INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250

01/24/2025

SECTION:

260 - Battery System

SUBJECT:

Retrofit duckbill drains to the ESS units & modify breathers. (6 String Bus)

ISSUE:

Existing drains deploy under high humidity.

SUMMARY:

Remove ESS drains, remove internal mechanism, re-install and add duckbill.
Remove the ESS breather, extract the internal mechanism, remove the three
desiccant bags and reinstall the breather.

ITS-61250
Ref. NHTSA Recall No.
Not Applicable

Ref. Transport Canada Recall No.
Not Applicable

THIS ITS DOCUMENT SHOULD BE RETAINED AND REFERRED TO FOR FUTURE MAINTENANCE UNTIL
THE NEW FLYER PARTS AND/OR SERVICE MANUAL IS UPDATED TO REFLECT WORK DONE AS A
RESULT OF THIS DOCUMENT. ENSURE THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS AVAILABLE FOR PARTS AND
MAINTENANCE STAFF GOING FORWARD.
This document and the contents discussed herein are the confidential and proprietary information of New Flyer Industries Canada
ULC and New Flyer of America Inc. and are disclosed by New Flyer in confidence. This document and the contents herein are not
to be disclosed by the intended recipient without the prior written authorization of New Flyer. Any unauthorized disclosure,
reproduction or other distribution of this document or information strictly prohibited and may result in action being taken against
the party making the unauthorized disclosure. This document and all copies hereof must be returned to New Flyer upon request.

INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250

PROCEDURE:
1. Set the parking brake and chock wheels.
2. Turn the main battery disconnect and HV interlock switch to the “OFF” position.
WARNING: The work detailed in this ITS involves working near exposed High Voltage (HV)
compartments, even after the bus has been locked out and tagged out. It is recommended that the service
personnel be trained in NFI HV safety practices, such as those included in Appendix A – NFIL Spec
532295 - High Voltage Safety Guidelines & Procedures for New Flyer Battery Bus.
3. Perform the Lock Out Tag Out and De-Energizing procedures found in the Electrical System Section of the
New Flyer Service Manual. Reference Figure 1 below.
WARNING: ENSURE MSD DUMMY PLUGS AND ARC FLASH GLOVES ARE AVAILABLE PRIOR TO
STARTING ANY HV DISASSEMBLY



NOTE: Use commercially available lock out equipment and tags being sure to follow any local laws or
workplace procedures.

Figure 1: HV and LV Disconnect Switch Location and Arc Flash Glove Reference

WARNING: ARC FLASH GLOVES MUST BE USED ANYTIME THE ESS HAS AN
UNCOVERED HOLE
4. Access the roof of the bus and locate the ESS enclosures.
WARNING:

Working on the ESS drains and breathers involves working on the roof of the bus.
Always wear approved fall protection equipment and follow all applicable safety
protocols when working on the roof of the bus.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250
5. Each ESS enclosure will have four drains, there will be a drain near each corner on the long sides of the ESS
enclosure.
NOTE:
On ESS enclosures supplied by ABS, the drains will be found within openings in the
corner mounting brackets. Figure 3B.

ESS Enclosure

ESS Enclosure Drains

Insulation Sleeve

ESS Breather

Figure 2: ESS Drain and Breather Locations

Corner Mounting Bracket Opening

Figure 3A: ESS Drain

Figure 3B: ESS Drains on ABS ESS

6. Remove the rubber insulation sleeve if present on the ESS drain.
7. Using an appropriate wrench or socket, remove the drain cartridge from the ESS enclosure.
8. On the bench, push out the internal piston in the drain cartridge and cut the tether. Discard the piston
components.
9. Install a new -12 ORB o-ring NF P/N 1017312 from the service kit NF P/N 6501524 on the cartridge body
prior to reinstallation.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250

-12 ORB O-Ring

Tether
Piston Parts

Figure 4: Removal of Drain Cartridge Piston Components
10. Reinstall the cartridge in the ESS enclosure and torque to 40 Ft-Lbs maximum. Take care not to over torque
the cartridge as damage to the ESS enclosure could occur.
11. Once the cartridge has been installed, slide the rubber drain body adaptor NF P/N 1079298 from the kit over
the hex fitting on the cartridge. You should feel the rubber lip on the drain body adapter snap into place on
each side of the hex fitting when the drain body adaptor is properly seated.

Rubber Drain Body Adaptor

Figure 5: Installing Rubber Drain Body Adaptor over Cartridge Hex Fitting
12. Dip the rubber duckbill NF P/N 1086435 in some soapy water for lubrication.
13. Install the wave seal clamp NF P/N 553163 over the duck bill prior to installing the duckbill.
14. Install the duckbill over the rubber drain body adaptor previously installed on the cartridge hex fitting. Push
and twist the duckbill to achieve a 6 o’clock orientation on the duckbill. You will feel the duckbill snap into
place over the ridge on the rubber drain body adaptor when it is correctly seated.
15. Torque the screw on the wave seal clamp. Tighten the clamps at 75 RPM or less to 80 In-Lbs then wait 30
min and retighten to 80 In-Lbs.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250

Wave Seal Clamp

Duckbill

Rubber Adaptor

Figure 6: Rubber Adapter, Duckbill & Wave Seal Clamp
16. Repeat Steps #6 to #15 on the other three drains on the ESS enclosure.
ESS Enclosure
Wave Seal Clamp

Duckbill

Figure 7: Duckbill Installation (Prior to Torquing Wave Seal Clamp)
17. Locate the ESS breather on the ESS enclosure. Figure 2.
18. Remove the large hexagonal gore plug on the ESS breather and set it aside.

Hexagonal Gore Plug

Tether

Figure 8: Hexagonal Plug on Breather

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250
19. Twist the ESS breather cover counterclockwise to release the cam locks and remove the breather cover.
20. Disconnect the tether cable. Bend the bracket so that the cable end will clear the bracket screw and allow the
cable end to slip through the hole in the bracket releasing the tether.

Screw

Bracket

Bend the Bracket so Tether will clear
mounting screw and fit through hole

Figure 9: Tether Bracket Detail

Desiccant Basket
(Bags Shown Removed)

Tether Bracket

Figure 10: Breather Cover Removed

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250
21. Hold the body of the breather with a vice-grip pliers with rounded jaws taking care not to crush the body and
using an impact driver with an extractor tool in NF P/N 6501646 remove the aluminum collar that retains the
spring and piston.

Extractor Tool

Spring

Aluminum Collar
Piston

Vice Grip Pliers (Note rounded jaw shape

Extractor Tool

Impact Driver

Figure 11: Using an Extractor Tool to Remove the Aluminum Collar in the Breather
22. Once the aluminum collar is removed the spring will pop out. Use a needle-nose pliers to remove the piston
from the breather or use a small screwdriver to push the piston out from the other side. Discard the piston and
aluminum collar.
23. Prior to reinstalling the breather, remove the three white desiccant bags in the basket inside the breather
opening in the ESS enclosure. Discard the three desiccant bags.

Figure 12: Desiccant Bags to be Removed

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250
24. Reinstall the breather cover by aligning the tangs on the cover with the slots on the breather body then twist
the collar clockwise to lock the collar in place. Reinstall the large hexagonal gore plug hand tight.
25. Re-attach the breather cover tether and tap the bracket with a hammer to secure the tether end.
26. Clean the area on the ESS enclosure above the gore plug to ensure the surface is free of dirt and debris,
using a 50/50 mix of isopropal alcohol and water, allow a minimum of 10 min of flash off time. Install a “No
Desiccant Required” label NF P/N 1114663 on the ESS enclosure directly above the gore plug.
27. This completes the ESS drain and breather retrofit on one ESS enclosure. Repeat Steps #6 to #26 to retrofit
the drains and breather on each of the ESS enclosures on the roof of the bus.
28. Open the access door on the rear of the bus.
29. Locate the gore plugs on the two ESS enclosures at the lower rear compartment.

Figure 13: Location of Rear Compartment ESS Gore Plugs.
30. Perform steps #18 - #26 to rework the gore plugs on the two ESS enclosures in the rear compartment.
31. Remove all tools and debris from work area to return coach to service.
32. Close and secure the rear compartment access door.
33. Remove the tags and lockouts from the HV lockout and main battery switches. Turn HV lockout switch and
the main battery disconnect switch to the “ON” position.

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INSTRUCTION TO SERVICE
ITS-61250

LABOUR ESTIMATE
Operation
1

Remove ESS drain internal parts and install duckbills,

Number of
Technician(s)
1

Hours
1.67

Labor Time
T X HR
1.67

four per ESS enclosure. Remove breather piston and
desiccant bags, one per ESS enclosure (6 ESSs).

PARTS REQUIRED

1

6501524

KIT-DRAIN DUCKBILL, FRP ESS XMOD

Qty.
per
Coach
16

2

1114663

DECAL – “NO DESICCANT REQUIRED”

6

EA

Qty.

Units

1

EA

Item

Part Number

Description

Units

Notes

EA

4 Kits required per ESS
enclosure

SPECIAL TOOLS REQUIRED
Item

Part Number

1

6501646

ITS-61250

Description
1.18 – 1.19 Extractor Tool

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Notes

01/24/2025