A message from Bob Gillespie about the repair of the bus. Thanks Bob!

My ‘Big Green Experience' all started when a phone call was received from Brigit to recover her bus from Bradford-on-Avon.The engine was ‘Dead' and had thrown a con-rod narrowly missing the alternator, which was very fortunate as a direct strike would have caused an electrical fire and serious damage to the engine bay wiring.

Plans were made to recover the bus, so myself and the apprentice set off from Swindon in the pouring rain with the Leyland Roadtrain recovery truck.On arrival at Fitzmaurice school the bus was neatly parked and made easy for easy onward recovery. We set about lifting up the front of the bus and attaching and securing the axle to the under-reach of the recovery truck for a suspended tow.We left the school (still in the pouring rain) and carefully negotiated the car park and the hill descent to the main road.

Our journey back to Swindon was planned out so as to avoid any low bridges, due to our now increased height of the bus. We arrived back at base (and yes it was still raining) and unloaded the bus into one of the holding bays.

My next task was to source a replacement Gardner engine for Brigit. Over the next 6 weeks or so, I set about contacting companies who I have dealt with and trusted for many years. Secondhand engines were available and at a reasonable price, however they come with no guarantee. With this in mind I felt it best to advise Brigit to purchase a fully reconditioned Gardner engine with an 18 month warranty package.

My next call was to David Roberts at Gardner Enthusiast Ltd in Oxford. I explained the situation to him and the specification of the engine required, including building it to 'Green Spec' (Extra Low Emission).

A deal was struck and an expected delivery date was agreed.

The next job was to remove the old engine. I towed the bus into the workshop and started to remove the engine bay bodywork and bonnet. Care was taken so as not to damage the paint work or the panels. The attention to detail of the bodywork/conversion and paint job was outstanding and shows many hours of hard work and dedication for all involved with the bus.

Now the bodywork was safely stored away, I began disconnecting various pipes, wiring looms and engine mountings, and draining down oils and engine coolant. When all was disconnected and the engine was ready for lifting, a suitably rated spreader/lifting beam was attached to lifting points on the engine, and in turn connected to the fork lift truck. The engine was slowly and carefully lifted from the chassis and placed adjacent to the bus.

Over the course of the next few weeks I removed various parts that I required from the old engine so they could be cleaned, have new gaskets made if required and stored ready for the new engine.

At this point I had a chance to investigate as to why the engine had failed. It would appear that the big end of the con-rod was worn and in turn the four big end cap bolts had stretched and snapped resulting in the crankshaft pushing the con-rod through the crankcase (known in the trade as a "leg out of bed").