London Bus Restoration | Changing The Wheels on a London Routemaster Bus.

Bus Restoration - What does it take to keep a vintage London bus on the road?
In this episode the Routemaster 4 Hire team swap wheels between two buses! But why did they go to all that effort do that? All will be explained in this video...
Built in the 1960's our AEC Routemaster London buses need constant attention, so if you want to find out what it takes to keep a London Routemaster bus on the road then make sure you check-out all our maintenance and restoration videos here on KZbin...
Filmed in the UK at the Routemaster 4 Hire HQ in Wrexham, North Wales we are passionate about London buses and with 7 vintage buses in the fleet we defiantly have our work cut out!
Also don't forget to check-out all our AEC Routemaster London bus restoration videos in this playlist...
• London Bus Restoration...
About Us:
We offer our London buses for private hire.
We are proud to have the privilege of owning one of London’s most recognisable sights - the iconic London Routemaster Double Decker Bus!
Our beautifully restored red London double-decker buses are available for Weddings and Special Events across North Wales and the Northwest UK, they add some nostalgic novelty and a touch of class to any occasion.
For more information, please visit our website: www.routemaster4hire.co.uk
#londonbus #routemaster #routemaster4hire

[@AgathaAndAnything]

My 1st job (1985) was a trainee lorry mechanic memories of changing wheels for a “good set” for mot 😂 way before vosa used to note the tyre number to stop that lark 🤣 threads were handed left and right if I recall, or am I imagining it now? Also using a tyre cutter to put new tread in regrooveable tyres.... happy days!

[@andygilbert1877]

L/H threads on L/H (near) side was pretty usual back then yes, not so common anymore. I worked on fork lift trucks a lot before I retired and also did a lot of regrooving on the mostly solid tyres they used.

[@leejones5849]

Hello guys thank you for another great video. Also thank you for the outtakes at the end as well always like to see them keep them coming. All of you keep up the good work that you’re doing in restoring this bus. I look forward to the next video keep up the good work guys.

[@Britcheflee]

I am 62 and loved taking these busses. The smell, the sound of the engine, the stop bell and of course the grumpy conductors with the mile long tickets they wound out of that ticket machine on their chest. We used to get permission to go on 'exeat' from boarding school, get on the bus and ask for 'half please' in a high pitched voice then 'pint of bitter please' at the local pub trying to get a pint.....we would mostly get booted out!!!

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Glad we helped to take you back to the good old days. Everytime I go on one of our buses that smell takes me right back to my childhood.

[@michigandon]

Sounds a lot like the way we Yanks feel about Fishbowls and Old Looks!

[@mikecollings6889]

So good too see these old ladies being brought back to life....well done all

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thanks Mike

[@mikecollings6889]

You may well be the man to help me,I've bought a 1.24 scale revell plastic model kit to build of a RML Routemaster,are the paint colours the same for a RML as an rm bus....any information would be great.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Hi Mike, Yes is you are painting red then RML's were painted the same colour as a standard Routemaster. The only difference that springs to mind is some RML's were painted green for the London Country areas - as far as I know no standard RM's were painted green.

[@mikecollings6889]

@@Routemaster4Hire that's great,the plans show purple red for the rear stairs but I noticed some were a brighter red. Once this crazy world settles down will be visiting your part of the world for a trip on the bus... fingers crossed. Keep up the good work..so good too see older vehicles being brought back to life. Brings back memories of our old school bus VKR 471!

[@nigelbranthwaite8471]

Really enjoyed your video and explaining the two axle hubs the original and the later on the AEC PR/ Routemaster.

[@axelrajr]

its also a great opportunity for you to be able to repaint the drums and such. probably easier to do that sort of work in bulk and have the paint all ready to go too.

[@neilconstable2544]

Interesting and entertaining content. Like John Bloomfield, who commented on the practise of lubricating the wheel studs, I am interested if this is standard procedure for commercial road vehicles. My background is military aviation and I recall an incident with a Buccaneer at RAF Lossiemouth when, during servicing of the tailplane, a technician lubricated the PFCU attachment bolt prior to fitting the nut. The nut was then torqued to the specified value as stated in the servicing procedure. Subsequently on short finals to land at Lossie, excessive movement of the tailplane resulted in the loss of the aircraft and, tragically, the death of the pilot. The navigator successfully ejected. This incident was on the mid 80's so my recollections are now a little vague, but I believe that the cause was linked to the failure of the attachment bolt due to lubrication of the threads leading to over-torquing.

[@johnmichaeldorienjohn467]

Thanks again for a great Video about Rm1214,it looks great with the red wheels, I think that the modern rim's come in black as standard, I think Timebus, leave their rim's black, from what I've seen, keep up with the excellent content!

[@waynetetley584]

Nice seeing your RM getting some love 👍

[@TheProdigy1982]

🔧 I don’t know what it is with me but I love them old split rims on the old trucks and buses,their is just something about them. I think they had more character then what the new trucks and buses have now days specially with the chrome day trim they have on them.I enjoyed that video , thank you so much for that guys, it was great. 🛢

[@jamesfrench7299]

The splitties always made the vehicle look more heavy duty and tough in my mind. The single piece aren't as interesting or convey that tough heavy duty feel anywhere near as effectively and look very generic. I also love seeing splits spinning in action. Thanks for going through the reasons for choosing the "soulless" single piece 22.5 rims. The AEC dress rings help to minimise the impact. There are also other design single piece rims out there that were used exclusively on British commercials like the five hole version, the two hole version and the ones used on Leyland Nationals and some AECs with two larger holes opposite each other with smaller holes around it, abit like the splitties. They all look better than the even holes all around. From my observations, the 22.5" tubeless rims didn't start appearing on RMs en mass until the mid 1990s, not the 80s. Some stragglers managed to keep the split rims beyond 2000 though.

[@Britcheflee]

Remember the old Joke? What's Red and comes in bunches? A London bus....you would sit freezing waiting for the No 32 or whatever to Thornton Heath for ages then 3 would come along at the same time!!

[@michaelstaley2241]

Very interesting i liked the new format very iconic bus. 😎

[@Jimbo007]

Love the video I would love to buy one of these buses !!!!!!!!

[@Routemaster4Hire]

There are a couple for sale on eBay right now.

[@northstar1950]

I volunteer with a local open air museum and as far as I know we have never had problems getting traditional tyres for split rims. They come from a local supplier and we have another volunteer who can actually fit them. They can be lethal if the band blow of during inflation so certain precautions are put in place. Our four deckers all have flat undished wheels on the front axles which aren't easy to get, we could do with one as a spare.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

It seems they have only become hard to get in the past few months, previously they were available form a number of suppliers across the UK, but the pandemic has caused a shortage.

[@sheiladunk7583]

Spot on👍cheers...roly.

[@michaelkeen5010]

Great video.

[@alexbonham2361]

Love watching your videos doing a great job.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thank you so much 😀

[@ROCKINGMAN]

As a Routemaster fan, I don't remember seeing black paint on the hubs through the holes, either it was dark red or worn dark red. Much nicer red than black. The older wheels are nicer and were used by most if not all AEC vehicles. Great with the hub covers too at the rear. Real nice to watch. Only gripe, would have liked to see direct views of the work by moving the camera into sight such as from 5:02.

[@jamesfrench7299]

As a rule, I always noticed the drums either natural metal or silver, or the same colour with split style rims.

[@fatscottie1997]

London Forest would paint them India Red to match the wheels, with Metroline painting them black to mask brake dust and road dirt. You'd occasionally get a bus enthusiast/maverick that would revert to the traditional Indian Red because they knew better!

[@juliesmith5567]

As then they had 4altogether but some have more I bet you have a bit more trouble in changing wheels on the inside ones if the outer one is fine or is it still double job

[@jacksugden8190]

Never seen the rims being painted before

[@dnovello]

Great job 👍

[@allenwilliams1306]

I had a bus once (in fact, several). One, an AEC Renown, had no power steering, and was never designed to run on radial tyres. It doesn't affect the back end which you fit, but on a double decker with no power steering, they were supposed to have crossply tyres. The extra grip radials supply made the bus impossible to steer reliably at low speeds. They are actually, imo, dangerous. This bus needed new front tyres and it took weeks to find a dealer who could (or would) supply them. They had to come from Hungary. Result: a far more manoeuvrable vehicle. Also, sorry, but is it not a bit anal to paint brake drums?

[@teepi280]

If the tyres for the split rim wheels are hard to obtain, why not keep a couple in the workshop ready for the day you need them?

[@jamesfinn4547]

2 of my trucks a Leyland Mastiff and a International run tubed 10.00 R20 tyres that have got so expensive I'm starting to convert to the tubeless aswell as can get the new rim and tyre cheaper than just the old style tyre by its self

[@kristinajendesen7111]

Back in 1985 when they started really selling off the RM's to replace them with Metros & Titans etc, you could buy one for £4,000!!! This didn't include the price of the tyres though for which you had to pay extra. Someone please invent a time machine 😫

[@Routemaster4Hire]

If only we had a crystal ball back then. I'd have purchased a shed full of them!!

[@kristinajendesen7111]

@@Routemaster4Hire I bought an RML JJD 591D off eBay for £11,500 about 12 years ago. Ex Arriva and a right state. LT always maintained the buses to the highest standards. Difficult to find somewhere to keep it and I ended up selling it for £11k. Googled it recently and it has been turned into an open topper. Recent prices I have seen are around 40k.

[@davekelly9345]

years ago I used 2 be a sprayer for robot arms (mainly for the auto industry and we used 2 use tapered rubber bungs 2 knock in2 wiring ducts/holes and piping channels and so on ! would'nt it be easier for you 2 buy a bag or 2 of bungs and just knock them in2 the lug holes rather than having 2 steady hand the work around them ? just a thought feel free 2 tell me 2 bog off

[@David-lb4te]

7:23. Thorough work gents, but I note a lack of ear protection (and eye protection where advisable). 10:31 That's better!

[@nathantutty7454]

Where did you get the figure for the 450 nm for the routemaster wheels? Is that the same for All London Transport vehicles of this era? Thanks, I was hedging bets on 500nm

[@kelvinbremont1341]

I’ve read recently somewhere that a few old London buses are being reused as homeless shelters! Can anyone tell me if some of the old routemasters are one of them??

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Hi Kevin, yes I believe there was a story of an old London bus that was converted to a shelter for the homeless, but this definitely was not a Routemaster.

[@mechanoid5739]

Just out of interest, what torque figure is required for the wheel nuts? Are they both the same for the split rim and single rim wheels?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Hi, we torque to 435 lbft

[@michigandon]

What is the purpose of that metal band that goes around the outside of the brake drum?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

That's the anti squeal band - stops the brakes squeeking.

[@oldradioparts1962]

I’m guessing the brakes are hydraulic brakes on 4 drum bands. But could be air as well. Doesn’t the band throw the wheel into an unbalanced state when it’s rolling?

[@johnbloomfield3753]

Is it good practice to oil threads as this apparently can affect torque figures when tightening ??

[@neilconstable2544]

I too was under the impression that lubricating any thread could lead to over- torquing.

[@oldradioparts1962]

Former long distance Heavy Goods Truck driver viewpoint from the other side of the Atlantic: In our neck of the woods a lubricant is never used on HGV nuts to tighten the studs because it may cause the bolts to be over torqued when the oil seeps out of the threads, as the brakes are applied, and worked. The heating of the metal makes the rims expand ever so slightly, and this then thins the oil on the edge of the thread. Eventually, this surface then dries completely and the oil surface is no longer there. Now the heating/cooling makes the studs warm and the bolts then go to 500 to 600 ft lbs of torque, which then stretches the bolts too much, and eventually they stress harden the finally fail. Many a wheel has gone bouncing down the highway due to poor maintenance practices and that includes putting lubricant on the studs. But in the UK/EU it might be different due to a variety of regulations. Yes, after 100 km /50 miles they get re torqued. Steer tires are always 1st run tires, while the trailer or drive tires may be re-treads. Never for the steering tires though. I’m sure there probably is a whole catalog of regulations for HGV trucks, but for us , there are variations above and beyond what the national standard is, depending on your home state or province.

[@AgathaAndAnything]

Was reading yesterday the law had changed that public service vehicles now had an age limit of 10 years on tyres, is that an issue for you guys or aren’t they that old?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Good question....We have been expecting this as it’s been an advisory on an mot for a while, so we have been gradually replacing our old tyres over the past 18 months. This new rule came into force on the 1st Feb, however It only applies to the front wheels. Fortunately, there is no limit to the age of the rears.

[@brucebonkowski9568]

And what is the purpose of swapping from one truck to another 1 one is driven more ? Please explain??🤔

[@mattlander9119]

It was due to the wheel type

[@fatscottie1997]

The video explains that they put the rims that have the more readily available/common tyres on the bus doing the most work so, that if it sustains damage/puncture, the tyre fitters will have the tyres in stock and get the bus back in service.

[@DavidJones-wx4im]

What's happened to episode 11?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

It will be published on Sunday 21st February.

[@andydavies8232]

Red brakes = +25kw!

[@w2dmw]

Why, in Heaven's name, didn't you spray the wheels ..?? They were already masked up....???

[@Lysdexis]

Mentioned not to get paint in the seats of the nuts. But they shot them with primer so I don't follow that excuse at all.

[@jamesfrench7299]

I think the primer won't have a lubing effect like enamel top coat does as it's basically oil. Primer is powdery whereas enamel paint is like a greasy compound.

[@waynecorker9098]

Why have facial hair when you remove body hair elsewhere?