CKWA/KWHA Part II

[Six Volt]

The old 6V Ford solenoid trick, explained in rich detail with a Peter Aschwanden graphic in the John Miur "Idiot Book", will help, too.

Ditch the Ford solenoid, it takes almost as much current to trigger as the stock unit. Use a Ghia 6V horn relay or find a 40A 6V foglight relay.

The battle of Michigan is on!

Thanks guys. Problem occurs under hot or cold conditions. I'll clean the strap short term and probably get a replacement strap from Kyle since I've changed everything else.

I have four or five extra 6V starters/solenoids. I think I even have a new one in a box. I'll pull them out and check. Kyle redid all the wiring so I don't think that's the problem. See all the fun you're missing by not running a 6 volt system?!

Here's the update. Cleaned tranny ground strap. Problem not happening as much. Tried to start it about 6 or 7 times it only did it once. It's probably the starter. In any event, here are some pics for newbie's like me to help with finding and cleaning your tranny ground strap.

Very dirty...


Even the Cat said it was bad...


They clean up nicely with some elbow grease...


It's important to clean up the area they connect to on the body and tranny...


I found two of the 6V starters I have, (what happend to the tranny bushings? ) but they appear to be bug numbers "113..." Anyone know if a bug starter will fit?


Now that Keith works for Ford, Kirk and I will keep this around to keep Ted on edge.

[Six Volt]

That ground strap looks alot ahorter than 9". If someone could get me the exact length (center of eyelet to center of eyelet) I could see if I can get some that are an exact match.

Kyle, that strap is only about 5", but I'll measure it this week and let you know on Thursday.

Since we're talkin' about straps, what about the cargo door ones? I found a bag of them, but they seem too small to work right. I'd like to think they would allow the cargo door to be open 90 degrees, or staight out. The straps I have seem to only let the door open partially. You can see the last photo shows the maximum amount "open" I can get the door if I mount the bracket in the most generous location on the door. Will they stretch? Am I using the wrong ones?

[bastardbus]

I think your straps have shirnkage...they must have been swimming in a cold pool!

Honestly though, those are the correct straps for the doors...no one really seems to use them. They do seem to shirnk up sometimes.
They seem to be meant to keep the front door from whacking the front cargo door when passengers get in or out at same time.

I find it pretty amazing everytime you go to install a part on that bus you have 3 or 4 of them! Sounds like that bus came with quite a nice parts stash. I wish my buses all had come with 3 or 4 of every part....seems the buses I come across are missing 3 out of 4 of every part....LOL

[Six Volt]

I think your straps have shirnkage...they must have been swimming in a cold pool!

Honestly though, those are the correct straps for the doors...no one really seems to use them. They do seem to shirnk up sometimes.
They seem to be meant to keep the front door from whacking the front cargo door when passengers get in or out at same time.

I find it pretty amazing everytime you go to install a part on that bus you have 3 or 4 of them! Sounds like that bus came with quite a nice parts stash. I wish my buses all had come with 3 or 4 of every part....seems the buses I come across are missing 3 out of 4 of every part....LOL

Thanks for the info Todd. I want to use a strap on the right cargo door becasue I have those elephant mirrors on the front cab doors that the cargo door hits when opened fully. Maybe they'll stretch back with a litle use.

Yes, this bus came with either 3 or 4 of everything or nothing. Feast or famine.

If you need straps, let me know!

[bastardbus]

I want to use a strap on the right cargo door becasue I have those elephant mirrors on the front cab doors that the cargo door hits when opened fully. Maybe they'll stretch back with a litle use.

Yes, this bus came with either 3 or 4 of everything or nothing. Feast or famine.

If you need straps, let me know!

Sean, I checked on my buses today and the straps seem to stop the door in about the same place as yours but if you put some pressure on the strap or toss that door open (which I think folks used to do) the strap stretches and seems to about 90 degrees which JUST keeps it from hitting the front door if it is opened up at the same time.

Thanks for the offers on the extra straps I am good.
I do have to say thanks for helping me out with spare pop out
windows you had though. I restored them and they are
in place on the `62 so-33 driver westy we just finished up.
We have put over 4,000 miles on her this summer so far!
Here she is this past weekend at the Ft Wayne Indiana show.



I hope the windshields and deck lid parts worked out well for you too!

Todd

[Six Volt]

Thanks Todd. Nice bus!!! Everything worked out for everybody!

I like those curtains. I'm on curtain patrol.

Living in the city has its occasional benefits. One of my neighbors is a Cleveland fireman who's also an eletrican by trade. (Heck most of my neighbors are Cleveland fireman who have some other job! ). He was checking out the bus and was asking me about the two 'hack holes' for the electical outlets. I told him I removed the old ones when re-doing the bus because they weren't grounded and seemed unsafe. He asked what I was going to put in them? I told him eventually I wanted to put GFI protected outlets in with a new rear 3 prong plug. I told him I had looked at the Leviton outlet that Ted had talked about for later models, but realized I would have to 'hack' the rear corner of my bus to install it, and in the end, it wouldn't look correct. I know that set up would work, but I told myself I wouldn't go to far off the path or 'hack' this bus for convenience.

So my neighbor came up with an idea and we went for it. He said we could keep the existing outside stock assembley, just remove the unsafe two prong plug. (FWIW, I kept it for the next stock Nazi.) We couldn't find a three prong that would fit locally, so he hard wired a male comnector to a GFI unit in the engine bay above the spare battery tray. He ran some metal coated wire becasue of the engine heat and put two plugs into the former 'hack' holes that are now GFI protected. I can carry an extension cord and just run it through the existing plug opening and plug it in at the engine bay connection and then to the external source. Just like that I've got that problem solved. Not perfect, but I'll look stock and work safely. (Yea, I've still got to pull down the two old wires.) Here are the pics...

[Howie]

Excellent solution! WTG Firemen and "electricians who know their stuff"!
NOW, is your bus "done enough", to come to Shawshank, and Oktoberfest, Sean?

[Six Volt]

Excellent solution! WTG Firemen and "electricians who know their stuff"!
NOW, is your bus "done enough", to come to Shawshank, and Oktoberfest, Sean?

Yea, its time. I've now got leaky RGB's, but who doesn't? I'll fix them this winter. Just keep adding GL-4, (or was it GL-5 ), in the meantime! I'm hopefull someone can 'coach me up' on the rgb seal replacement at Thursday's gathering.

[Howie]

Yea, its time. I've now got leaky RGB's, but who doesn't? I'll fix them this winter. Just keep adding GL-4, (or was it GL-5 ), in the meantime! I'm hopefull someone can 'coach me up' on the rgb seal replacement at Thursday's gathering.

"We Fly At Dawn" Friday for Shawshank. No time for fancy tuning. RUN it, Man!!! See ya at Shawshank!

[Ken]

Excellent solution! WTG Firemen and "electricians who know their stuff"!
NOW, is your bus "done enough", to come to Shawshank, and Oktoberfest, Sean?

Yea, its time. I've now got leaky RGB's, but who doesn't? I'll fix them this winter. Just keep adding GL-4, (or was it GL-5 ), in the meantime! I'm hopefull someone can 'coach me up' on the rgb seal replacement at Thursday's gathering.

When you're ready to change those RGB seals I'll be glad to coach you. I've done them before and I have a 250 ft-lb torque wrench to tighten the axle nuts. You can also use the lift at Meister Rd. which will make the job a 'piece of cake'. You can actually do this job in a couple of hours while sitting in a padded chair. Maybe we can do a mini tune-up day if others would like to see it done.