A new or used bus will need repair sooner or later and it’s a good idea to be familiar with what to expect. Buses experience a lot of wear and tear because many of them are used frequently and/or on long trips. Quality control in vehicle factories is improving; however, some parts don’t last indefinitely and need to be replaced. Some are mechanical, some electrical, and some hydraulic. Transit buses consist of anywhere from a single vehicle to a large fleet of buses. The more you operate in your organization, the more often they will go to the shop.
Don’t get upset when one of the following breaks down and needs repair. Some repairs are more costly than others. You will most likely run into one or more of these in the future:
Fuses burn out – Fuses are found in all vehicles and are responsible for keeping your bus running. They come in different sizes and amps. They are in the controls for the lights, radio, windshield wipers, horn, signal lights, and so on. Although they are inexpensive little items they can spell big trouble when they fail. Manufacturers design fuses to fail because they can’t make them to last indefinitely. They don’t do this to be mean. The technology and materials are not available to make them last forever.
Fuses are necessary for the complete operation of your bus and its electrical system. An overload is always possible and when this does happen the fuse will blow out to protect the system. Thank goodness we have them. A single fuse blow out does not necessarily mean there is a major problem. You need to investigate any situation when the same one goes out time after time.
Transmissions can develop problems - Manual and automatic transmission (correctly called semi-automatic) are both available in buses. Most of them are semi-automatic. This type of transmission does have a mode that allows the driver to manually shift gears with out a clutch pedal. The semi-automatic has an advantage over the typical automatic in that it has a direct connection between the engine and wheels. This allows better response time and smoother shifting because of its fluid coupling. Semi-automatics are not inexpensive. When you need another one, be sure to get a quality unit at a great price.
Tires wear out – Bus tires get a lot of use – use on hard surfaces that remove thin layers of material a little at a time. You might say they suffer a lot of abuse. Bus tires are more durable than typical street tires for a car, mini van, SUV, or pickup truck. Tires also suffer from pot holes, uneven terrain, hitting objects on the road, and other problems. Bus tires can be punctured like car tires and need to be repaired. Keep them inflated and check the thread depth often. Bus tires are expensive. Balance and rotate them on schedule to prolong their life.
Shop around for competitive prices on bus repairs – especially tires
It has already been pointed out that replacing bus tires can be very expensive. A viable option is to retread the tires instead of buying new or used ones. Used ones can be iffy because they may have hidden problems and no two have the same wear. A leading bus repair dealership like Atlantic Bus Sales has the expertise to retread all of your bus tires. Here are some reasons to retread instead of buy tires:
Helps the environment – Tires are eyesores in landfills around the country. This can be greatly reduced by retreading more tires. Studies from the Environmental Protection Agency reveal that retreating uses 30% less energy, 75% less material, and 50% less oil than making new tires. This is a major savings over the life of just one bus. Just think how this would help the environment if all bus owners practiced this option.
Save a ton of money – How much can you save by retreading? This alternative will average about 40% less than buying new tires. Retreads are perfectly safe and give the same performance as new tires. The same tires can be retreaded several times before it’s time to replace them with new ones. You can save a bundle over the life of the bus.
They are safer – Repair shops have learned over time that retreads are much safer comparatively than new ones. They are commonly used by organizations that put a lot of miles on their buses. Insurance companies do not charge higher premiums for using retreads. Why not check into them today.
There you have it. Just as taxes and death is inevitable, buses need repairs and tires and we just have to live with it. Click here to learn more about quality repair service.
Don’t get upset when one of the following breaks down and needs repair. Some repairs are more costly than others. You will most likely run into one or more of these in the future:
Fuses burn out – Fuses are found in all vehicles and are responsible for keeping your bus running. They come in different sizes and amps. They are in the controls for the lights, radio, windshield wipers, horn, signal lights, and so on. Although they are inexpensive little items they can spell big trouble when they fail. Manufacturers design fuses to fail because they can’t make them to last indefinitely. They don’t do this to be mean. The technology and materials are not available to make them last forever.
Fuses are necessary for the complete operation of your bus and its electrical system. An overload is always possible and when this does happen the fuse will blow out to protect the system. Thank goodness we have them. A single fuse blow out does not necessarily mean there is a major problem. You need to investigate any situation when the same one goes out time after time.
Transmissions can develop problems - Manual and automatic transmission (correctly called semi-automatic) are both available in buses. Most of them are semi-automatic. This type of transmission does have a mode that allows the driver to manually shift gears with out a clutch pedal. The semi-automatic has an advantage over the typical automatic in that it has a direct connection between the engine and wheels. This allows better response time and smoother shifting because of its fluid coupling. Semi-automatics are not inexpensive. When you need another one, be sure to get a quality unit at a great price.
Tires wear out – Bus tires get a lot of use – use on hard surfaces that remove thin layers of material a little at a time. You might say they suffer a lot of abuse. Bus tires are more durable than typical street tires for a car, mini van, SUV, or pickup truck. Tires also suffer from pot holes, uneven terrain, hitting objects on the road, and other problems. Bus tires can be punctured like car tires and need to be repaired. Keep them inflated and check the thread depth often. Bus tires are expensive. Balance and rotate them on schedule to prolong their life.
Shop around for competitive prices on bus repairs – especially tires
It has already been pointed out that replacing bus tires can be very expensive. A viable option is to retread the tires instead of buying new or used ones. Used ones can be iffy because they may have hidden problems and no two have the same wear. A leading bus repair dealership like Atlantic Bus Sales has the expertise to retread all of your bus tires. Here are some reasons to retread instead of buy tires:
Helps the environment – Tires are eyesores in landfills around the country. This can be greatly reduced by retreading more tires. Studies from the Environmental Protection Agency reveal that retreating uses 30% less energy, 75% less material, and 50% less oil than making new tires. This is a major savings over the life of just one bus. Just think how this would help the environment if all bus owners practiced this option.
Save a ton of money – How much can you save by retreading? This alternative will average about 40% less than buying new tires. Retreads are perfectly safe and give the same performance as new tires. The same tires can be retreaded several times before it’s time to replace them with new ones. You can save a bundle over the life of the bus.
They are safer – Repair shops have learned over time that retreads are much safer comparatively than new ones. They are commonly used by organizations that put a lot of miles on their buses. Insurance companies do not charge higher premiums for using retreads. Why not check into them today.
There you have it. Just as taxes and death is inevitable, buses need repairs and tires and we just have to live with it. Click here to learn more about quality repair service.