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Bus Boy 39
Top Member
USA
1315 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 2:48:32 PM
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My bus as well as all other buses have onstop chains. What are they used for? Do the wrap around the tires? |
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Cody
Top Member
United States
1630 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 2:53:06 PM
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These chains are used for better traction in the snow/ice. They wrap around the tires. If they are automatic, it's easier for you. And if they aren't...well have fun on the ground |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 2:58:16 PM
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Chains, in many cases, are just a waste of money if you ask me, except in some situations, such as if you have buses in the Lake Tahoe-area, as an example.
We have some operations in my area that spec chains, but there is really no need. Large buses are so heavy, they can get through 8+ inches of snow with not much of a fight. If you have that much snow, no real reason to have school anyway (unless you're in an area who gets it every day!) |
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Drew19
Top Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:01:24 PM
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THE LCPS Buses have the automatic chains where you press a button you have to get up to a certin speed to release them like 45 or 25 MPH (forget how much it is) and to put them away. |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:03:49 PM
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Chains in Virginia? Call me crazy, but that seems ridiculous. |
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CrownBus1
Top Member
USA
633 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:12:05 PM
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The newer (say post 1995) buses in my district have automatic chains. The older ones don't, and the drivers have to put them on themselves. They really don't have much choice putting the chains on because every time we get more than a few inches of snow the highway patrol requires all vehicles (buses, cars, trucks, whatever) to put chains on. This is because I live in the Southern CA mountains where all the roads are very steep and windy. |
Bus 1 1985 Crown |
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IC
Top Member
USA
3413 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:28:34 PM
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Hey Richard, don't confuse Virginia with Florida! It snows here...sometimes a LOT....granted not near as often as NY. Icy roads are a bigger problem, all ya need is H2O and a temp of 32F or below....both of which are quite common in Virginia in the winter.
All our buses have chains but they are rarely used....mainly because they close schools (or open late) at the first snowflake. They are gunshy after what happened a few years ago....they gambled, opened the schools and wrecked 36 buses that day! |
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Drew19
Top Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:45:47 PM
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Some of Loundoun county are in the Mountains and they get the snow alot. Lcps gets off a lot more then some of the county's near us.
Was that last year IC? I remeber going to southlakes and I hit the brakes and the abs kick in it was so icy. |
Edited by - Drew19 on 08/23/2005 3:47:10 PM |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:49:47 PM
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It is a little ridiculous, however, Loudoun County still has MANY undeveloped areas that do not get plowed in the event of snow, and since the rest of the county does, school must go on, so they have chains to help on those un-plowed roads! |
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Drew19
Top Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 3:56:12 PM
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Also where my cousin lives in Winmester county maryland right near PA, they get lots of snow and a little cooler then the rest of maryland and, northern va, |
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thomas91
Advanced Member
USA
212 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 4:55:04 PM
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Anyone ever operated a four-wheel drive school bus? |
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thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 5:59:50 PM
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We don't close unless we have at least 6 inches of snow, maybe less if there is enough blowing and drifting. We do not have chains on our buses. If you have a lot of steep roads then they sound like a good idea to me. As for flat terrain it seems as if chains are not necessary. School should be called off at the first site of ice, it is extremely dangerous and buses should not be driving in it. |
If you have an International, you NEED customer service. |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 6:04:19 PM
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IC, do we have automatic chains, or do you have to pull them out manually? Here we close at the idea that it will snow, we close if it is in the forecast, gosh we are babies! LOL. We closed one day because it was GOING to be too cold! |
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Drew19
Top Member
USA
651 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 6:07:19 PM
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In the county that you live in ic re you don't have automatic chains you have to prop the bus and up and put it on. you can tell if you bus has automatic chains and see it under the bus and you can hear the chains when the bus is in motion, THE lcps HDX and has a button for the automatic chains and it look like a missile button. |
Edited by - Drew19 on 08/27/2005 3:59:30 PM |
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IC-RE
Top Member
USA
4117 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 6:11:26 PM
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Oh, ok, thanks Drew19! If there is ever snow, our schools aren't open so I will never see them on a bus! |
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IC
Top Member
USA
3413 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 6:44:30 PM
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IC-RE.....no automatic chains on our buses, though I hear County fire engines have them. They are regular chains in a canvas bag stored in a side compartment. Also provided is a wooden "chock block", which is a piece of 4X6 with an angle cut on one end. You place the chock block in front of the INSIDE tire and drive the bus up onto the block. This raises the outside tire off the ground so you can put the chains on it. (Only the outside tire gets chains). |
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Superamic
Active Member
44 Posts |
Posted - 08/23/2005 : 7:03:14 PM
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I remember years ago the tire chains in a box under one of the last-row seats (old gas-engined Wayne conventionals and similar). However, I don't think the newer, heavier diesel buses (e.g. All-Americans) being spec'ed in many of our local districts are being supplied with them. |
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YardBird
Advanced Member
USA
427 Posts |
Posted - 08/26/2005 : 07:46:24 AM
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quote: Originally posted by Bus Boy
My bus as well as all other buses have onstop chains. What are they used for? Do the wrap around the tires?
We have Onspot chains here in our district. Lots of steep hills and narrow, winding roads here. They're used as traction devices. They work pretty much like regular old chains, just they're easier to put on and stow-just flip a switch.
The business end of the Onspot looks kinda like a star made out of chains that spin on a central hub attached to an arm that goes to an air chamber. When you activate them, the arm drops until a little rubber wheel contacts the inside of the inner rear tire (This is what "powers" the chainwheels) and the inner tire runs over the chains that are now spinning at ground level. Because the chains are friction powered by the tire-the chains just keep getting thrown under the wheel as long as it is rolling.
The reason you have to be moving to engage/disengage the chains is because if you're stationary when you drop them, they won't go under the wheel. If you're stopped on top of them, they won't raise until you start moving again. |
Sure! I'll pick your kid up closer to the house... Widen your front door!
"I LOOOOOVE MY UNION!" |
Edited by - YardBird on 08/26/2005 07:47:48 AM |
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deleon
Senior Member
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 2:47:39 PM
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well in buckingham va we are just like ic-re say there are and we close and we have chains on the buses and we have used them before but they mess up the under body of the bus and it is a big problem that some time they over look them and dont care about them |
DeLeon Anderson bus 20 |
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Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 08/27/2005 : 6:41:11 PM
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quote: we have used them before but they mess up the under body of the bus and it is a big problem that some time they over look them and dont care about them
The chains mess up the chassis/under body of the bus? Yeah, I find that hard to believe. |
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Salaskie
Advanced Member
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2005 : 12:31:58 PM
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Go to the OnSpot web site. They have a wonderful description of how they work, plus video. I use the site for training purposes also. InstaChains have one also. |
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deleon
Senior Member
USA
133 Posts |
Posted - 08/30/2005 : 06:33:22 AM
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quote: Originally posted by Rich Solano
quote: we have used them before but they mess up the under body of the bus and it is a big problem that some time they over look them and dont care about them
The chains mess up the chassis/under body of the bus? Yeah, I find that hard to believe.
that was what my driver told me that why dont use them |
DeLeon Anderson bus 20 |
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