Thread: Progress on the bus . . .

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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.

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?