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The exclusive maintenance resource for the transit and motorcoach industry
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BUSRIDEMAINTENANCE.COM
THE EXCLUSIVE MAINTENANCE RESOURCE FOR THE TRANSIT AND MOTORCOACH INDUSTRY
Heavy-duty pit stops p4 | Transmission PM p6
Find the best repair bay configuration p5
2 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | FEBRUARY . 2016 busridemaintenance.com
VOL. 06 • NO. 2
A publication of:
BUS INDUSTRY SAFETY COUNCIL
FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF
Departments
From the Editor in Chief 2 Products and Services 3 Ask The Expert 6
FEBRUARY 2016CONTENTS
On the cover:
Best repair bay configuration 5Considering a new bus maintenance facility? The highest impact decisions you make may be related to the bus repair bay. By Mark Ellis
Think “heavy-duty pit stop” 4Compare the bus in the garage to a racecar in the speedway pitBy Christopher W. Ferrone
BUSRide Maintenance Magazine4742 North 24th Street, STE 340
Phoenix, Arizona 85016Phone: (602) 265-7600
Fax: (602) 277-7588 busridemaintenance.com
Every month within the pages of BUSRide Maintenance, experts in the bus maintenance field tackle issues topics that are essential for an efficient bus garage. This month, we spotlight bus maintenance design, transmission maintenance and ways that operators can increase garage efficiency.
Take a look at what’s inside:• On the cover: Mark Ellis, central region manager and senior facility
design manager for Maintenance Design Group, discusses the bestconfigurations for bus repair facilities. Operators must consider manyfactors including bay width, bay length, overhead clearance andfunctional column placement.
• Christopher W. Ferrone of American Sightseeing and AmericoachSystems, Inc. details how garage techs should think of themselves like aNASCAR pit stop crew. That doesn’t mean to rush through work – rather,it means to work with a kind of quick efficiency.
• Finally, Barry Jeshurin, national sales manager at Dartco Transmission,writes about how maintenance managers can be more proactive inmaintaining transmissions and diagnosing problems. His checklistprovides an excellent primer that will allow operators to go the “extramile” for transmission maintenance.
Efficiency is essential in bus maintenance. Increase your garage’s efficiency with this month’s issue of BUSRide Maintenance.
Enhance garage efficiency
busridemaintenance.com
Richard TackettEditor in ChiefBUSRide Maintenance Magazine
BUSRide Maintenance™ Magazine is published 8 times each year by Power Trade Media, a division of The Producers, Inc., 4742 N. 24th Street, Ste. 340, Phoenix, AZ 85016. Subscription Rates: United States and Mexico $39 (USD) one year, Canada $42 (USD) one year (GST included), all other countries $75 one year, single issue United States $5 (USD), all other countries $6 (USD). All articles in BUSRide Maintenance™ Magazine are copyrighted and may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the express written permission of the publisher. For reprints of 100 or more, contact Judi Victor at (602) 265-7600 ext. 125. Copyright 2016 by Power Trade Media. No advertisement or description or reference to a product or service will be deemed as an endorsement, and no warranty is made or implied by Power Trade Media Information is obtained from sources the editors believe reliable, accurate and timely, but no warranty is made or implied, and Power Trade Media is not responsible for errors or omissions.
Richard TackettEditor in Chief
David HubbardAssociate Publisher
Steve GambleArt Director
Judi VictorCEO & PublisherDirector of Sales
Kevin BoorseBusiness Manager
Blair McCartySales & Marketing Coordinator
Olivia HaaseSales & Marketing Intern
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 3
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
Scissor Decks enhance glass maintenance
Scissor Decks are spring-assisted manual lift platforms which set up or fold down in seconds. Scissor Decks may be joined together in line or on 90 degree angles for wrap-around transit bus maintenance applications. Scissor Decks are available as adjustable height stands or with locking wheel design for smooth or rough surfaces. Available in four variable height frame models with max deck height up to 6 feet and max deck width to 40 inches. Scissor Decks have handrail options to suit every application. They fold flat for easy storage and transport. Additional information on Scissor Decks may be viewed online at www.scissordeck.com. You may also view short video clips by keying in ‘Scissor Deck’ on YouTube.
Easy Access Industrial DesignPeachland, BC, Canada
MCC revolutionizes compressor mount systems
Mobile Climate Control (MCC) has developed a unique and proprietary compressor mount system which is a patent pending product in the U.S., Canada and the EU. This compressor mount system allows for simple belt tensioning, compressor alignment, and reduced vibration and can be customized for various engine bay layouts and compressors. The major benefits are drastically reduced installation time, reduced belt wear, ease of belt maintenance, and reduced noise and vibration. This innovative compressor mount system can be used in any bus with any compressor and results in improved performance and reduced life cycle cost for the bus manufacturer as well as for the bus operator.
Mobile Climate ControlStockholm, Sweden
Eurotech makes APC easyThe DynaPCN 10-20 is a compact and autonomous
device based on non-contact stereoscopic vision technology specifically designed for accurately counting passengers entering or leaving public transport vehicles such as trains, metros or buses. Stereoscopic cameras capture images of the area below the device that are analyzed in real time using by a sophisticated algorithm. The Passenger Counter algorithm analyzes the height, shape and direction of any objects that are passing the field of view; if it is determined that the object is a person entering or leaving, the incoming and outgoing counters are incremented accordingly, along with time information. Thanks to the integrated high luminosity infrared LED system it can operate in any type of lighting condition.
EurotechAmaro, Italy
Easy access to rooftopsEasy Access Industrial Design has designed Easy Powered
Lifts to answer the industry’s’ call for safe access to transit bus rooftops for maintenance work. Easy Powered Lifts are rated for 500 pounds. They raise and lower with use of a powered
drill / driver to transit bus roof height. The 10-foot by 30-foot-wide deck with 54-inch wide footprint is accessed with a custom extension ladder. The deck is pinned on each of four corners to frame for extra safety before user enters deck. Frame extensions from 10 foot, 9 inches to 12 foot, 7 inches or 13 foot, 7 inches. 6-inch locking wheels and
deck padding included. 7.5-foot extended perimeter railings are contained within the deck and then easily rotated outwards and connected with adjustable kickboard assemblies to allow for containment of rooftop servicing areas.
Easy Access Industrial DesignPeachland, BC, Canada
4 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | FEBRUARY . 2016 busridemaintenance.com
MaintenanceFacility Design
THINK“HEAVY-DUTY PIT STOP”Compare the bus in the garage to a racecar in the speedway pit
Bus maintenance crews should complete their work with the same degree of vigilance and
focus as an Indy Car pit crew.
By Christopher W. Ferrone
Running an efficient garage operation is not as straightforward as it may seem, where safety, reliability, production and logistics come to play at every step. A simple and concise approach might be to compare the stops the bus makes in the garage each day to a racecar pulling into the pit at a speedway.
This does not in any way suggest that your crew should perform maintenance and repairs hastily and with a lack of care. To the contrary, they should do the work with the same degree of vigilance and focus as an Indy Car pit crew.
In this case, the term “pit stop” likens garage operations to the totally dialed-in procedures perfected at the racetrack. This more focused approach unites each duty in a well organized, carefully orchestrated set of steps that technicians conduct with care and diligence to cover all fundamental aspects of the vehicle — fuel, lubrication, tires, adjustments and driver needs.
There is no reason a motorcoach shouldn’t receive a similar but more heavy-duty pit stop in the same timely manner. The important factor here is a team that performs a well-rehearsed routine.
Begin with a list of tasks to accomplish in one session within a preset format. This process ensures every crewmember understands his responsibilities and expectations. He accomplishes his task in a precise manner and double checks for anything missed. Some items to cover when the motorcoach returns to the garage at the end of the duty shift are fueling, lubrication checks, lights, tires, driver requests and of course daily vehicle inspection report items.
Obviously, anyone working in the garage will take care of these basic procedures in some fashion. Again, the point here is not necessarily about what is to be done, but how to accomplish everything on the list in an orderly fashion, and at the same time not miss something unique during that pit stop.
If you are an Indy Car fan like I am, you watch the master at work any given Sunday during the racing season. I am speaking of course of Roger Penske.
Watch his or any other pit team closely and you will see each member of the crew has his own dedicated duty to complete. One man for tires, one for fuel, a man who makes adjustments and, of course, the crew chief. Each man goes about his duty in a way that is somewhat independent of the other crew members — not to suggest your crew members act militantly in performing only their duties and not helping out other members.
The pit stop approach focuses on the specific maintenance and repairs to each motorcoach each day to keep it safe, reliable and ready for its next day in service.
This technique not only helps accomplish a greater number of tasks in an orderly manner and less time, it also helps the crew members feel they are part of a team, and that no one crew member is doing more than another. Team building is vital for the success of any business regardless of its nature.
Transforming your maintenance staff members into your pit crew can enhance daily performance in the garage and improve production as well as foster trust and camaraderie.
Depending on the size of the team, a crew member may perform one or several specific tasks on each motorcoach that pulls into the garage. Assign members as washers, interior cleaners, mechanics and even a body man when the need arises.
As the motorcoach arrives, each member should attack his assigned task in the prescribed pit stop procedure. As each team member completes his tasks, he should inform the crew chief that the work is complete as expected. If an additional issue has come up, the crew chief can reassign a team member to perform the work.
This approach usually results in a well-maintained motorcoach fleet, attended to in a reasonable amount of time.
An Indy pit stop takes between eight and 11 seconds, while an efficient pit stop on a motorcoach may be as a long as 30 minutes. But, again, this process is not about speed. It is about organization and routine. Routines lend themselves to easy updates, adjustments and modifications to coincide with your system as it evolves and expands. Above all a routine is about the proper care, safety and accuracy of your work.
Christopher W. Ferrone operates American Sightseeing and is president of Americoach Systems, Inc., both located in Chicago, IL, specializing in transport technology, safety, management and logistics.
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 5
MaintenanceFacility Design
By Mark Ellis
Considering a new bus maintenance facility? The highest impact decisions you make may be related to the bus repair bay.
A well-designed bus repair bay enhances your operation and the effectiveness and efficiency of your maintenance technicians. As such, your design professionals need to consider the types of buses maintained and the level and type of maintenance performed. Design criteria should document the following parameters and elements for a safe, effective, and efficient work area.
Bay size. Though it may seem basic, getting this right can mean the difference between a functional facility and a constant headache. When sizing your bus repair bay, consider the following:
• Bay width: Bays need adequate work clearance around the entire bus – and that includes the sides. Too often, width is compromised during design, resulting in a bay that can’t accommodate basic equipment movement, portable lifts, or rooftop access ladders. The typical standard for bay width, (considering most buses are 8 feet, 6 inches wide) is 20 feet. This provides 5 feet, 9 inches of space on each side of the bus, or 11 feet, 6 inches between buses in adjacent bays. Keep the space between bays clear. Clutter can significantly hinder workspace effectiveness. Place dedicated portable equipment storage areas throughout the facility to eliminate clutter.
• Bay length: You need safe and adequate circulation space around the front of the bus. But bay length is actually determined more by the back of the bus, depending on how you access the bay. Most fixed route transit buses, over-the-road commuter buses, and tour coaches feature a rear engine. To accommodate engine compartment access for bus technicians, most modern bus maintenance facilities are configured using a “back-in” philosophy. With tools like back-up floor graphics and lift spotting dishes, backing into a repair bay is safe and effective. Pulling a bus out, with a 180-degree view of exterior traffic patterns, is safer than backing out blind for up to 40 feet. When a back-in philosophy is used, generally accepted bay length standards call for 5 feet between the overhead door and the front of the bus and another 10 feet at the rear. These standards yield a bay that’s 55 feet long for a 40-foot bus and 60 feet long for a 45-foot bus. If your fleet includes 60-foot articulated buses, your bay length will increase to 75 feet.
• Overhead clearance: Overhead clearance contributes greatly to both immediate and long-term effectiveness. Bus
lifts are mandatory in most bus maintenance operations. All lifting systems (in-ground, platform, and mobile lift columns) require adequate clearance with no overhead obstructions. If a bus repair bay lacks the proper overhead clearance, you may not be able to lift the bus. A typical overhead clearance standard for modern bus maintenance facilities is 19 feet, determined by adding three factors together:• 11 feet - the average height of a commuter coach • 6 feet - the average lifting height of most heavy-duty bus
lift systems • 2 feet - the clearance between the top of the bus and building
structure, ducts, lights, etc.
Functional column placement: Placement of structural columns during design can help you achieve the best repair bay configuration. For instance, you can functionally place columns between every bay, 6 feet, 6 inches from the central aisle. The columns can support lubrication reel banks and vehicle exhaust reels above while providing a perfect location for workbenches and convenient access to compressed air and electrical outlets below.
Today’s design professionals can incorporate your fleet data to show the bay configuration and clearances in a three-dimensional computer model. With this, you can confidently place functional support systems, like overhead lubrication distribution system reels, vehicle exhaust reels, lighting, and heating systems.
The proper bay configuration, clearances, and equipment will help determine the size of your facility and the ultimate effectiveness of your bus repair area. Taking the time to think through these elements, along with the functional adjacencies to the surrounding support spaces, will pay off in creating a facility that works for you.
Mark Ellis, central region manager and senior facility design manager for Maintenance Design Group, has worked with transit agencies throughout the U.S. to plan and design their bus maintenance facilities. To learn more about MDG’s capabilities and to gain valuable insights and information, please visit www.maintenancedesigngroup.com.
When sizing a bus repair bay, consider bay width, bay length and overhead clearance.
Best repair bay configuration
6 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | FEBRUARY . 2016 busridemaintenance.com
ASK THE EXPERT
Here at Dartco Transmission we begin our diagnosis by asking a series of basic questions before any of our technicians move forward with any necessary repairs.
We find it surprising how customers will tell us say they indeed performed a critical check, only to hear they thought they had, did not do a complete enough inspection on a particular component or system in question before the situation worsened.
First address these basic questions:• Is there enough fluid in the transmission?• Is there too much fluid in the transmission?• Are you using the correct fluid?
Transmission fluid is critical for the componentry in an automatic transmission to reduce the friction and heat and run smoothly to produce the motive force. The fluid level must be correct for the transmission to operate at maximize performance. Too much fluid can be as detrimental as too little.• Does the keypad light up when you start the vehicle?• Do any warning lights other than the “Check Trans” come on?
Warning lights are always posers, but consider this: you start the engine, not the transmission.
The transmission follows instructions from the engine based on the parameters programmed into both sides of the drive train. If there are engine codes, especially drivability codes, the transmission will not perform up to specifications. If instructions to the transmission by the engine are erratic, then performance will be as well. This can be a challenge trying to explain to an end-user that the fault is somewhere else other than the transmission. As a preventative measure, we have installed engine diagnostic software on many of our computers to find the source of a problem.
• Do you notice any visible leaks at the transmission during your last pre-trip inspection?
A visual inspection of the transmission can be a challenge, considering how tight everything is packed into the engine compartment. On some buses, the side doors alongside the engine compartment will give some access to the transmission for a visual assessment. The road grime accumulated in the under carriage can be challenging, but this step is nearly imperative before starting out on a long trip. • Have you checked for a fuse problem?
Many mechanics have fallen prey to this simple but often overlooked procedure.
By addressing these basic maintenance concerns an operator can often prevent an expensive repair and down town time while the vehicle is in the service center.
Barry Jeshurin serves as national sales manager at Dartco Transmission, Anaheim, CA.
Barry Jeshurin
What can i doto be more proactive
diagnosingproblems?
in maintaining thetransmission and
