tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53258673327661383202011-09-08T13:40:04.483-06:00Preventive maintenance for School Buses hosted by Brad Barker. This Blog was designed for all school bus technicians. Have a mechanical issue, tip or comment? Comment on an existing blog or post your own by logging in with a Google Account name and password. Don't know how or if you want to be invited to be a contributor to this blog, send me an email at schoolbuspm@q.com.Bradnoreply@blogger.comBlogger111100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-16289898616964237272010-12-11T08:52:00.000-07:002010-12-11T08:52:32.376-07:00

The J1939 datalink feeds a variety of information back and forth the length of the bus. J1939 wiring consists of a negative wire, a positive wire and a data wire with specific resistance. Two resistors must be in the line, one at the rear of the backbone for rear engine buses and one at the front of the backbone. The back bone is the J1939 harness. If you feel you are getting a failure of the

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-88172607405935753432010-07-29T10:26:00.002-06:002010-07-29T10:41:37.334-06:00

I need some suggestion from technicians experienced with air systems. I am working with a '94 front engine all american. When performing a test of the automatic emergency system, the low air warning light and buzzer come on at 65-70 psi. But the spring brake push pull valve pops out at 50 psi, consistently. I replaced all gauges and the control valve and got the same results. The bus is equipped

Sarah and Trevorhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15308405181069480797noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-73775294850155193552010-06-15T06:11:00.000-06:002010-06-15T06:11:45.212-06:00

If you have experienced moisture in a CAT ECM on the OEM side of the connector, the problem could be with the low coolant sensor in the surge tank. It seems that it is possible for coolant to be pushed out of this sensor and into the plug and wire going to the engine ECM. The cooper wire inside the insulation jacket will actually wick the coolant through the length of the wire and into the ECM,

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-13511742488666615432010-05-18T19:01:00.001-06:002010-05-18T19:02:56.453-06:00

Documenting every bit of work done in the shop is extremely important. It can be what saves your hind end in a court of law but documentation can be time consuming and tedious work in itself. Whenever documenting try to abbreviate as much as possible. Remember that the documentation must include the complaint, the cause and the correction. Read the following statement; Drvr cmplnt of noise in rf

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-26422877563288841362010-05-04T07:33:00.001-06:002010-06-26T20:22:54.271-06:00

In 2007 we purchased four 2008 Blue Bird A3RE buses with Hendrickson 14600 lb front axles. Due to extremely black oil in the front hub cabs which coated the inspection window preventing oil level inspection, the front hub caps, hubs and wheel bearings were removed for cleaning and inspection. Upon inspection of bearings it was found that the outer wheel bearings on all right side wheels had

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-16813934740258937772010-04-23T06:35:00.000-06:002010-04-23T06:35:42.086-06:00

If you are in the market for engine or transmission hardware/software there is a interface available which will help you clean up all the cables and different interface boxes you may have laying around the shop. The interface box is the box and cable assembly you buy in conjunction with a program such as Cummins Insight, Cat Electronic Technician and so forth. The new interface box allows you to

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-13635653881245315512010-03-29T20:21:00.001-06:002010-03-30T12:43:30.653-06:00

I am finding quite a few air intake heater switches going bad and needing replacement on CAT 3126 engines. The terminal nuts on top of the switch should be checked periodically and snugged up. Loose terminal nuts are, in my opinion, the cause of the failure. If your driver reports a hot burning smell coming from the engine, especially forward engine buses, check the switch terminals. They may be

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-77517750473762580322010-01-26T15:58:00.002-07:002010-02-14T17:12:59.874-07:00

Bus engines loosing power can be caused by multiple factors. My most prominent cause of this problem this year has been caused by two components, both which manage the air intake into the engine. One of the two components is the turbo charger and the second component is the air to air charge air cooler. My recommendation to you is this; at least annually or whenever you change your air cleaner,

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-10954460807654932252010-01-20T13:58:00.002-07:002010-03-29T20:17:32.866-06:00

I know it has been discussed many times but I need to emphasize to you the benefit of servicing buses on an hours of operation interval rather than a mileage or days interval. I know! You have always used another type of interval and you ask yourself why change. Hours of operation is the most accurate method and makes best use of parts and labor. I don't have the time to change, you say? I can

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-57958484127749791622010-01-18T12:48:00.001-07:002010-01-20T13:29:58.572-07:00

Currently I use three brands of automatic tire chains; Roto Grip, Insta-Chain and On-spot. Although I try not to be judgemental on Brands or Makes of vehicles or components the On-spot system is by far the best. If you have mulitple brands of these components in your fleet you may have discovered this already; that is the air chambers made by Insta-Chain and On-Spot are not interchangable. One is

Bradnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5325867332766138320.post-52317548067188081542010-01-17T13:32:00.000-07:002010-01-17T13:32:28.388-07:00

Share your school bus maintenance tips with the world. Our most safe form of ground transportation cannot go without routine maintenance to keep it that way. This site is for you and I to offer assistance to those in the school bus industry. Best Regards, Brad Barker The School Bus PM http://www.theschoolbuspm.com/

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