| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
skoolbus guy
Senior Member
Canada
160 Posts |
 Posted - 12/15/2001 : 06:43:15 AM
|
Anyone ever drive the old 70's model fords with the white grilles? Did yours also use a ruxle for the manual trans?
Why would they bother with a ruxle on a school bus? (If anyone doesn't know what i'm talking about, the ruxles where indicated by big red push-pull button on the stick)
The first bus i rode on was (Maybe) a 1973 model Thomas. It was a nice old bus (even though i'm not a ford fan!)I only rode on it for one year then it had a major breakdown and was junked. that was in 88'
|
|
|
Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 06:56:18 AM
|
My parents used to own a 70's Chevy dump truck which had this weird green button mounted on the side of the shifter.Is that a ruxle or whatever its called?It had something
to do with the transmission.
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
Posts dedicated to 87-24 |
 |
|
|
skoolbus guy
Senior Member
Canada
160 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 07:15:40 AM
|
quote:
My parents used to own a 70's Chevy dump truck which had this weird green button mounted on the side of the shifter.Is that a ruxle or whatever its called?It had something
to do with the transmission.
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
Posts dedicated to 87-24
yep, that would be the ruxle!
|
|
|
|
kd4jfd
Top Member
USA
1168 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 10:27:29 AM
|
2 things:
1. I rode a GM/Thomas in the 70's as a kid. I enjoyed it.
2. What you are calling a ruxle is the switch used to change the 2-speed axle.
|
|
|
|
skoolbus guy
Senior Member
Canada
160 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 2:32:22 PM
|
quote:
2 things:
1. I rode a GM/Thomas in the 70's as a kid. I enjoyed it.
2. What you are calling a ruxle is the switch used to change the 2-speed axle.
oh, I understood that was a ruxle switch. Thanks for the input!
|
|
|
|
Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 6:12:56 PM
|
Those 70's GM trucks were enjoyable to ride in (Except for the one I rode in when you hit a bump because it had the tires used before radials).I nearly hit my head on the cab roof when we hit a bump one time.What exatcly is the switch thing for?
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
Posts dedicated to 87-24 |
|
|
|
Silas J.
Top Member
USA
938 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 6:14:12 PM
|
Never mind about the last sentence in my last post.
Silas J.
97-12 It will outrun your bus.
Posts dedicated to 87-24 |
|
|
|
VanHool21
Senior Member
USA
52 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 6:14:54 PM
|
The Fords our district had did not have 2 speed axles.Usually you could start off in 2nd gear,but if you were loaded and on a hill,1st gear was necessary.1972 was the last year our district bought manual transmissions.These buses were pretty reliable,but were retired in 1980,so its been over 20 years since I have been on a bus with a manual transmission...how time flies!!!
|
|
|
|
skoolbus guy
Senior Member
Canada
160 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 6:44:50 PM
|
quote:
The Fords our district had did not have 2 speed axles.Usually you could start off in 2nd gear,but if you were loaded and on a hill,1st gear was necessary.1972 was the last year our district bought manual transmissions.These buses were pretty reliable,but were retired in 1980,so its been over 20 years since I have been on a bus with a manual transmission...how time flies!!!
manuals are all we use up here and we have a fleet of over 100! we only have a handfull of automatics! Although we have a lot of rural roads in our district this may be why.
|
|
|
|
thomas86_a
Top Member
USA
4413 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 7:28:11 PM
|
I wish we still had manuals. The last one we had was my old 86, and that is now gone.
Thomas Built Buses- The best buses on the road.
Posts dedicated to 86-A. The best will never be forgoten.
|
|
|
|
skoolbus guy
Senior Member
Canada
160 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 7:32:42 PM
|
quote:
I wish we still had manuals. The last one we had was my old 86, and that is now gone.
Thomas Built Buses- The best buses on the road.
Posts dedicated to 86-A. The best will never be forgoten.
Was 86 an International? I put a bid on an 85' International/Thomas but didn't win the tender. I am fairly upset! Internationals are pretty good buses.
"Wayne Buses ~ Rest In Peace." |
|
|
|
Buskid
Top Member
USA
3368 Posts |
Posted - 12/15/2001 : 7:45:21 PM
|
We have two real 10-speeds at work & still a dozen or so 5-speeds, but none of the 5-speed w/ 2-speed rear end buses. Although I've seen quite a few older Blue Birds for sale around here with the 5-spd./2-spd. rear end combo., I've never ridden or driven one before.
I've seen some other vehicles (my friend's 1970 fire engine for example) with a similar red switch on the shifter, except it was a control for the Jacob's Brake, not the transmission. I thought that was pretty interesting.
The Buskid - CrownBus32@aol.com - http://www.crownbus.com |
|
|
|
Rich
Top Member
United States
5768 Posts |
Posted - 12/17/2001 : 6:34:36 PM
|
quote:
Anyone ever drive the old 70's model fords with the white grilles? Did yours also use a ruxle for the manual trans?
Why would they bother with a ruxle on a school bus? (If anyone doesn't know what i'm talking about, the ruxles where indicated by big red push-pull button on the stick)
The first bus i rode on was (Maybe) a 1973 model Thomas. It was a nice old bus (even though i'm not a ford fan!)I only rode on it for one year then it had a major breakdown and was junked. that was in 88'
Theres some pictures of a 70's Ford/Bird on my website. Go to www.schoolbusstop.cjb.net then click on Pictures, then Blue Bird, then Ford.
"Blue Bird... Gotta Love Those Birdies!!!"
http://www.schoolbusstop.cjb.net
http://www.geocities.com/jasonsbuspage
http://www.busexplorer.com/schoolbus
|
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
70's model Thomas/Ford
