Removing panel for water check valve

Topic: Removing panel for water check valve (Read 2316 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #25 – July 28, 2011, 08:40:52 am

You bet he replaced it!! In fact, in all of our forum discussions regarding the "bucking" and possible fuel contamination, and in all of the discussion at MOT when we were looking at, inspecting and then buying this vehicle ... no one (OURSELVES included!) ever suggested looking at the condition of the air filter. And now that we think on it, it makes perfect sense. The indicator, as I said, did not show but perhaps one yellow bar. We certainly have learned some valuable lessons with this coach ... and we don't complain about that one bit. This mechanic had ordered the filter on his own initiative, and had it waiting. We brought a conglomeration of fuel filters to the garage, biocide, had ordered the oil we wanted and had our usual collection of sundry parts. His experience paid off, here. I would just warn anyone who is buying a consignment coach ... from MOT or elsewhere ... that when they SAY that they "inspect all major systems", it may mean just that. They LOOK ... but they do not touch, investigate, test or in anyway perform service on any of those systems. Nor will they give you a head's up on things they think YOU should do or look at ... even after you sign the check and it means work for their shop!! We relied on them when they said,"This coach is right and ready to go." Thankfully, the things we missed and are dealing with now are not huge and costly mistakes for us. Live and learn!!

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #26 – July 28, 2011, 08:45:47 am

Whew!

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #27 – July 28, 2011, 11:25:16 am

The air filter subject has been a fairly hot topic, I always replace my air filter when it gets a lot of dirt in it, I shake alot of dirt out of it once or twice, then replace it. I use a light down inside the filter in shade area, to see how much light I can see through the filter, when it gets plugged up where less then 50% light is visible, I replace the cartridge.

Now that started a round of being informed I was dumb to replace the filter that soon as the filter is not very effective when it is new. Seems the engineering (bright bulbs) feel the filter needs to be dirty to be an effective filter, and replacing it early is just throwing money away meaning you should leave the indicator get up into the mid range of restriction before the filter needs replaced.

I feel that is ONE opinion, like an oil filter I guess they need to be real dirty before they are effective too ?

For me, I change m oil and air filters when I feel they need it, Yes I know I am too dumb, like a box of rocks, but I am happy knowing the engine is getting clean oil and clean air.

As usual FWIW

I feel educating some is a waste of money, they should have been given a shovel and sent to work in the real world.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #28 – July 28, 2011, 05:11:50 pm

Way to go Dave I agree totally with you

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #29 – July 28, 2011, 07:48:34 pm

Jeff and I are grateful for the education we are getting. In the long run, it is our responsibility to learn to check all this stuff and make sure it gets done properly. No dealer, even one with as good a reputation as MOT, is gonna hold our hand and make sure we have no problems. Caveat Emptor!!This experience has taught us a bunch about the different systems on this coach and the different needs mechanically. We met a GREAT mechanic in Buena Vista, Co. .... Ed Swisher of Swisher's Diesel and Automotive. He is a vastly experienced mechanic ... auto, truck, diesel, you name it. He is a great diagnostician, willing to give us an education about why he was doing what he was doing and how to make our engine run better. He has a welding shop, a 5 bay garage and works on everything from semis to school busses to motor homes to autos to 4 wheelers to sports cars. If you need a guy in this area, he is your man. We spent 2 nights in his parking lot as he was called away on emergencies to help folks broken down or keeping working truckers on the road. But he was considerate of our schedule and always let us know why he had to leave and when he would continue with us. I really could not take exception with that sort of dedication. We have learned to check the air filter visually and not rely on the indicator. We have learned that altitude affects EVERYTHING on this coach, in ways we had never dreamed. The engine, the Aqua-hot, the toilet, ME!!! I love my son ... but I think I need to drop down out of these mountains a bit and head for something below 8000 feet. Leadville is just not where I thrive.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #30 – July 28, 2011, 09:43:32 pm

When I purchased Jeff & Carol's coach they made sure that it was in great condition and, any thing that needed to be fixed was, before they let me have it. So far 1,385 uneventful miles. Pity everyone is not like them.

Thank you Jeff & Carol.

Keith & Joyce

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #31 – July 29, 2011, 12:24:43 am

I found a near red air restriction indicator in KS even tho I had less than a five percent indication when I left GA. My BIL is fleet mgr for a large Company and his opinion was that when I ran thru a rain storm on I 70 the moisture in the air clotted (?) the dirt in the filter and turned it almost to a dry cement. I pulled the filter and sure enough that is what I found d. New filter, end of problem.
Gary B

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #32 – August 04, 2011, 05:04:30 pm

Quote from: Carol Savournin – July 15, 2011, 05:55:57 pm

Quote from: Carol Savournin – July 14, 2011, 12:26:52 am
Trouble shooting with Mike Rodgers has us convinced that the fill valve is not backwards. The small set screw on the side is properly towards the front of the coach. We turned it 90 degrees to manually open the valve ... no joy. The frustrating thing is that it operates sometimes for brief periods. And we cannot reproduce the exact scenario that it seems to like. If we get it to operate for 5 or 10 minutes once a day, we are happy. We have never been able to get the (brand new & calibrated?) tank sensor to show more than a half tank of fresh water. There is a full moon tonight. Is that good or bad??

This coach is really making us insane. After all the back and forth and up and down and removal of panels and fiddling and fooling with no clear remedy ... the water from the hose bib has been working for almost 24 hours. We were lucky if we got 15 minutes at a stretch before. We have not, however, been trying to fill the fresh water tank. I am beginning to think that perhaps the auto shut off for the fresh tank is faulty and not allowing us to keep water going in the tank. Maybe? At any rate ... between the water, toilet, cooling and contaminated fuel issues we have had with this baby ... I have decided that our son has come up with the perfect name for our "new" coach. "The Problem Child" I can always change it when this episode is over, right?

We got (recommended by someone who knows someone we have never met) the name of a Mobil RV repair guy that agreed to meet us in Colorado City, CO ... after we left the no-oxygen atmosphere of Leadville. He began yesterday by listening to all the crazy symptoms of our water fill and no street water issues, also took a look at our Aqua Hot. Formulated a plan after looking at all the manuals and came back today with a helper and began tracing water lines, removing (and at times altering ) panels to find check valves and any other issue. He finally found the inline check valve ... behind the panel for the main water manifold system. A place that was never suggested by MOT, Triana, forum members ... and, naturally, a place that never occurred to us to look. Ah, well ... it's always the simple stuff that eludes me. The check valve had, indeed, come apart. It was probably restricting the flow of water into the coach AND, the pressure diaphragm that controls the automatic shut off to the fresh water tank could very well have been sticking. We don't know how that affects the street water issue, but we now seem to be able to use street water with no problem. We also learned that our Aqua Hot needs a new electric element AND a new mixing valve. The RV guy said we can do the element ourselves and do not need to pay him to perform that task, and we will wait to have the mixing valve (BIG job) done at a certified shop. If you are in the Colorado City / Pueblo area, do not hesitate to call DK Service Company aka Curbside Quick Service. Duncan Pelham 719-248-8694. He was great, arrives with a trailer full of parts, NAPA sponsored, many years of experience. I feel much better. The Problem Child is coming along!

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #33 – August 04, 2011, 05:50:17 pm

Carol and Jeff,

I am glad you have solved this water fill problem. And it is really very nice of you two to be finding such well qualified service personnel somewhere else than in Nac. Thank you.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #34 – August 04, 2011, 06:38:03 pm

Quote from: Carol Savournin – August 04, 2011, 05:04:30 pm

He finally found the inline check valve ... behind the panel for the main water manifold system.

For future reference, Is that just behind the "grey fuzzy" panel that covers the manibloc or is it behind the manibloc? Any chance of a photo?

Have to think this will come in handy for others to know somewhere down the road.

Michelle

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #35 – August 04, 2011, 06:57:12 pm

Quote

"For future reference, Is that just behind the "grey fuzzy" panel that covers the manibloc or is it behind the manibloc? Any chance of a photo?

Have to think this will come in handy for others to know somewhere down the road.

Michelle"

Yup. Once you take off the grey fuzzy panel that covers the manibloc, it is rather obvious that there is a check valve ... located in a totally convenient spot for change out when necessary. It had been described to me in detail by several different folks who were trying to help us find it. We just had no idea where to look. Mike Rodgers at MOT and Gary Omel (bless his heart) were convinced that it would be in a spot that made sense. But, since we have never had a coach that HAD a manibloc, OR an Aqua Hot, OR an auto shut-off for the water fill OR any number of other fancy systems, we are complete numbskulls at trouble shooting this stuff. Take off the grey fuzzy panel, look just to the left (on our coach) where the red and white water lines come from the other side of the coach, and there is a very nicely exposed and available brass check valve. D'uh!!

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #36 – August 04, 2011, 10:07:52 pm

I pulled the "grey fuzzy panel" to replace leaking fittings between the water heater and the Manabloc. In the process, I managed to pull out the screws holding the angle iron to which the panel is attached. I may discard the panel. About the only function I see is to support an electric outlet. I think the Manabloc and all of its piping is a work of art. Why hide it behind a dull grey panel?

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #37 – August 04, 2011, 10:59:25 pm

We long ago removed Manabloc cover as well as covers over fuel tank, fresh water tank and top half of street-side holding tank panels. Important to keep an eye out for leaks, rubbing, etc. And it gives up more storage space too.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #38 – August 05, 2011, 10:18:41 am

Carol,

Why did he say you needed a mixing valve? Did he exercise it without any change? It should be exercised once a year during annual service. You note the current position, then turn the handle all the way in one direction, then in the other. It may be so difficult initially you will need a wrench to get it freed. If you are planning to replace it anyway, you might just try to free it up yourself.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #39 – August 05, 2011, 08:47:57 pm

Quote from: amos.harrison – August 05, 2011, 10:18:41 am

Carol,

Why did he say you needed a mixing valve? Did he exercise it without any change? It should be exercised once a year during annual service. You note the current position, then turn the handle all the way in one direction, then in the other. It may be so difficult initially you will need a wrench to get it freed. If you are planning to replace it anyway, you might just try to free it up yourself.

The mixing valve seems to be frozen in place. He used a good sized wrench on it to the point he was afraid something would break. It is plastic, and we have absolutely no idea how often this unit was serviced ... if ever. (Any suggestions on what we might spray it with to loosen things? How much is plastic?) The salesman at MOT told us that the filters were changed on the generator and the Aquahot "during service" ... but the lack of maintenance that seems apparent on the rest of the coach gives us pause and we doubt that "service" is an accurate term for what was done. The hot water lines do get hot ... so we know that the unit is working well (on the diesel side), but the outgoing lines after the mixing valve are just warm. The electric element is not working and will need to be replaced. We are figuing to get the parts we need and then have them on hand to attempt ourself (mixing valve) or wait to be close to an authorized shop (elec element).

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #40 – August 19, 2011, 09:40:05 pm

Quote from: Carol Savournin – August 04, 2011, 06:57:12 pm

Quote
For future reference, Is that just behind the "grey fuzzy" panel that covers the manibloc or is it behind the manibloc? Any chance of a photo?

Yup. Once you take off the grey fuzzy panel that covers the manibloc, it is rather obvious that there is a check valve ... located in a totally convenient spot for change out when necessary.

Well, I can confirm that our coach doesn't have a check valve in the manibloc area, nor did it appear to have one anywhere else that's working. We disconnected the shoreline hose from the campground water bib, turned on the water pump, and water was pumped out the hose.

Thanks to Lowes, we now have a check valve installed on our shoreline hose, just in case. And it's where we can access it easily if it acts up.

Sure seems odd that we were pumping water out the shore hose.... On the list now is to check behind the utility bay panel at some point to see if there's a failed check valve back there.

Michelle

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #41 – August 20, 2011, 08:32:13 am

Steve, Is the connection where you attach the CG hose not equipped with a check valve ? Look in the connection, there should be a PIN that depresses when water pressure is applied. It could be that someone in the past had the check valve stick and the FIX was to pull it apart with needle nose pliers. I have had two of these fail, easily obtained from CW.
Gary B

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #42 – August 20, 2011, 09:19:47 am

Quote from: Gary Bouland – August 20, 2011, 08:32:13 am

Steve, Is the connection where you attach the CG hose not equipped with a check valve ?

Our coach has an electric reel hose, so not just an on-board city water connection. We replaced the complete reel a couple of years ago and didn't pay attention for a check valve behind it (don't recall seeing one, though), but that's on the list to check.

-M

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #43 – August 20, 2011, 09:32:27 am

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – August 20, 2011, 09:19:47 am

Our coach has an electric reel hose, so not just an on-board city water connection. We replaced the complete reel a couple of years ago and didn't pay attention for a check valve behind it (don't recall seeing one, though), but that's on the list to check.

-M

Michelle,
There is a check valve behind the utility panel.
I had mine replaced because water was coming back out the hose reel.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #44 – August 20, 2011, 09:55:05 am

When my check valve failed I attached a nozzle to the end of the hose until I repaired the valve.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #45 – August 20, 2011, 09:59:47 am

Carol, I'd try some Corrosion "X" on that stuck valve. Someone at FOT CG told me it works great on almost everything. What the hey, nothing to lose if you are/might replace it anyway.

Re: Removing panel for water check valve

Reply #46 – August 26, 2011, 09:35:12 am

Steve and Michelle,
It may seem that you did not have a check valve on your coach. On my 2002 320 the check valve (on the floor of the manibloc compartment) failed from freezing weather whereby it was blocking attempts to fill the tank. Or if the check valve is stuck open, then water can shoot back out the fill hose. This problem was corrected by removing the check valve and re-positioning the internal plastic shuttle and spring to be in the correct positions again. When apart it was easy to understand how it was malfunctioning.
Jim

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