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1993 U280 40' Manual

I'm in the process of purchasing a 1993 U280 40' (#4345) with the Cummings 300 and a 10K Gen. Looking through the books that are being supplied with the coach, I don't see anything like a users manual. I believe there were was one at one time based on what I have read on the forums, but is it something I have to go to FOT to get a copy?

For instance, the water fill valve is located in the bathroom under the sink. All the others I read about are elsewhere. The water diagrams would be helpful, as well as the wiring diagrams and air line flow. Is there any other resource?

Thanks!

Chuck

AKA Chuck
1993 U280 40' WTB, Build 4345, CUM 8.3 "Falcor", 2010 Honda CRV TOAD (Spock), 970W solar on roof
Full-Time traveler between Quartzsite AZ, Longview WA, Ellendale ND, and Lake City SD
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Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #1 –
Chuck,
            When new there was a Red book and a black book, very large note book binders. Po may have lost? Have seen them on Ebay before. I think Foretravel sells each diagram separately, but I've never seen a water one. Our fill valve is under sink.
          Mark C.
1994 U280
Build #4451
"If everyone is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking"

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #2 –
Hi Chuck,

I am Chuck, also, and you are in luck!  If you want to know about a '93 U280, I may be of some help...or not.  But feel free to ask!

The coach you are looking at went down the assembly line 14 units ahead of ours, so there are bound to be some similarities.  There will also be some differences - Foretravel is famous for doing things "a little different" on every coach they built.

Our water fill valve is under the bathroom sink, just like the Maker intended.

There is no "water diagram", to the best of my knowledge.  You just have to follow lines to figure out where they go.  The newer coaches with the Manablock manifold may be more organized, but ours are pretty simple once you get to looking at them.

About the Owner's manual.  You should be able to get a copy from FOT - see info in the photo below.  If you want to save a few bucks, don't buy anything from the factory parts store until after you purchase the coach.  You will get a free 1-year membership in the Motorcade Club with your purchase.  Once you are signed up with the Club, you get a 10% discount on most parts at FOT.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #3 –
Chuck,

  Thanks for the information. The coach comes with the Red and Black books full of the equipment manuals (DuoTherm, CB, HWH, Axels, Inverter, furnace, etc), but not the operator manual for the coach. Normally I would expect something like a car manual, telling you what every switch is, where the fuses are, and how to hook things up.

  I got a good walk through from Andyr on his IMMACULATE 89 280 (thanks Andy!) and what to look/watch out for. No delam, new brakes, new front wheel bearings, interior excellent, all systems work well (both roof ACs and dash), and sprinted down the highway.

Minor issues noted are water heater not lighting (probably the fusible link), stove won't light (still researching), and a few minor tiffs to sort out.

Next couple weeks: will get new tires (295/75R/22.5 H rated- already has the 295s and had no issues last few years), flush and sanitize water system, Flush Black and Grey tanks, new batteries, King Jack replacement, backup camera and monitor, and Garmin 760 LMT.

Next couple months: 400W Renogy solar for house batteries, 40W solar for engine batteries, LED conversion interior and bays, and 4 airbags (for my piece of mind).

First camp: a few days at KOA Chula Vista to visit friends.  ;)

Engine and transmission refresh will happen in August in South Dakota at my son's (he's a Diesel Mech for John Deere and Mech'd the motor pool at Fort Hood for 4 years, knows everything diesel- unlike me)





AKA Chuck
1993 U280 40' WTB, Build 4345, CUM 8.3 "Falcor", 2010 Honda CRV TOAD (Spock), 970W solar on roof
Full-Time traveler between Quartzsite AZ, Longview WA, Ellendale ND, and Lake City SD
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Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #4 –
Hmmmm. Two propane appliances that won't light? Search forum for propane regulator problems and repairs. Are you getting propane to the refrigerator and is it lighting?
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #5 –
Refrigerator is up and running very well. No issues there, and the stove gets the propane, just no electric light. It's a Magic Chef 4 burner.
AKA Chuck
1993 U280 40' WTB, Build 4345, CUM 8.3 "Falcor", 2010 Honda CRV TOAD (Spock), 970W solar on roof
Full-Time traveler between Quartzsite AZ, Longview WA, Ellendale ND, and Lake City SD
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Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Balcanthez –
Refrigerator is up and running very well. No issues there, and the stove gets the propane, just no electric light. It's a Magic Chef 4 burner.

The stove top used to have a pilot light under the cover?
"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: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #7 –
Quote from: Caflashbob –
The stove top usedMy
Quote from: Balcanthez –
Refrigerator is up and running very well. No issues there, and the stove gets the propane, just no electric light. It's a Magic Chef 4 burner.
I don't remember if the spark igniter  on my 4-burner stove (sounds like same as yours) ever worked. I got a replacement but the DW said she was just as happy continuing to light the burners with the long butane lighter.
Elliott & Mary Bray
ex. 1996 36' U295 - Build 4879
ex. 2018 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
 

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #8 –
I did a quick search on "Magic Chef RV Oven" and got lots of hits.  Many owners have problems lighting the stove.  It seems some stoves have a pilot flame, and some use a electric spark lighter.  In either case, there may also be a safety device that will not let gas flow to the burners until it is heated to the correct temperature.

For the ovens that have a pilot flame, the pilot keeps the safety valve heated.  First you have to light the pilot, it heats the safety device, then gas will flow to the burners.

I'm not clear how the spark igniter works in conjunction with the gas flow device, if indeed one is also present in those models. 

Understand, I actually know nothing about these stoves.  This is just stuff I picked up from surfing...
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #9 –
I don't think there is a safety valve involved. I can turn on the gas and light individual burners. Just wondering if there is an electrical input, where I can chase it through the coach, and if I can get it working.
AKA Chuck
1993 U280 40' WTB, Build 4345, CUM 8.3 "Falcor", 2010 Honda CRV TOAD (Spock), 970W solar on roof
Full-Time traveler between Quartzsite AZ, Longview WA, Ellendale ND, and Lake City SD
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Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #10 –
When you are trying to light the oven, are you on shore power, or generator, or inverter, or battery?

Reason I ask...our Gaggenau gas cooktop ignitors operate off 110v AC - a fact I always thought was rather strange (in a RV).

If you are trying to light the stove when operating on straight 12v DC, this could possibly be your problem.
1993 U280 SE 40' WTBI, Build: 4359
C8.3 300hp, 6-Speed, Exhaust Brake
960 watts on the roof (6 x 160)
Sorento (or BOLT) on a Kar Kaddy SS
"Nature abhors a vacuum"

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #11 –
On my Magic Chef Oven The oven temp knob has a pilot setting. Lift cooktop and open little gas shutoff valve light pilot in the center for top burners,close cooktop. Turn oven knob from Off to Pilot setting ,Open Oven and light pilot. When finnished cooking in Oven just turn temp control back to pilot setting so pilot will stay lit. When traveling we turn Oven control to Off and shut off small valve to stovetop ,
91 GV U300 Unihome 40' Build 3811
6V92TA Detroit

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #12 –
Chuck,

My stove and oven both have pilots like Stumps and yours probably have.  The gas has to be on and the shut-off valve has to be in the horizontal position for the stove.  If the rest of the system is functioning properly, it should light up.  It can take a few minutes .  Here's some pics.

Jerry
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Jerry and Cindy Maddux
1993 U300/36WTBI DD6v92TA
build 4271  "Miss Lou"
1995 suzuki sidekick 4x4 toad
Gulfport, Ms

"Pride of Ownership"

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #13 –
Our 95 u280 has the same. The PO had not used the gas stove system much , if at all so it took - a while - for us to get the pilot up and running.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #14 –
Quote from: Balcanthez –
Refrigerator is up and running very well. No issues there, and the stove gets the propane, just no electric light. It's a Magic Chef 4 burner.

If you stove is like ours?  maybe this link will help.............
There is a pilot adjustment screw for the oven pilot behind the oven control knob

Magic Chef Oven flame too large?

Justin
Justin & Cathy Byrd
1995 U280 "Old Faithful"
36' Build #4673
C8.3 Cummins
Allison MD3060R 6 speed - retarder
Powertech 10KW  4cyl Kubota

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #15 –
Thanks all! Yes, mine is pilot and the small brass shutoff is for the pilot. The PO used it but a while back, and forgot! I was fooled into thinking it was electric light with the "pilot" setting on the knobs.

On a related note: Is there a retrofit or upgrade kit to make it spark light? I really don't like pilot flames continually cooking the top. Would make it a whole lot easier and safer IMHO.
AKA Chuck
1993 U280 40' WTB, Build 4345, CUM 8.3 "Falcor", 2010 Honda CRV TOAD (Spock), 970W solar on roof
Full-Time traveler between Quartzsite AZ, Longview WA, Ellendale ND, and Lake City SD
The selected media item is not currently available.

Re: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #16 –
I had a lot of old FTX customers who mentioned using the magic chef oven to store bread in. 

With the pilot on the moisture level in the oven increased enough so in dryer conditions that the bread kept from drying out.

Obviously if you turned on the oven with a wrapped loaf of bread in there a problem could occur.

Maybe a clothes pin or such on the knob?

Leaving the stove top pilot on and having the frame blow out has had me dump the tanks in the coach several times to fix an odor condition
"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: 1993 U280 40' Manual

Reply #17 –
We turn the pilot light for the burners off when not in use, then close the metal cover, then put on the Corian cover. Takes only a minute to light that small pilot light. After two or three tries, Jo Ann gave up on the oven and she now uses an electric oven.

Our coach has a panel of switches and warning lights near the sink. Sometimes, when I'm washing dishes, I get close to that panel and an alarm goes off. Once I get it shut up I have to turn the power switch off for a bit, then turn it back on, in order to get propane going again. Under the counter, on the sink side, are two switches. One is for the water pump and the other is for the propane hot water heater. After I have reset the other switch I have to turn the hot water heater switch off for a bit and then back on, or I don't have hot water the next time I want it.