling

> >

> > controls with I don't know how many valves. I got the last

Bendix

> >

> > air cruise control sending unit and the last air bags for that

> >

> > model. Air operated doors, different suspension, different water

> and

> >

> > climate control systems, they're all different from jsut about

> >

> > everyone elses'. They're generally high-quality components, but I

> >

> > think Blue Bird on average has the edge on interior fit, finish,

> >

> > materials and quality. In my opinion, Newell's ease of handling

> and

> >

> > drivability was superior to both Blue Birds I have owned.

> >

> > > If you can make a pilgrimage to Miami, Oklahoma once a year for

> >

> > regular maintenance, you could solve a lot of problems before

they

> >

> > happen from filters, lubed hidden parts, etc. The guys who

> remember

> >

> > making your Newell would probably be the ones working on it.

They

> >

> > have a nice overnight park. They'll even let you borrow a car to

> go

> >

> > into town. Last I knew, they were still family-owned and

operated,

> >

> > great people, great service, but like Mac users, you have to be a

> >

> > sold-out Newell Kool-aid drinker to get the most out of your

> >

> > coach. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@ .

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > > To: WanderlodgeForum@ ...: jehdds@: Tue, 28 Oct 2008 14:48:27

> >

> > +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Serious question

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > > As some of you may know I am looking to move up from my 1973 FC

> to

> >

> > something a little newer. I am actively looking at PT's SP's and

a

> >

> > very nice Newell coach. My concern is my relationship to the BB

> >

> > fraternity of owners if on the off chance I would buy a Newell

> >

> > coach ? And I haven't seen the coach as yet so I can't say how

> >

> > serious I am about the Newell but I would hate to be "tossed out"

> >

> > or "unwelcome" in the BB community. I am serious. I hold this

group

> >

> > and the friends I have made in such regard that I would likely

> factor

> >

> > out the Newell and not consider it at all if I was to be

> >

> > excommunicated from the BB group functions. How's this handled

and

> >

> > what should I expect? This is a little premature but I want to

know

> >

> > so that I factor it into my decision making about what I would

buy.

> >

> > John Heckmancentral Pa 1973 FC at

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > >

> >

> > > ____________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _

> >

> > > You live life beyond your PC. So now Windows goes beyond your

PC.

> >

> > > http://clk.atdmt. com/MRT/go/ 115298556/ direct/01/

> >

> > >

> >

>