What did you do to your coach today.

Topic: What did you do to your coach today. (Read 49733 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #450 – June 25, 2012, 09:56:48 am

That is a nice setup!

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #451 – June 25, 2012, 10:17:07 am

The DW had her sewing group over yesterday and then our grand-baby while mom and dad saw a movie so I had to do all the work on the RV yesterday.

I don't like to complain.... but I don't let that stop me!

At any rate you'd be surprised just how difficult it is to decide to drill holes in the floor of your new-to-you RV. The holes in the battery box I drilled to barely fit the 1/0 cables for the inverter but that meant soldering and swaging lugs "in place". Not so bad when you can extend the cables out over the pad. I decided to not solder lugs inside the coach's living area so drilled holes in the floor enough oversize to fit cables through with connectors in place.

While everything is in disarray I also decided to mount and wire the MPPT charge controller for the solar panels now rather than do it all again in a couple of weeks. So more holes.

Much easier with the DW helping. Those 1/0 cables are really difficult to bend into tight turns that are required to keep them out of the way with arthritic hands. (See above disclaimer on complaining.) Lucky for me that the wires for the solar panels are much smaller.

Craig

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #452 – June 25, 2012, 09:06:33 pm

I found an oil spot below the radiator and a swath down the passenger side of the oil pan last week. I have been keeping track of the air pressure via the dash gauges and noticed an appreciable drop over just a 48 hour period. I couldn't find the source of the oil leak, despite getting underneath with lots of light. So, I took advantage of living here in Nacogdoches and took it to MOT. Keith Risch figured out the source of the 2 oil leaks; the breather tube extending out of the valve cover is supposed to have clamps securing the "slobber" tube hose to the breather. No clamps. Oil had pooled on top of the valve cover and was dripping down the side of the engine and oil pan. The gasket on the power steering reservoir had loosened up and oil was dripping down a hydraulic hose to the low point (in front of the radiator) and dripping on to the concrete.

The air leak was "major", according to Keith R. The Bendix pressure regulator for the cruise control was toast. Fortunately, since you can't buy replacements any longer, Keith was able to re-build it with a new solenoid and O-rings. It's now working well and pressure is holding for several days.

While drive-testing the coach, Keith found that IN REVERSE the brakes were not very effective. I had no indication previously that brakes weren't optimum. The left rear ?? was "way out" while right rear and left front were a "little out". To what are they referring? Brake pads?

Finally, all is well with the Hayfever Express, thanks to Keith and MOT.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #453 – June 26, 2012, 12:40:10 am

The inverter is in and works! Next job will be to decide what outlets to power and wire in the switch. Meanwhile, if we want coffee we just plug the coffee maker in to the inverter and turn it on. Kill-a-Watt measured 114.9 vac. I didn't check on frequency. Will do that tomorrow.

Craig

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #454 – June 26, 2012, 12:40:52 am

way out most probably is referring to the slack adjusters. These should be set all the same and checked at least every few months. To get a licence here in Canada for air brakes they tell you at school that you check them every day before moving!!!
John

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #455 – June 29, 2012, 06:22:51 pm

Thanks to all who posted about brake slack adjustments, I got that done today. Made a significant difference I could feel. Also tested the coolant and topped it off. I think the FT is ready for our run to Wyoming.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #456 – June 29, 2012, 07:22:11 pm

After a couple of months of playing "Is the Refrigerator Cold Today" we changed out the cooling unit with one from those Amish folks. My fridge has never been so cold and on the lowest setting! I think I can actually buy ice cream now

It was quite a process - with just a couple of hiccups. All I can say is thank you You-Tube!

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #457 – June 29, 2012, 07:45:51 pm

Quote from: Christis Dream – June 29, 2012, 07:22:11 pm

After a couple of months of playing "Is the Refrigerator Cold Today" we changed out the cooling unit with one from those Amish folks. My fridge has never been so cold and on the lowest setting! I think I can actually buy ice cream now

I did the same drill in December. Installed a new cooling unit from RV Cooling Unit Warehouse. I've been pleased with performance. The old electric element failed a few weeks ago and I bought replacement from same place. Ambient temps here have been up to 104F. Freezer stays around 10F and refrigerator about 40F. We have no auxiliary fans in the compartments or heat exhaust stack.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #458 – July 02, 2012, 03:56:04 pm

On Friday we had the pleasure of meeting Steve and Michelle for lunch. After meeting and chowing down we stopped back at our place and checked out our U270. As we were poking around the rig and with me trying to glean all the knowledge I could from them they found a couple issues that I had not noticed.

Steve noted the coolent system overflow was empty. When he turned the radiator cap slightly the coolent started to surge into the overflow jug. Conclusion was bad radiator cap. I also just got a Progressive HW50c that I was ready to install in the wrong location

! As Steve was showing me the correct location (which had I bothered to reference the elec. schematic It was obvious) he noted my dessicant in my dc compressor dryer filter was shot and that the HWH slide cyl. that FOT had fixed was still leaking.

So I started on the list and finally found the correct Stant radiator cap on E-bay. The closest Napa one was in Connecticut. I will post the part numbers later in the "Part number collection" thread. Rotella ELC is hard to find around here so after much research I found that Chevron Delo EL 50/50 (red) is compatable. Just wanted some for the overflow jug anyway.

Now I will start on the dessicant. If anyone knows of a cheap source for it let me know. I know I saw a post on it before but can't seem to locate it. Also if someone has a fix beyond replacing the HWH cyl. let me know.

By the way Steve and Michelle, whenever your ready to come back and continue the pm on our coach we will have the lobsters waiting........

D&D

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #459 – July 02, 2012, 04:00:07 pm

Had two leaking cylinders on my 2001 slide - HWH was a lot of $$ and a three week wait. MOT found a local supplier that rebuilt the ones I had, good as new, about a $100 each, went back in day after they came out - perfect ever since....

Any competent local hydraulics shop should be able to fix, or take it to MOT.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #460 – July 02, 2012, 04:04:30 pm

Quote from: Tim Fiedler – July 02, 2012, 04:00:07 pm

Any competent local hydraulics shop should be able to fix, or take it to MOT.

Thanks Tim, Good idea. I will look into that.

Dean

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #461 – July 02, 2012, 04:24:01 pm

First, this obviously was not a one-day project.

REMOVED:
Front and back TVs
Audit unit, monitor, backup camera
Barrel chair, reclining chair, Flex-steel sofa
Dinette seat
Trash compactor
Freedom 25 Charger/converter
Carpet from cockpit drop-down to beginning of bedroom including bath
Atwood 6 gallon water heater
Interior 12v florescent lights

INSTALLED:
New color backup camera and GPS
Cushion vinyl floor covering from cockpit drop-down through kitchen to bedroom
   and bath
Computer desk with laser printer, color printer, sheet scanner, monitor on swing mount
   and computer plus for drawer cabinet. The monitor will also serve as the TV.
New carpeted deck over furnace, water pump
PEX to replace all reachable urethane pipe
Two personal chairs to be equipped with aircraft-style seat tables.
New storage area under the former dinnette overhang
In the former trash compactor area:
   Xantrex Freedom SW 2000 charge controller/inverter. The inverter supplies the
      computer desk through an uninterruptable power supply to cushion
      against "shock" loads when the laser printer fires up.
   Xantrex 5000 inverter to supply AC power to coach when not connected to
      shore power
Girard Instant-on water heater with PEX lines
seeLevel gage system for fresh/black/grey water and LP
Interior 12v florescents with warm (2400K) LED tubes
Have not figured out what to do with the former TV spaces, but I am sure the DW will come up with something.

Unfortunately I do not have any wiring diagrams for this coash and have not been able to locate any (1992 3600U240) so we are having to create our own which is something of a job. If anyone has any wiring diagrams I would be happy to pay for copying and FED EX charges.

NEXT STEP:
Move two 8D starter batteries to engine compartment.
Install 6- 6 volt 250 amp-hr deep cycle batteries to supply house power in battery bay
Install roof-mount solar panels and controller system
Possible installation of a second alternator for additional on-road charging capacity

So far it looks like there will be a weight savings of around 500#, mostly on the front axle.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #462 – July 02, 2012, 08:00:32 pm

Dean, thanks for the post. I had just noticed the same thing and was wondering where I could find Rotella ELC. I was able to pick up the Delco Dello EL and a radiator cap at the local parts store today. It took 1/2 gal in the expansion tank; the radiator was full enough that a little dripped out when I replaced the cap.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #463 – July 02, 2012, 10:09:41 pm

Got tired of DirecTV dropping out during storms, crappy crime scene shows, Bachlorette staged type shows. Needed weather station when weather started getting bad, so I ran a cable from the bedroom tv supply cable in the coach, out under the bed, into the garage, into the basement and then up into the living room in the house. We have now gained 17 channels, of which two are also on satellite. All I have to do is leave the 12V power on to the Jack antenna. The Jack antenna does not have to be raised or turned for reception so things work out OK.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #464 – July 03, 2012, 08:47:17 pm

Two days of clay bar and waxing and Beatrix is done. Shining like a new penny for the Fourth! Now, if only I'll be able to walk to the grill. $:-\$

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #465 – July 04, 2012, 03:19:53 pm

I replaced the step air pressure regulator, found one at Home Depot for $22. It's plastic, we"ll see.
Also made some "final?" adjustments to the HWH leveling system sensing unit>

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #466 – July 07, 2012, 06:13:53 pm

Installed my new Jack antenna on the roof. Found the coax. port going into the roof port was corroded so cleaned it up and added some die-electric grease to the fittings. Took about 20 minutes.

Then installed the Progessive HW50C EMS. Installed it to protect from external and generator issues.That took about 5 hours, lot's of cuts and scrapes, and a whole lot of sweat. Almost have to be a contortionist to work inside that compartment.

But it works!
Btw kudos to Steve and Michelle for advice and input on the install.

Dean

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #467 – July 08, 2012, 09:46:47 am

I replaced the exhaust manifold which had "shrunk" 1/4" and was leaking, had the cylinder head machined and all the exhaust manifold mounting holes chased and fitted with helicoils (because some monkey installed english bolts in metric threads), had the fuel pump rebuilt as it was leaking, installed six new injectors in, lieu of having the old injectors cleaned up at half the cost of new ones, replaced the main drive belt tensioner, resealed the trnsmission yoke as it was leaking, reset the TDC timing, adjusted the valves and replaced all the associated gaskets seals and o rings. Actually that's not true, all I did was pay for it.

the Cummins dealer in Scarborough Maine did all the work.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #468 – July 08, 2012, 04:29:14 pm

Turned on both air conditioners and went to Lowe's for some hardware. Figured that a magnet attached to the screen door would keep it secured to the entry door but I wuz wrong. Perhaps a stronger magnet. Finding a latch is probably called for.

The bathroom door has a button-stop when open but this routinely allows the door to swing farther open than the hinge really likes. We installed a stop just after the spring-loaded button so that the door is held in place (gently). I feel much better about this now.

Re-installed the co-pilot seat after finding and fixing the loose electrical connection that had stopped it from moving. I installed thin "keeper" nuts on the capscrews to make this job easier in the future. Capscrews now extend down with the nuts holding them in place; just mate them up with the holes in the base and install the nuts and "Viola!", it's done.

Have some LEDs from O'Reilly Auto Parts to install in the rear clearance light fittings (red) but it got too hot outside.

The two air conditioners worked well to cool the coach down in 90F temps. Much easier to work inside a motor home that is not too hot.

Craig

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #469 – July 08, 2012, 07:49:20 pm

Finally got my Splendide installed!!! It took a little modification but its in!

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #470 – July 09, 2012, 10:07:21 am

DW opened up the windows so it wouldn't get too hot in the coach. Hooked the screen door on the inside, opened outside door onto the "plug" holder stop. Later in the day I noticed the outside door was closed. OH OH!! Wind closed it. Now outside door rooster catch captured the screen door which is hooked on the inside.

Got a two step ladder, slid open the kitchen window screen over the sink, reached in and slid the plastic slide on the screen door with a 10' pc of PVC and then actuated the rooster catch while the DW operated the handle on the outside door.

10' PVC was actually the reconfigured clothes drying rack as it was not glued together so I was able to take the short pieces and put them together with the t-fittings to attain the length I needed.

Had thought about climbing in a window but had ladders over at G-daughters.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #471 – July 09, 2012, 10:27:59 am

Last outing I discovered that a 6-inch piece of wire inserted into the antenna input of the LED HDTV brought in 10 stations but the external antenna brought in exactly none. I would rather have more rooftop room than that antenna anyway so I will either remove it or make it a lot smaller.

Meanwhile I bought a $20 "flat" HDTV indoor antenna at WalMart. The installation was tedious; I had to open the cupboard door over the driver's seat, put the antenna in and route the wire through a hole behind the TV and plug it in. I had to have a beer and relax after it was all over.

We'll see how well it works. No way to test it here since we have had zero over-the-air television for ten years; the CATV group disbanded when no one bothered to send in money to support them.

Craig

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #472 – July 16, 2012, 05:55:17 pm

Well, it finally happened; the fuel tank full and home to calibrate it, that is. After 9 years...all's okay. It's never too late to do the small stuff.

Thanks to Cliff Knudsen for pointing out the right little screw to adjust. (While I was down in Nac last month)

ps Hey Cliff, is the work done yet on the remodel at FOT? We all need to see pictures....waiting....waiting...waiting...

Peter

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #473 – July 16, 2012, 11:32:31 pm

Temp outside 98 with winds blowing.
Made PVC flagpole--that the DW wanted.
Made PVC clothesline/frame to hang on ladder--that the DW wanted.
Made three tier spacers to go under "porch" platform--that the DW wanted.
Made wooden slotted playing card holders--that the DW wanted.

Re: What did you do to your coach today.

Reply #474 – July 17, 2012, 07:10:29 pm

Cleaned up and repaired the vacuum pump for the AC controls, and replaced the metal (leaking) vacuum can with a new plastic one. No more leaks, and only $15.00 to fix it.

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