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The Exclusive Maintenance Resource for the Transit and Motorcoach Industries.
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the exclusive maintenance resource for the transit and motorcoach industry
auGust.2013 busridemaintenance.com
Seven tips for a clean garage p6
More partsdelivered
fasterp4
2 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | a u G u s t. 2013 busridemaintenance.com
More parts delivered faster New programs and partnerships expand the capabilities of ABC Companies Parts Division By David Hubbard
Vol. 03 • No. 08
Publisher / Editor in Chief Steve Kane
Associate PublisherSali T. Williams
Editor David Hubbard
Managing EditorRichard Tackett
Art DirectorStephen Gamble
Production Director Valerie Valtierra
Accountant Fred Valdez
POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to:
BUSRide Magazine4742 North 24th Street, Suite 340
Phoenix, Arizona 85016Phone: (602) 265-7600
Fax: (602) 277-7588 busridemaintenance.com
A publication of:
BUS industry SAFETY council
LETTER FROM THE INDUSTRY
Boris Zenten, Product Support TechnicianMotor Coach Industries (MCI), Schaumburg, IL
Coolant does much more than simply protect your engine from freezing up during the winter months. Proper coolant mixes protect your engine from the ravages of combustion.
It is a fact that the number-one failure in the cooling system is cylinder wall cavitation. Cavitations occur at the liner face where the cylinder wall contacts the coolant.
Why does this happen? It’s really quite simple. In fact, the next time you boil water on a stove, pay close attention to the inside of the pot. As the water heats, you will see bubbles forming at the bottom of the pot. These bubbles are actually the water separating into its gas components, hydrogen and oxygen.
In an improperly maintained coolant system, these bubbles will occur around the liner. As the gases recombine under the pressure of the cooling system, they cause a microscopic explosion that creates a pit on the face of the liner. If the system is not maintained, the pit will continue to grow to the point that the liner wall will deteriorate and cause a catastrophic engine failure (remember: Liquids are not compressible. Something has to give).
No matter what you do, a certain amount of metallic material will eventually contaminate the system. This is why most engine and coolant manufacturers recommend an interval for complete coolant change-out.
Our tips:• Maintain a 50/50 coolant mix (equals -34° F)• Use test strips to maintain coolant pH as recommended by your
engine manufacturer• Replace your coolant as recommended by your engine and
coolant manufacturer
CONTENTSAUGUST 2013
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LETTER FROM THE INDUSTRY
PRODUcTS aND SERvIcES
DEPARTMENTS
Seven best practices to keep your garage cleanA clean facility is safer and more efficientBy Karen Hamel
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 3
PRODUCTS & SERVICES
CST offers Crouzet DPDT sealed switchCustom Sensors and Technologies (CST) specializes in sensing, control and motion products that provide customizable components
for mission-critical systems that include transportation markets.
Representing the Crouzet company, it offers the DPDT sealed limit/auxiliary switch for valves and actuators with wire
output that meets IP66/IP67 requirements. It works on any application requiring two-pole synchronized switching; and at very low actuating speed.The unit features:
• Double break (ZA), DPDT snap action switch• Synchronized two-pole switching• Current rating 6A, 250Vac • Version with gold plated contacts for control signal• Temperature range -40°C to 85°C• Up to 5,000,000 mechanical cycles• UL and IECEx approval: consult Crouzet
Custom Sensors and Technologies (CST)Moorpark, CA
Eaton multiplex module expands vehicle controlAvailable through Peerless Electronics Inc., the Eaton high-performance electronic multiplex switch module provides increased flexibility and sealing ratings for buses and other specialty vehicles with a comprehensive and simple dash-panel switch solution. Eaton multiplexing technology allows users to reduce the complexity and cost of harness wires and reduces the overall weight of the vehicle. Reduced wiring translates into more space in the cab, lower system costs and less installation time. The modules feature LED backlit graphics with standard top, center and bottom LED lighting. The electronic multiplex switch module can incorporate customizable graphics or industry-standard laser etching.
Peerless ElectronicsBethpage, NY
Three levels of Oil Eater Flex Line parts washersKafko International recently introduced Oil Eater Flex Line ready-to-use parts washers with basic, premium and professional level features.The water-based systems have a modular design, interchangeable features and add-on options.Basic level unit is a 440-pound-capacity work tray; flow-thru brush with adjustable fluid control; adjustable goose neck spigot; Oil Eater skimmer pads; stainless steel drain screen; 26-gallon soaking capacity and a thermally protected 350 GPH pump.The premium model adds a preset fluid heater, low fluid level protection switch and a secondary 50 micron fluid filtration.The professional model adds a high-impact HDPE lid, pump protector drain magnet, 20-piece cleaningbrush kit and 10w moisture resistant LED work light.Add-on options include a washable-reusable stainless steel filter, drain magnet and stainless steel parts basket.
Kafko InternationalSkokie, IL
Gates releases PolarSeal® II clamp assortment system
The new PolarSeal® II clamp assortment system is a kit that contains hand-held tools to create A/C barrier hose assemblies directly on vehicles without the need for expensive traditional crimping methods. The assortment eliminates the need to stock large quantities of pre-made hose assemblies.The system includes:
• 50 clamps in five sizes; color coded for easy identification• Specially designed Gates ratcheting pliers • Compact I.D. hose cutter for on-vehicle repair• Hose cutter replacement blade• Clamps with a positioning guide for proper alignment
The compartmentalized plastic toolkit organizes all the pieces and includes labels with product barcodes for easy re-stocking. The ratcheting pliers do not release until the crimp is complete, reducing the risk of leaks and comebacks.
Gates CorporationDenver, CO
4 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | a u G u s t. 2013 busridemaintenance.com
New programs and partnerships
expand the capabilities of ABC Companies Parts Division
W hen ABC Companies, Faribault, MN, purchased the longtime parts providers Muncie Transit Supply in Indiana and Baker Transit in Sombra,
OT, Canada, in 2007, the expansion of its parts operations was under way. Building on the success and momentum gained from marrying up with those two entities, the company says it is creating an all-inclusive parts outlet for all bus and coach operators throughout North America.
“In the transit world, part numbers are a coveted commodity,” says Hugh McElvaney, ABC Companies director of Parts Sales. “If people say cash is king, part numbers rank just as high in the aftermarket parts business.”
He says the acquisition of Muncie-Baker allowed ABC Companies to significantly increase its database of part numbers, especially on the transit side. With more recognized part numbers in the system, the more customer needs can be satisfied.
“We find it just as important to understand the part number for a five-dollar O-ring as it is for an engine, brake, suspension or body part,” McElvaney says. “If our system recognizes parts numbers from a bid or a specification, we can successfully quote it. If not, we do research to find that number.”
The expansion also increased the number of vendors the company can work with, which increased their purchasing power in the process.
ABC Companies says it also has been able to provide easier access to parts for operators in Canada because of Baker’s focus on the Canadian market.
“We have noticed over the last several years, with the economy such as it is, that operators small or large, local or national, want to purchase parts in smaller quantities more often with higher turns and without waiting,” says Shaun Huxford, ABC Companies vice president, Parts Division. “The impetus after our purchase of Muncie-Baker was to get the parts closer to the customers. We needed to expand our distribution footprint once we recognized that customers were placing a premium on not having to wait.”
Huxford says the growing network of outlets and online access allows the company to offer customers in any location the broadest possible choice and options to purchase parts.
“We realized we couldn’t accomplish this from just a couple of hubs,” he says. “In this day and age, the customer has a reasonable expectation of a 24-hour turn around.”
With the startup service operation in Redwood City, CA, in 2011 and the acquisition of Hudson Body in 2012, along with a proposed expansion of the Grand Prairie, TX, service center, the aim has been simply to get the parts closer to the customer.
Huxford says using less expensive and often less reliable freight providers to deliver parts has never been an option to reduce costs.
More partsdelivered
faster
By David Hubbard
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 5
“We are continuing to partner with FedEx, which we regard as the most reliable freight provider in the country,” he says. “When a company chooses a low-cost freight provider solely to cut costs, the customer usually pays by enduring delays, damage and lost shipments.”
According to Huxford, the company has increased inventory offerings by 30 percent at a time when the trend is to reduce inventory as a cost-cutting measure.
“We have elected to expand our inventory to correspond with the expansion of our primary distribution points,” he says. “As operators respond to this initiative, we are selling more and the turn rate has improved.”
Huxford says customers want quality at a good price, but they first want it to be easy and accessible.
New partnerships In an agreement with IBP Industries, Apopka, FL, ABC
Companies is now the exclusive full service provider for IBP products in North America. IBP is a leading designer and fabricator of body components for the motorcoach and mass transit markets, offering an inventory of body parts for major coach models such as MCI, GILLIG, Prevost and other OEM brands.
“This is an important initiative for ABC Companies and our customers,” says Dane Cornell, CEO and chairman of ABC Companies. “Our exclusive partnership greatly enhances the ABC Parts business capability and significantly expands inventory levels of body parts available under the ABC Select Parts offerings.”
Haldex —ABC Companies says through new partnerships with other suppliers, operators will see more parts available in more categories. Haldex is one such supplier. Recognized throughout the industry for its slack adjusters and brake parts, the company is also gaining momentum for its remanufacturing capabilities of items such as air compressors, starters and relay valves, Huxford says.
“So many operators, especially transit agencies, once operated their own remanufacturing facilities,” he says. “Because of cost-cutting measures they have instead had to reach outside for remanufactured products. Working with Haldex, we have been able to gain a lot of business from companies who still appreciate the value of remanufactured parts and components.”
Fleet Fueling — ABC Companies purchased Fleet Fueling in 2011 as a full service provider, gaining the capability to design and install a tramway system that promotes a clean, safe refueling environment at busy transit fueling lanes. The purchase of Fleet Fueling has offered ABC Companies an additional opportunity to continue the partnership with transit authorities outside of the typical parts world.
Changes to customer serviceABC Companies also enhanced its customer call center
headquartered in Winter Garden, FL. A new Oracle operating system expedites order entry, while an increased customer service staff fields more one-on-one conversations. In addition to these in-house changes, ABC Companies increased its team of on-the-road parts salespeople to personally visit any coach or transit customer in any state.
As the company becomes immersed in transit parts, McElvaney recalls the early challenge of training his field reps to include visits to nearby transit authorities as they called on motorcoach customers.
“It was a change in sales strategies for the team”, he says. “For example, where a motorcoach operator might buy filters by the dozen, a transit agency would buy those same filters by the pallet.”
Familiarizing the company and sales force with the complex regulatory procedures in public transit procurements was another challenge, McElvaney says.
“Not long ago, transit agencies would only accept the lowest bid from a supplier and then be held hostage on delivery,” he says. “With ABC Companies now able to offer one-day delivery
of parts almost anywhere in the country, transit agencies are more willing to consider and accept faster delivery rather than pricing alone.”
Muncie Transit Supply serves as the main distribution hub for transit parts, where motorcoach operators generally receive shipments from the Florida facility. With strategically placed service centers around the country, however, ABC Companies also inventories specific parts at those locations to enable faster regional distribution to their customers.
“As a goal to establish a tighter partnership with our customers, we continue to ask which specific items are most critical to their daily operation,” McElvaney says. “We then maintain an ample supply of those parts at one of our service centers closest to their facility.”
6 BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | a u G u s t. 2013 busridemaintenance.com
S hop cleanliness often takes a backseat in the rush to keep a large fleet running and on the road.
Employees are more likely to be injured in a messy shop. Repairs and maintenance also take longer in messy shops because time is lost searching for tools or clearing workspaces.
Because no company has time to close their shop to perform a major cleaning, here are seven best practices to tidy up the maintenance
area in less than 10 minutes a day.Some are familiar and none are expensive to perform.
Get rid of clay
Clay-based loose absorbents actually do more damage than good in
the shop, whether it is a commercially bagged industrial floor sweep or cat litter. It may look like clay is cleaning up a spill but it is really not doing much. Because clay particles are solid, the liquid is only coating the outside of each particle.
That liquid can seep back out and lead to slip and fall injuries, especially if mechanics perceive the floor to be safe because they see clay scattered everywhere.
The dust from clay is also damaging. It gets into engines, tools and parts causing premature wear. A one-hour ASTM wear test shows that just 20 clay particles can reduce part life by 20 percent. Clay is also a health hazard as it contains crystalline silica, a known carcinogen.
Switching to absorbent mats and socks eliminates these hazards. Once the mats are saturated, simply pick them up the saturated mats and replace with another.
Prepare for spills
No one plans a spill but they happen and interrupt workflow. The faster a spill is contained and cleaned up, the sooner everyone gets back to work.
Create a list of the kinds of liquids in what volumes that could spill. This helps determine the product and tools and needed for response. A five-gallon spill may only require a few absorbents, while a 500-gallon spill may require dikes and vacuum trucks.
Keep containers closed
Because containers with stubborn safety latches and tight bolt-rings can be difficult to open and close, workers often leave them fully or partially open between uses. This increases the likelihood of spills. Open containers can lead to indoor air quality issues that may affect worker health as well as the
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best practices to keep your garage cleanA clean facility is safer and more efficient
By Karen Hamel
Absorbent mats and socks are a good alternative to clay-based absorbents.
busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE 7
The faster a spill is contained and cleaned up, the sooner everyone gets back to work.
environment. Solvents with VOCs are prime candidates for emitting hazardous vapors into the air, but practically every liquid evaporates and can therefore contribute to an unhealthy atmosphere.
Consider transferring liquids into labeled, reusable containers that have automatic closures or are easier to close when not in use.
Maintain fluid transfer areas
Bulk fluid dispensing racks and fluid transfer stations with leaky drum pumps say a lot about a shop. It only takes a few seconds to wipe up incidental leaks and drips in these areas. Stock cleaning supplies in the immediate area, because it is less likely workers will make the effort to search out cleaning products.
Banish shop towels
Rented shop towels may be convenient but not the best option for wiping and cleaning. A recent study found that all sampled clean shop towels contained heavy metals and other contaminants, which can cause dermatitis and other health problems when used on the hands and face.
Disposable wipes keep workers safe and are good for everything from personal hygiene to lint-free detailing.
Keep aisles and exits clear
Slips, trips and falls are the number one cause of injuries and lost time at work. Keeping aisles, exits and walkways free from spills, debris and clutter is the best preventive effort. Use floor-marking tape or industrial-grade paints to identify aisles, exits and walkways. Challenge everyone in the shop to keep boxes, parts and tools away from thesedesignated areas.
Eliminate clutter
A well-organized workspace is safer because the dangers from clutter have been eliminated. Removing the clutter may take some time, but the garage will be much cleaner once all the obsolete and extraneous items have been removed. An organized workspace is safer because the tools, parts and equipment at each workstation are in a designated space that is easy to access.
Take 10
If a shop is generally kept in good order, using basic good housekeeping practices throughout the day, 10 minutes at the end of each shift is often enough to sustain a cleaner and safer shop.
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Karen Hamel is a technical services writer for New Pig.
