33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Vehicle and Fleet discussions for First Midland Red Buses Limited or its predecessor, Midland Red West Limited.
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AdamH
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33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by AdamH » 16:56 Wednesday 23rd August 2017

33404 has had a gearbox leak for quite a while but unfortunately it's getting worse. Riding back from Buses Festival on Sunday, the driver had to stop as it was so bad it was visible in his mirrors.

Unfortunately it is the gearbox casing that is damaged so there is no easy fix, and they will not buy a new box as the vehicle is now 13-years old and a new gearbox would cost more than the value of the bus. The solution is to swap the engine and gearbox from withdrawn Trident 33039. This will mean that just like 33401 which had a gearbox from 33042, it will only have a 4-speed box and not the original 5-speed box. Hopefully with the 144 service being converted to single-decks when the 59-reg Volvos arrive that shouldn't be an issue, but future bus rallies may be a more sedate affair. The engine from 33404 will then be refurbished and stored as a spare. The gearbox will be scrap.

With this in mind, 31786 has now moved outside (work finished?) and both 33039 and 33404 have moved in doors for the work to start.

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AdamH
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by AdamH » 20:34 Thursday 24th August 2017

Engine and gearbox are now out of 33039 ready to go into 33404.

Here we have Mechwr26 showing us what an engine looks like!
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Rich82
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by Rich82 » 21:30 Thursday 24th August 2017

so 33039 now possibly be to sold to the scrapman

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AdamH
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by AdamH » 21:35 Thursday 24th August 2017

It past the point of no return quite some time ago.

Mechwr26
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by Mechwr26 » 02:45 Wednesday 30th August 2017

And here's the new one, almost ready to go back in 8-) Items swapped over include: compressor, hydraulic pump, fuel pumps, engine wiring loom and engine electronic control unit. Plus a steam clean and a lick of paint. Also need to swap the gearbox ECU once its all back in
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AdamH
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by AdamH » 13:56 Saturday 2nd September 2017

33404 was back on the road this morning but I'm sorry to have to report it broke down in Bromsgrove on its first journey.

DD12
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by DD12 » 15:38 Saturday 2nd September 2017

AdamH wrote:
13:56 Saturday 2nd September 2017
33404 was back on the road this morning but I'm sorry to have to report it broke down in Bromsgrove on its first journey.
:( I would love First to refurbish 33401-5 to include RELIABLE Euro 6 engines, and gearboxes that don't crack-up because of grounding knocks ETC.

I believe I heard that some "speed-humps" at the Sixth-Form College, cause such knocks (?), so could service S23 be changed to start and finish on the Spetchley Road instead ?

I've seen the rear overhang of these Tridents looking very low to the ground while in service - even with very few passengers, so could the rear spring arrangement be improved ?

MattW
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by MattW » 17:13 Saturday 2nd September 2017

The speed humps in the 6th form grounds are humongous! :shock:

DD12
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by DD12 » 19:14 Saturday 2nd September 2017

MattW wrote:
17:13 Saturday 2nd September 2017
The speed humps in the 6th form grounds are humongous! :shock:
Thanks Matt ;)

Peter
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Re: 33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap

Post by Peter » 22:16 Saturday 2nd September 2017

AdamH wrote:
13:56 Saturday 2nd September 2017
33404 was back on the road this morning but I'm sorry to have to report it broke down in Bromsgrove on its first journey.
It seemed to have broken down at quite an inconvenient place as well, right on Barnsley Hall roundabout iirc!

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