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44511
Posted: 21:10 Saturday 24th December 2016
by ANDREW
Was being uplifted for a suspended tow at 20.30 this evening, right outside The Crown at Wychbold. 144 - Birmingham in the blind.
Re: 44511
Posted: 21:22 Saturday 24th December 2016
by AdamH
I bet that ruined someone's hopes of getting home early for Christmas!
The Enviro200s don't often get used on the 144. They spend most of their time on the 332/363/373 group of services and the odd 32 or 37 which fill the gaps between trips to Upton. I like them because they are good to drive, quite quick, and (normally) reliable. The only down-side is that the engine mounts ware out quickly which results in loud vibrations at idle.
Re: 44511
Posted: 18:24 Sunday 25th December 2016
by Red Midland
This was mine for the 1815 Service 144 to Birmingham last night.
It had been a faultless drive all afternoon, other than the aforementioned rattles.
By Rashwood however, its idle tone was more comparable to a tractor and by the Crown at Wychbold I thought it best to phone it in.
Transpires that it was a major crankshaft fault and would require a Christmas miracle to see service again this side of February!
On a lighter note, my replacement was Volvo B7 66692 (CN07HVH) which has recently returned to service after a lengthy spell off the road.
Departing Wychbold just 28 minutes late (the lack of traffic helped the engineer on duty to reach me much sooner than anticipated), I resumed service and returned to Worcester a minute before time. A Christmas miracle in itself in my opinion.
Unfortunately, being so conscious of time, there are no photographs of the ordeal this time.
Re: 44511
Posted: 08:19 Tuesday 27th December 2016
by TimBrown
AdamH wrote: ↑21:22 Saturday 24th December 2016
I bet that ruined someone's hopes of getting home early for Christmas!
The Enviro200s don't often get used on the 144. They spend most of their time on the 332/363/373 group of services and the odd 32 or 37 which fill the gaps between trips to Upton. I like them because they are good to drive, quite quick, and (normally) reliable. The only down-side is that the engine mounts ware out quickly which results in loud vibrations at idle.
From the point of view of a passenger, when these buses are stopped in traffic or at a bus stop taking on customers it is rather akin to sitting in a loose garden shed being attacked with a pneumatic drill, the vibration and din from all the loose bodywork bits is horrendous. I wonder how long a car manufacturer would survive if their products shook and made such a noise and rattle as these buses?
Re: 44511
Posted: 08:31 Tuesday 27th December 2016
by TimBrown
Red Midland wrote: ↑18:24 Sunday 25th December 2016
This was mine for the 1815 Service 144 to Birmingham last night.
It had been a faultless drive all afternoon, other than the aforementioned rattles.
By Rashwood however, its idle tone was more comparable to a tractor and by the Crown at Wychbold I thought it best to phone it in.
Transpires that it was a major crankshaft fault and would require a Christmas miracle to see service again this side of February!
On a lighter note, my replacement was Volvo B7 66692 (CN07HVH) which has recently returned to service after a lengthy spell off the road.
Departing Wychbold just 28 minutes late (the lack of traffic helped the engineer on duty to reach me much sooner than anticipated), I resumed service and returned to Worcester a minute before time. A Christmas miracle in itself in my opinion.
Unfortunately, being so conscious of time, there are no photographs of the ordeal this time.
You did well to maintain a service, especially as this appears to be the last 144 from Worcester to Birmingham and back on Christmas Eve - the ride from Wychbold onward would definitely be much smoother on Volvo B7 66692 than with the Enviro 200. Hope the passengers appreciated 'the Christmas miracle'!
Re: 44511
Posted: 09:14 Tuesday 27th December 2016
by chason
I never quite understand why the buses of today need to have such firm suspension, compared for example to modern coaches.
Together with hard, uncomfortable seats and with many roads in poor condition, this accentuates the problem and must of course make the vibration worse as well as loosening various parts of the bodywork. As Tim suggests, no-one would put up with a car which gave such a poor ride.
Re: 44511
Posted: 20:38 Friday 30th December 2016
by AdamH
I saw 44511 this morning. The engine is out and has been stripped down. The failure was quite extensive as it requires a new block as well as a new crank shaft.
Re: 44511
Posted: 09:38 Tuesday 3rd January 2017
by Mechwr26
Here's the crankshaft as it was removed. Bit of a mess
Re: 44511
Posted: 16:34 Tuesday 3rd January 2017
by MattW
The newness has definetly worn off that.
Re: 44511
Posted: 17:28 Tuesday 3rd January 2017
by 943KHA
Superglue?