Scotoshite MEGABARGE Refurb / Restoration Diary

28,013 · June 1, 2016

A hydraulic valve of some sort.

Â£LOTS

27,977 · June 1, 2016

Ahh. More new bits.

Let's have a game of Guess the Part. What does it do?

More importantly let's do a guess the price as well...

Mr FPB7 and Mr cms206 need not apply.

it had better be a manual boost controller;)

3,384 · June 1, 2016

This thread is literally the best thing I've ever come across on a car forum

Please continue and feel free to go into as much detail as possible, I find this sort of 'large scale' engineering fascinating

4,796 · June 1, 2016

Something gearbox related, Â£300.

108,850 · June 1, 2016

So it's basically a Ferrari, just 100 slower.

12,579 · June 1, 2016

Me, me, me, please sir, I know the answer, me, me over, here please sir, I know....etc.

26,368 · June 1, 2016

Quiet at the back, Freeman.

ECU for hydraulically adjustable driver's seat; Â£602. What do I win?

6,466 · June 1, 2016

I'm guessing something to do with the brake system & it cost Â£250.

You are the closest on price

A hydraulic valve of some sort.

Â£LOTS

You're the closest on function

This thread is literally the best thing I've ever come across on a car forum

Please continue and feel free to go into as much detail as possible, I find this sort of 'large scale' engineering fascinating

See below

Something gearbox related, Â£300.

Nope

Quiet at the back, Freeman.

ECU for hydraulically adjustable driver's seat; Â£602. What do I win?

Prize for silliness : A trip to Scotland at your own expense!

What is it? Thermostatic hydraulic valve for the radiator fan. The fan is powered by a hydraulic motor and the pictured valve diverts pressure from the power steering circuit as required by temperature. The old one was fucked in that is in an original part (Date stamp 90 E 25) and jammed in the full bypass position resulting in my ears bleeding from the noise of the fan and a reduction in power steering....ehh...power.

Price? Â£193

There is only one, yes ONE, supplier online in the whole UK that stocks them. I dare say the commercial motor factors would be able to get them as well as other hydraulics firms. I stressed over which delivery option to go for. The cheapest (Â£9) or next day which was silly money. Then I noticed they were in Port Glasgow (well Woodhall if you want to be pedantic) so I decided I wanted it NOW!!! It was cheaper to go collect that the cheapest delivery option anyways.

Anyways have a gratuitous shot of the old one still in place. I'll get round to replacing it soon. Looks like I'll need some male-to-male fitting adapters as well.

Old Fan Stat by David Fowler, on Flickr

26,368 · June 1, 2016

Prize for silliness : A trip to Scotland at your own expense!

YES!!

6,466 · June 10, 2016

More updates. More money spent. Just as well I get a pay rise soon, eh?

Anyways it was discussed with Mr cms206 and Mr FPB7 that a bus on a Class 5 MoT and PLG tax really ought to have a tachograph to record driver's hours. A pain, yes but best to keep the right side of VOSA on all matters regarding commercial motors.

So on that note it was time to get one fitted...

ERMAHGERD, TERKERGREFFS!!!

New tachograph fitted by David Fowler, on Flickr

Also note how the bus has managed to cover less than one KM per year! I did double that mileage on the way back to base.

On the way back it was standard Friday afternoon traffic so I took some diversions and ended up paying homage to our very own tooSavvy...

The tooSavvy memorial bus by David Fowler, on Flickr

Much has been said along the lines of "YOU SHOULD REALLY HAVE HALF THE BUS" but I didn't fancy parking across the junction in order to get the perspective right.

3,526 · June 11, 2016

I like the way it looks like it was stopped at the bus stop. I'm surprised a couple of Fegs didn't clamber aboard.

13,418 · June 11, 2016

Cap duly doffed at chezzSavv.....

Many thanks

TS

24,195 · June 11, 2016

That Talbot bridge should be listed, restored and maintained in sparkly-like-new perfection for ever.

7,658 · June 11, 2016

I thought you couldn't retro-fit an analogue tachograph.

13,418 · June 11, 2016

.... given the fate of local jobs - post Frenchie merger [Talbot] - I'm surprised it hasn't been daubed with a noose, suspending a shonkkie SurrenderMonkey

Locals afraid of heights/too tight to buy paint will be my excuse.... damn Euros coming in here and taking our jobs [away to France] grrr*

*Oops, wrong thredd

TS

8,916 · June 11, 2016

I thought you couldn't retro-fit an analogue tachograph.

Only need to change to digi if 1996> AND >12T AND needs a whole system fitting.

If any of those don't apply, you can carry on fixing the thing with replacement analogue bits.

So as that bus is pre-1996, it never needs to go digital

12,579 · June 11, 2016

Ours are post 1996 and needed a full system but still analogue.

17,894 · June 11, 2016

I assumed it was 2006> and over 3.5 tonnes? We fitted an analogue tacho in our '98 Volvo Olympian late last year.

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

6,466 · June 11, 2016

You can get away with an analogue fitment if the original wiring loom permits it. If you need a full new setup it has to be digital. The man at Roadside almost had to do that to the yellow ediface of doom.

6,466 · June 11, 2016

That Talbot bridge should be listed, restored and maintained in sparkly-like-new perfection for ever.

The Talbot bridge doesn't need to be listed as it's the main line from Glasgow to Ayr. I drive over it quite regularly. That said it does need some painting.

8,942 · June 11, 2016

Work are pensioning off all the remaining Oilycans very shortly, and had a little running day last week for them, with them it's good riddance to bad rubbish, esp 724, an ex Ragecoach LXB/ZF RL lwb, couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding if it tried, and at one point was my regular bus until I point blank refused to drive it

6,466 · August 15, 2016

Update 15/08/2016

Well after the oul' tub's sterling performance to Shitefest, it has decided to shit itself again.

I had done the thermostatic fan control valve which was less than pleasant. 10 hours, 35 litres of coolant and about a gallon of power steering fluid later, I managed to get it replaced. Well...it started pissing coolant and oil. Coolant was solved with some insta-gasket. Oil leak was a hydraulic union with a little ding in it. Unfortunately the little leak from said union was hiding an even little-er leak. Turns out one of the hard steel lines was chafing and had cracked. It was duely removed and sent to Pirtek to get a new union and replace the 1/4 inch steel tube with some hose...

Broken Hydraulic Line by David Fowler, on Flickr

So now the fan runs as it should and it doesn't leak coolant or oil. Well it then started leaking coolant. This time from the transmission oil cooler. ARSES! Luckily when I noticed the leak, the man from Mackie Transmissions was in so I promptly grabbed him and showed him the problem. How much for a new one? Â£5000-6000. Yes. 5 to 6 THOUSAND pounds. So today's task was to remove it and send it to a radiator specialist to see if it could be repaired. Only 10 bolts and 2 silicon hoses to remove...how hard can it be? Very in the answer as I was not expecting it to weigh about 45kg!!!

It's on the barra for a very good reason...

Transmission Cooler by David Fowler, on Flickr

This is where it used to be...

Transmission Cooler by David Fowler, on Flickr

And this is where it is now at Star...

Transmission Cooler by David Fowler, on Flickr

With a big hole...

Transmission Cooler by David Fowler, on Flickr

6,466 · August 17, 2016

A day and a half. That was the turn around time to get big yellow's transmission cooler repaired at Star Radiators in Glasgow. Pressure tested and painted. Â£222 inc vodka and tonic. Damn sight cheaper than Â£6000 for a new one from ZF / BEHR. Gave the water side of it a quick flush out seeing as it dripped some brown stuff when I picked it up.

Repaired Transmission Cooler by David Fowler, on Flickr

28,550 · August 17, 2016

Thats good service! Probably one of the cheaper fixes you can do on the bus!

6,466 · September 23, 2016

Finally got some time off to play with the bus today. Previous days off were spent getting the 740 ready for Chumly and MoT but now that Chumly is by and the 740 is currently in Inverkeithing at the local Volvo whisperer, it was time to get some work done to the bus.

It has been over a month since I got the gearbox oil cooler repaired so I was itchy to get it back together. Also with the upcoming open day at Stagecoach's Cumbernauld depot, I had to get it ready for that seeing as Cumbernauld is the new base of operations for Stagecoach Glasgow where I used to work albeit at the previous depot at Blochairn.

First off, during the time at home I got some new gadgetry for the bus for fitting at the appropriate time.

Battery charge retention has always been an issue especially seeing as the bus sits for extended periods. Suspect charging system also so it was time to finally get something at least half decent to measure current to find any parasitic drains...

UNI-T UT210-E Clamp Meter by David Fowler, on Flickr

And also for the cab. New old stock Smiths for Leyland dash clusters...

Smiths Voltmeter by David Fowler, on Flickr

There is another toy but I'll leave that 'till last.

For today, 2 new batteries were procured seeing as the old 2 were measuring about 2 volts across the 24v terminals.

Out with the old...

Dead Yuasas by David Fowler, on Flickr

In with the new. It's as well I got paid today. These cost Â£426 inc VAT...

Brand new Bosch T3 by David Fowler, on Flickr

Battery Tray by David Fowler, on Flickr

I may throw the charger on the old ones. They may keep good enough for a booster set. Also look at those ratings and compare them to a car battery. 1050 cold cranking amps and 200Ah.

I managed to get the gearbox oil cooler fitted last week but due to a need for some new coolant pipework, it wasn't plumbed in and tested with water until today.

The gearbox oil and filter were also changed...

Gearbox Oil and Filter Change by David Fowler, on Flickr

Gasket paper seem to be providing a sufficient seal for the cooler manifold on to the gearbox. You can see a corner sticking out from the manifold...

Gearbox Oil Cooler Refitted by David Fowler, on Flickr

Meanwhile, cms206 of this parish was helping jet wash the inspection pit of decades of oil, grime, grease, gearbox oil, brake fluid, rust, shite, grime, dirt, shite, oil...... even to the point of getting ankle deep in the pit's sump to shovel it out...

Andy Down The Sump by David Fowler, on Flickr

The bus was left to tick over for a while to get hot and let the water and gearbox oil circulate to test for leaks. It seems tight so the water was let loose bringing lots of muck with it to be replaced with a proper anti freeze mix. Mostly done but that and the ATF will need a top up before heading to Cumbernauld on Sunday.

Running and suspension fully inflated for the first time in about 6 weeks...

H987RKG by David Fowler, on Flickr

One last toy was a new sign controller. Not that it needed it, I just like these new style ones with the extra button and OLED screen...

Hanover DG3 Normal Text by David Fowler, on Flickr

Genuinely mine. Not blagged...

Hanover DG3 by David Fowler, on Flickr

The OLED screen is much easier to see and read than the old one but you can also set it to show what the exterior signs are showing...

Hanover DG3 by David Fowler, on Flickr

The Olympian is currently running the same destination program as Swift Coaches (where the bus lives and cms206 works) and we've programmed a LOT of shit in to it...

Hanover DG3 - Ansett by David Fowler, on Flickr

Hanover DG3 - Rapide by David Fowler, on Flickr

Hanover DG3 - Clansman Monarch by David Fowler, on Flickr

Anyone desparate enough to see the full list of utter toss that got programmed in to the Swift Coaches signs can request a full list if they want. You can request, you may receive. You may not. If I can be bothered.

Anyways I think that's it for today.

---ENDS---

8,942 · September 23, 2016

I prefer the old alphanumeric Hanover controllers, much fun was had with them at Colchester, many a 4 letter swearyword appeared on the desty when running light

27,977 · September 23, 2016

glad to see the cooler is working:)

6,466 · September 23, 2016

You mean the larger ERIC controller?

Provided all you are doing is driving exterior and some types of internal signs, the DERIC can do all of the same stuff but in a smaller package. Where it differs from ERIC is that it doesn't have the big comms port on the back so you can't use DERIC to talk to Wayfarer ticket machines, HANVOX or HANCIS passenger information systems or AVL. Swift's program has a lot of screens where the driver has to put in a route number - things like megabus and rail replacement. The DERIC and DG3 can do that but it just takes an awful lot longer to put the route number / text / expletives in.

6,466 · September 23, 2016

My ERIC controller is ex Dublin Bus and is the full boona E413F model with AVL. It's substantially heavier than the likes of a First Bus ERIC. Mines also looks unused but then again the exterior signs were most likely driven directly from the ticket machines and the buttons on the ERIC never actually used.

8,942 · September 23, 2016

The Erics were fitted when the buses were transferred south,in the very early days of First, the last of that batch were only very recently withdrawn and disposed of. Some Rider Royales have escaped for further service from Huddersfield, and are in use with Connexions/Harrogate Coach Travel, owned by the certifiable Craig Temple. He even has the Huddersfield heritage streamline liveried example, which is to be preserved

Scotoshite MEGABARGE Refurb / Restoration Diary

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