I sure am glad I found ROOF, I just bought a 1962 Roughtmaster. The past owner swapped the engine and trans out. It now has a strong running 12v Cummins with a American manual trans. Apparently they stopped short of completing it. The issue is that it now has 4 gears reverse and 1 forward. Does anyone know of a specific reversing gearbox or another differential that will fix the reverse rotation of the shaft issue? I've learned the old engine spun the shaft opposite of the Cummins rotation. I bought it without seeing it personally, The pictures looked great and I had a local mechanic look it over. I'm hoping to get it road ready with the help of a mechanic near the bus and drive it home. Home is 1,600 miles away.

My bus number (if any): Haven't figured it out yet

Hello Tony,

You must be very brave or have very deep pockets to buy a Routemaster without inspecting it and without knowledge of it's many nuances.

There are Routemasters that were converted to Cummins Engines with a US Allison autobox. This required a considerable amount of modification to both the wiring, sub frame and the body. A final upgraded version fitted to just one bus was very successful providing a smooth transition and ride.

If the final drive from the gear box is rotating the wrong way then the differential at the back will also turn the wrong way. A transfer box would need to be fitted requiring bespoke propshafts and a realignment.

I have a feeling that the Marshall Refurb Routemasters have this set up with 2 propshafts. Maybe an owner of one can be more specific

Engines do exist rotating in an opposite direction but this needs to be countered by the gearbox or a transfer box.
It gets very complex with more to maintain and go wrong.

I've not come across a differential that rotates in a different direction via a gearbox, I've asked my senior fleet engineer and he says all our fleet over the last 20 years all rotate the same way. He does not recall an opposite drive but that's in Europe and is not to say it is unheard of.

You would be better off fitting an autobox like the Allison model than a manual. Routemasters never had a manual box only one that simulated manual and no clutch. I think it would also be a handful to drive given it's age.

I think you need to get the vehicle properly photographed including the underside, The entire engine bay and the cab and interior lower deck floor. Then it will be possible to throw light on what has been done and a few of the very knowledgeable regulars on this site will no doubt be able to make prudent suggestions.

You need to get a few books and do a fair bit of homework, it will pay dividends. A sound basic introduction will be the Haynes Guide to the Routemaster

Thanks for the info Jack, I spent some time today with gearbox manufactures locally here in Detroit. I hope one of them can come up with a solution. I bought it because I've always loved the old Routemasters and I think I got a good deal 10K usd. It looks like a huge piece of art. I can't believe how difficult it is to get someone to point me in the right direction on this issue. Once it's here I plan on putting a automatic transmission in it over the winter along with a paint job. The shaft rotation issue has been a big hurdle, a local differential specialist said that if I can get the rear end off and shipped here he could possibly cut the old one and somehow flip it over with some modification and the issue should be solved. That will be my last resort solution for now.

The following link will take you to a file that has some pictures: https://www.dropbox.com/s/qkm1ulnw0u3yez4/The%20Bus%20Pics.pdf?dl=0

My bus number (if any): ??

My bus number (if any): RTL 960, RM 1585, RMC 1486 and several RTs

Hi,
Looking at the photos, unfortunately it not a London AEC Routemaster, the bus is identified by the plate in photo 2, A Bristol Lodekka.

Do you want to buy London Bridge?

http://www.busconversions.com/bbs/index.php?action=printpage;topic=25178.0

I did wonder about that. Most US Routemaster engine conversions use a Cat or Cummins, but some have GM 2-stroke engines.

If it's any help, there's quite a few GM 2-stroke diesels still around ex US Army, from WW2 tanks. The Tramway Touristique d'Aisne have a number of motor coaches fitted with these, most of them turn anti-clockwise. Not a problem there as for rail use they have transfer boxes fitted. You just need to remember which car has the clockwise engine fitted!

Sounds like the easiest conversion is to get a clockwise turning engine.

Thanks for all the info guys, I found a solution from a gearbox company that makes reversing gears for race cars and monster trucks. They said I should be able to bolt it onto the rear of the transmission, I'll need to shorten the driveshaft 10 inches/25 cm. I'm waiting to get a price emailed to me on the gearbox, buying the London bridge might be less.
Could someone shed some light on the difference of a routemaster and the Bristol lodekka bus? I thought they were the same bus.

My bus number (if any): ??

A Bristol Lodekka is a low height half cab Bus built by Bristol and used in British Provincial towns.

Lodekkas were never used in London by London Transport on London Bus Routes. Some ventured into London by operators who used long distance services from satellite towns and cities like Reading.

The Routemaster is a full height double decker designed and built in London primarily for London and it's outer hinterland.

The two types are comparable but in reality nothing like each other.

Probably worth mentioning that Lodekka`s found a ready market in the U.S partly because they look similar to the traditional London Routemaster but also because they were withdrawn from UK service and thus available for the second hand market before Routemaster`s were. The predecessor of the Routemaster, the RT, would logically have been the genuine London bus ideal for further operation in the U.S (and many of the great quantity available during the 1960`s and 70`s did reach the U.S) but where height restrictions of bridges and overhead wires prevailed, the Lodekka could have been the only option at 13`6 compared to 14`6.

The only common parts on a Routemaster and a Bristol Lodekka are the brake cylinder castings, tyres and light bulbs, maybe the indicator switch.