Thread: Progress on the bus . . .

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Touche mon ami!
Touche!

Thought it was about time I gave this an update.

The GearVendor unit is installed, and after some frustrating teething problems is working well.
The problem was intermittent, so was hard to track down - it would sometimes change of its own volition, and sometimes not change when I wanted it to. Figured out that it had to be electrical, so re-joined every join in the wiring, replaced the fuse and the holder, and replaced the high-low button on the gear lever.
Total cost about NZ$70.
And it now works exactly as it should.
Gave it a run last weekend, turning off at Hurford Rd and coming out at Carrington Rd, some of the most up and down and twisty roads in the province...every gear change was split...and it didn't miss one.
Bloody gorgeous!

I've also replaced the dashboard. Ray Inwood, a good cobber of mine, is very a talented painter, and does some amazing work, so I got him to make me a wood-grained dash panel, which we fitted with the most angle we could wangle.
It now not only looks a million bucks; but I can read the gauges at a glance.
While we were about it I changed the hotch-potch of switches to all-the-same-type of toggle switches.

I also got a stainless shower grab-rail from a demolition yard, hacked it about, re-welded it, and now have a grab-rail alongside the steps into the bus.

I threw out the sun visors that were neither use no ornament, picked up some proper bus roller blinds with a pantograph arrangement on the inside from Trade Me for $35, they needed re-canvassing, so got them printed so that when they're both down it's Mater's eyes from the movie 'Cars' staring out.

When we did the initial build I'd made it so that with the pulling of one pin the entire fridge swung out through the door and latched there. No need to get out of your chair and go inside when your beer is empty.
Then a few months back I found an old cast Coca Cola type wall mounted bottle opener in a junk shop. So cleaned it up, painted it black, and it's now riveted to the exterior of the bus on the black rubbing strip right alongside the fridge when it's outside.
And it's completely inconspicuous; people just don't notice it...even when it's pointed out they can't see it until I actually touch it.

So we are making progress now we're shot of the bureaucrats!
And the fun is back in it again.

No pictures?

Originally Posted by johnboy

So we are making progress now we're shot of the bureaucrats!
And the fun is back in it again.

I'm really glad to see this report, especially that last part about finding the fun again!! I imagine the new sunshade/visors will make some smiles at the parks, and maybe even on the road for people that look quick! Imaging the family meeting the bus, and little Billy crying out from the back, "Hey! That big bus was "Mater, but YELLOW!"

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

No pictures?

Ken, did you not notice that this is johnboy posting? Has johnboy EVER posted a picture?

Yeah jb, time for pics.............!! If you have to, email them to one of us and I'm sure they'll get posted. (chant) Pics, pics, pics, pics, PICS

Bide a wee there you fellas!

I don't even own a camera!

I'll have to see if She Who Must Be Obeyed will take some pics for me.

One thing I forgot to mention is that I've had the inside of the grille painted in matte black, and the teeth of the grille (and headlight bezels,) painted a very light cream.
It has 'broken' that huge slab of yellow when seen from the front; and has added a sort of je-ne-sais-quois.

There's that old saying "a picture is worth a thousand words".....Johnboy is so good with words that he usually goes the other way around...

As for the camera....if ye has a cellphone, ye probably has a camera....gone are the days when multiple devices are required to give visual account of your goings on. Of course, if there are "operator" issues that's a different matter and you're wise to call for assistance from She Who Must be Obeyed....

Nah, no cellphone either; 'cos people only ring me when they want something.

And when I'm busy I can't be bothered making small talk while someone's trying to get around to asking me if they can borrow some tool or machine, or do I have a spare furshlugginer for a portrazeebe.

So if they want something they can contact me on the land-line before 7:30 am or after 6:00 pm.

Got this from johnboy this morning:

Originally Posted by johnboy

Someone said said for me to forward pictures of what we've been doing to the bus over the last few months for posting on CHR; so here ya go.
The first four show the painted grille, ( I think I might paint the horizontal bar in the middle cream too, while I like the way its 'broken' the yellow; I'm not 100% on it,) and the roller sun visors/shades with Tow Mater's eyes.
The next two show the ex shower rail modified to become a grab rail for easier entry/exit and the Coke style bottle opener mounted to the rubbing strip.
Then there are two shots of the woodgrained dashboard with all-the-same-type toggle switches.
Next is the fridge in its swung-outside-the-door position..
It's an extremely simple arrangement; with a column (almost parliament style,) hinge just inside the door, and then a few inches out from that pivot point is a piano style hinge, giving the whole arrangement two separate articulations.
No need to even stir from my chair to grab the next beer and open it!
The ultimate lazy bastard huh?
Cheers and more beers,

johnboy.

Post script: I had to go to a friends place and get her to download these from She's camera and send them to me.
Not only a lazy bastard but a thick one too huh?
jb.

First Group -
20160215_133913.jpg

20160215_133945.jpg

20160215_134045.jpg

20160215_134136.jpg

Second Group -

20160215_134441.jpg

20160215_134410.jpg

20160215_134420.jpg

Several shots were duplicates, and one the focus was not up to par, thus seven of the ten posted.

Now that is my kinda bus. Beer equipted and ready to serve! Nice Job Johnboy! And thanks Roger for helping get the pictures up for us!

Thanks for that Roger...much appreciated.

Two other things I should have pointed out; in the second picture down in the first batch a small button can be seen on the top of the left hand guard. It's an electric radio aerial. From the driver's seat I can't see where the left guard is, so when I need to I wind the aerial up; which shows me where the outside parameter of it is.

Also: on the last picture in the first batch the Eaton style button for the 2sp GearVendor unit can be seen.

Once again; thanks Roger.
As an appreciation I'll buy you a watch on pay-day; a gold one as big as a dinner plate!

(Just don't hold your breath in anticipation; I worked for myself for fifty years and never did get a pay-day!)

Very nice additions Johnboy! The pay day joke is a good one! Haha

Well, thanks to SWMBO!!! Thanks to You Rosie Darlin'...

and to Mr. Spears as well!

JB, farming and pay days.. just never come together do they?

Originally Posted by 34_40

Well, thanks to SWMBO!!! Thanks to You Rosie Darlin'...

and to Mr. Spears as well!

JB, farming and pay days.. just never come together do they?

You sure dribbled a bib-full there mate!
Ain't that the truth!

Thanks for the kind words folks.
It's a bit of a buzz to think that people half a world away understand and appreciate what you've been up to.