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Topic: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending (Read 1993 times) previous topic - next topic

A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending


It was time to bite the bullet and begin the upgrade process on my completely original 1994 U-240 Foretravel.  First step would be to replace the old reddish-purple carpet with LVT planks, so I made an appointment with Ernie Eckberg in Weatherford, about 300 miles from my home in Southeast Texas.  This would be the first time to take the coach further than the 100 mile trips to Meccadoches.  I checked tires and oil, hooked up the new-to-us Chevy HHR toad, and headed to Weatherford.

About 10 miles down the road a quick check of the toad connections and a walk-around says all is well.  The next check about an hour later reveals a low tire.  The left rear outside dual has only 30 psig!  Now I knew my tires were older than I liked, and a new set of tires was already on the horizon.  I aired it up and found no obvious leak, but I stopped every 30 miles or so to check the air until I finally got to Weatherford late Sunday evening.

Monday morning, the tire was almost flat.  It so happens that there is a tire store only 2 blocks from Ernie's.  I aired it up, and drove it to the tire shop.  After we parked at the shop we saw oil under the coach.  Sure enough, the hydraulic pump was leaking oil badly.  We back-tracked the oil leak to see that it had just started about a block up the road.  The tire shop fixed my tire, and the store manager, a friend of Ernie's, sent a mobile mechanic to Ernie's house to help with the pump.

The pump was shot.  The shaft fell out when we removed the idler pully.  I'd seen a thread by OldMattB discussing this pump, so was not surprised when Jeff at FOT told me that the Vickers pump is no longer available.  I WAS surprised to hear that the replacement pump might cost well over $2000! :o  I took the pump to a hydraulic repair shop in Fort Worth.  They told me that it would be a couple of days before they could tear it down and diagnose, but assured me that it was just a pump, and they could repair it.  It was Wednesday evening when I left the pump with them.

During this time Ernie and I had been doing the doing the demo on the floors, and I of course had been sleeping in the coach.  The standard-issue Dometic refrigerator had never done well, but it finally called it quits.  Tuesday night, my ice cream had melted >:( , and the refrigerator was just cool.  Oh well, a residential fridge was on my list of future upgrades anyway, so no great loss there.

After leaving the pump to be repaired, there was no reason for me to hang around and be in Ernie's way during the install process, so I went home to await the call to pick up my repaired pump.  When the call came in, it was bad news.  The repair shop had found that the end plate was made specifically for Foretravel, and is no longer available.  I rode my motorcycle up to Fort Worth Friday morning to get the pump and work on Plan B.  While there, I took it to Motion Industries, another nearby but larger repair shop.  After I gave them the history they did their homework, and I think that all will be well.  They are rebuilding the pump with a different backing plate.  They assure me that the only change necessary on my part to make it fit will be hose re-routing requiring new hydraulic hoses and fittings.  The rebuild cost will be about $300.  It'll be toward the end of next week before I get the pump, but at least I think we're making progress.

While in Fort Worth I rode over to Ernie's.  The coach is looking great!  Ernie and I went to Lowes where I bought a Whirlpool 9.6 cu. ft. refrigerator that should fit perfectly.  I then rode back home late Friday evening.  I'm heading back up to Ernie's Sunday evening, and we'll install the Whirlpool Monday while y'all are drinking beer and eating barbecue.  I think that Dave and Dolly Cobb are coming over Monday morning to check out the remodel and lend a hand with the fridge work.

Finally, I've ordered a full set of Michelin 255/80/22.5 XRV's from Powers Tires in Nac.  They are on back-order until the middle of June, for Michelin is just about to start a new run of building this tire.  At least I'll be guaranteed of getting the latest build date.

If the pump works I should be able to get my Foretravel out of Camp Ernie by the end of next week.  He's a very gracious and understanding host, but I know he'll need the room.  If for some reason the modified pump doesn't work I guess if will be time to spend some Foretravel Bucks for the high-dollar official replacement pump.  Fingers are crossed.  I wanted to remodel my coach, but I didn't intend to do it all the same week!


Glen

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #1 –
Glen, Ernie didn't say whose coach it was, only that he had a Foretravel in his yard. He posted some pictures on the Wanderlodge forum, and it sure does look nice. By all accounts he does excellent work.

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #2 –
Quote from: kb0zke –
Glen, Ernie didn't say whose coach it was, only that he had a Foretravel in his yard. He posted some pictures on the Wanderlodge forum, and it sure does look nice. By all accounts he does excellent work.
Here's the link (Did someone say "Foretravel"? - Wanderlodge Owners Group) - it IS beautiful!  And I liked Ernie's comment about Foretravels:  "the coaches with that fantastic walnut cabinetry"  ^.^d

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #3 –
Many of these hydraulic pumps are destroyed by too much tension on the belt.  It pulls the bushing out of the front of the pump. Because both crankshaft and hydraulic pump pulley have belt contact over 50% of their surface, tension does not need to be that high.

Easy solution-- remove the automatic belt tensioner and drill a new detent hole in the bracket 1/2" to 3/4" "detensioned".

Brett

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #4 –
I did a total remodel of my current coach and I feel your pain.....

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #5 –
We are just back from Weatherford and Ernie's place.  Ernie has done a beautiful job re-flooring  Glen's coach.  We have the same carpet and are in need of doing the same to ours.

Anyone who is looking at redoing their flooring, should consider contacting Ernie.  He does almost any type of flooring, and plan a trip to his place or get on his traveling schedule.  He has 30 years of flooring, is a long time coach owner, presently a Wanderlodge owner.

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #6 –
Hello folks, it was great to meet Dave and Dolly, today. I have talked to Dave in the past. I found out that I had joined this forum back over a year ago. Where does the time go? I'm here to help. If I can guide you in the correct materials for flooring, I'd be happy to do that. And Dave- its 40+ years in the "bidness"
Ernie - in Texas

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #7 –
Ernie, I think you might find a number of Foretravelers might need your help. You might want to change your membership to a commercial member. Steve and Michelle will be the best ones to communicate with in that regard.

Who knows, if Peggy gets her way we might even come to see ya. She hates our carpet.

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #8 –
I miss read Ernie's card, and yep he has only been doing flooring since 1972!  And he has parking and power, and storage for the things removed to do the remodel.

If Peggy does get her way, you are going to be in good hands, once you arrive.

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #9 –
I guess I could be a commercial member. I did own a Grand Villa but wife is short, commode is elevated- she could not reach the floor- either me or coach had to go- I'm just a one horse "commercial person" and at 64, don't want to work on every coach, but willing to help out when I can. There are some folks on here that I have communicated with in the past. Hope to renew those acquaintanaces

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #10 –
We are more than glad to have you among us either way. Regarding the toilet, the one on my U225 Grand Villa was very tall the one on my U300 is really short. So if you ever want to come back to the fold, I'm sure a Foretravel can accommodate you. If not, Oh Well!!!

Look forward to meeting you. Watch out for that Cobb guy. He's got my old U225 with the tall toilet, but Dolly has long legs as I recall.

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #11 –
Quote from: erniee –
I guess I could be a commercial member. I did own a Grand Villa but wife is short, commode is elevated- she could not reach the floor- either me or coach had to go- I'm just a one horse "commercial person" and at 64, don't want to work on every coach, but willing to help out when I can.

Ernie,

Welcome to the forum!  Steve and I are not far from you here in north Texas.

If you wish, just check the terms and conditions here Vendor Forum & Posting Standards

Commercial Member status lets you start topics in the Commercial Listing board (rather than the Classifieds, where we don't have commercial advertising).  There's no charge, no consideration expected or given to any of us moderators or Steve and I.  It's just an option we offer to those who have a FT-related business interest they may wish to advertise and who can be identified as "in the business" when they post ("Commercial Member" will appear below your Avatar).  Our commercial members' insight is very welcome as so many of us try to do what we can on our coaches, and it helps when those who have "been there, done that" can keep us from heading down the wrong path.

Michelle

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #12 –
I'm cool with all kind of guidelines. I belong to the rvforum.net. There is a guy from route 66 rv repair that goes into a disertation about what his company does and then has ads about all this "discount stuff". I'm no hype, for sure, just someone that would like to help. I have a yahoo website- cause I'm cheap- but I bought the URL cause its easier on folks to remember. And- when you call my phone-- before 8 at nite- you talke to me. Thanks, guys- I'll be around ~

Oops- blew the seat fuse

Reply #13 –
When I installed the captains chair, one of the wires got pinched and blew the fuse. I repaired the wire and finished installing the chairs. I looked under the dash and did not see on the 2 charts any mention of the electric seats. I could use a little guidance on this. Thanks, folks, Ernie- never blew a fuse before in my life :D

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #14 –
Just talked to Ernie, and sent him 15 pages of wiring diagrams from my owner's manual.  He says Glen's coach has some reset breakers where mine has fuses.  He is still looking for the fuse or breaker that tripped.

Re: Oops- blew the seat fuse

Reply #15 –
Quote from: erniee –
When I installed the captains chair, one of the wires got pinched and blew the fuse. I repaired the wire and finished installing the chairs. I looked under the dash and did not see on the 2 charts any mention of the electric seats. I could use a little guidance on this.

Ernie,

Ours is obviously much newer, but some of our resettable 12V breakers are in the electronics bay.  It might be worth looking in some of the storage bays to see if there are any 12V fuses or breakers there.

Michelle

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #16 –
Dave Cobb and Glen worked on the electrical dilemma while my friend Bim and I worked on the new refrigerator. Seems that there was a breaker that went bad. Maybe I didn't do it after all~ New Whirlpool installed. I'll do some finish out of trim in am. Ernie

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #17 –
Got lucky with Ernie's volt meter, and found a bad circuit breaker and swapped out for an unused one.  The breaker had killed the seat, the Audit, the waterpump relay, and who knows what else.  Now those items work as they should.  We used the wiring diagrams from the 93 model, and found fuses have been replaced with circuit breaker in the same location on this 94 model.

It was a pleasure to see Ernie at work, and he has some really neat tools, now on my list of "must have soon".  The new refer. and the install look great, fun to watch someone who knows how to remodel.

Was a fun day with sawsall, and new wood installed.

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #18 –
The Foretravel is looking great!  Ernie and friend Ben installed the Whirlpool refrigerator while I mostly watched Dave troubleshoot the electrical systems.  Dave found and replaced a bad circuit breaker, and suddenly the electrical problems went away.  Ernie and Ben continued slogging away at the fridge, and it now looks like a factory install.  Ernie is planning to install a little trim to finish dressing it out tomorrow while I go to Motion Industries for an update on my hydraulic pump repair.  As of now I'm expecting it Thursday.

I guess I'll point the Honda south tomorrow and ride home until the pump is ready to install.

Ernie has been in the flooring "bidness" for over 40 years, and it shows.  The level of detail which he has shown during this install is outstanding.  Yeah, anybody can slap in a new floor, but Ernie has the skills and experience to do it right.  It looks so much better than if I had tried to do it myself.  I had actually planned on doing the fridge install myself at some later date, but because of where and when it went out I asked Ernie to handle the install since he'd done it before and the coach was going to be here anyway.  I'm SO glad I did!

Also, I want to publicly thank Dave Cobb for coming over to "lend a hand", as he says.  Dave's knowledge, troubleshooting skills, and "can-do" attitude saved my bacon today. After repairing the electrical problem, he showed me a bunch of things on my coach that I did not know. Dave, I owe you big-time.

Glen

Re: A tale of sorrow, but hopefully with a happy ending

Reply #19 –
More pictures please, floor job and refrig. would be much appreciated!

Ernie, I think we need to talk about a new floor and refrigerator in my U-320 (2000) single slide unit....

:-)