BusTalk

GBL Rebel · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 8:31 am Post subject:

Here is what I should have wrote but opted for the short version--

A bus museum has placed 11R22.5 on a bus due to a sizable cost difference between the 11 and 12R22.5. That bus is an RTS.

NYCT uses Goodyear tires 305/85R22.5 for its fleet that came with 12R22.5.

Long Island Bus uses 12R22.5 from Firestone.

GBL, JBI, CBC used 12R22.5 from Firestone.

TCC used 305/85R22.5 from Goodyear.

As you can see sizing maybe interchangable without any problems. I WOULD NOT lower the load rating to save money though. If the load range was G, I wouldn't do F to save money. I do not know if Goodyear makes tires in the 12R or just in ***/**R** sizing. I would not suggest recapped tires as a private owner, the side walls will rot before the new cap wears and that can be serious trouble.

In the drivers area, there should be a sticker with the tire info from GM. I would think a tire guy would know best what can be put on after knowing what it came with from the factory.

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

GBL Rebel -

Yous, above and date 8:31 am: Good Plan!

I get so touchy about steers. For a while, I was with a "big name" freight hauler. They went into pure shock when,
one early afternoon, I announced I didn't like what I saw on the steer on one of the "line haul" trucks. I told them
it was not going to run under my dispatch until a satisfactory (and legal) fix by a tire man! I guess all got over the
hard feelings... (BTW. The carrier was NOT CFWY!)

.....................Vern.....................

GBL Rebel · Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2010 9:50 am Post subject:

Vern,

Here's my deal-- I am willing to share my knowlege with someone. I can only say what I know that has been done. Can't say it was the right thing to do. These may be options for a tight budget though, and someone may not think of this. And when needed I will remind the fact of safety first. Thats why I said a tire guy who does truck should know best. Not looking for anybody to get hurt.

My first post on the tires was short as I was short on time. I did atleast make it more clear this morning as I sipped some coffee! Time and date are just when I got done typing, no planning on that.

serious whistler · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 10:38 am Post subject:

And one more question.

I test drove the bus before I was going to drive it fully loaded for 9hours and here is what happen.
I drove without problems for about 15 miles. Stopped for about 15 minutes without turning the bus off, started to drive again.... All of a sudden the pressure started to drop dramatically from 120 to 40 in 10 seconds.

I stopped the bus and this part popped was releasing air:
http://freebookexchange.org/temp/PartThatPops.JPG

I popped it back in started to drive again pop and all air is gone.

So with whatever I had I blocked the air flow to this part. And made it back home without problems.

It look like some kind of excess air pressure release valve.

What is this part?
Why does it pop and makes bus loose all the pressure in matter of seconds? (This is insane and really dangerous)

Can I remove it and cap it? If not why?

Is the part faulty (spring too soft) or is pressure on my bus gets too high?
I never had problem with this part in 4000 miles of driving the bus.

I'm about to get on the road for real with full load and would like to make it to my destination.

Also another question:
What would you check before making an 8 hours trip with full load?
What would you pack (tools, list of truck repair shops on the rout, etc...)?

GBL Rebel · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2010 11:31 am Post subject:

Its a pressure safety valve. Its purpose is to release air pressure if it goes to high. It should be stamped on it what the pressure rating is. This is a safety valve so the tanks don't overpressureize and blow up in the event the pressure exceeds the rated safe pressure of the system. This does not mean 120psi which bus should build to. The air system could be rated for 150 psi before any negative effects of an overpressured system would happen.

To remove the valve and plug it to get the bus out of harms way in an EMERGENCY ONLY-- as in stuck in middle of road-- yes it can be done. HOWEVER to remove and plug as a fix would be foolish and DANGERIOUS. Go to a truck parts place, they will have a replacement valve. If for some reason you can not get one with the same thread size, an adapter can be used.