Hi everyone

Have got a couple of questions here that are pretty simple for you knowledgable oracles!

1. Who and where is the best place for classic bus insurance for a routemaster? I've had a quick browse but can't find any that do online quotes. I'm guessing that because it's a specialist field you would have to ring up for it? And how much is it roughly - a policy for social purposes is fine.

2. Brake accumulators. Now I know that if the accumulators are shot they're about £500 each. Are these new as it were or reconditioned? If £500 is for new, are reconditioned ones cheaper? Are they hard to to recondition? My work place is pretty mechanically savvy and we fix all things so was wondering is it easy and viable to have a go yourself putting in seals etc? Also on this matter, how do you know if brake accumulators are actually shot or just need recharging? If a routemaster has been standing for a while do they naturally leak overtime and with a recharge be fine again? And also how long does a recharge last? Does it depend on the condition of the accumulator?

Any help with these questions would be much appreciated people!

Thanks

Karl

Hi Karl.

The association produces a booklet with suppliers in it which is free on joining. There are around 7 insurance companies. I use Chauncer insurance which a lot of RM users have as their insurance company. try www.rigtoninsurance.co.uk/

On the subject of accumulators, mine has just had them replaced. There are no new ones yet but we are looking at having these remanufactured. There are two types available. Contact Colin the Doc for pricing as he will fit new ones and recharge them at a very reasonable price.Mine were last changed in 1979, so have lasted a good few years. A recharge may be all that is required or even a valve change. If you are not sure what you are doing then get professional help as the brakes are the difference between life and death.

Good luck

david

Karl ,

for your own and the safety of us other road users with our ICONS don't mess with what you don't yet know in the area of these accummulators .

Generally the rule of thumb is this ...if the accummulators require a simply pumpup then what you hear OR feel when operating the brakes is a audible clunk as one of the accummulators will be short of air pressure and the clunk is the piston being pushed one way or other due to lack of air pressure to hold it off .... fully PRECHARGE this pressure will be around 550 PSI .... if it is charged with nitrogen THEN THE PRESSURES WILL LAST generally longer than with AIR and its NOT ordinary air - it must be dried by some means hence the common use of NITROGEN by owners.

Another fault situation with accummulators is the failure of the internal piston seal .... should this happen you will usually get either air in the fluid OR fluid in the air, soft brake feel coupled with limited numebr of applications on the foot pedal ++ air bubbles in the TELLUS TANK will be agood indication that a problem is present and MUST be dealt with ASAP.

Brakes system charged with nitrogen can last much longer than you might think and if the system is in good condition brings its rewards as well in low maintanance costs ..

hth