Post by naughtyfox on Feb 5, 2018 16:18:01 GMT
Mon 5th Feb
For about 3 months now my bus's alternator belt has been squealing on start-up in the mornings, and on start-up after it's been standing for a while. Yes, I have let 'those in charge' know. Anyway, looks like it's been charging, the meter needle is in the middle, and the batteries have enough kick to run all the electrics during my 0630-1600 day and do the starting of the engine.
This morning all of a sudden, 10 minutes after leaving the garage, alarm bells and flashing lights - and the charge meter needle has dropped down dead to zero. I thought Fuckety-Fuck-Fuck For Fuck's Sake and should I pull over now and phone my boss at 0645 or carry on to Eskola where I pick up the first set of kids (another 10 minutes ahead - departure 0720, but I like to get there at 0700 and read comments about weeping fistulas and paedophile parents).
Well, I thought if I go to Eskola and the bus is fucked, at least I can tell the kiddies we're doomed - until another bus comes along for me.
When I got to the first stop in Eskola, and stopped with engine on tickover, the meter needle went back to the middle - as if all were well again and the alternator was charging normally.
Anyway, I phoned my boss (who seemed to be still in bed?) to let him know, and that I'd carry on as normal and call again if it goes all wonky again.
As soon as I accelerated at 0720, the needle went back to zero, with all the poxy flashing lights and sirens. Bloody Hell, Volvo, you sure know how to be annoying! So I phoned to my boss again and he said if I make it to Kannus, on purely battery power, then to dig the spare bus out of the garage. The headlights and inside lights use electricity, also the gears system - battery dies and you can't change gear - and a few other systems use electricity. It takes 25 minutes to change buses, so I ran 25 minutes late of course. At Lohtaja I was told to run back to Kannus (with the spare bus) and await a mechanic, Paavo.
An hour later Paavo turns up and we open the access cover to the engine and have a look. The alternator belt, looking a bit cracked, is still on. I suggested it's 1) alternator itself 2) alternator belt 3) a pully 4) the voltage regulator. Anyway, Paavo whacks the alternator with his hammer, starts the engine, revs up and the charge meter needle stays in the middle. He says it's probably because he gave the alternator a shaking with the hammer, and the brushes have come back into contact, and that it's probably the brushes worn out, and he'll probably just put a new alternator on.
Later a taxi driver and another bus driver told me that a symptom of worn brushes is, that when you rev up, the needle will drop to zero, whereas on idle it will quite happily be in the middle showing the batteries are being charged.
It's all a bit new for me, this. I am used to hearing Volvo alternator belts squeal, as Volvo have never got this issue sorted out, but I know nuffin' about alternators (apart from on boats some need to be given a 'blip' to 'excite' them).
Any thoughts?
For about 3 months now my bus's alternator belt has been squealing on start-up in the mornings, and on start-up after it's been standing for a while. Yes, I have let 'those in charge' know. Anyway, looks like it's been charging, the meter needle is in the middle, and the batteries have enough kick to run all the electrics during my 0630-1600 day and do the starting of the engine.
This morning all of a sudden, 10 minutes after leaving the garage, alarm bells and flashing lights - and the charge meter needle has dropped down dead to zero. I thought Fuckety-Fuck-Fuck For Fuck's Sake and should I pull over now and phone my boss at 0645 or carry on to Eskola where I pick up the first set of kids (another 10 minutes ahead - departure 0720, but I like to get there at 0700 and read comments about weeping fistulas and paedophile parents).
Well, I thought if I go to Eskola and the bus is fucked, at least I can tell the kiddies we're doomed - until another bus comes along for me.
When I got to the first stop in Eskola, and stopped with engine on tickover, the meter needle went back to the middle - as if all were well again and the alternator was charging normally.
Anyway, I phoned my boss (who seemed to be still in bed?) to let him know, and that I'd carry on as normal and call again if it goes all wonky again.
As soon as I accelerated at 0720, the needle went back to zero, with all the poxy flashing lights and sirens. Bloody Hell, Volvo, you sure know how to be annoying! So I phoned to my boss again and he said if I make it to Kannus, on purely battery power, then to dig the spare bus out of the garage. The headlights and inside lights use electricity, also the gears system - battery dies and you can't change gear - and a few other systems use electricity. It takes 25 minutes to change buses, so I ran 25 minutes late of course. At Lohtaja I was told to run back to Kannus (with the spare bus) and await a mechanic, Paavo.
An hour later Paavo turns up and we open the access cover to the engine and have a look. The alternator belt, looking a bit cracked, is still on. I suggested it's 1) alternator itself 2) alternator belt 3) a pully 4) the voltage regulator. Anyway, Paavo whacks the alternator with his hammer, starts the engine, revs up and the charge meter needle stays in the middle. He says it's probably because he gave the alternator a shaking with the hammer, and the brushes have come back into contact, and that it's probably the brushes worn out, and he'll probably just put a new alternator on.
Later a taxi driver and another bus driver told me that a symptom of worn brushes is, that when you rev up, the needle will drop to zero, whereas on idle it will quite happily be in the middle showing the batteries are being charged.
It's all a bit new for me, this. I am used to hearing Volvo alternator belts squeal, as Volvo have never got this issue sorted out, but I know nuffin' about alternators (apart from on boats some need to be given a 'blip' to 'excite' them).
Any thoughts?
