Vintage Bus Restoration | Replacing A Brake Cylinder On A Routemaster London Double Decker Bus

The restoration and repair of a vintage London double-decker bus and how we keep our buses on the road?
Built in the 1960's our AEC Routemaster London double decker buses need constant attention, so if you want to find out what it takes to keep a vintage London 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!
In this episode we replace a leaking brake cylinder that has sprayed oil all over the brake shoes and drum.
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
#London bus #routemaster #double decker bus

[@richarddecoster4464]

Doing repairs old school versus using power tools. Definitely enjoy seeing hand tools being used it makes for great content. I do enjoy the back stories on these old buses.

[@lancecluster]

Always important to get a "lab report" when doing an important fix. You have a nice helper

[@mrturner69]

would love to see a short video on all the things that need to be greased/lubed

[@davidbassett4577]

Great to see Jess in charge once again! Another great Video Dave .. thank you for showing all the work that goes into maintaining these Iconic Routemasters. Hopefully I will get to ride in some RM’s & RT’s next weekend at the London Bus Museums Heritage Route 101 day & the following day in Dorking for the Amersham & District Running Day!

[@sidney001]

I love your kneeler

[@alexeatonexploresamerica5511]

DOG IS THE SUPERVISOR HE REQUIRED TO BE THERE TO INSPECT THE WORK

[@joshuahill6153]

I have a lot of school(mainly) transportation companies that run buses in their 40s and 50s. This break cylinder failure reminded me of one of the companies that failed their break test on 7 out of their 50 older fleets, their fleet compared to legitimate companies running a similar fleet isn't stellar and I am thankful people like you inspect their fleet, especially the fleet that is getting up in age. P.S When I mean they failed, I literally mean the brake systems inspected by the transportation department were so old and decrypted all the fluid and pads were leaking and rusting all over the place.

[@jacksugden8190]

Looking forward to this, would Dave and the crew obtain an old 1966 Eastern National FLF Bristol Lodekka please?. Brilliant buses, travelling them in the 1960’s at Brentwood in Essex.

[@zigwoo999]

Fair play to you all doing proper maintainance 👍👍i work in the electrical industry as a mechanic and some of our vehicles are on a 6 week service scedule,even 2 a plate unimogs.but safety is priority and your right in saying how vehicles can detireate in such a short time!! Love watching your videos,keep up the awesomely good work 👍👍

[@jamesbalchin4640]

What a lovely dog Jess is

[@ianmaddams9577]

Great video guys . We have got the pressure washer and it works great. 3 flushes 🤣🤣

[@ROCKINGMAN]

Love to see the dedication and skilful work in these videos. Loved RM's since childhood and was always thrilled to see and hear them roaring around London. Wish this one had original reg. plate.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Yes, so do we. Last time we checked the original plate was on a Toyota. 🤬

[@ROCKINGMAN]

@@Routemaster4Hire Can't see the Toyota lasting as long as the RM, maybe possible to get it back. Take care.

[@warweezil2802]

@@Routemaster4Hire its a shame the DVLA cant/won't put a tag on numbers removed from "historic vehicles" in order that they may be reunited if they are ever surrendered.

[@Big.Al.3]

Yet again another interesting film. Keep up the good works gents. Looking forward to your next film. 👍

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thank you very much!

[@stephenport4768]

Great video as always keeping our history and heritage on the road

[@johnkenyon1532]

Another cracking clip of how to keep these classic buses safely on the road. Nice one lads 👍

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thanks John.

[@leejones286]

Hello guys thank you once again for another excellent video I really enjoyed watching. All of you keep up the excellent work that you all do keeping these RMs on the road.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thank you Lee

[@michaelkeen5010]

Another very informative video, thank you. 👍

[@anthonyobersteller1556]

Tim I really like your helper is he going to be in every video from now on. Keep up the good work Guys.

[@humbertoricardoassuncaolim3889]

Greetings from Brazil 🇧🇷 excellent job good vídeos THE bus DD inconc British restory History goodnight

[@rolanddunk5054]

Thank you.Great video,cheers Roly 🇬🇧.

[@ianjack8334]

Another superb video and thank you for the explaining the tasks being undertaken and highlighting the various key parts involved in the repair. 👍👍

[@DanHowells19]

Another great video!

[@paulsthemarksman]

As always Tim great job.

[@nigelbranthwaite8471]

Do enjoy your videos here in Christchurch New Zealand their is a company called Double Decker who run some AEC / PR Routemasters one RML and a number of RMs all have been reengined unfortunately be cause of Covid they have suffering due tourist not being able to come here, hopefully that is going to change soon. The former Christchurch Transport Board was big user of AEC'S Regal MkIv's, and Reliance's and some Swifts we were large operator of AEC in New Zealand between 1952 - 1974. I have been building two large 1/12 scale Routemaster models made by Argora , very detailed and come with AV 590 engine. So watching your tube videos I get to how a real Routemaster run and maintained.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thanks Nigel. Hope to one day visit Australia & NZ to check out the scenery and of course some AEC’s

[@RichardJW1]

great show...thanks for this.....are the bolts/nuts all UNC/UNF or some whitworth threads?..................also back in the old days of the local bus garages did the mechanics only ever stick to one job (either engines/transmissions/brakes-suspension/electrical) or were they masters at all sectors of the repairs front to back?.... did they rotate between each department to prevent boredom?

[@jamesbalchin4640]

Good video guys absolutely brillant and keep up the good work showing us what goes into working with the buses and the safety stuff as well

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Thanks James.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

@@Routemaster4Hire no worries

[@johnmichaeldorienjohn467]

Another superb Video Guys, keep up with the excellent content!

[@cjmillsnun]

Regular maintenance like this is essential and no doubt a condition of the operator licence. This shows exactly why, although I have no doubt that RM4H would do this even if it wasn't part of the O licence.

[@johnclewis]

Cant beat a three flusher

[@petersmith4455]

hi, good video and interesting, great to see the dog in charge of operations, hope the RT is ok. ex AEC ltd

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Jess is the boss, the next video will be an RT update.

[@2271graham]

RM471 having been a Kelvin Scottish bus for almost seven and a half years where maintenence standards weren't the best probably needs that EXTRA wee bit of TLC Dave although at least she's now owned by real professionals like yourself.

[@martinjm1913]

Great video 👍 what was the bus outside opposite the entrance?

[@axelrajr]

i think even for a modern bus, once you start carrying passengers you really need to look things over reasonably often.

[@jamesbalchin4640]

Was that 3 flushes my brother is just as bad my mum shouts someone crack open a window lol

[@alexeatonexploresamerica5511]

New subscriber here

[@dfishpool7052]

Well done guys - having to deal with such large heavy components makes changing wheel cylinders on my car look an easy job by comparison. Am I right in thinking that if brake linings or brake pads get contaminated with oil they should be binned?

[@BOBSYMACK]

When contaminated with hub oil they should be binned but I heard back in the day lads would burn the oil off then with a torch but how effective this practice was is any body guess

[@simoncampbell-smith6745]

Work is best gaffered by a dog. My dog is always there to make sure it is all done right. And that at the opportune moment you can fall over her.

[@rubbishsignup]

Great work. Are the spanners whitworth or AF imperial?

[@Routemaster4Hire]

They’re imperial on a Routemaster

[@brycepender6001]

Did you replace the contaminated linings?

[@jacksugden8190]

Quite a nice relaxing video to watch. Out of interest, where was Tim and Dave from + what’s the status of the RT bus please?.

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Tim is a local lad, lived in Wrexham all his life, David is from Surrey but lived in Wrexham for 20yrs. The next video will be more progress on the RT

[@jacksugden8190]

@@Routemaster4Hire Many thanks, if only we could see the RT bus make a return to here in London again, looking forward to seeing the latest work on the bus ✔️.

[@doloresmyatt9737]

hi, are the nuts and bolts bsf/bsw type or some other type on the routemaster bus

[@timhines6543]

Unf and Unc mainly found on an RM with a few smaller BA bits

[@callumdelaney7884]

A question for u guys I’ve asked a few a folk when I was down in London transport the route masters at the time were still regularly appearing on the 15 he said to me arriva did disc brake conversion on their ones makes them safer to driver so he claimed thought I’d ask as u guys are experts on route masters up in Edinburgh Scotland Lothian buses have converted their ones to semi automatic Allison gearbox and none original engines Dennis dart engines I believe due to Edinburgh council not allowing them in service with original AEC engines but Lothian restored 5 of them into original London livery even have a green line one in Lothians heritage fleet and one was kept in Mac tour livery they’ll hopefully be out for the open running day in September but are mostly used for weddings

[@jamesfrench7299]

So wish it had split rims. I've seen the video explaining why it doesn't. This bus is otherwise perfect to me.

[@a11csc]

what oil you using on wheel nuts,and as the saying goes tim you cant get better than a routemaster fitter

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Hi Chris. We use engine oil on the studs.

[@richarddecoster4464]

What you folks call a split pin we call it a cotter pin or cotter key

[@AgathaAndAnything]

What happened to the original registration number of 471?

[@cjmillsnun]

It was put on a coach by Western Socttish.

[@mikeakhurst1855]

Do you have to bleed the brakes after fitting the cylinder or do they self bleed?

[@simonmorris3964]

13.40

[@nigozeroichi2501]

I'm, yeah three flushes and I had to beat it with a stick💩

[@nataliegardner3122]

No-one works on RM brakes without continuous oaths and threats to burn churches. In my day the shoes would be put on top of a pot belly to dry off the oil....same for diff oil-out contamination.

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Extended Bodies for Most of the Buses Much as I am not comfortable to ask the depot why they stopped running the London Suburban Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW’s on routes N26, 30, 121, 230, 271, 349, N279 And 158 why can’t we make the same make of the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Buses but Modernise the insides of these Buses. Also make it low floor up and down and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more so there will be more space for the wheelchair users. By the way, if you could remake and Modernise these vehicles could they also make it into a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Version’s that if it will be possible and to Modernise the insides of these Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW’s make it low floor up and down and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a Little bit more so there will be more space and even a London Suburban Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more. Why couldn’t we have those London Suburban Buses Pale red on the top roof Pale red again on the top middle Milk Chocolate brown on the middle Creamy white on the Bottom Middle and Milk Chocolate Brown again on the Bottom on most of those kind of those Particular Double Decker Vehicles. Could you put the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox in the Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and also put the Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox in the Volvo TD102KF Engine East Lancs Olympus and also extend the middle body part of these vehicles a little bit more and also turn most of them to a London Suburban Buses. By the way could you also make the routes N26, 349, 121, N279 and 271 into a London Suburban Buses and have a mixture of a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC and Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Version’s. Could they also transfer the Arriva Bus Depots from Hackney to Stagecoach company so they can replace all the Arriva buses so that all of them can go to Birmingham and Leeds and they can be replaced by Stagecoach Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox Volvo TD102KF Engine East Lancs Olympus and also Extend the Middle body part of these Vehicles and that includes A Mixture of a Stagecoach Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearbox Volvo TD102KF, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 6LXCT Engine Northern Counties Palatine One and that Includes a Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles A Little Bit More. Can Arriva London Bus Company’s Replace Most of their Wight Buses so they can also transfer them to Birmingham and Also Manchester so they can be Replaced by Loud 3-Speed ZF Ecomat Gearboxes Volvo D10A Engine East Lancs Olympus and also Extend the Middle body part of these Vehicles A Little Bit More Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much. Oh buy the way could the bus Factory Companies also Make More of Those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel engine Olympian ECW Vehicles And that also includes Those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC And also Extend the Middle Body part of those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel Engine Olympian ECW Vehicles and the Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and that also includes The Loud 3-Speed ZF Ecomat Gearboxes Volvo D10A Engine East Lancs Olympus A Little Bit More And Paint Those 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and also those Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Gardner 6LX and Gardner 6LXC Diesel engine Olympian ECW Vehicles and that also includes The Northern Counties Palatine One with a Volvo TD102KF, Gardner 6LXC and Gardner 6LXCT Diesel engines with a Loud 3-Speed Voith Diwa Gearboxes and The Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Scania N230UD Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles and also The Loud 4-Speed Leyland Hydra cyclic Automatic Gearbox Cummins L10 Enviro 400 MMC Vehicles to the Grey Green Colours Just Like The Other Original Scania Grey Green on the Bus Route 313 and the 103, If all The Leyland Titan B15’s are Fully Red and even Mostly Red, could they also Repaint All of The Leyland Titan B15’s into Grey Green Colours Just Like The Other Original Scania Grey Green on the Bus Route 313 so they can Reuse them for Only Every 5 and a Half Months and also Reuse them on those Rail Replacement London Bus Routes if that will Be Alright for Only Just Every 5 and a Half Months and also Reuse Those Buses Only on the London Bus Routes witch are The 341, N41, 34, 123, N29, 149, 221, N73, 121, 86, 30, 262, 147, 396, N26 so Please make sure that the builders can do as they are told!!!!!!!!!! And Please do something about these Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Important Professional Ideas Please Please Prime Minister and also Includes the Mayor of London.😉😉😅😅😅😅😀😃😀😅😀😃😅😀😃😀😀😃👏👏👏👏👍👏👏👏👏👍👏👏

[@Jack.me.]

I see u are selling this one

[@Routemaster4Hire]

Yes we sure are. Time to reduce the size of the fleet.

[@terrycarter1262]

why struggle just remove the front hub!!

[@philipblick8887]

I think it’s called brake fluid not oil....get it right guys......

[@GHOOGLEMALE]

Sshh - I hate to ask (cos you made a joke of it) but why dont you use power tools, or at the very least rachets and sockets - suitably turned down you could finish off with a spanner coudn't you? It does rather look like wearing hair shirts haha

[@Routemaster4Hire]

We made the joke because we have had endless comments asking why we don't use power tools. The simple answer is sometimes they are too powerful for the bolts we are undoing.

[@stefanobio7045]

With air or electric tools you do not have any sensitivity......using spanners is far better. You can feel if a thread is damaged etc

[@Lysdexis]

I still don't understand how hydraulic brakes were deemed safer than air brakes. Maybe air brakes operated differently back then but today they are far superior and safer than hydraulic.

[@stefanobio7045]

With a pneumatic operated braking system if there are any air leaks the the brakes automatically come on, that is a very good safety feature, hence they are installed on commercial vehicles.

[@highlypolishedturd7947]

Why are these humans talking about bus brakes in a dog video?

[@cannadineboxill-harris2983]

Hi Guy's it is Mr C. T. Boxill-Harris again I was thinking, Why couldn't you find other more 18 nice fresh Shiny Leyland Titan B15's and repaint them Also into a Imperial Cream and Green like the Essex East London Bus route H1 and 100 so they can Share a chance to run on the London Bus route such as the N6, 41 and that includes the bus route Number Four, if you guy needed that interesting idea's to let us know on the comment's down below so you can reuse those Imperial Cream and Green Leyland Titan B15's on those interesting London bus Route, Please Please can you reuse them within the Begining of Every November within Every Five and a Half Months Thank You Very Very Very Very Very Very Very Much Guy's 😉😉😅😉😉😉😅😉😉😅😉😉😀😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😀😃😀😀😃😅😀😃😀😅😀😃😀😀😃