[Archived]

Hi Brian;

What steps does your shop take to protect the inside of a coach when performing service, such as a top end service, that requires accessing the engine from access panels inside the coach?

[Reagan]

Mike

99% of the time we don’t access the engine comparment through the inside of our client’s coaches. Since we are working on engines everday we figuered out that its easier to either pull the engine out completely, or pull it out far enough to service what is needed to be worked on (i.e. in-frame overhaul). Its also helps that two of our mechanics who have been working for the owner for 35 years are skinny enough to disconnect or reassemble what is needed for any particluar job!!!

On top of that, by pulling out the engine, it allows us to inspect the entire engine for other possible issues that you wouldn’t see if it was left in. Dealerships don’t want to take the time to pull the engine because its adds a bit more time which affects their bottom line. But the time it takes to prepare the inside of a bus for a dirty mechanic to come and go with engines parts is to much of a risk of ruining the inside of a beautiful coach.

And just to be clear, we don’t charge clients more for pulling the engine to work on it. We have this factored into our pricing for everything we offer.

If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out to us!

Thanks

Brian Stanton

American Fleet Inc

417.865.4420

[Archived]

That is music to my ears. We all know how difficult it is to access the engine from the top on an XL or XLII. It involves a lot of interior disassembly, and then the effort required to protect the coach from grease ads greatly to the effort.

Pulling the engine to adjust valves and injectors does seem extreme however so what type of service does justify pulling the engine? XL and XLII coaches cannot have the valve cover pulled without backing the engine out, or opening up the floor in the bedroom.

[Dorel]

Brian,

As you’re probably aware, an “H” has a bunch of room above the engine and I would think a valve adjustment would not be a big deal since there is room to get the valve cover off. Have you done these before on an “H.”

I think the complexity and cost of doing a valve adjustment on the Prevost’s is one thing that holds people back from having that service done. The other question that comes up is the valve adjustment really that important on a coach that likely doesn’t have more than 100,000 miles on it and isn’t experiencing any issues.

[Corey]

Jon & Tom

I think I can answered both of you within the same response.

1. “General maintainence” when it comes to these types of jobs (i.e. valve job, turbo change out, water pump, and air compressor etc.) we typically can complete most of that work without taking the engine out. So depending on the coach, we usually have enough room to wiggle in and get the job done.

2. For in frame overhaul on a a Series 60 EGR, we will pull the engine out far enough to complete the following items.

S60 EGR basic in-frame overhaul with genuine Detroit Diesel parts

(6) complete cylinder kits, cam bearing shell set, cylinder head bolts (38), thermostats, oil pressure regulator, oil pressure relief valve, In-frame gasket kit, lower end bearing kit, lower main bearings/shells, upper main bearings/shells, connection rod bearings/shells, thrust washers, oil pan & rocker cover gaskets, grommets, 10 Gal. of oil, (2)oil filters, (2) fuel filters, complete tune up, Magnuflux Head, Magnuflux Block

3. And of course for a complete engine remanufactured job, the engines comes completely out for obivous reasons.

At the end of the day we really don’t want to go inside your coach. And we have been doing this for so long that we know how to get into all those tight spaces to allow us to complete the worked needed for the jobds that don’t require a full engine pull out.

I hope that answers your questions. please feel free to reach again if needed

[Tim]

Brian, knowing that you can remove the valve cover on an H series bus without going inside what would the cost be on typical valve adjustment on a Series 60 ? Geo.

[Archived]

Brian, how much experience you / your company have with working on luxury coaches?

The engine experience resumes to working on truck engines?

Your comment

“And just to be clear, we don’t charge clients more for pulling the engine to work on it. We have this factored into our pricing for everything we offer.”
Is the customer charged overhead to cover additional scope to make up for let say loses on other work performed?

Customer Service – do you have mobile / on call service technicians 7/24 to assist in emergency situation?

How do you handle credits if required?

Your adds specify a complete reman, rebuild / installed for 60 non EGR , parts/abor/install complete out the door for $19,995? 1 year / 100k miles warranty…is there a fine print?
Since our coaches are not used for near 100k miles per year, what will be your support thereafter?

Are you also doing regular engine maintenance by appointment or just heavy hauls?

Thanks.

[Archived]

Hey Brian, thanks for joining PC. Its great to have some one with the engine knowledge you folks have.

I would like to know how important is the valve adjustment on a 98 S60 12.7ltr. Mine has 213,000 on it and seems to be running fine. Over all average fuel economy is 7.1mpg.

I would like to come by your shop in the near future to check my turbo. I don’t ever get over 20 or 23 lbs according to the reading on the dash gauge. Even out west in the mountains climbing passes.

What do do you think.

[Jackson]

Brian: What about a 1998 Series 60 with 76,000 miles? When should I have the valves adjusted?

[Archived]

Brian,

Trust me when I say this………on XL and XLII Prevost conversions the valve cover cannot be removed without pulling the engine or opening up the bedroom floor to provide clearance.

So if a valve adjustment is needed someone has to plan on opeing up the bedroom floor. The question is are you willing to learn what is involved and consider it a part of what you do, or will the client have to have that done prior to starting the work.

I don’t know if the problem originates with Prevost or the converters who put closets over the engine access, but that is the way it is. Some conversions require little to open up the floor, others are more complex.

[Archived]

Dorel

American Fleet has been in the entertainment and charter bus industry since 1992. 99% of everyday business is within this industry, so we are well versed in the details of working on these types of coaches.

When clients bring their coaches to us for service, we diagnosis the issue, quote the job to be done which includes parts and labor, and then get to work. If additional work needs to be addressed then the client will be contacted.

As far as 24/7 on call service, we don’t offer that. Our normal shop hours are Monday through Friday 7:00 – 4:00. We would be available to complete a job after 4:00 as needed.

As far as “credits” we assume you are talking about core credits??? If you are ordering a complete engine, we don’t charge for the engine core upfront. Client orders that have exchange parts would be required to pay for the cores upfront and then would be reimbursed for the cores once returned.

In regards to your question about the “fine print” for the Series 60 non EGR, that price gets you a complete engine installed and re-using your ECM. The warranty is 1 year-100,000 mile PARTS only. Extended warranties that include labor and towing are available at your request for an additonal charge. Miscellaneous items such as hoses,clamps,fluids,etc. would be additional. Most times these used miscellaneous parts are reusable, but we don’t recommend it for obivous reasons.

Appointments are recommended but not necessary on engine maintenance, but are required on in-frame overhauls and engine installs.

If you have any additonal questions or concerns please feel free to contact us at your conveneince.

[Brian]

Corey,

Typically, in most cases it depends on the coach. Labor time will usually runs 5-8 hours IF we don’t have to access the floor compartment inside the coach. For that 1% of the time we need to access the floor compartment, you are looking at 12-16 hours total which includes the removal and replacement of items in the coach. If you would rather take apart the coach yourself, so we can access the floor panel, the labor time would come back down to 5-8 hours. Our coach labor rate is $1250 per hour, plus parts. If you are looking for a valve adjustment quote for your specific coach, I would ask that you call us to discuss further.

[Archived]

Buddy,

These are the maintenance intervals that we follow that come straight from Detroit Diesel.

Maintenance Intervals

Service Function	Miles	Detroit Diesel Part
Oil & Filter Change (Long-Haul)	30,000	Detroit Diesel Genuine Oil & Filters
Fuel Filter Change Primary & Secondary	15,000	Detroit Diesel Genuine Fuel Filter
Coolant (test) Change	20,000 2 Years	Detroit Diesel Genuine Fluid Analysis Detroit Diesel Genuine Coolant
Valve Lash Adjustment	After first 60,000	Detroit Diesel Genuine Service

**** For (short haul) oil and filter changes, we recommend every 15,000 miles****

If you have never had a valve adjustment, we would recommend one soon. Please refer to my post above for rates on this work.

The average turbo boost should be between 20-30 lbs. So it sounds like you are within the limits of where your turbo boost needs to be. But we are more than happy to take a look at your turbo and see if there is any other issues that need to be addressed.

[Archived]

Dick

Please refer to our recommendation in my previous response to another PC member with the same question above.