BUSRide Maintenance August 2014

AUGUST . 2014

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the exclusive maintenance resource for the transit and motorcoach industry

essential

lift safety tips

Brake monitoring technology p4 Wipers and windshield care p5

p6

From The EDITOR Recent actions by the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are putting bus maintenance top-of-mind in mid-2014. The administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) has been laying waste to unsafe bus and bus maintenance operations since its implementation in 2010.

For example, the FMCSA shut down On Eagles Wings Charters, Inc., Lakeville, MN, in June after finding that the company was endangering the public by failing to ensure the safety of its vehicles and drivers. On Eagles Wings represents just one of many operations that have fallen short of CSA requirements in the last four years.

Nearly all of the companies in question failed to follow through on proper bus maintenance.

Vol. 04 • No. 8 Publisher / Editor in Chief Steve Kane steve@busride.com Group Publisher Sali T. Williams swilliams@busride.com Executive Editor David Hubbard david@busride.com

From the FMCSA: Of five [On Eagles Wings Charters] motorcoaches available for dispatch and inspected onsite as part of the federal investigation, four vehicles were immediately ordered out-of-service for serious safety defects. In all, 40 separate safety violations were recorded for the four vehicles, including inoperative brakes and broken frame rails. The fifth motorcoach inspected was cited for inoperative brakes on one axle and multiple air leaks in the braking system, as well as a damaged windshield.

Editor Richard Tackett rtackett@busride.com Art Director Stephen Gamble sgamble@theproducersinc.com

These are egregious violations, to be sure, but how many (normally safe) maintenance operations have been shut down by more minor slip-ups?

Maintenance logs, hours worked and routine diagnostics all affect CSA scoring, and negligence can result in devastating losses for your business.

Production Director Kevin Dixon kdixon@busride.com

Anyone not used to keeping tabs on legislative issues should try to make it a habit going forward as CSA enforcement becomes a paramount issue.

Its development will legitimately affect over-the-road business, so smart operators must be conscientious of updates as they roll in. Stay vigilant and continuously reeducate your mechanics on FMCSA policies – it will make all the difference.

Accountant Fred Valdez fvaldez@powertrademedia.com

AUGUST 2014

CONTENTS

Richard Tackett Editor BUSRide Magazine

On the cover: Five essential lift safety tips

Mohawk Lifts offers advice to stay safe and avoid noncompliance fines

BUS industry SAFETY council

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By Steve Perlstein

Advances in vehicle safety technologies: Part Two

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MGM Brakes highlights air disc electronic brake monitoring technology and addresses confusion about brake pad wear indication

A publication of:

By Tom Wallace

Maintenance tips on wipers and windshield care

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Presented by Trico Products

Departments From the Editor 2

BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | AUGUST.2014

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POSTMASTER: Please send address changes to: BUSRide Magazine 4742 North 24th Street, Suite 340 Phoenix, Arizona 85016 Phone: (602) 265-7600 Fax: (602) 277-7588 busridemaintenance.com busridemaintenance.com

ASK THE EXPERTS

Ask the

Safety Experts Lift Safety

Restraint and wheelchair safety

Q: If rearward facing is the most common method of wheel chair securement in Europe and Canada, why isn’t it more common in the United States?

Q: What is the most overlooked aspect of

lift safety?

A: The most overlooked aspect of lift safety is technician training.

While most people know that anyone who drives a forklift has to watch a safety video and take a test each year, many do not know ANSI requires techs to be trained annually in proper lift use. These training materials are available through the Automotive Lift Institute, your lift manufacturer or local lift inspection company. Hosted

by NASCAR driver Richard “The King” Petty and his son, Kyle, the Lifting it Right video highlights best practices and real-world scenarios along with corresponding test questions. The scored test is then added to the technician’s personnel file.

A: Traditional rear facing systems have not always met the requirements of ADA. Some have offered independence for wheelchair passengers while sacrificing safety; others require driver assistance and invasive maneuvers in order to comply. We are excited to see there is a growing trend towards rear facing in the United States, and we are proud to introduce the Quantum Securement System as the first fully automatic rear-facing wheelchair securement station that combines passenger safety with independence. For more information on the Quantum Securement System visit: http://www. qstraint.com/en_na/products/transit-solutions/quantum

Steve Perlstein 1.800.833.2006 Sales and Marketing Manager www.mohawklifts.com

Mike Laidlaw 1.800.987.9987 Regional Manager – Transit and Rail www.qstraint.com

DO IT ONCE. DO IT RIGHT.

BUY A MOHAWK! LIFTS THAT LAST A LIFETIME! PARALLELOGRAM LIFTS 10 models with capacities from 36,000 to 100,000 lbs. in surface, flush or pit mount.

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19,000 through 120,000 lb. capacity models give complete under vehicle access for trucks & buses.

Call Mohawk today to find out which lift is right for your shop!

www.mohawklifts.com

Phone: 518-842-1431 • Fax: 518-842-1289

1-800-833-2006

busridemaintenance.com | BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE

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Advances

in vehicle safety technologies Second in a two-part series: MGM Brakes highlights air disc electronic brake monitoring technology and addresses confusion about brake pad wear indication

By Tom Wallace VP Electronic Brake Monitoring Systems & General Manager, Transit/Brake Monitoring Business Unit MGM Brakes

Current air disc electronic brake monitoring technology Over the past several years, innovations in electronic brake monitoring have produced viable product offerings that withstand the rigors of commercial vehicle operation.

To the right is an illustration of an Air Disc Electronic Brake Monitoring sensor installed at the vehicle wheel end. With this technology an infra-red (IR) sensor is installed between the brake chamber and the caliper. This technology uses infra-red LED to send a light beam towards the brake chamber push rod, which is reflected back to the infra-red receiver in the sensor. The brake chamber push rod is coated with reflective (red areas) and non-reflective (black areas) materials. When the brake chamber pushrod moves back and forth under the IR sensor, a varying amount of light is reflected back to the sensor. This IR signal when processed by the system Electronic Control Unit (ECU), can determine if the brake actuator and caliper are properly adjusted and working. This Electronic Brake Monitoring System can detect the following brake conditions at each wheel end.

• Non Functioning Brake: The driver depresses the brake pedal but the brake chamber is not properly activating (caused by air system valve problems, ice in the air system, brake chamber failure, broken air lines etc.). This condition can lead to increased stopping distances and potential vehicle instability.

• Over Stroke Brake: The driver depresses the brake pedal but the brake chamber is stroking beyond its acceptable limit (caused by missing brake pads, missing rotor sections, or brake caliper internal adjuster failure etc.). This condition can lead to increased stopping distances, and potential vehicle instability.

• Dragging Brake: The driver has released the brake pedal but the brake chamber or caliper lever arm have not fully returned (caused by air system valve problems, ice in the air system, brake chamber parking spring failure, caliper internal adjuster failure etc.). This condition can lead to hot wheel ends and potential wheel fires.

Advantages of electronic brake monitoring technology The vehicles in your fleet are one of your most valuable and costly assets, not to mention the liability implications if an accident or wheel fire does occur. Keeping your vehicles on the road and ensuring they are operating safely is critical in today’s environment. Add the complexity of being able to fully visually inspect and maintain your vehicles air disc brakes, and a strong case can be made for electronic brake monitoring technology.

The cost of one vehicle total loss, or associated liability costs of a 4

BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | AUGUST.2014

Infra-Red Sensor Pack

Infra-Red Sensor Sends and Receives IR Light

Push Rod with Reflective Target

Brake Chamber

Air Disc Brake Caliper and Brake Chamber with Infra-red Sensing Technology Brake Caliper

vehicle collision, can quickly become a major expense. Electronic Brake Monitoring not only provides real-time brake system status, but also can significantly reduce maintenance costs, by taking the repair technician straight to the problem, and finding brake problems before they become more extensive and costly.

Some advantages of Electronic Brake Monitoring are as follows: • Allows for quick and accurate brake checks in conjunction with the vehicle pre-trip inspection • Can save the fleet operator maintenance downtime and unnecessary maintenance costs • Gives the fleet operator peace of mind knowing that the vehicles brakes are properly operating • Can provide early warning of a thermal issue at the wheel end before it becomes serious A note about brake pad wear indication There is often confusion in the industry about disc brake pad wear indication and what it can provide. Brake pad (or lining) wear detection will only report the thickness of the brake pads, and cannot provide any information about brake status. Brake pad wear sensors simply report either the end of life of the brake pad; while some systems can provide relative pad wear information (i.e. 50% of the pad remains etc.). These pad wear sensing systems, while beneficial, cannot provide any indication as to the status of the vehicles air system, brake chamber, or caliper operation.

6. Conclusion Significant technological advances in Electronic Brake Monitoring are occurring in the industry and these systems can provide significant benefit to the fleet operator and vehicle inspector. Being able to properly inspect and maintain your vehicles air brake system is one of the most important factors in making sure your vehicles are operating safely and to their maximum potential. busridemaintenance.com

Maintenance tips on wipers and windshield care Presented by Trico Products

The American Optometric Association reports that 90 percent of all driving decisions are based solely on visual cues, which means functioning and clean windshield wipers are essential to safe driving.

At each fueling, clean the rubber element and remove loose dirt and road grime from the windshield using a small amount of nonabrasive glass cleaner on a wet sponge.

• Always use an ice scraper to remove snow and ice. Using the wipers to de-ice the windshield can damage the blade as well as the entire arm and wiper motor.

• Repair all windshield chips and cracks. Damaged glass can cut the rubber wiping element and even the smallest nick can lead to the entire windshield breaking.

Know the signs for when to replace windshield wipers: • Deteriorated wipers produce an uneven wipe, which prevents proper contact with the windshield surface.

• Unwiped or streaky areas severely impair driving vision.

• Streaking comes from dry rubber that has hardened and cracked, as well as tree sap, road tar and other foreign substances on the blade rubber.

• Chattering as the blade passes across the windshield comes from the “permanent set” or “curve” in the rubber that some wiper blades develop when they are not in use for long periods.

• Worn and general rounding of the wiping edge is a sign to replace the wiper blades.

• Split Rubber on old blades may be due to the effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

• A bent refill or wiper frame must be replaced; ice scrapers, automatic car washes and vandalism are common causes. Do not attempt to refill wiper blades that are distorted, bent or badly worn.

Wiper blades vs. refills The quicker and easier practice is to replace the entire wiper blade, alleviating the worry of the replacement refill not fitting the present blade. It is okay to replace the wiper refills — typically half the cost of a new blade— provided the blade is not bent or damaged.

To properly replace a refill, first ascertain if the wiper blade is the OEM unit or an aftermarket replacement and identify the manufacturer, type of blade and claw dimensions.

Inspect and replace regularly for improved, safer visibility • Inspect the windshield wipers once a month, and as part of any routine downtime maintenance.

• Change the wiper blades every six months.

About Trico Products: Trico Products, Rochester Hill, MI, is a 90year old company manufacturing wiper blade products and systems for vehicle operators in North America, South America, European Union, Asia and Australia. Visit tricoproducts.com.

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essential lift safety tips

Mohawk Lifts offers this advice to stay safe and avoid noncompliance fines

By Steve Perlstein manufacturers meet and comply with current ALI requirements for lifts as defined by the International Building Code, which mandates that lifts be third party tested to meet these safety requirements. Most every state has building code rules that shops have to follow. To verify equipment status, look for the gold ALI/ETL certification tag next to the lift’s controls.

Beware that using an uncertified option voids the lift’s certification. ANSI/ALI standards for Operation, Inspection, and Maintenance (ALOIM 8. Replacement Parts) as well as Installation and Service (ALIS 6.2.6 Repair Service Parts) require all accessories, such as rolling jacks, truck adaptors, lighting for runway lifts, and special lifting pads, to be ALI/ETL certified.

ALI/ETL standards (& ANSI standards & building code standards) require all accessories, such as drive-thru runways, rolling jacks, truck adaptors, lighting for runway lifts, and The vehicle lifts that are supporting the motorcoaches, school buses and shuttle buses in your garage can represent one of the most productive tools in your shop, or potentially one of the most dangerous pieces of equipment you own if not used and maintained properly.

If there were an incident in your garage involving a vehicle lift, OSHA would ask you three questions: What did you know?

When did you know it? What did you do about it?

Complying with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and Public Employees Occupational Safety and Health (PEOSH) requirements ensure vehicle lifts are kept at the highest possible safety level.

Following these safety tips ensure your technicians are kept safe and that noncompliance fines are avoided.

1. Buy certified lifts & options There’s one and only one nationally recognized safety standard for vehicle lifts: ANSI-ALI/ALCTV, administered by the Automotive Lift Institute (www.autolift.org).

The Automotive Lift Institute, working though ETL testing procedures, involves rigorous third-party testing verifying lift 6

BUSRIDE MAINTENANCE | AUGUST.2014

Always raise a vehicle and then lower it onto the lift’s mechanical locks as suggested by the manufacturer and required by ANSI.

special lifting pads, to be certified. Although certification is good for the life to lift, older models may not meet the most current standards, which typically change every five to seven years. Some lifts and options that were certified in 2000 wouldn’t pass the 2011 standard. busridemaintenance.com

2. No locks = liability You’ve heard the phrase, “Never use a jack without a jack-stand.” The same is true for vehicle lifts. Always raise the vehicle and then lower it onto the lift’s mechanical locks as suggested by the manufacturer and required by ANSI. Refer to ALI safety manual Lifting it Right or the manufacturer’s operating instructions for detailed information.

When you’re walking through the shop, make sure techs are using the proper procedure. An easy way to visually verify the locks are being used is to include a weight gauge on your lift. The weight gauge must be made by the same manufacturer so it will be properly calibrated to the lift cylinder size.

When you walk by a lift and the weight gauge reads anything but “0”, the tech in that bay hasn’t lowered the lift onto the mechanical locks.

3. It’s easy to overload Manufacturers of the most common lift twopost, side-by side lifts mandate that none of the four swing arms be overloaded.

Unfortunately, overloading of lifts happens more than realized. For example, some may think that a 12,000 pound rated lift that’s loaded with an 11,500 pound paratransit vehicle isn’t near capacity. They would be wrong.

This paratransit vehicle has a front axle weight of 4,500 pounds and back axle weight of 7,000 pounds. The per-arm capacity of a 12,000 poundrated lift is 3,000 pounds. If the heavier rear end of a vehicle weighs 7,000 pounds, each swing arm needs a minimum arm capacity of 3,500 pounds for safe lifting.

Multiply this example by four swing arms and the minimum capacity of your lift for this vehicle should be 14,000 pounds.

It’s easy to see why two-post, side-by side lifts are often overloaded, even though the total lift capacity hasn’t been exceeded. Look around your shop and determine if any lifts are being overloaded based on the heavy rear ends of certain vehicles.

4. Inspect equipment annually ANSI/Automotive Lift Institute ALCTV Standard for Automotive Lifts – “Safety Requirements for Construction, Testing, and Validation” requires technicians to perform a daily operational safety check. ANSI also requires an annual inspection by a qualified individual. Failing to do so exposes your shop to liabilities that could be associated with an injury if an accident were to happen. Contact your

manufacturer or garage equipment sales company to schedule an inspection.

5. Training and testing Like any product, lifts vary in style, type, capability, longevity, and warranty. ANSI requires technicians to be trained annually in proper lift use. This may seem unnecessary, yet think of everyone who drives a forklift in your facility who is required to take and pass an annual safety test. The test results are added to each employees file in case of a forklift incident.

The same applies to vehicle lifts. Contact the Automotive Lift Institute, your lift supplier, or a local lift inspection company for a copy of the 20-minute Lifting it Right video hosted by legendary NASCAR driver Richard “The King” Petty and his son, Kyle. Require your technicians to watch the video and pass a writen test on lift operation and safety.

Steve Perlstein serves as sales & marketing manager for Mohawk Lifts, Amsterdam, NY. If a weight gauge reads anything but “0”, the tech in that bay hasn’t lowered the lift onto the mechanical locks.

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