33404 - Engine/Gearbox swap
Posted: 16:56 Wednesday 23rd August 2017
33404 has had a gearbox leak for quite a while but unfortunately it's getting worse. Riding back from Buses Festival on Sunday, the driver had to stop as it was so bad it was visible in his mirrors.
Unfortunately it is the gearbox casing that is damaged so there is no easy fix, and they will not buy a new box as the vehicle is now 13-years old and a new gearbox would cost more than the value of the bus. The solution is to swap the engine and gearbox from withdrawn Trident 33039. This will mean that just like 33401 which had a gearbox from 33042, it will only have a 4-speed box and not the original 5-speed box. Hopefully with the 144 service being converted to single-decks when the 59-reg Volvos arrive that shouldn't be an issue, but future bus rallies may be a more sedate affair. The engine from 33404 will then be refurbished and stored as a spare. The gearbox will be scrap.
With this in mind, 31786 has now moved outside (work finished?) and both 33039 and 33404 have moved in doors for the work to start.
Unfortunately it is the gearbox casing that is damaged so there is no easy fix, and they will not buy a new box as the vehicle is now 13-years old and a new gearbox would cost more than the value of the bus. The solution is to swap the engine and gearbox from withdrawn Trident 33039. This will mean that just like 33401 which had a gearbox from 33042, it will only have a 4-speed box and not the original 5-speed box. Hopefully with the 144 service being converted to single-decks when the 59-reg Volvos arrive that shouldn't be an issue, but future bus rallies may be a more sedate affair. The engine from 33404 will then be refurbished and stored as a spare. The gearbox will be scrap.
With this in mind, 31786 has now moved outside (work finished?) and both 33039 and 33404 have moved in doors for the work to start.
Items swapped over include: compressor, hydraulic pump, fuel pumps, engine wiring loom and engine electronic control unit. Plus a steam clean and a lick of paint. Also need to swap the gearbox ECU once its all back in
I would love First to refurbish 33401-5 to include RELIABLE Euro 6 engines, and gearboxes that don't crack-up because of grounding knocks ETC.
