Overweight front axle on a high end Prevost rv bus conversion. Fixing issues like slack adjusters

This was a relatively new easy bus and we got a lot done in just a few days. The overweight front axle is something that they are now aware of and can start trying to move a few items around and put the bus on a diet.
Link to Mel and Nette’s youtube page • Getting Repairs Done R...

[@MelNetteLivingFreeZipCodeless]

Thank you Scott and Jonathan for an amazing experience. What a big difference on the way the bus drives. We will definitely be back going up that famous hill before we ever go to Prevost. We appreciate the amazing work and honesty. That goes a very long way. 🙌😊👍👏♥️

[@josephalberta1145]

I went to Prevost as I thought they were the experts. The repairs lasted a day. Lots of wasted money. Got the job fixed afterI got home for 600 dollars at a shop the next town over.

[@MelNetteLivingFreeZipCodeless]

Yes we did the same only to find out they didn’t do things they told us they did. This is why we went to Bus Grease Monkey to get things done right. Glad you got your bus fixed quickly.

[@silasmarner7586]

I'm'a tell you right now.. That engine compartment was waaaay cleaner than the usual mudbog that most buses contain. Thanks a nice right. Stay with Scott and crew at BGM and you'll never go wrong sir!!!!

[@raygunsforronnie847]

Beautiful Le Mirage XL, 32 years young classic look. There are a few still doing entertainer coach duty (artist owned, usually) at 1.5m miles or more. Mel and Nette have kept her up and when I saw their "on our way to Bus Grease Monkey" post I smiled. They wanted it done right, and drove up the mountain rather than go to any of the Prevost service locations. Also it's good to see BGM Productions recovering from the electrical service and weather issues. Y'all rock.

[@durrelljohnson4726]

I enjoyed watching Mel and Nette's channel as they filmed their time at Bug Grease Mountain. Awesome companion videos.👍

[@jostouw4366]

BUG ? 🤣

[@durrelljohnson4726]

@@jostouw4366 typo. I have sausage fingers apparently 😁

[@beckyumphrey2626]

Kroil. The best tool in the shop. Excellent stuff. Us airline mechanic s best friend. :)

[@sndy57]

My biggest regret about not finding your channel sooner was seeing MCI 72 seat coaches selling for $2k at he auction a couple of years back, and I passed because I didn’t know then what I know now. Thanks. Did luck out with a bard find just recently. 1978 International 1850E C/O. 466 diesel, 10 Spd Fuller, air brakes, 100,000 confirmed miles. An old, retired truck drivers dream project.

[@hotpuppy1]

You dodged a bullet on that $2000 bus since it likely needed $50,000 in work.

[@dennisreeves632]

You know you guys are building one impeccable reputation and after following you since you came to Tennessee I know why!

[@MarkK01]

For such a low mileage bus there is grease where it does not belong and no grease where it matters. Its small business like Scott's that needs to be protected. It is people like Scott that brings so much joy to buses. I do not own a bus but watching Scott and company that makes me want to get one. You can see the many smiles that come from people after dealing with Scott.

[@REDMAN298]

It looks easy watching them. It is not easy.

[@jms60]

Thank You Helping Mel & Netti Great Couple Ty Scott & Jonathan

[@fatbackjacob5738]

Love all the videos. Everyday is so nice.

[@HomelessGs]

Thanks you Soo much. I know how hard it is to do this work. Then to worry about recording it for all of us. You have helped so many with so much knowledge. I appreciate you. Blessing to you and your family.

[@ralphups7782]

Sounds, really smooth.

[@h5mind373]

That looked like one of the fastest up the hill!

[@c.a.mcneil7599]

The big problem these days are the mechanics. What does the computer say the problem and never look at what may have caused it. I over the road operator and when I need a fix roadside or not knowing whom it’s is another fix to fix that fix. Happy that you have a cub that you’re sharing your knowledge.

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Finding knowledgeable hands on repair folks is an increasingly difficult task. I'm 76, tried to retire, but still get calls "No one knows how to...". sure, the computers and diagnostics all are extremely handy, but there is still no replacement for the good old MK 1 MOD 1 Brain and Experience combination. The current attitude is "I don't want to know how it works, I just want to USE it!". I make a lot of money doing simple things that no one ever knows or cares to do. Or how to. How many times I have done a fix, charged $1K and the TV station didn't have to spend $30K to replace something, I can't count. I watch Scott, Rainman Ray, Diesel Creek, and many of the other hands on guys and enjoy seeing brains driving hands, and I sincerely believe enjoying themselves.

[@REDMAN298]

I worked on trucks and replace more front wheel bearings than anybody in the shop. They are amazingly tough. Chinese bearings had early failure rates. If you jack up up front wheel and spin it put your hand on the slack adjuster. If it feels rough it`s bad. Doesn`t have to be loose to be bad.

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

I have a large slot screwdriver with the hex end for screws to help tighten or remove. Love it just wish my other hand screwdrivers were like it. Another tip I found is one like craftsman handle if you have a socket to fit will go on them to use a ratchet.

[@wushock92]

I saw their video before this one. It was interesting to see the same shop stop from both perspectives.

[@wallacegrommet9343]

Grease! My favorite topic! Red grease is good, but calcium sulphonate synthetic grease is much better in suspension components. Better water resistance, better lubrication and longer service life. A big transition is underway in industrial workplaces to calcium sulphonate synthetic greases.

[@bill8582]

I really appreciate this video, these are all things that need to be done to mine, and should have already been done, I don't have a safe place to work on it, nor is the Bus Grease Monkey right down the road lol. Like this coach, mine is low mileage, less than 155K, but it is 40+ years old. The front end has a bit of play in it, which I wish was a little tighter, it had sat for a long time over the years, through different owners, who evidently never did maintenance on it. I want to get it all done, but it's just going to take time.

[@peterhodgkins6985]

What a gorgeous coach!!

[@wernerdanler2742]

They got their video out way before yours, Scott.😅😂😅 That's such a good-looking RV. It would be fun to drive around the country in it as long as I didn't have to pay for the fuel. 😂😅 I guess what you saved them on that kingpin will take them a long way in fuel. 😊😊

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

I got videos from june, july and august still not edited yet.

[@wernerdanler2742]

@BusGreaseMonkey You just have to much bus-ness going on. 😆 🤣 😂 😹 😆 🤣

[@charlessoule8587]

Beautiful bus!

[@bnelson313braveheart]

Another full timer bus is made safe and road ready!

[@christianbattestin9747]

That bus drives smooth....like Keith Stone.

[@aussiemoover1]

Another top job Scott!

[@LucyCanaday]

I have also seen the situation when too much pressure is adjusted on the tag axle it will take weight off the drive axle and raise the weight on the front axle. I had a monaco coach that was over weight on the drive axle when you roll through the toll gates to get on the ohio turnpike they weigh the axle weights and I could only get through raising the tag axle pressure. This took weight off the drive axle but raised the weight on the front axle. Earlier Newell coaches had adjustments on the dash to allow passage across certain scales.

[@timf6916]

Good job

[@rogerreames7079]

Love it all

[@ralphups7782]

Lenny was flying down the road, the other day. just like he was a puppy again.

[@plizotte2003]

Hello, prevost bus is Canadian French from Quebec.

[@lloydrobinson7081]

keep the clips coming

[@tonbouw6180]

11:10 fastest way to destroy a steering rack, is using a steeringknob. because you overpower the powersteering, the pump and bearings and gears are overstressed/overpowered beond there technicap specs, thus wear and tear is much higher. Im a truckdriver in the Netherlands, so we have short cabs short chassis, and small twisting roads.. bin driving for 30 + yrs now, and i notice emediatly wen a truck had or has a steeringknob....it may aid the driver, but it is wrecking the truck. 😉

[@jostouw4366]

Some of those old timers don't even have power steering.

[@gregoneill1495]

Grease is a lot cheaper than major repairs from lack of greasing!

[@isickofit]

And "Oil is cheaper than engines".

[@dukegoodno585]

I really would like to learn the procedure your screw tightner assistant uses to get his jeans clean.

[@kevinsiedschlag429]

Sometimes greasing the slack adjuster will push the locks out , just a hint

[@jerryw4458]

Would love to know how much some of these repairs are costing? My wife and I are about to buy our first motorhome, and we're curious of some future costs that we may endure. Love the videos!

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

This one was around 5k but most buses on the channel are 10-20k repair bills.

[@razoumikhin]

@@BusGreaseMonkey these people should fall to the ground and wash your feet... at the local city rate of $195/hr these repairs would run into the six figures...

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

Parts are usually about 50% of the total bill included in those totals

[@joeljenkins2876]

Is that a Series 60 Detroit in this?

[@josephalberta1145]

If you get one just keep a big bag or two of money in case there is a problem.

[@mikekerby814]

I know the cost would be prohibitive, but I could not work on those without scrubbing and painting all those greasy parts. That is my OCD.

[@jostouw4366]

Greasy parts don't rust much.

[@SteveRivett]

yeah, don't assume the weight. I just bought a Ram 3500 and plated it for 9500 pounds thinking I would have some room to play. On the way home I scaled it and it was 10,500 :O

[@MrBirdnose]

RVs in particular need to be weighed. A lot of people's rigs are overweight and they don't even know it. Even a class B van conversion can easily approach 10,000 pounds.

[@Nahoyet]

I had a question regarding the knob on his steering wheel. We had those on our combines on the farm, but I thought those were illegal for cars, busses, semi, etc. on the highways. My step dad called them suicided knobs.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

Not illegal. They are illegal in commercial vehicles i think but not on a private rv.

[@Nahoyet]

OK, we farmed wheat and barley on hillsides Crank a combine with that knob, and your done.

[@davidchapman2839]

When I was in high school they called them " necker knobs " .

[@paulmcclain920]

Those knobs were really popular on semis up into the 80's. They came in handy on trucks without power steering. They did have a nasty habit that after you made your turn and released the steering wheel to come back to straight, the know would come around and smack you on the wrist. Power steering made them largely obsolete.

[@Nahoyet]

​@@davidchapman2839why necker knobs? To wrap your gal, lol.

[@robertusa1234]

I was just reading about a lawsuit where a custom Rv with zero cargo would be over weight just putting fuel in it

[@peterproudfoot4127]

Who is the young man who does all the work 🤔

[@TimsWorkshopTJY]

4.19 per gal for diesel dang it's still 5.49 here up north of Seattle. Need to move. haha

[@moshebron2105]

This drivers seat and steering wheel knob are all wrong. I went through Alot of back and knee pain till finally one of the older drivers in the company showed me how to set the drivers seat. As low and as back as possible. The knob is backwards

[@michaelholden5131]

Curious if there is a upgrade to the front axle possible for these coaches. Know semi trucks can be upgraded with a swap but how about the buses?

[@h5mind373]

The newer Prevost run 365 tires in the front on wider wheels as opposed to 315. Better load carrying capacity and apparently even better ride- not to mention the peace of mind with a greater safety margin to avoid a blowout.

[@southothehighway]

All that woodwork must weigh a ton. A minimalist approach to interior design like aircraft would slim down the weight.

[@HeavyB5611]

Hello Scott Is your son still with you all? I was wondering cause I haven't seen him in the videos

[@aa999xyz]

Should you get a weight test done on a bus before purchasing?

[@The_DuMont_Network]

Absolutely. This is a perfect example of why. Gorgeous bus, but that won't count for much when the DOT guy pulls out the portable scales. Even though you normally get to zip past the Chicken Coops weigh stations, you still are subject to the weight rules.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

You can never get too much information. A lot is determined by weight. Tire pressures, loading, and safety

[@christhackrsy]

Not seen your son for a while is he ok?

[@TheNiteNinja19]

Do they have to be compliant with the DOT 12,000 lb front axle weight limit?

[@hotpuppy1]

RV's typically don't have to follow the same rules as commercial vehicles, but they SHOULD.

[@thud9797]

No such thing as a DOT 12,000 lb limit. Prevost motorhomes and conversions been over that weight for decades. My 2017 Prevost X3 runs about 19,000 lbs on the front axle and with the factory 365 tires at 115 psi is 100% safe and legal.

[@jeffreyyoung8727]

No one greases anything!

[@CaptainRon1913]

Problem, not issue. Issues are magazines and newspapers

[@coover65]

You got issues? We've got tissues.

[@oldrustycars]

"I never have to grease my car, why would i have to grease my bus?"

[@chrishultgren777]

lithium batteries are great weight saving until they catch fire. If they dont allow them on aircraft i dont want them.

[@BusGreaseMonkey]

Wow no cell phones allowed on airplanes?

[@chrishultgren777]

​@@BusGreaseMonkey Search the: Conception boat fire in 2019

[@mfbfreak]

Aircraft have lithium batteries these days. The days of Ni-CD are numbered (though use will continue for a while in older planes) and lead-acid has never been there. Everyone can decide for themselves what risk level is acceptable. I'd go for lithium, but only for cells that most definitely aren't made in china by the cheapest subcontractor.

[@MrBirdnose]

LiFePO3 batteries are lower risk than Li-Ion, and work really well in RVs.

[@davidchapman2839]

So you getting ready to sell the SC yet? You know you really need to get that auto swap accomplished.. You could get that Allison overhauled pretty reasonable... Just sayin..

[@davidchapman2839]

BTW, if you really want to keep it dry you know they say "It never rains in Arizona", for a nominal fee I could let you park it on my acreage. The summer heat would do wonders to cook the creepy crawlies out and dry out the moisture...

[@razoumikhin]

thumbs up... but not for the prevost....aurevoir!

[@watajob]

Is this like a "thing" on these conversions? "Let's put 90,000 lbs on the front axle!" 🤦‍♂

[@barryconner9272]

Why don't you guys rent some uniforms

[@zbudda]

Sadly the provost bus when travelling in a democrat controlled crime ridden city just screams rich person with expensive property and a huge tank of expensive diesel just waiting to be robbed by a convicted felon with an illegal stolen firearm?

[@rocnnrollbus]

I have one...drove it to Chicago about a week or so ago.. Still have it🤣🤣 1989 Prevost XL -40 motorhome 8v92 DDECII You keep watching faux noose though..

[@zbudda]

My bad I get my news from real time internet, it’s good to see you have a second amendment freedom tool, just need a healthy active trained German shepherd to alert you to trouble so you can get to your freedom tool…

[@mfbfreak]

Ok boomer

[@russellv6234]

Sure thing boomer

[@royhindmarsh4087]

nice

[@mrkhokhar4895]

You can even clean with a cloth dumped with patrol, safe yr bottle cost