After a fair amount of online searching I found the O.E.M. linkage repair kit for a Unihome. My end-link rubber adaptor and curved anchor rod was broken by the tow company that delivered my Coach. You can buy the kit through NAPA, and it is $15.65 (p/n MBI RN10JJ)
The lower one pictured in this link is the configuration on the front valve as fitted to a U300:
http://epi.hbsna.com/products/dept.asp?dept_id=3742 (http://epi.hbsna.com/products/dept.asp?dept_id=3742)
Now to receive those airbags (2) coming in from Michigan -- and this weekend it's wrench turning time again.
Regards,
Michael
Michael, , , I'm impressed with your talents . I think you are going to become a very knowledgeable Foretravel owner.
Gary O
Thanks, Gary. I've always had the attitude that the best way to hedge a bet against getting "blindsided" is to arm yourself with a combination of sound knowledge, common sense, and a healthy dose of erring on the side of caution. An old German Machinist that I used to race cars for taught me that taking only "one look" is never, ever -- enough. That advice has saved my "arse" time and time again over the years.
So I tend to "keep looking" until I reduce the variables -- where possible.
Anyway ... this whole "jumping in the deep water" with the Coach has been an incredible experience. Even though the learning curve is indeed steep, my confidence level as I move forward is quickly improving.
Oh! .. another cool development regarding my 3176B. A fellow gear-head buddy of mine delivered me a jewel this past weekend. He used to sell the Autocar Semi - Tractors in the mid 90's at a Dealer in Northern California. He likes Caterpillar machinery. The Autocar was fitted with a CAT 3176B, and CAT produced a promo piece on the " B variant" engine that would play in the showroom. Roger dug through his boxes of stuff, and produced the original VHS tape.
So -- I turned on the inverter, sat on the bed -- and watched it this past Saturday. It's very detailed in what improvements they made from the previous 3176, and goes into great detail, including engineering changes with cross-sectioned components of the ECM, cylinder head, larger cam followers, re-designed water pump, a new, rugged 2 piece piston design, massive wrist pins, more robust injectors, etc -- while a pristine engine is in the background on a engine stand.
The discussion of data management/storage, interfacing & communication with the transmission, and optimization of operating parameters for better power delivery and reliability was particularly impressive, and remembering your advice about an after-market system to tap into that diagnostic plug with a cock-pit display is something I'm looking forward to down the road.
I'm going to convert this presentation to DVD format with a PC A/D frame grabber card I have -- sometime soon, and maybe I can post it on the forum for the other CAT owners here.
With best regards,
Michael
On Feb 13th, we are going to be on the road. First stop is this place. ; Volusia Speedway Park: Home of the UNOH DIRTcar Nationals presented by Summit (http://www.volusiaspeedwaypark.com) . The camp ground manager is a good friend from our home in Tn. He tells me there is always some car owner looking for someone to work on their bus. Later in the week we will head for this place; Florida Flywheelers Antique Engine Club (http://www.floridaflywheelers.org) .
Gary
Michael,
After reading your posts I looked at the exhaust ports on the ride height control valves on my U300 and noticed the covers were missing and the two in the back were very dirty from road grime etc. The link you gave for Haldex Midland prompted me to look for the exhaust covers. To my surprise they were now available with the filters https://epi.hbsna.com/products/product.asp?msi=0&sid=BB223C91F3E241C6BDA9DDA8640D31B1&pf_id=RN10JE&dept_id=570 without having to buy the whole valve. Others have had to fabricate their own and Barry Brideau has a great write up on how he made his Ride Height Adjustment (https://wiki.foreforums.com/doku.php?id=technical:hwh:ride_height#exhaust_covers). I ordered 3 of them from NAPA for $4.69ea+shipping.
I cleaned up the ports , checked for leaks (soap bubble test) and put them on. They are a very tight fit and I found if you turn them inside out you can roll them back out into place. Much quieter now.
Barry, thanks for technical help on these ports. I would have never thought about it. I thought the loud hissing noise was normal when these ports were exhausting and without the covers, the back two get very dirty.
Michael, I have been monitoring your progress and admire you taking on a project that most of us probably wouldn't attempt. Another testament to the quality of foretravel that makes us lust after one of them, and to the incredible knowledge and generosity of the members of this forum. It will be worth it when you make it happen!
Good luck,
Jerry
Thanks, Jerry and Michelle.
Yep -- every weekend I do a bit more, learn yet another thing through discovery (like my floor safe that has never been used - but I've not the combination, so have to put that on the list along with getting a key for the trash compactor so I can check it out), and on the Sunday afternoon before locking it up, stand back and admire the beast.
I'm loving my "Foretravel experience"
All the best,
Michael