M & M Automotive Service

Just a quick post with no pictures to give you an update on both buses. I've been feeling as though I just lack the know-how to get them in tip top shape, though they are close. So I decided to try a new mechanic much closer to my house. I had been going to Trafton's on the East side.. and while Bill is very knowledable and incredibly honest... I just felt as though I needed to find a place that wouldn't take up my whole day getting there and back home. Plus they are so busy over there I wanted a place that could focus solely on my bus and a few problems. Boy am I lucky I found M & M Automotive Service at 211 and SW TV Hwy in Aloha. Nick is the owner and Patric is his son who mostly worked on my buses. I took Charlie in two weeks ago, dropped it off, told them to take their time and fix some nagging issues.. like a knock that I'd hear when I took off in first gear. Well let me tell you Patric went over that thing with a fine tooth comb and was finally able to pretty much eliminate the oil leaks I was having. It's a hard and time consuming job because you fix one thing, then you clean and watch. Then fix the next thing and clean again and see where the next drip is coming from. Well he pressure washed the thing 5 times over the course of the week and finally nailed down (we hope) most of the leaks which were for the most part push rod seals. He noticed that I was leaking brake fluid on my right rear wheel.. not good. And he even noticed my right tail light was only being held on by two nuts instead of four.. which he fixed for no charge.

Anyway here is a partial list of what Patric did:

Charlie.. new CV boot left rear outer
oil change w/ filter
rear brakes adjusted
new wheel cylinders
brake fluid drained/ refilled
new steering damper (old one shot)
valve cover gaskets, #4 intake push rod o rings
adjust right front wheel bearing
e brake adjusted
Clutch adjusted

total cost $320. And really he must have done a dozen other little things that he didn't even write down.

Well Charlie ran so well after this, I thought I'd better take the Pickle in for a good going over before our big trip to Bend this weekend.

So same thing, left it for a few days, told them to take their time.

Here's the Pickle list:

Replace Handbrake Cable
New Front Shocks
New points
Tune up
New Oil, Filter
#1 exhaust push rod seal
Adjust clutch
Fixed Mount for battery
Adjust fuel mixture
Adjust lifters
New oil plug and new insert

And there were again many other things he also did.. such as finally fixed my E-Brake warning light on the dash.. and straighened my steering wheel that was about 1/8th of a turn off to the left.. and added gear oil. How many people would even check your gear oil????

Total price for this one $403.13.

Anyway, I know it's a lot of dough.. 700 bucks in one month. But I feel as though these buses are now in tip top condition and would drive them anywhere. And hey, I don't have a car payment!!!!

Anyway shout out to Patric and Nick at M & M Automotive Service...
21135 SW TV Highway
Aloha, OR 97006
(503) 642-1622

Tell em Wayne sent you! We're off to Bend tomorrow.. pictures next week.