We had a great turnout this Saturday and got a ton done on the new Raffle Bus. A special thanks to Clinton for helping everywhere and to our newest club members, Reuben and Michelle Rettke who just pitched right in and took on removing the Deluxe stainless belt line trim and cleaning and shining it up. Sarah and Sue Rice worked on that trim and on the dash and a bunch of plastic pieces that were a mess.
Mike and Jim did most of the heavy lifting and along with everyone else got all the engine parts and pieces out of the bus and into Mikes truck. These are going to Yuma Monday and will return as a fully running motor. Thanks Mike.
It was good to see Bill Ross. Bill seems to know a lot about any system in a bus! He was able to show me how to remove the gas tank after I got lost just trying to find all the screws to the tank cover. He’s also really knowledgeable with all the electrical stuff that needs to be sorted out in this bus. His expertise is really welcome.
David Cissna was there doing everything. He pulled all the head and running lights. And he also pulled the windows out of the front doors and the jalousie ones too. Never an easy task and always one that will try your patience.
Speaking of windows. Russell and I had pulled the windshield a few days before to work on the electrical rats nest left by the previous owner. All the rest of the windows were pulled. Was a team effort with seemingly everyone pitching in until they were all out.
Russell made short work of removing some sort of bed/bench carpeted thing from inside the bus. Dirty dusty work. And David pulled all the old glued in fabric from the metal surfaces around the windows and other openings. The fabric came off in small little pieces and it took a lot of patience to get it all out.
This bus had an external oil cooler that was removed. Another team effort. I even managed to cut an oil hose that leaked oil everywhere. I managed to make this mess while doing other things in the engine compartment. But lucky for us Jim came prepared with his pressure washer. After everything was removed from the engine bay, the interior and exterior stuff, he pressure washed everything! Washed out decades of dirt, grease and grime. Goes a long way toward making things way better to work on. Big thanks to Jim.
Mike and Jim pulled the front and rear bumpers. They will take some work to get them ready for Wayne to paint. Brian was there helping where he could. Fun hearing about his extended camping trip to New Mexico after he left the Jamboree.
Thank you Greta for the highlight of the day, a terrific lunch for a tired, dusty crew. Even a chocolate cherry cake that Sue Manning made for us! And Thank You Greta and Russell for your hospitality and the use of your place to do all the raffle bus work. It’s quite a big deal to have such a nice place to work and I really, really appreciate your kindness and patience.
I know I’ve left someone out and missed something you did on the bus. Sorry. But honestly, so many were working so hard at so many things all over the place I just couldn’t keep up.
What a crew! Thank You All!
Author: John Manning
More images on our Raffle Bus #34 page
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