2nd November 2009

With all the work on 7681 after the MOT, not a lot has been done to DMS550 lately. She should've been moved by now but 7681 has delayed the work on 7980 which is in the space 550 will take. I'm hoping she'll be undercover before Christmas so serious waterproofing and bodywork can start.

24th August 2009

As you have no doubt read and seen in the gallery, DMS550 dropped into gear recently after major electrical work wos carried out on her. This is just the tip of the ice berg now as she has got to have the front flat tyre attended too and be moved from her current site to another more secure site - but still out doors. Once the Fowlmead Running Day is out of the way I will attend to her a bit more. Her front near side front piller and over the doors does need a lot of work as its all but metal lacework now! The flag unit is still showing the gearbox light even when she's in gear, but this could be an air fault rather than an electric one. 

17th July 2009

Picture
More internal work whilst the electonics are being sorted out. The framework around the front door is slowly being removed as is the rather manky carpet from the lower deck.

20th June 2009

DMS550 is still going nowhere fast with the electrical problem so I have been working on clearing out the inside again. The good news is that on pulling up the carpet, the Treadmaster underneath is servicable with a bit of work.

March / April 2009

Good news indeed! Someone I know had started a bus and coach restoration business in Ramsgate, His line of work was in rail replacement buses and also open top tours with City Sightseeing but now he has decided to start an Ensign style operation in Kent. He had an ex GMPTE Northern Counties Atlantean up for sale but was willing to break it for spares. This has netted me the doors, handrails, headlights, wheels/tyres and brakes for 550, all for a reasonable price too. The wiring loom is 90% done now. There are just a few (4) wires of the same colour causing confusion. Think it will have to be a case of try them and see. Once this is all done the flat offside front tyre will be swapped for a new one and the doors installed along with the front platform rebuilt. I have price this up already and for the parts to build the front step I'm looking at about £115. Angle iron from B&Q seems the cheepest option.

January / February 2009

Work has continued on 550's wiring loom which really is a time consuming and tedious job. Also all the old Plaxton seats have been put back inside for the time being until I take them to the tip. Looking at her it would appear very little has happened but once the wiring is done that will change. Basically when she experianced a small fire some years back it burned through the wiring loom in where the lower saloon rear seat would go. The fire was caused by a blowing exhaust pipe setting fire to the wood flooring. The burnt section of loom being (I hope ) the reason why she won't drop into gear. After getting quoated £300 for the work to be done and speaking with FotEK's Tony Hammond I decided to have a go and do it myself. Tony had rewired part of an AEC Regent and has given me guidance over issues with electrics before.