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Topic: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure (Read 2250 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #50 –
Those are the clips I was referring too (in previous post).
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #51 –
Regarding removing the side panel, stupid may be a poor choice of words but still, bringing it out the rear was far less of a pain for me.  I drilled out the rivets on the grill and removed just the grill for accessibility and it worked out well.

Actually those screw clips would work fine.  I used rivets again.  But bringing it out the rear is far less invasive, especially if you have full body paint.  A lot of paint trauma despite a lot of careful attention.  The paint just wants to chip.  It might be because my coach was repainted that it is so odd but the way it is put together in the rear with the fiberglass - that panel is NOT coming out without breaking things (unless it is pulled straight down and I have no pit).

The welder fixed our radiator.  He found poor penetration on the weld that broke.  He explained to me that the original welder used the wrong kind of welding rod and focused on the bracket more than the side tanks right around the center point.  The bracket that broke is longer than the other one so it had more leverage.  There were actually several more cracks/breaks and he fixed them all for lunch and beer.  Didn't even ask for that, I had to insist.

The transmission jack was pretty slick.  As careful as we were, when we were moving the radiator and transmission jack assembly, we had to remove the straps to actually get it in place.  The jack hit a small pebble or something, one of the wheels locked and the radiator completely and fully smashed right on the ground.  I couldn't believe it.  I really hate to admit that but I'd rather put out a cautionary tale and nurse my wounded pride.  Bent the drain plug but otherwise looks unharmed.  It's a rather beefy assembly.  I brought it up to 180 tonight with no leaks or problems but didn't move the coach yet so fingers crossed still.  Disassembly with the exception of the side panels was FAR EASIER than reassembly.  Getting those heavy fans, trans cooler, etc to all line up and bolt in took 2 maybe even 3 hours.  Fishing the top bolts blind kind of stinks.  Again, our setup is custom so it might not be Foretravel normal back there.  The radiator has nutserts that all that stuff mounts to. Two were spinning but we fixed those while it was out.  There wasn't a ton of debris stuck in the fins but there was some and we cleaned it up. 

All in all my verdict was - it's done, I didn't run into anything insane, but I should have paid someone else ;)  Around 12-14 hours total labor I think for me as a first time effort. 

Oh and for whatever reason, Foretravel's constant use of those Rolok style fasteners that just thread in without having a nut in the back just rub me the wrong way.  I don't know why, they seem fine but I find it so odd.

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #52 –
We also pressure tested the CAC.  Zero leaks :)

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #53 –
piku,
I understand there are many ways of skinning the ole cat, just wondering after looking at your pix, seems your radiator is very different from my 2001 model, mine in rubber mounted, not solid, am wondering if this is due to creative fabrication by Slim when the original was replaced ?
My replacement was from under without removing the panel, just the grille for access to the hydraulic cooler.
Hope it works & lasts for you, just wondering why the solid mounting.

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #54 –
It's not solid mounted.  There are steel L shaped brackets that bolt to the 4 hole bracket on each side.  Those are mounted to the rubber isolators just like a normal atlas radiator would be.

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #55 –
Great
 

Re: Radiator Mount Bracket Failure

Reply #56 –
Also mine could have been removed from the bottom if I had more clearance.  Maybe even as is actually, but I certainly would have scraped it up and had a tough time managing it myself on the transmission jack.  If i had 1 or 2 more able bodied individuals maybe I could have done it that way.