Page 136 – Mechanics Hub

Rebuilding Cat 3116 Diesel Engine Out Of A Pusher School Bus

The Cat 3116…this engine was introduced to our fleet starting in 2007 and the first thing that we had to do was get a hold of the tool kit required to make adjustments. Adjusting the valves is one thing that can be done easily on any diesel engine. But since the 3116 had a governor… Continue reading Rebuilding Cat 3116 Diesel Engine Out Of A Pusher School Bus

6 Must Have Apps for Beginner Automotive Mechanics

The popularity of NPR’s "Car Talk" illustrates a fact even beginner mechanics know: once you tell someone that you’re a mechanic, you’re expected to diagnose that weird sound the car makes every morning. These apps won’t get you out of those cocktail party jams, but they can help you diagnose car troubles quickly, accurately and… Continue reading 6 Must Have Apps for Beginner Automotive Mechanics

The Thomas Pusher Bus With 3116 Diesel Engine

The model of the school bus in the video is a 2007 pusher ER Saf T Liner. Thomas did good with the design of this one. It drives like a Cadillac and is nice and quiet up front for the operator. Most of the drivers liked these models for that reason. They handle very well… Continue reading The Thomas Pusher Bus With 3116 Diesel Engine

School Bus Photos and Rudolph Diesel

Here are some various photos on school buses I wanted to share with you. If you haven’t ever read up on Rudolph Diesel I would like to do a short Bio on him. Usually when you go to technical school for the truck trade you will most likely have gone through a class covering the… Continue reading School Bus Photos and Rudolph Diesel

School Bus Block Heater Not So Easy….

Here is a project we were working on involving a block heater replacement on a Thomas C2 conventional school bus. In this video you will be able to see the tight spot that you need to get in to accessing the block heater element. This is an MBE 900 Mercedes diesel which is inset under… Continue reading School Bus Block Heater Not So Easy….

Code 3500 Allison Transmissions

There’s one transmission code that has flashed up many times in our fleet with the Allison 3000 series transmissions…code #3500 which is a battery voltage interruption to the transmission ECU. What happens is the push button shift control does the fish eye thing and you lose shifting ability. The first place to go is (of… Continue reading Code 3500 Allison Transmissions

You’ve Got an Interview: Now What?

"Work smart and hard." That’s the phrase coined by Mike Rowe, former host of Discovery’s "Dirty Jobs" and the voice behind Ford truck commercials. When he’s not working in television, Rowe often speaks about the value of hard-working jobs involving trade skills and hands-on experience. On HBO’s "Real Time with Bill Maher," Rowe tells a… Continue reading You’ve Got an Interview: Now What?

School Bus Maintenance In The Summer Is No Picnic

With school out we have the pick of the fleet for our maintenance and repair schedule. There’s just the shop crew working through July and August. Maintenance is our main focus year round but also major repairs have to be attended to. Summer is the busiest time for us because it’s the most convenient time… Continue reading School Bus Maintenance In The Summer Is No Picnic

Troubleshooting Rear Axle Noise

A few months ago our crew went out to the Mercedes dealer for some training and the instructor told us to bring out one of our buses with the MBE 900 diesel engine so we could use it as a test unit. One of the guys grabbed the keys for one of our Thomas HDX… Continue reading Troubleshooting Rear Axle Noise

International MaxxForce 7 Diesel Engine Overview

I can count on one hand how many times I’ve read an entire operation and maintenance manual. These manuals come with a new vehicle and I would guess they don’t get much use unless a specific question arises. We received new International buses recently powered with Maxxforce 7 diesel engines and since they are a… Continue reading International MaxxForce 7 Diesel Engine Overview