How to fix a Bus

[kschauweker]

Bus with passengers heads downhill when driver realizes he has no brakes. He is a professional driver with much experience and scrapes off speed with gears and hand brake, rubbing the curb, and comes to a stop safely. He calls for reserve bus while all wait.

Engineer passenger checks and says "I see the issue where the designer routed brake lines too close to engine heat source. I bet that is your issue. I could redesign this safely in my office."

Mechanic onboard investigates and says " If I had my tools I could cut and crimp here and re-route line and we could be on our way."

Computer specialist says "We should push it to the top of the hill and come down again to see if it fixes itself."

 

[Jetronic]

I'm a bus driver and former mechanic. It's funny except bus brakes don't work like that, being pneumatic, and handbrake needing pressure to release

 

[earlyre]

I'm a bus driver and former mechanic. It's funny except bus brakes don't work like that, being pneumatic, and handbrake needing pressure to release

That was always my problem watching shows like "Ice Road Truckers"... they always acted like, and the producers VO even said many times, if they didn't have air pressure (ice in the lines, broken fitting, whatever), that they didn't have brakes.

...and every time, i yelled at the TV "AIR BRAKES DON"T WORK LIKE THAT!"
with zero psi in the system, you'll have ALL the brakes. Fully Locked up. the air pressure OPENS the shoes away from the Drums.
in that respect (the default/inherent state is full applied brakes) it's a safer system than Hydraulic brakes.
not saying it's better...just in that aspect inherently safer....

 

[Jetronic]

It's tv, I see stuff like that all the time.. unhooking train cars which just roll on etc... They have similar brakes, except the spring applying the brakes is also air pressure so they will release again after some time when the air has leaked away.

But, if the air lines freeze when on the move, it could be possible you can't change the pressure in the brakes anymore so have no brakes. Very unlikely that would happen on all wheels though. and they won't have much braking ability anyhow while driving on ice or snow

 

[bullwinkle]

That was always my problem watching shows like "Ice Road Truckers"... they always acted like, and the producers VO even said many times, if they didn't have air pressure (ice in the lines, broken fitting, whatever), that they didn't have brakes.

...and every time, i yelled at the TV "AIR BRAKES DON"T WORK LIKE THAT!"
with zero psi in the system, you'll have ALL the brakes. Fully Locked up. the air pressure OPENS the shoes away from the Drums.
in that respect (the default/inherent state is full applied brakes) it's a safer system than Hydraulic brakes.
not saying it's better...just in that aspect inherently safer....

Don’t have to worry about the brake fluid boiling off either!

 

[Chris142]

I'm a bus driver and former mechanic. It's funny except bus brakes don't work like that, being pneumatic, and handbrake needing pressure to release

We have some weird trailers at work. You must air them up before you can back under them. If you try to just back under them they roll away.

 

[Jetronic]

Then they use the same style brakes as a train, air pressure spring to close the brakes