DANGER....INSPECTION REQUIRED

[truk4u]

Jon,

After looking real close at my panel, it doesn't have the same style bracket as yours. Mine has a steel lip (flat channel) on the two sides and bottom that seems to be be part of the box and is screwed to the bulkhead. It doesn't appear to be a bracket. The box has been tack welded to the bulkhead at the top.

What am I missing? Could mine be better than yours....


IMG_3129_1.JPG
Right side

IMG_3130_1.JPG
Box is tack welded in the dark area below the obvious two spot welds

IMG_3132_1.JPG
Left bottom side

[billbunch47]

Jon I checked my box and all seems good and tight but might as well add my name to the list for a set, Thanks Bill

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Truk,

You do not have the bracket to which the box is riveted. yours appears to have the box built with a flange that is screwed to the bulkhead. The screws have not failed, but on the boxes with the bracket it is the pop rivets holding the box to the bracket which have failed.

Check your door hinge rivets. They are generally the first to fail.

[hobobimmer]

Here is updated list of 35 sets so far.


Here is list I have so far, with addresses.

Richard Barnes (GA)
Larry Beer (WA)
Buzz Browder (FL)
Bill Bunch (SC)
Jim Chaloupka (OH)
Tom Chilcote (GA)
Tony Conder (TX)
Ray Davis (CA)
Gordon Deen (TX)
Gary Deinhard (CA)
Ted DeLorme (TX)
Andre Ducote (FL)
Hector Duplichen (TX)
Eric Faires (TN)
Dale Farley (FL)
Patrick Fix (TX)
Rodger Hang (AR)
Warren Holm (CA)
Paul Horner (FL)
Jim Keller (FL)
Elliott McLeod (WA)
Greg Meiling (OR)
Pete Petree (TX)
George Phillips (IN)
Denny Robb (OH)
Mike Simmons (CA)
Kim Sloan (FL)
Dan Smith (MS)
Michael Terry (GA)
Granvil Tracy (FL)
Larry Walker (CO)
Jon Wehrenberg (TN)
Ken Zittrer (CA)


No addresses yet list.

Jim Shoen (?)
Vivian ______ (NJ)

[Kevin Erion]

I would like to add something to look for when inspecting your rear electrical box. With the door open, you will find on the inside roof an aluminum inner roof attached with rivets. I had 2 of my rivets holding this inner roof broken. This aluminum panel is what Prevost attaches all the relays and other items to. It would not be a good thing if this broke free!

[travelite]

Have you guys considered fastening the bracket to the box with rivnuts instead of rivets?

David Brady
'02 Blue Bird, Wanderlodge, LXi,
Asheville, NC

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Unless the box has fallen down it is a major PITA to drop it down, drill out existing pop rivets and resecure the bracket to the box. The rear of the electric box inside is not accessible because of the masonite board that has been populated with terminals, relays, resistors, diodes and circuit breakers.

Getting the box down and on its face so the pop rivets are accessible involves not only removing the screws holding the brackets to the bus bulkhead, but also cutting a number of nylon ties, removing some small coolant lines and removing the rear oil pressure gauge and sending unit. Without a doubt rivnuts would work but I doubt if many here want to go to the effort.

What the goal is here is to reinforce all boxes that have not had a failure of the pop rivets so the total reliance on the pop rivets is supplemented with a second bracket that can carry some of the load and possibly prevent the pop rivets from failing.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

The prototype angle brackets have been installed and the installation was simple and only took an hour, and that included taking photos.

Eric has been collecting addresses and when the brackets are manufactured the addresses will be used for the shipping labels. This is the last chance for anyone that needs the brackets to reinforce the electric box to let Eric know your address.

Below are photos of the brackets installed.

[truk4u]

I suggest a donation be collected for the brackets and sent to Jon's Daughter's Company for all the work or to Pilots & Paws, Jon's call! How about 30.00 per bus?

[hobobimmer]

Eric has been collecting addresses and when the brackets are manufactured the addresses will be used for the shipping labels. This is the last chance for anyone that needs the brackets to reinforce the electric box to let Eric know your address.

Still need snail mail addresses from Vivian and Jim Shoen. In addition, since the "Install Instructions" will be sent to each of you via email, I will need your email address where you will want "Install Instructions" sent. Sorry I didn't get this information from you all earlier, and I don't know many of the nicknames (screen names) you all use on POG sit, so please send me Private Message (just like you did when sending me your snail mail address) with your email so I can put it next to your name for sending the Install Instructions.

Thank you all.

Eric Faires