Video: MTA Bus Wheel Flies Off, Blame Game Begins

via screenshot

Not only are MTA buses slower than taking a big wheel tricycle, they're trying to kill us in creative, Final Destination-esque ways. Wheels have come flying off MTA buses twice in 2011, with one incident captured on a surveillance camera. Union leaders claim that the flying wheels are the direct result of MTA cutbacks on maintenance, allegations an MTA spokesman denies to the Daily News. "There have not been changes to maintenance schedules," he says, "Maintenance is not being deferred."

While one union official tells the paper that this near-miss on Northern Boulevard in Queens "nearly struck a woman pushing a baby," we don't see it. Check out what the president of TWU Local 100 called "one of the most horrifying near-misses I have ever seen."

Luckily the bus didn't have any passengers onboard when the tag wheel—which sits between a parallel set of tires to help balance the bus—flew off, causing the bus to skid out of control, and no one was hurt. The MTA claims that maintenance workers at the College Point depot failed to properly grease a turning mechanism, which would explain the runaway wheels. Mechanics then worked overtime to "examine and grease all 130 buses at the depot," but some were still determined by Local 100 to have defects, and one driver was fired while three others were suspended for refusing to drive the supposedly defective buses.

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By Christopher Robbins in News on June 21, 2011 12:50 PM

Comments [rss]

Eric MH

Lolz

Daniel Abranko

I service buses for a living so I am rather familiar with the MCI 102-DL5 series of buses that are used for express service in the MTA.

What appears to have happened is a sudden failure of the outside wheel bearing on the right side tag axle, causing the loss of the complete wheel hub/brakedrum/wheel/tire assembly (approximate weight is correctly stated at around 400-450lbs). This can be caused by several factors including, but not limited to: improper/insufficient grease or infrequent bearing repack schedule (the tag axle bearings are packed with grease unlike the steer and drive axles which are bathed in gear oil), improper bearing pre-load, causing a force mismatch along the bearing's load axis or a loose inner race which will spin and subsequently fail, and finally an issue that has been cropping up in parts from various manufacturers, and that is actual improper bearing manufacture/quality control. Our shop has seen several major manufacturers switch production over to China, and quality has taken a serious nosedive. Heat treatment is inconsistent at best, nonexistent at worst, and not even the OEMs are immune to the suppliers supplying poorly manufactured parts. We have seen perfectly installed bearings spall, overheat and just outright break due to under or over-hardening of the rollers and/or races.

Finally, just a note of education: MCI tag axles are indeed to the rear of the main drive axles, they provide an additional two tires worth of contact patch for both weight bearing (they are typically designed to carry approximately 25-27% of the weight of the bus) and braking. A previous poster stated that they aid steering which is incorrect. Tag axles on these buses are "steerable" but that only means that they slightly turn so they don't scrub quite as much on sharp corners. The bus will still turn about the drive axle axis. In most cases though, the steering units are troublesome and are typically locked in place due to the negligible savings in tire wear compared to the rather problematic tag axle steer units.

Dan1228

Of course the union moans about allegedly reduced maintenance and defends the drivers disciplined for refusing to operate unsafe equipment - while ignoring the fact that this driver operated an unsafe vehicle, and maintenance staff did not stand up against unsafe practices.

Every one of them should be able to stop - and responsible for stopping - any unsafe operation. The union, though, will just stand up for the ability, but never the responsibility. They can't get in trouble, so if they do allow something unsafe, it'll be the fault of "management".

Vinny

Nailed it.

hashedz

Cheers To The Bus Driver, Bus Driver, Bus Driver
Cheers To The Bus Driver, Bus Driver, Man

He Drinks, And He Cusses, And Wrecks All The Buses

Cheers To The Bus Driver, Bus Driver, Bus Driver
Cheers To The Bus Driver, Bus Driver, Man