Ep12: ENGINE STRIP DOWN Of A 70 Year Old RED London Double Decker BUS

Рет қаралды 25,888

Жыл бұрын

In this episode we strip the engine as we continue the restoration of our 70 year old London double decker Bus.
What does it take to keep an AEC London double-decker bus on the road?
Built in the 1950's our London buses need constant attention, so if you want to find out what it takes to keep a vintage London bus on the road then make sure you hit subscribe and check-out all our previous workshop maintenance and restoration videos here on KZfaq...
• 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 #double-decker bus

Пікірлер: 110

@tomtonesseppi5077 Жыл бұрын

Dismantling a rotten car are 20%, cleaning, grinding or blasting are another 35%. The rest is painting, mechanical restoration and refitting. Most people deeply underestimate the "dirty" parts of a restauration. So I give a big hand to your restoration!

@griffog2001 Жыл бұрын

Found this channel off the back of Pete & His Bus and have binge watched every episode. 👍🏻

@adriangiddins6065 Жыл бұрын

Good old Lord Barrington....his knowledge is priceless....Well done all.

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words. I do my best. Every day is a learning day as they say.

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 Im very impressed with Tim's knowledge and skills, is Tim currently a bus/coach/ hgv mechanic?

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

@@stefanobio7045 if you mean Tim Hines. No he's an engineer on the railway. Very skilled guy with huge amounts of knowledge ability for his age.

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 Sorry no i meant the other guy who was marking up the engine timing with a centre punch?

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

@@stefanobio7045 thats me. I restore and maintain classic buses for a living but I have a lifelong background in engineering in various forms.

@jonniejam-shovel6405 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for showing the engine strip down. This is a task that the lads in the garages wouldn't be involved in. I think the engine reconditioning was done at Chiswick to my recollection. We certainly wouldn't have the time, or equipment for this type of work. These Buses certainly had a very hard service life. My last garage BK had a fleet of 140 vehicles for service. I think this worked out at about six million service road miles per year. With the privatisation of London Transport, all the overhaul workshops were closed down. Good to see that you've got your own mini Aldenham works there. I'll certainly look forward to your next film. Kind regards Jonnie.

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

Engines out and on the Ford Thames ? Trucks to and from Chiswick to garages if required , otherwise swapped at Aldenham (Chiswick still did the Engine Overhauls). IF This engine is from one of the Country Area Cravens Bodied RTs it has probably done not a lot of mileage - 1949-1956 mostly around Watford, then 7 years in Scotland (cannot think it could have done much - prob construction work sub contracts ? ), a year back in Harold Hill then broken for spares with the engine coming to this bus.

@chrisblay Жыл бұрын

I love watching these strip down and rebuild projects. Takes me right back to my mechanic days. Also, when working on an old engine I would avoid using power and air tools generally. You get much more feel for if something is seized or likely to sheer using hand tools and ratchets. Amazing that engine was running with a broken piston ring.

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

Someone who understands 🙏.

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

Hi Chris......i always use ratchets and breaker bars, no air tools for me, old school engineering.....

@JohnCarder Жыл бұрын

"shear"; engines are not sheep :) But yes, jokes aside you are right, although if you're stripping down very corroded parts they'll probably break anyway, so wizz away with your power tools! (Or use heat if they're not easily replaced at reasonable cost)

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@JohnCarder and spray everything in plus gas, then have a cuppa to allow time to soak into the threads before trying to undo any nuts or bolts......

@dukwdriver2909 9 ай бұрын

I use modern power tools, when appropriate, as my old muscles cannot cope anymore. Took me 1 year to free a main hull drain plug on a DUKW using patience to not damage and hand tools. So I totally agree with your premise. I already had pneumatic shock ratchet and other power tools but, they could have caused serious damage. I have to admit that my modern cordless power wrenches do have advantages at times. I still love my old hand tools that I can "feel". Just as you say. Hope the coming generation can know which to use for the best outcome. Snap it off. centre punch accurately, drill undersize accurately, re-tap to original thread. Never easy and rarely successful.

@piratedjradio Жыл бұрын

Ive been enjoying your videos which i found today, my father was a bus driver for many years. He became a bus driver out of tramway avenue in edmonton north london , he drove trolley busses Rts rms and rmls and later atlantines, tramway avenue was demolished and he was moved to tottenham bus garage where he drove busses till his diabetes began to damage his eyesight. It was then that they discovered he was a great mechanic having served in the REME in wwii he spent the rest of his working life as their trouble shooter taking on all the biggest problems, sadly he passed away aged 53 in 1973 the day after my 18th birthday. as a kid i always found it a great thrill to get on a bus and realise my dad was driving it

@andrewbeer4715 Жыл бұрын

Another great and informative video from Routemaster 4 Hire. I feel for you guys, expecting to simply replace gaskets and finding broken piston rings and scored bores. I bought a Morris Minor in the summer which was supposed to be ready to drive. However, delving more deeply into the paperwork prooved it had not been really used in anger for almost 20 years. Structurally sound, with a good engine and gearbox, but it's fighting my efforts to get it back on the road. Now gaskets and seals are becoming an issue, last week, Mabel, as she shall be known, developed a serious leak from the sump gasket. I couldn't quite believe that, I've never heard of such a thing and now the boot seal is letting in the rain 😕 as well. Your channel has been a real encouragement, the level of repairs that you carry out is amazing and something to inspire me when I'm on my back fixing Mabel in the street. Will she be ready for half term?? Keep up the good work. Cheers Andy

@jamesfrench7299 Жыл бұрын

Good to see what an AEC getting pulled apart looks like. Extraordinary what was being manufactured long ago. Those pistons are big compared to the one I recently took out of a lawnmower engine!

@tonysheerness2427 Жыл бұрын

They were good for one million miles

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@tonysheerness2427 Thats a lot of miles for a lawn mower, must have been large fields?

@martynwilson8775 Жыл бұрын

I believe that the power tool you said is no good, but that tool has a lifetime guarantee

@TheDaf95xf Жыл бұрын

Nice saving that big old engine 👍🏻

@Free_Ranger_CT110 Жыл бұрын

A new R4H video, happy days. I can smell the oil & diesel from here. 😊

@zennor_man Жыл бұрын

Very much enjoyed this episode….use to drive AEC’s back in the day…a lovely engine👍

@markobrien1439 Жыл бұрын

Another great video.....I love watching these strip downs and rebuilds....use to be involved in my younger days stripping and rebuilding Bedford TK 330s and 500....and the Ford D Series engines..... obviously I was just the dogs body to the fitters.....can't wait for the rebuild lads 👍

@briangentle5515 Жыл бұрын

Amazing to see this. I would never have realised that such a small crack or scratch was "deadly" for an engine; it seems such a tiny part of a huge monster! By the way, did I notice a visitor in the form of RMC1490, perhaps in for a spot of servicing?

@nedseagoon5101 Жыл бұрын

As a classic bus custodian myself, I love your content. I had the pleasure of meeting & talking with a lot of your lads at Wythall earlier in the year. They’d rode behind me on RCL2219. I hope they’ve recovered! One ‘criticism’. Your advert quantity option must be turned to Max. They’re very often & very distracting from your excellent videos.

@eyerollthereforeiam1709 Жыл бұрын

That's some delicate use of a forklift!

@Big.Al.3 Жыл бұрын

Yet again another informative film. Great to see you can get help from people that know what there talking about. Can wait to see where this goes. Keep up the good work gents 👍👍

@johncourtneidge Жыл бұрын

Many thanks. You have touched on my second question. At Aldenham Works we know that chassis and bodies were separated and usually never reunited. The same, from your video, seems also the case for two separate refurbishment streams for the engines separate from the engines. Yes? And power trains too? Anyway. Well done all and thank-you.

@jpmaya7284 Жыл бұрын

I know nothing about engines .. but these London Red buses are so beautiful 😍.. well done guys !

@ffrancrogowski2192 Жыл бұрын

Another compelling video to watch in this RT series. There's so many parts to these engines, and a lot of mauling to access the pistons, big end, cams etc. Best of look with any replacements, and thank you for this production.

@malcolmpym507 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Waiting for part two. Expertise is important and it shows with all of you. Good hunting for bearings etc.

@kennyyellop Жыл бұрын

excellent vlog

@johnwaby4321 Жыл бұрын

And now the work begins. Nice job 👍👍👍👍

@paulnolan1352 Жыл бұрын

Well, it was always going to be an overhauled Engine regardless of what state the rings were in. Crank regrind with new main and big end bearings, new or serviced Oil pump. New pistons and rings with rebored Cylinders, head skimmed with new valve seats, valve guides and if the valve faces are pitted, ground and lapped. New valve springs and replace the Rocker bushes. Fuel injectors serviced along with the injector pump and get a service kit for the water pump and starter and Dynamo, all replacement Gaskets and seals. This should giving you a good long lasting Engine. Re Snap-on impact Tools, I have new second hand 3/8 and 1/2 inch guns with the jacket covers on and the plastic cases or doctors bags. Thanks for video but don’t put Emery cloth anywhere near a Crankshaft!.

@johnmichaeldorienjohn467 Жыл бұрын

Amazing work On the Rt Engine strip down, looks like a long Job ahead, keep up the excellent work!

@tonylawlor3503 Жыл бұрын

Most brilliant video, 🤩 waiting for the next one, thank you

@darrencowley8265 Жыл бұрын

Thankyou for a great video 👍👍

@clarencechan1589 Жыл бұрын

Excellent and enjoyable video (as always), watching Dave, Tim, Lord Barrington and team making the best use of their expertise to keep these national treasures running for years to come. P.S. Please send my regards to Lord Barrington. Met him at Putney last Saturday on RT1705 and he told me to keep an eye out for this video!

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

Good to meet you yesterday. Hope you had a great day.

@clarencechan1589 Жыл бұрын

Lord Barrington is in the comment section (trumpets please 🤣) Yes I had a great time riding the national treasure with an AEC engine! A million times more enjoyable than Dartmaster I rode 11 years ago!

@lucythemoggy1970 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 nice to have an education on the engine, I never knew LT engines were different spec to others, more of the same please!

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

IF this engine has not been changed since preservation, it was from Cravens Bodied RT 1409 JXC 172 of Feb 1949. The Cravens Bodied RTs generally didnt get overhauled due to surplus of RTs for service compared to needs and most were sold via the Dealer Birds. RT1409 was broken up by the North London Transport group eventually with the engine going to this bus ( info up to 2019). I am not aware of Roy Gould doing an engine swap on this bus.

@venenareligioest410 Жыл бұрын

Awesome 👍👍👍

@Journeyman53 Жыл бұрын

Missing the tea breaks. :-)

@lucythemoggy1970 Жыл бұрын

never knew that about the LT spec on the piston rings

@davidbassett4577 Жыл бұрын

Another superb Video .. great to see Tim staring alongside Lord Barrington this time Dave. It is amazing how much of a hole in the piston had been worn by that tiny piece of broken piston ring! Looking forward to the next episode.. was that RMC1490 up on the lift? I have had a few journeys in her over the years when she used to be in the white all over advert London Manchester Assurance livery .. being the only RMC to run out of High Wycombe [HE] Garage on her tour round the garages .. running out on the 326 & 363 routes for 2 months every year from end October through November & December in 1973 to 1976.. sadly that came to an end when HE closed on 30/09/1977. I would love to see her back in Wycombe one day at a future Amersham & District Motorbus Society Running Day!

@johngreenwood6611 Жыл бұрын

I was a mechanic for 50 years and I had a lot of snap-on tools you only get life long warranty on hand tools not with air tools or a hand rachet gears just the handle.

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

Halfords have always replaced my damaged ratchets no problems.....i have an old all steel one, it even has an oil hole in the top of the head to allow the ratchet mechanism to be lubricated, it must be 45+ years old, used it most days, its been used outside covered in water and mud, i handed it down to my son who is a light and heavy vehicle mechanic and still using the ratchet......

@martinworrall5888 Жыл бұрын

Yes Milwaukee is the one to buy👍

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

I would suggest the use of a hide hammer for tapping off bearing caps

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

Hence using a very small hammer as no hide hammer available.

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 was it hidden ?

@richardhunt1384 Жыл бұрын

Buy yourself a Milwaukee Impact Gun, just as much power as Snapped Off Gun but half the price..... 400 quid max. Same boat as you were but went for Milwaukee. 😊😊

@jamesfrench7299 Жыл бұрын

I've seen many of Project Farm videos where he tests stuff to the limit and Milwaukee comes out on top or near the top consistently. DeWalt have largely cheaped out now. Hopefully Milwaukee won't go down the mediocrity path.

@jamesbalchin4640 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely brilliant video very educational. You and Lord Barrington need to teach apprentice mechanics stuff like this at colleges man

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

Lord Barrington definately needs his own channel, such a knowledgeable Engineer.

@jamesbalchin4640 Жыл бұрын

@@stefanobio7045 definitely

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@jamesbalchin4640 Unfortunately these type of skills are being taught less and less, due to the high labour costs involved, mechanics are now heavily involved in the electrical / electronic diagnosis side now....

@jamesbalchin4640 Жыл бұрын

@@stefanobio7045 indeed

@timhines6543 Жыл бұрын

There are less and less people who can strip down and repair mechanical things these days. Its a great shame!

@mechanoid5739 Жыл бұрын

I thought SnapOn tools had a lifetime warranty?

@andrewgrimes3708 Жыл бұрын

You need to get your SnapOff power tool replaced FOC under warranty

@TonyLing Жыл бұрын

4:23 Sounds like you are using PCL air fittings with all of that leakage :-)

@timhines6543 Жыл бұрын

A new one too! Only lasted a week

@TonyLing Жыл бұрын

@@timhines6543 I struggle to comprehend why PCL are so popular. They are such a pile of poo.

@dazblack1273 Жыл бұрын

Hi more videos.

@colmornane5684 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I am with a not for profit organisation, we are restoring an AEC Regal Mark III bus here in Aus, for heritage service, it has a 9.6 litre AEC diesel engine in it. Would you have a reliable contact that can supply engine components to allow an engine rebuild to occur? Great video, keeping these old buses on the road is a challenge. Regards a fan from Aus.

@timhines6543 Жыл бұрын

It has taken me months to find the bits from people all over in workshops and back yard sheds. 99% of the parts are simply not out there anymore sadly. If you let me know what you need if you strip the engine down I may be able to assist in some way.

@trevorwilson9183 Жыл бұрын

Is that the same Lord Barrington as on Pete and his bus?

@ianmaddams9577 Жыл бұрын

I believe so

@timhines6543 Жыл бұрын

It is indeed!

@YourLeicesterspotter Жыл бұрын

Awesome and what is the ALX400 doing 0:11

@69uremum Жыл бұрын

Get a Milwaukee impact snap-on is good but too pricey!

@chrisskelhorn5727 Жыл бұрын

Strop down? Was someone a little unhappy? 😲

@blairoutproject Жыл бұрын

So why didn't you use the air ratchet gun for the boltsif the snap on one is fecked ? It appeared in the very next scene.

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

Too lazy to plug the airline in and turn the compressor on. Doesn't really take long with a ratchet and spanner. Just lazy using all these guns etc🤣

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 old school engineering, the best!

@taxidude Жыл бұрын

Does the SNAP ON lifetime guarantee not extend to power tools?

@cedriclynch Жыл бұрын

We see the bus running at the beginning of the video, but we don't get to hear it; we get "music" instead. Imagine if you turned on BBC Radio 1 or Virgin Radio and it was broadcasting the sound of an AEC RT instead of what you expected to hear.

@paulcharlton4788 Жыл бұрын

More likely that the rings break on the wear lip at the top of the bore

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

I agree but you could clearly see where the ring had rusted to the bore only one side so I'd suggest given the lip is very slight that was the cause of the ring failure.

@charlieboyok Жыл бұрын

Wow what a great video , l would like to ask a couple of questions if I may , let's say WCS you can't get parts for the R T engine can.a R M engine fit into an R T bus ? Also who is Lord Barrington never heard of him , mind you l have a good reason , living in Melbourne Australia for 39 years hahaha.

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

You could fit an RM engine but it would mean considerable fabrication of parts to make it fit.

@stefantrnacek1394 Жыл бұрын

I thought Snap On had a life time warranty. I have had tools replaced by them.

@davidward8682 Жыл бұрын

How much is new impact gun

@redbank542 Жыл бұрын

I thought snap on had a lifetime warranty?

@jacksugden8190 Жыл бұрын

Was that Centrewest RMC1492 raised up at 6:45 ?

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

Rmc1490

@jacksugden8190 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 My mistake, the RT’s taking shape, once the pride of LT, if only Aldenham was still open, out of interest, was that RMC now in your ownership, and will it be fully restored?, please can you do a video of this coach.

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

@@jacksugden8190 it was only visiting for an MOT prep and service so it's no longer there. It's owned and operated by regional transport who are friends of ours.

@jacksugden8190 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 Regads 😀

@highpath4776 Жыл бұрын

what actually was noted as being wrong with the engine in the first place ?

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

An oil leak between barrel and crankcase.

@tonysheerness2427 Жыл бұрын

Isn't there an engineering shop that will reline the bearings?

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

There are places that will re white metal bearings but it's an expensive process so tends to be a last resort.

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

Have you attempted to obtain the bearings from "Vandervell" who probably manufactured the originals?

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

@@stefanobio7045 we got the bearings but that's another story for another video.

@stefanobio7045 Жыл бұрын

@@timbarrington3607 Hello Tim, Ok im looking forward to watching that video....i used to work at Vandervell the company who manufactures the bearings, i used to repair all thier machines etc.... Best regards, Stefano

@timbarrington3607 Жыл бұрын

@@stefanobio7045 fantastic. Where are they based?

@john1703 Жыл бұрын

So something on your Snap-on power tool has snapped off. So sorry. 😭

@dukwdriver2909 9 ай бұрын

AEC receive little credit for the engines they produced. Rolls Royce got all the credit for the Merlin in war years. AEC engines powered may war machines and helped rebuild a post war economy with RT and RM Matadors soldiered on for decades of abuse and still make appearances at shows. Time their engineering was recognised even though the people that built them are almost all dead by now.