Double Decker Bus Restoration | Prepping A Vintage Bus for an MOT Test.

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3 жыл бұрын

Bus restoration - What does it take to keep a vintage London double decker bus on the road?
Built in the 1960's our AEC Routemaster London buses need constant attention, so if you want to find out what it takes to keep a London Routemaster bus on the road then make sure you check-out all our maintenance and restoration videos here on KZfaq...
Filmed in the UK at the Routemaster 4 Hire HQ in Wrexham, North Wales we are passionate about London buses and with 7 vintage buses in the fleet we defiantly have our work cut out!
In this episode stress levels are rising as the Routemaster 4 Hire boys have 2 days to prep RM2213 for its annual MOT examination, but will the bus pass?
Also don't forget to check-out all our AEC Routemaster London bus restoration videos in this playlist...
• London Bus Restoration...
About Us:
We offer our London buses for private hire.
We are proud to have the privilege of owning one of London’s most recognisable sights - the iconic London Routemaster Double Decker Bus!
Our beautifully restored red London double-decker buses are available for Weddings and Special Events across North Wales and the Northwest UK, they add some nostalgic novelty and a touch of class to any occasion.
For more information, please visit our website: www.routemaster4hire.co.uk
#londonbus #routemaster #routemaster4hire

Пікірлер: 80

@johngee5416 2 жыл бұрын

Takes me back when I was a child find it very interesting

@jacksugden8190 2 жыл бұрын

Credit to London Transport and their excellent design and engineering teams

@rayjennings3637 2 жыл бұрын

Some 40+ years ago, I was a vehicle mechanic working for a local authority in the South East and well remember prepping vehicles for the MoT. It was particularly memorable when it was a refuse truck to be tested and we had 13 or 14 of those. The biggest problem was having to put the truck up on the lift after the relevant crew has pressure washed it. Not only was it wet underneath, we also had to contend with water dripping down from where the refuse container had been washed out! Fortunately, the council supplied wet-weather gear for us mechanics but it was still quite unpleasant!

@trevordeane3940 3 жыл бұрын

Well done for putting the effort in to keeping this great old bus in tip-top condition.

@alcoats2889 2 жыл бұрын

Way to go team!!

@lucythemoggy1970 2 жыл бұрын

when that clamp went, i jumped out of my skin haha

@peterjhillier7659 2 жыл бұрын

Proper Job!

@richarddecoster4464 2 жыл бұрын

Like the bloopers at the end always a good laugh 😃 thanks again

@davidboyce8683 2 жыл бұрын

Brilliant guy's , love these vids . Thank you for keeping the flame alive . The Route masters are truly rolling pieces of artwork .Keep up the good work .

@Routemaster4Hire 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you David. Will do. 👍

@philipheath8265 2 жыл бұрын

Lovely job! Keep these old girls going! I have all the classic bus magazines and look forward to going to some rallies next year.

@johnmichaeldorienjohn467 3 жыл бұрын

Another Great Video, it shows that you take great pride & care of your fleet! Keep up the excellent content!

@teepi280 2 жыл бұрын

Another great video. I'm becoming an addict!

@Routemaster4Hire 2 жыл бұрын

Glad to hear it!

@parakumwick6871 2 жыл бұрын

Good luck all the way Nice job !!!

@RowanEnglishConversation 3 жыл бұрын

A beautifully produced and very informative video. I enjoyed it and learnt a lot. Thank you.

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you John, glad you enjoyed the video.

@darrencowley8265 3 жыл бұрын

Hi what a great video thankyou take care 😊👍🏻

@chrisjohnson4165 2 жыл бұрын

Years ago I was a mechanic at a small garage in Leicestershire. The garage owners also ran a bus fleet, and the bodyman and I used to have to help out with PSV preparation. The hardest job I remember was beating each seat of a double decker with a hockey stick until no more dust came out, then vacuum the whole thing.

@AgathaAndAnything 3 жыл бұрын

Enjoyed as always, thanks to your channel I get loads of routemaster recommendations and the other day watched every episode of “Pete and his bus” and as I’ve said before I don’t even like busses 😂 but I’m now turning into a routemaster fan. Even noticed some are a bit longer with an extra small window half way across 🤣

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Austin. Glad you enjoyed the new video and good to hear we are slowly turning you into a 'Bus Wanker' welcome to this exclusive club 😂. Also, well done for noticing that some Routemasters are longer than others - the bus that Peter is converting into a bar is the longer version, called an RML and as you have already noticed these are identified by the small extra square window half way along each side of the bus. These went into production from 1965 and they made just over 500 RML's. The longer length gave the bus an extra 8 seats taking the capacity from 64 to 72 seats. When I was growing up in the 80's virtually all the RML's were only running in Central London - as I was a Croydon boy we had the standard Routemaster on the routes in my area and I think this is why I have never wanted to own an RML, instead preferring the bus I remember travelling on as a boy. Plus I think the standard length bus looks much nicer? Oh, if you delve a little deeper you will also find some Routemasters had doors at the back and some even had doors at the front, but I won't bore you with anymore details on these for now. 😂

@AgathaAndAnything 3 жыл бұрын

@@Routemaster4Hire haha! “Bus Wanker” I’m already a big fan of Diesel Locomotives (not a trainspotter 😉) I think the 2 are closely intertwined.... love the content anyway cheers 😀

@davidbassett4577 3 жыл бұрын

@@Routemaster4Hire It’s true you tend to love the ones you rode in as a child ... for me being born in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire and growing up in the sixties & seventies, I can remember the shiny new Green RML’s being delivered to LT’s HE garage .. for use on the 326/363 town routes and on the 362/362A to Amersham & Ley Hill .. also as a Cub Scout got to ride up top of one all the way down to Gilwell Park on edge of Epping Forest (Buckinghamshire Scout Association had hired 3 RML’s to take all the local scouts/Cubs to the Jamboree being held there.. don’t remember the Jamboree much ... but that ride in the RML will stay with me for ever) ...so for me a green RML is perfection ... be it in LT Country Area Green with Cream Band ... LCBS Dark Green with Canary Yellow Band & iconic flying polo logo (my personal favourite ... and preserved on one of Wycombe’s original batch RML2412) or even the dreaded NBC leaf green with white band looks good on a RML!

@alexeatonexploresamerica5511 2 жыл бұрын

@@Routemaster4Hire ENJOYED THE VIDEO. THANK YOU

@colinmiles1052 2 жыл бұрын

Soooo.. Good! You deserve a medal! Keep up the great work!

@Routemaster4Hire 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! 😃

@peterkean5907 3 жыл бұрын

Hi guy's, spent the past day or catching up with all your videos. Have to say they've been a great watch, entertaining and informative. Keep up the fantastic work on your marvellous vehicles.

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Peter, thanks for binge-watching our videos, glad you enjoyed them. If you haven't done so already make sure you subscribe as we try and bring out a new episode every 3 weeks - the next one will be out on Easter Sunday.

@mrbigstuff1966 2 жыл бұрын

We use to do a monthly rota service called a FFD(free from defect) I love working at London Transport Shepherd Bush bus garage.

@sheiladunk7583 3 жыл бұрын

👍👍👍cheers, roly.

@mannythelimodriver6003 3 жыл бұрын

“That was bollocks wasn’t it” 😂😂😂😂😂

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Sometimes I have a habit of talking bollocks. 😂😂😂😂😂

@leejones5849 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for another good video guys and for the outtakes at the end they always make me laugh. I’m glad the bus passed its MOT. I found it really interesting to see how are you prep the bus beforehand. All of you keep up the good work I look forward to the next video.👍

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it.

@michaelkeen5010 3 жыл бұрын

Loved the out takes at the end.👍

@Big.Al.3 3 жыл бұрын

Another very interesting film. Glad everything went well 👍

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Michael, glad you enjoyed it.

@andicog 3 жыл бұрын

Another great video, love your channel.

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much!

@petersmith4455 2 жыл бұрын

i there.great video,good to see the flexi exhaust replaced. i seem to remember when working at AEC in southall we used to get our exhaust silencers from Burgess and also some air cleaners for the army vehicles,i dont think this company excists anymore, well done to keep these going

@johnboytd 3 жыл бұрын

I remember seeing and taking a couple of pictures of her a few years ago at Tarbert , the junction of the A82 & A83, She looks better now than she did then!!

@TheFlyingBusman 3 жыл бұрын

It’s very clear you are very fastidious about the presentation of your vehicles and maintain them thoroughly. No surprises at the clean bill of health and MOT pass. Credit to you.

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you Gary.

@andyclark1426 2 жыл бұрын

Cant beat being on the chassis wash as an apprentice for punishment duty, I always used a cane to hit the seats to make sure they were clean, if not then the cleaners were on it pronto

@somewhereinthecity 2 жыл бұрын

Will you ever do a resto or video on a Daimler Fleetline? Sure, they aren't Routemasters, but they are cool in their own right.

@warweezil2802 3 жыл бұрын

As ever a credit to you and the team. I often wonder .... if it’s just my imagination... but some of those numbers seem familiar (numbers geek) from South West London. Still miss riding RMs every day, and will always have some regret at being told by LT I was too tall to apply for crew operation (and I firmly declined their opo offer). Upside was I took a different route (see what I did there?) and eventually got to enjoy the return of ‘38 tube stock to the Northern line. Ok it wasn’t the RM drive I had always wanted but the ‘38s were a nice drive too I discovered. Keep up the good work, hopefully one day I’ll see and hear one of your proper “unmolested” RMs on the road.

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Chris, have you seen Ians Bus Stop? This website lists all the Routemasters (in number order) together with the garages and overhaul dates for each bus... www.countrybus.org/RM/RM7g00.html

@kbrickell4732 2 жыл бұрын

I used to inspect before jet wash and after. jet washing can remove evidence of a problem

@tonybarfield5148 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you for making this video. I learn 't a lot the points system. Have you ever re silvered the under side of vehicles before test?

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Tony, Yes we have although not for an MOT. RM765 was silvered when the b-frame was changed a few years ago.

@georgethomas7814 3 жыл бұрын

going to need to respray the chassis next time around

@davidluck4608 Жыл бұрын

Have you been able to “keep” and maintain the original AEC AV590……? Only every video I’ve seen on KZfaq usually has the owner changing the engine to another manufacturer, which spoils the vehicle completely. I worked at the Windmill Lane Factory for seven years, serving an apprenticeship, and find it very demoralising to have a brilliant engine scrapped in favour of what I would say is an inferior engine by a rival manufacturer. Decades ago AEC in partnership with Harry Ricardo performance engineering pioneered the development of the modern six cylinder Diesel combustion chamber. AEC engines start better than others in very cold conditions and also sound a lot better than other makes.😇

@christopherrichards7486 2 жыл бұрын

Question Can you entrust The Double Decker with an RV?

@smurf302 3 жыл бұрын

whats the ALX400 in the background?

@rickelliott4130 Жыл бұрын

keep the buses red and the MOT green

@alexeatonexploresamerica5511 2 жыл бұрын

THAT IS WHAT YOU CALL A MESSY JOB

@BillMrWild 3 жыл бұрын

Always interesting to watch your videos, can you tell me the red paint that you use is it LT bus red or ir there another name for it,? thank you very much for posting...

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Bill, thanks for watching our videos. The paint code we use is RAL3001 although some people use RAL3002. There is not much difference in between the two shades.

@michaeldance1122 3 жыл бұрын

I'm glad the bus passed the MOT I assume you carried out King pin wear, wheel bearings, steering locks, axle lift checks etc, as these are all omitted from the video. RM steering pads are very prone to uneven wear, which resulted in poor steering. The gap on the axle beam normally around 4 to 5 thousands of an inch. So often the cause of drivers complaints re steering, are the pads.

@MrAE2780 3 жыл бұрын

ex Tinsley Lane?

@michaeldance1122 3 жыл бұрын

@@MrAE2780 No, London Transport Chiswick/Aldenham apprentice. Transferred to country buses on completion of apprenticeship.

@MrAE2780 3 жыл бұрын

@@michaeldance1122 I thought you may have worked at GD or CY with my father, your name "rang a bell", I purchased a Mini years ago off some one with your same name!

@michaeldance1122 3 жыл бұрын

@@MrAE2780 what is his name?

@MrAE2780 3 жыл бұрын

@@michaeldance1122 Ken

@collihill 3 жыл бұрын

put stands under the lifts

@malcolm6951 2 жыл бұрын

Do your buses need MOT every 12 months like cars or is it different?

@Routemaster4Hire 2 жыл бұрын

Yes MOT every year and a safety inspection every 8 weeks.

@malcolm6951 2 жыл бұрын

@@Routemaster4Hire thanks

@michaeldance1122 3 жыл бұрын

Gentlemen, you haven't replied to my observations about the front axle! They are basic items when carrying out a pre-MOT check.

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

Hi Michael, apologies for not replying sooner. Yes indeed all the checks you mentioned are carried out, not only when prepping the buses for MOT but on every safety inspection too. Unfortunately, when editing footage some clips do end up being omitted from the finished video, as was the case with these checks.

@Rosario19580 2 жыл бұрын

Where are you guys based ????

@Routemaster4Hire 2 жыл бұрын

Wrexham, North Wales.

@enochpowel3030 3 жыл бұрын

But surely that bus was in use. What if an inspector had turned up and found all the faults?

@Routemaster4Hire 3 жыл бұрын

These faults are not serious enough to get a prohibition at a roadside inspection. Plus I highly doubt they would have been spotted as inspectors don’t crawl under the bus at the roadside.