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Sharing My Mistakes
Some of you have been kind AND honest enough to share your mistakes so that we could learn from your experience rather than our own. I did not leave the parking brake on in the car or pull out while still plugged in but I did make a bone headed mistake that could have been bad. Thankfully it was not.
I posted about changing my belts earlier in the week. When I finished I did what I normally do when I have messed with something that could affect the operation of the bus. I started the engine and let it run a while so I could make sure all the belts were correct. That helps eliminate the possibility of surprises when I crank up and get ready to roll at the end of the week. Everything proved to be fine.
As I stated in that post I could not remove the to BX97 belts that day but I did get them off and replaced the next day. I did not start the bus when I was finished for two reasons. It was early and I did not want to disturb my wife and daughter’s sleep. Also I was parked at a church right next to the property wall and directly next to three houses and I did not want to make the neighbors mad by waking them up shortly after daylight if they did not have to be up. Especially since I knew I was leaving early the next day. I figured two mornings in a row would be too much.
I cranked up at 5:40 this morning. When I opened the engine bay doors about 4 minutes later after placing it on high idle, I noticed my fan belt was very loose. I figured the mini air bag under the fan gear box had bit the dust but I could not see it good. I was only going 11 miles to Mira Loma Prevost so I mentally added it to the list hoping the belt would stay on. I kept a close eye on the temps on the way.
I knew that all the belts were normal when I started the bus after changing the 5 belts Wednesday. I could not figure out what had changed.
When I pulled up to the gate at Prevost I went back to look. The big fan belt was still obviously loose but then I noticed that the 5 belts off the main pulley, 3 to the fan box and 2 to the AC, were a little more loose that normal as well. Then it hit me. I had released the air to change the two stubborn AC belts on Thursday. I reached up inside the door, twisted the lever and instantly the world was better.
I missed that Thursday morning because I broke my own routine. I was about 30 away minutes from having somebody from Prevost checking things out, changing mini air bags and no telling what all because of my forgetfullness. I know that I am prone to that and that is why I try to stick to a routine.
Davy
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1 Reply
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Davy, had the same thing happen to me after a service job. Bus would cool okay until I got running about 55 and would heat up. Made it home and mechanic noticed that somebody had monkied with the valve. Didn’t know it had one for belt tension. Now I do. Things you learn.
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