Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday (Read 1103 times) previous topic - next topic

Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

I finally got to pickup my coach yesterday, left DFW at 4 am and got to Houston at 9 am.  Mother Nature was not being very kind to me as it was 42° and raining.

I gave it a quick once over and let it warm up while I was setting up the GPS a new Garmin RV770 and loading some stuff I thought I might need from the car.  One thing I didn't check was the tire pressure as I was getting soaked already 

So off we went heading to NAC.  Right off the GPS said the route I had loaded uses toll roads and did I want to recaculte to no toll roads press Yes or No,  well with the GPS stuck to the windshield I could not reach the button oh well I knew I needed to take 59/69 north so I kept going.  Then  I noticed that it wants to wander quite a bit, it would get over to the right side of the lane and sometimes on the rumble strips.  Trying to ease it back to the left was a bit hard as it didn't want to go but so kept turnig a bit harder until then all of a sudden it would jump left.  After about 10 miles I noticed I was not getting any heat from the dash heater, it was just blowing cold air brrrrr.

After about 100 miles my wife called and I tried to answer but my phone died but I figured she was needing fuel so the first station we came to I pulled in and she got fuel.  While she was doing that I called one of our Foretravel Jedi Masters and asked if I could fire up the coach furnace and he said yes so I got that going  and went inside the station and got a tall cup of coffee, mmmmm.

About 30 miles further up the road it felt like a light surging, checked gauges and all looked good all air pressures were up to 100-110 all the time.  Then came some hills where it would drop to 40 mph and I had it floored, then it would run ok for abit and then surge some more.  This happened the rest of the way to NAC.

Finally got to Herman's about 2 pm and they only had 5 of my tires there but there other store had some  so they started changing my tires and I went over to FOT to get my space setup and talked to the service guys, real nice folks they said they would be able to start about Jan 17th but if they needed some filler it may be sooner.  With all the coached they have there I don't see them being able to start much before then though but that ok with me.

Made it back to DFW at 10 pm 
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #1 –
Fuel filters.  Fuel lines are cracked on all rubber fuel line old coaches.  ULSD kills them dead
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #2 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Fuel filters.  Fuel lines are cracked on all rubber fuel line old coaches.  ULSD kills them dead

Ditto.

Glad you made it to Mecca with no serious issues.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #3 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
Fuel filters.  Fuel lines are cracked on all rubber fuel line old coaches.  ULSD kills them dead

Those are on my list of things to do, I will be in school next week but after that I can go back down there and spend a day or two just going over everything and taking measurements and making adjustments to fit me  ^.^d
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #4 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Ditto.

Glad you made it to Mecca with no serious issues.

Thanks, the cold wet rain did keep those old cracked tire from getting to hot.  I asked the guy at Hermans if by chance he checked the tire pressure before he took them off and he said, "Nope the are not good for anything, just pulled the plug and took the off"  :))

I am not sure how old the fuel is in the coach, I am not sure if it goes bad like gas or not.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #5 –
Particularly if a coach has been sitting for awhile, particularly if the fuel tank is not full (to minimize condensation), particularly if a BIOCIDE not used while storing the fuel, indeed replacing potentially clogged fuel filters is a "first step" when experiencing engine performance issues.

And, I recall fuel lines on your list.  So, if filters not the cause, indeed sucking air on the lines from tank to pump (suction side of the system) next on the list.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Super8mm –
I am not sure how old the fuel is in the coach, I am not sure if it goes bad like gas or not.

Smell it-- does it smell "off" or like fresh ULSD.  Yes, ULSD has a slightly different smell than the older higher sulfur diesel.

Also, when you open the drain on the primary fuel filter, what do you see?  Another option is to save the fuel filters and cut them open.  That is the most revealing way to see what is going on.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #7 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Also, when you open the drain on the primary fuel filter, what do you see?  Another option is to save the fuel filters and cut them open.  That is the most revealing way to see what is going on.

Thanks Brett, I plan on getting all the filter number and hose dia. and length on my trip down there.

Also has anyone used a drain valve like this, I use it on my Duramax and it works good, not much of a mess

Fumoto
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #8 –
If your drain is on the side, yes. On the bottom, no.
Jim C.
coachfree, previous 1997, 1999, 2000, and 2003 Foretravels.

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #9 –
The 8.3 has a side drain.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #10 –
I'd replace those filters for sure.  Fuel lines, well, I know I'm in the minority here but have seen no reason to change them on my '96.  Mine starts instantly, even after sitting for months.  That tells me there's no fuel line problem. 

Power loss problems, filters are always the first go to.  Particularly if it's smoking.  Hard starting, long cranking required...fuel lines.  But sure no downside to replacing them as well, other than cost and effort.
"Not so  long ago we were a nation of risk takers, riding five million pounds of  thrust straight into space."  Joe Gresh
Chuck Pearson
1996 U295
2018 Can Am X3 TurboRS

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #11 –
Thanks Chuck, wife followed me for about 160 miles and never saw any smoke.

With a toy hauler and 4 motorcycle I am no stranger to skinned and bleeding knuckles  ^.^d

I just have to get back to it and check what filters it has on it like with or without glass bowl.
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #12 –
I too have not replaced fuel lines and have no issues (so far) I did wrap the tank ends of lines with "Rescue Tape" when I had cut a hole in floor to see them. I think my annual dose of Mexican Diesel may have helped them from cracking due to the sulpher content and carrying 10 galls with me on trip in US to mix with the ULSD. I also use Amsoil diesel additive for various things, but it is in the back of my head while travelling.
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: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #13 –
As a partial prepper living in "shaky town" I am proactive on critical run issues.

The other day a 4.0 quake moved my living room chair slowly back and forth for a few seconds.

Ma nature reminding me its not "if" but "when".

My area averages 150 years between quakes back 1,000 years.  Max interval 200.

We are at 205 years now
"Riding and rejoicing"
Bob
1997 U320 40' Mid entry, build 5132,  wtbi ce27, 4th owner
2007 Solara convertible
2 prodeco tech outlaw ss electric bikes

1095 watts solar
08 Ls 460 and a sc430
2000 Ford F-250 superduty 4x4
 

Re: Pick Up My Coach Yesterday

Reply #14 –
Proactive is always easier to live with than be 200 miles from nowhere and have a brake down because of a $10 part  ^.^d
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5