Last post, our mechanical consultant, Lawrence Walker, gave a few details about the maintenance of our eldest bus (indeed, BC’s eldest functioning bus), the 1937 Hayes ‘Teardrop’.
For this post, I talked with him about the project. He kindly filled in a few more details. Despite the “star” status of the vehicle in our collection, we have not had the time or resources to fully maintain it. As it was not being driven, little harm was done. But that is about to change. It will be its 90th birthday in 2027, and we would like it to hit the road again.
The project, sparked by TMS President Bryan Larrabee, seems to have found its catalyst in Lawrence, though he will strongly deny that. We can only hope that he’ll recognize his role!
Not so much work done, more exploring because
we have no manuals for the bus. (Lawrence Walker)
Lawrence admits we have to take this slowly — we only have one manual for the coach, and that’s for the clutch. So for now, the “work” is just examining the bus to see what work is needed — and exploring how to do it! As we pointed out in the last blog, Lawrence has realized that the steering box will need some maintenance, but gaining access may be difficult.
This week he told me that on further examination, he could see fluid leaking from the box. Now you may think that was a bad thing, but no! Lawrence says that may make the overhaul easier: the presence of fluid shows there may not be major damage due to the hardening of fluid. And, he has now discovered the presence of a grease nipple and tube attached to the box.
The front wheels of the coach will have to be removed: both king pins show wear. Our maintenance team will then move onto the drums, brakes, rear differential and electrical wiring. Lawrence says the underside of the bus is ‘more of a truck than bus.’ He has reached out to the BC Truck Museum for help with the Hercules YXC engine and Timken axle.
Mostly (we) need a corporate sponsor or rich benefactor to help fund people to do the much needed work or help us invent a time machine to bring some one back who knows something about this bus. (Lawrence Walker)
Halloween Tour
Also this past Saturday, we operated our second annual “Halloween Tour”. The route was planned by Maxwell Chang and Milan Streit.
Sue & Lawrence Walker acted as hosts, while coach 9753, suitably decorated by Milan Streit, was driven by Austin O’Keefe. Fantastic organisation guys! Twenty five “Wanderhaunts” were treated to a three hour tour of Surrey’s best decorated houses and buildings. (Tour photos courtesy Jacob Rubin.)
