Started the week by trial fitting the cab door window after epoxying the bottom glass channel after the welds broke last week. The glue used is a particularly strong variety and should hold, especially as the window is a tight fit in the door. It needs to come out, though as various minor issues raised their heads. Returned then to the rear brakes, and it is clear that there is something wrong in the assembly of the N/S rear brake as it is unable to return to rest as it should. I was unable to free up the scissors adjuster, nor could I remove the nut on the end of the brake cam shaft, without resorting to cutting it off, with resultant risk of damage to the shaft, so decided to try and fit the drum then adjust the brake by shortening the operating rod. In the end the drum slipped on easily over the new linings, so freeing up the djuster can wait for another day when the bus is over a or on a lift. I noted that the inside face of the drum was in excellent condition, suggesting it had recently (relatively speaking) been skimmed. I next reasembled the adjuster, leaving some free play in the nut in case the repeated operation of the brakes actually freed it up, then moved on to the other side, preparing for refitting the drum, which included removing the loose rust and degreasing it. So refitting it will be Monday’s first job. Not a lot of progress this week!
All posts by Nigel
7/9/2025
started the week by preparing the MW for Berden, then working on the stuck pin by the N/S rear adjuster but twisted my back in the process so that put a halt to that for now. Work resumed with the cab window, a tricky and time consuming job. A problem occured with the welds on the bottom channel which I think will fix adequately with strong chinese epoxy. Otherwise the window is ready for tape removal and fitting, assuming the correct screws are available, MW preparation for Berden Fete then ensued, so all work ceased temporarily.
31/8/2025
A good start to the week by fixing all but one of the half-drop windows so they open and close properly, mostly the same problems – protruding screws, caused, I suspect, when I trimmed off the ends before fitting the windows. The one remaining one that wouldn’t closewas NS window 4. Some attention with a burr to the side frames resolved this. More small jobs followed: fitting the steel plate support for the rear seat back and redrilling a couple of holes in the offside horizontal flat beading and filling and sanding the old ones. Work turned now to the rear brakes, which seems stuck full on. First job was to release the offside rear brake by disconnecting the rod to the crossshaft, this was realtively easily achieved. The brake cam is free to move and operate the show, so was set in the brakes fully off position and the shows and return springs reattached. The same job on the nearside revealed that the adjuster, which is tightened with a clamp bolt, is seized on the brake cam shaft on both sides of the bus so the shoes will have to come off again on the offside. Unseizing the adjusters requires rotation of the brake cam into a position where a wedge can be inserted into the slot in the adjuster and the application of penetrating fluid and lubrication. In order to do this, I had to disconnect the rod from the cross shaft to the brake cam, which in turn required the removal of an awkwardly positioned nut and split pin. This was only possible by splitting the nut with a cold chisel.