Ep12: ENGINE STRIP DOWN Of A 70 Year Old RED London Double Decker BUS

[@tomtonesseppi5077]

Dismantling a rotten car are 20%, cleaning, grinding or blasting are another 35%. The rest is painting, mechanical restoration and refitting. Most people deeply underestimate the "dirty" parts of a restauration. So I give a big hand to your restoration!

[@griffog2001]

Found this channel off the back of Pete & His Bus and have binge watched every episode. 👍🏻

[@adriangiddins6065]

Good old Lord Barrington....his knowledge is priceless....Well done all.

[@timbarrington3607]

Thank you for the kind words. I do my best. Every day is a learning day as they say.

[@stefanobio7045]

@@timbarrington3607 Im very impressed with Tim's knowledge and skills, is Tim currently a bus/coach/ hgv mechanic?

[@timbarrington3607]

@@stefanobio7045 if you mean Tim Hines. No he's an engineer on the railway. Very skilled guy with huge amounts of knowledge ability for his age.

[@stefanobio7045]

@@timbarrington3607 Sorry no i meant the other guy who was marking up the engine timing with a centre punch?

[@timbarrington3607]

@@stefanobio7045 thats me. I restore and maintain classic buses for a living but I have a lifelong background in engineering in various forms.

[@piratedjradio]

Ive been enjoying your videos which i found today, my father was a bus driver for many years. He became a bus driver out of tramway avenue in edmonton north london , he drove trolley busses Rts rms and rmls and later atlantines, tramway avenue was demolished and he was moved to tottenham bus garage where he drove busses till his diabetes began to damage his eyesight. It was then that they discovered he was a great mechanic having served in the REME in wwii he spent the rest of his working life as their trouble shooter taking on all the biggest problems, sadly he passed away aged 53 in 1973 the day after my 18th birthday. as a kid i always found it a great thrill to get on a bus and realise my dad was driving it

[@chrisblay]

I love watching these strip down and rebuild projects. Takes me right back to my mechanic days. Also, when working on an old engine I would avoid using power and air tools generally. You get much more feel for if something is seized or likely to sheer using hand tools and ratchets. Amazing that engine was running with a broken piston ring.

[@timbarrington3607]

Someone who understands 🙏.

[@stefanobio7045]

Hi Chris......i always use ratchets and breaker bars, no air tools for me, old school engineering.....

[@JohnCarder]

"shear"; engines are not sheep :) But yes, jokes aside you are right, although if you're stripping down very corroded parts they'll probably break anyway, so wizz away with your power tools! (Or use heat if they're not easily replaced at reasonable cost)

[@stefanobio7045]

@@JohnCarder and spray everything in plus gas, then have a cuppa to allow time to soak into the threads before trying to undo any nuts or bolts......

[@dukwdriver2909]

I use modern power tools, when appropriate, as my old muscles cannot cope anymore. Took me 1 year to free a main hull drain plug on a DUKW using patience to not damage and hand tools. So I totally agree with your premise. I already had pneumatic shock ratchet and other power tools but, they could have caused serious damage. I have to admit that my modern cordless power wrenches do have advantages at times. I still love my old hand tools that I can "feel". Just as you say. Hope the coming generation can know which to use for the best outcome. Snap it off. centre punch accurately, drill undersize accurately, re-tap to original thread. Never easy and rarely successful.

[@jonniejam-shovel6405]

Thanks for showing the engine strip down. This is a task that the lads in the garages wouldn't be involved in. I think the engine reconditioning was done at Chiswick to my recollection. We certainly wouldn't have the time, or equipment for this type of work. These Buses certainly had a very hard service life. My last garage BK had a fleet of 140 vehicles for service. I think this worked out at about six million service road miles per year. With the privatisation of London Transport, all the overhaul workshops were closed down. Good to see that you've got your own mini Aldenham works there. I'll certainly look forward to your next film. Kind regards Jonnie.

[@highpath4776]

Engines out and on the Ford Thames ? Trucks to and from Chiswick to garages if required , otherwise swapped at Aldenham (Chiswick still did the Engine Overhauls). IF This engine is from one of the Country Area Cravens Bodied RTs it has probably done not a lot of mileage - 1949-1956 mostly around Watford, then 7 years in Scotland (cannot think it could have done much - prob construction work sub contracts ? ), a year back in Harold Hill then broken for spares with the engine coming to this bus.

[@andrewbeer4715]

Another great and informative video from Routemaster 4 Hire. I feel for you guys, expecting to simply replace gaskets and finding broken piston rings and scored bores. I bought a Morris Minor in the summer which was supposed to be ready to drive. However, delving more deeply into the paperwork prooved it had not been really used in anger for almost 20 years. Structurally sound, with a good engine and gearbox, but it's fighting my efforts to get it back on the road. Now gaskets and seals are becoming an issue, last week, Mabel, as she shall be known, developed a serious leak from the sump gasket. I couldn't quite believe that, I've never heard of such a thing and now the boot seal is letting in the rain 😕 as well. Your channel has been a real encouragement, the level of repairs that you carry out is amazing and something to inspire me when I'm on my back fixing Mabel in the street. Will she be ready for half term?? Keep up the good work. Cheers Andy

[@jamesfrench7299]

Good to see what an AEC getting pulled apart looks like. Extraordinary what was being manufactured long ago. Those pistons are big compared to the one I recently took out of a lawnmower engine!

[@tonysheerness2427]

They were good for one million miles

[@stefanobio7045]

@@tonysheerness2427 Thats a lot of miles for a lawn mower, must have been large fields?

[@markobrien1439]

Another great video.....I love watching these strip downs and rebuilds....use to be involved in my younger days stripping and rebuilding Bedford TK 330s and 500....and the Ford D Series engines..... obviously I was just the dogs body to the fitters.....can't wait for the rebuild lads 👍

[@TheDaf95xf]

Nice saving that big old engine 👍🏻

[@Free_Ranger_CT110]

A new R4H video, happy days. I can smell the oil & diesel from here. 😊

[@briangentle5515]

Amazing to see this. I would never have realised that such a small crack or scratch was "deadly" for an engine; it seems such a tiny part of a huge monster! By the way, did I notice a visitor in the form of RMC1490, perhaps in for a spot of servicing?

[@zennor_man]

Very much enjoyed this episode….use to drive AEC’s back in the day…a lovely engine👍

[@Big.Al.3]

Yet again another informative film. Great to see you can get help from people that know what there talking about. Can wait to see where this goes. Keep up the good work gents 👍👍

[@johnmichaeldorienjohn467]

Amazing work On the Rt Engine strip down, looks like a long Job ahead, keep up the excellent work!

[@jpmaya7284]

I know nothing about engines .. but these London Red buses are so beautiful 😍.. well done guys !

[@clarencechan1589]

Excellent and enjoyable video (as always), watching Dave, Tim, Lord Barrington and team making the best use of their expertise to keep these national treasures running for years to come. P.S. Please send my regards to Lord Barrington. Met him at Putney last Saturday on RT1705 and he told me to keep an eye out for this video!

[@timbarrington3607]

Good to meet you yesterday. Hope you had a great day.

[@clarencechan1589]

Lord Barrington is in the comment section (trumpets please 🤣) Yes I had a great time riding the national treasure with an AEC engine! A million times more enjoyable than Dartmaster I rode 11 years ago!

[@lucythemoggy1970]

@@timbarrington3607 nice to have an education on the engine, I never knew LT engines were different spec to others, more of the same please!

[@nedseagoon5101]

As a classic bus custodian myself, I love your content. I had the pleasure of meeting & talking with a lot of your lads at Wythall earlier in the year. They’d rode behind me on RCL2219. I hope they’ve recovered! One ‘criticism’. Your advert quantity option must be turned to Max. They’re very often & very distracting from your excellent videos.

[@martynwilson8775]

I believe that the power tool you said is no good, but that tool has a lifetime guarantee

[@eyerollthereforeiam1709]

That's some delicate use of a forklift!

[@johnwaby4321]

And now the work begins. Nice job 👍👍👍👍

[@ffrancrogowski2192]

Another compelling video to watch in this RT series. There's so many parts to these engines, and a lot of mauling to access the pistons, big end, cams etc. Best of look with any replacements, and thank you for this production.

[@johncourtneidge]

Many thanks. You have touched on my second question. At Aldenham Works we know that chassis and bodies were separated and usually never reunited. The same, from your video, seems also the case for two separate refurbishment streams for the engines separate from the engines. Yes? And power trains too? Anyway. Well done all and thank-you.

[@kennyyellop]

excellent vlog

[@malcolmpym507]

Great video. Waiting for part two. Expertise is important and it shows with all of you. Good hunting for bearings etc.

[@Journeyman53]

Missing the tea breaks. :-)

[@tonylawlor3503]

Most brilliant video, 🤩 waiting for the next one, thank you

[@darrencowley8265]

Thankyou for a great video 👍👍

[@lucythemoggy1970]

never knew that about the LT spec on the piston rings

[@davidbassett4577]

Another superb Video .. great to see Tim staring alongside Lord Barrington this time Dave. It is amazing how much of a hole in the piston had been worn by that tiny piece of broken piston ring! Looking forward to the next episode.. was that RMC1490 up on the lift? I have had a few journeys in her over the years when she used to be in the white all over advert London Manchester Assurance livery .. being the only RMC to run out of High Wycombe [HE] Garage on her tour round the garages .. running out on the 326 & 363 routes for 2 months every year from end October through November & December in 1973 to 1976.. sadly that came to an end when HE closed on 30/09/1977. I would love to see her back in Wycombe one day at a future Amersham & District Motorbus Society Running Day!

[@paulnolan1352]

Well, it was always going to be an overhauled Engine regardless of what state the rings were in. Crank regrind with new main and big end bearings, new or serviced Oil pump. New pistons and rings with rebored Cylinders, head skimmed with new valve seats, valve guides and if the valve faces are pitted, ground and lapped. New valve springs and replace the Rocker bushes. Fuel injectors serviced along with the injector pump and get a service kit for the water pump and starter and Dynamo, all replacement Gaskets and seals. This should giving you a good long lasting Engine. Re Snap-on impact Tools, I have new second hand 3/8 and 1/2 inch guns with the jacket covers on and the plastic cases or doctors bags. Thanks for video but don’t put Emery cloth anywhere near a Crankshaft!.

[@highpath4776]

IF this engine has not been changed since preservation, it was from Cravens Bodied RT 1409 JXC 172 of Feb 1949. The Cravens Bodied RTs generally didnt get overhauled due to surplus of RTs for service compared to needs and most were sold via the Dealer Birds. RT1409 was broken up by the North London Transport group eventually with the engine going to this bus ( info up to 2019). I am not aware of Roy Gould doing an engine swap on this bus.

[@martinworrall5888]

Yes Milwaukee is the one to buy👍

[@jamesbalchin4640]

Absolutely brilliant video very educational. You and Lord Barrington need to teach apprentice mechanics stuff like this at colleges man

[@stefanobio7045]

Lord Barrington definately needs his own channel, such a knowledgeable Engineer.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

@@stefanobio7045 definitely

[@stefanobio7045]

@@jamesbalchin4640 Unfortunately these type of skills are being taught less and less, due to the high labour costs involved, mechanics are now heavily involved in the electrical / electronic diagnosis side now....

[@jamesbalchin4640]

@@stefanobio7045 indeed

[@timhines6543]

There are less and less people who can strip down and repair mechanical things these days. Its a great shame!

[@highpath4776]

I would suggest the use of a hide hammer for tapping off bearing caps

[@timbarrington3607]

Hence using a very small hammer as no hide hammer available.

[@highpath4776]

@@timbarrington3607 was it hidden ?

[@johngreenwood6611]

I was a mechanic for 50 years and I had a lot of snap-on tools you only get life long warranty on hand tools not with air tools or a hand rachet gears just the handle.

[@stefanobio7045]

Halfords have always replaced my damaged ratchets no problems.....i have an old all steel one, it even has an oil hole in the top of the head to allow the ratchet mechanism to be lubricated, it must be 45+ years old, used it most days, its been used outside covered in water and mud, i handed it down to my son who is a light and heavy vehicle mechanic and still using the ratchet......

[@TonyLing]

4:23 Sounds like you are using PCL air fittings with all of that leakage :-)

[@timhines6543]

A new one too! Only lasted a week

[@TonyLing]

@@timhines6543 I struggle to comprehend why PCL are so popular. They are such a pile of poo.

[@mechanoid5739]

I thought SnapOn tools had a lifetime warranty?

[@trevorwilson9183]

Is that the same Lord Barrington as on Pete and his bus?

[@ianmaddams9577]

I believe so

[@timhines6543]

It is indeed!

[@colmornane5684]

Hi, I am with a not for profit organisation, we are restoring an AEC Regal Mark III bus here in Aus, for heritage service, it has a 9.6 litre AEC diesel engine in it. Would you have a reliable contact that can supply engine components to allow an engine rebuild to occur? Great video, keeping these old buses on the road is a challenge. Regards a fan from Aus.

[@timhines6543]

It has taken me months to find the bits from people all over in workshops and back yard sheds. 99% of the parts are simply not out there anymore sadly. If you let me know what you need if you strip the engine down I may be able to assist in some way.

[@andrewgrimes3708]

You need to get your SnapOff power tool replaced FOC under warranty

[@richardhunt1384]

Buy yourself a Milwaukee Impact Gun, just as much power as Snapped Off Gun but half the price..... 400 quid max. Same boat as you were but went for Milwaukee. 😊😊

[@jamesfrench7299]

I've seen many of Project Farm videos where he tests stuff to the limit and Milwaukee comes out on top or near the top consistently. DeWalt have largely cheaped out now. Hopefully Milwaukee won't go down the mediocrity path.

[@YourLeicesterspotter]

Awesome and what is the ALX400 doing 0:11

[@dazblack1273]

Hi more videos.

[@blairoutproject]

So why didn't you use the air ratchet gun for the boltsif the snap on one is fecked ? It appeared in the very next scene.

[@timbarrington3607]

Too lazy to plug the airline in and turn the compressor on. Doesn't really take long with a ratchet and spanner. Just lazy using all these guns etc🤣

[@stefanobio7045]

@@timbarrington3607 old school engineering, the best!

[@taxidude]

Does the SNAP ON lifetime guarantee not extend to power tools?

[@chrisskelhorn5727]

Strop down? Was someone a little unhappy? 😲

[@paulcharlton4788]

More likely that the rings break on the wear lip at the top of the bore

[@timbarrington3607]

I agree but you could clearly see where the ring had rusted to the bore only one side so I'd suggest given the lip is very slight that was the cause of the ring failure.

[@charlieboyok]

Wow what a great video , l would like to ask a couple of questions if I may , let's say WCS you can't get parts for the R T engine can.a R M engine fit into an R T bus ? Also who is Lord Barrington never heard of him , mind you l have a good reason , living in Melbourne Australia for 39 years hahaha.

[@timbarrington3607]

You could fit an RM engine but it would mean considerable fabrication of parts to make it fit.

[@69uremum]

Get a Milwaukee impact snap-on is good but too pricey!

[@cedriclynch]

We see the bus running at the beginning of the video, but we don't get to hear it; we get "music" instead. Imagine if you turned on BBC Radio 1 or Virgin Radio and it was broadcasting the sound of an AEC RT instead of what you expected to hear.

[@stefantrnacek1394]

I thought Snap On had a life time warranty. I have had tools replaced by them.

[@davidward8682]

How much is new impact gun

[@jacksugden8190]

Was that Centrewest RMC1492 raised up at 6:45 ?

[@timbarrington3607]

Rmc1490

[@jacksugden8190]

@@timbarrington3607 My mistake, the RT’s taking shape, once the pride of LT, if only Aldenham was still open, out of interest, was that RMC now in your ownership, and will it be fully restored?, please can you do a video of this coach.

[@timbarrington3607]

@@jacksugden8190 it was only visiting for an MOT prep and service so it's no longer there. It's owned and operated by regional transport who are friends of ours.

[@jacksugden8190]

@@timbarrington3607 Regads 😀

[@redbank542]

I thought snap on had a lifetime warranty?

[@highpath4776]

what actually was noted as being wrong with the engine in the first place ?

[@timbarrington3607]

An oil leak between barrel and crankcase.

[@tonysheerness2427]

Isn't there an engineering shop that will reline the bearings?

[@timbarrington3607]

There are places that will re white metal bearings but it's an expensive process so tends to be a last resort.

[@stefanobio7045]

Have you attempted to obtain the bearings from "Vandervell" who probably manufactured the originals?

[@timbarrington3607]

@@stefanobio7045 we got the bearings but that's another story for another video.

[@stefanobio7045]

@@timbarrington3607 Hello Tim, Ok im looking forward to watching that video....i used to work at Vandervell the company who manufactures the bearings, i used to repair all thier machines etc.... Best regards, Stefano

[@timbarrington3607]

@@stefanobio7045 fantastic. Where are they based?

[@john1703]

So something on your Snap-on power tool has snapped off. So sorry. 😭

[@dukwdriver2909]

AEC receive little credit for the engines they produced. Rolls Royce got all the credit for the Merlin in war years. AEC engines powered may war machines and helped rebuild a post war economy with RT and RM Matadors soldiered on for decades of abuse and still make appearances at shows. Time their engineering was recognised even though the people that built them are almost all dead by now.