Lots pf worth while work going on includes rebuild steering gear (leak), 4 new FSD. shocks and then the front end alignment is the largest improvement in drive ability To date. I had thought it was just fine for me. Well well, the toe was 1/4" out and caster .5deg neg. not good, now 1/8 toe in. and 2.5 pos caster. Very large improvement In Handling and driver comfy.
Now at MOT, Mike is chasing a very small air leak.
Oh Joy. & Happy
Dave M
Are you down there to jump start the economy Dave?
Sorta feels like it Bill.
By the way, I took another drive with the coach after leaving MOT (air leak and erratic side light/turn lamp).
Sure have re-evaluated my origional findings about the handling, it is more stable than my MCI 40' w/tag, just feels correct and enjoyable. so much more stable, Hard to beleive, but the guy at FOT that does the front ends knows the coaches and handling, he told me and now I am convinced.
Nice when you know you spent money on a good thing and it feels good.
The air leak was the slide cylinder (foot platform), leaked when retracted, not when extended. WOW, I never extend it as I travel alone. Time will tell more about the leak.
Dave M
That's an interesting air leak and behavior. We have the same issue. Step cover will close over the steps (mostly) under its own power. It must be retracted by hand. I heard a leak under the exterior step on the way from MO to MT. One pressure gauge showed air pressure leak down much faster than normal. I replaced a regulator in Montana. That helped, but there is still a leak. Top air gauge leaks down much faster than bottom when engine is shut down. Bride actually heard the actuator leaking one time.
I have an appointment Tuesday, Jan 15, at FOT. Plan to get a few things tweaked. Primary issue was that generator was getting air in lines and wouldn't keep running. Got home to 60F+ temperatures. Generator ran for three hours yesterday. It exhibited no problems after I bled the air from the fuel filter. Cold weather reveals air and fluid leaks! I hope they can find them and fix them in balmy NAC.
Wayne aligned steering on our coach two years ago. It provided a vast improvement in handling. He put in new steering gear a year ago. Handling felt great starting our recent trip. At about 900 miles, it felt like steering got stiffer. Tracking is still good, but adjusting/turning requires more effort. I plan to have Wayne look at it. I also want him to set the steering wheel to be "straight" when the wheels are straight. It has been a bit off toward the right since he replaced the steering gear.
I hope to get out of FOT in only a day. Had planned to go to Quartzsite after FOT, but plans have changed. Some drive line repairs on the Jeep sucked up fuel money for the trip to AZ. It looks like we'll be staying close to home for a little while.
You can buy a seal kit for the step actuators for about $35.
Cylinders are about $400.
Don't know about step well cover but might be the same cylinder manufacture.
John, Where do you get the seal kit?
Mark
My coach is gone and all my notes went with it.
I can retrieve the info later today and will post it.
I bought the kit then sent it and the actuator to the factory and they installed the kit for no charge!
The replacement air cylinder for slide over step, list $192. after discount $172.
So far so good, presently in eastern La on I-20, home bound.
Love the shocks and the handling/driveability since Wayne redid it, and I thought is was just fine. Little did I know.
Dave M
Mark,
Here is the step cylinder overhaul info:
You can get the kit from:
Kelly Supply (Grand Island,NE.)
Salesman is Terry Falkena at
800-918-8939 ext 233.
The new p/n for my step cyl 1995 U320se) is
2418-1089-081DFF-B18AST
The kit p/n is Rk2418-10.
If you can't get the cyl apart (or don't want to do it)
Call Denise Marsh at Ingersall Rand at 419-633-6926.
She ran it through the training dept. No charge and even paid the return shipping!
JD.
I
John,
Is your information for the outside step (2 actuators on our coach), or the step well cover inside the coach (1 actuator)?
JD,
Info is for the two step actuators
I bought one from Fortravel in 2006 for about $150.
When I needed one a few months ago they quoted $380!
Had some trouble tracking other vender's do to the part number change.
Then found the kit.
JD
Thanks John for the info.
Mark
I havent looked closely at the step cylinders, but aren't they just a double acting air cylinder? Cant find one from a mfgr like Parker? Special dimensions perhaps?
Maybe something like this...SPEEDAIRE Air Cyl, 1-1/16 In Bore, 6 In Stroke - Pneumatic Cylinders - (http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/SPEEDAIRE-Air-Cylinder-5THE1?Pid=search)
Mike,
The price on that speedair cylinder is good. If you can find the correct size it should work.
The ARO Economair Cylinders on by 1995 U320 were P/N 2418-B111_R02.
I guess the P/N changed when Ingersoll Rand bought them.
The 1 1/16 bore looks close but the stroke is about 8 inches on these original cylinders.
I think the $35 kit would be easier.
JD