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Topic: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE  (Read 9638 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #60 –
Gary,

I don't understand how algae can be visibly undetectable.  When I've experienced algae problems severe enough to plug a fuel filter the algae was clearly visible in the tank.  Likewise, if water is present, it is a separate layer below to fuel.  I stand by by suggestion of pulling a sample from the bottom.  Let is settle, then look at it.

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #61 –
Brett,

Some, experienced owners can detect and solve problems on the road. Michael has mechanical knowledge but as a first timer and as we all know , his maiden voyage will not be totally trouble free. Hopefully, when that time comes,  the advice and help he gets from the forum, will make that and future trips enjoyable with a minimum list of write ups.

A sample pulled from a dormant, stationary tank, flat bottomed tank will not be the same as a sample pulled from the same tank that has been in motion. Eliminating potential (and likely) problems at this time will save him dollars and headaches on the side of the road.

He should NOT rub the buffalo's butt on this potential time bomb. Just get rid of the damn stuff and move on.

Gary O

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #62 –
Gary, I echo your sentiments on getting rid of the fuel hopefully taking any chances away of problems while on the road. It amazes me that some people will spend thousands on cosmetic items that do nothing but increase the looks and comfort in a coach but will bawk at spending a few hundred dollars on something that MAY save them untold frustration and possibly a large invoice stuck in some out of the way place one day. It costs us in Canada a lot more to replace the fuel but I would not even consider trying to use it (old  Diesel).
FWIW
John H

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #63 –
Well guys and gals -- here is the latest. While I wait the week for my batteries to be delivered, I first checked the fuel level with a stick, and I have a half a tank. So -- I'm guessing in the range of 65-70 gallons.

Then -- I used my MityVac pump with a long plastic tube, and a tie-rap attached to the tube along its long axis to make the tube more rigid. I then inserted this into the tank inlet until it stopped at the bottom of the tank. I pulled enough fuel to slowly fill the bottle.

A pic is attached that was taken after 15 minutes of settling. There was no "goo" or sediment of a contrasting color.

Oh, Gary -- no...there is no access plug on the fiberglass under-belly to get to a tank drain, so I'm assuming there is not any accessible drain.

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #64 –
I'm still fairly certain I'm going to have it pumped out, but I may first bleed the Gen-set feed line until it is absolutely clear diesel running into a catch can --  as Gary described, after having already changed the oil and fitting the new filters I bought for it. And then -- when the batteries are in -- fire up the Gen-set.

Or-- maybe bleed it, and try and start it on the fuel filter already in place.

Whattya think? -- If the Generator runs smooth on this fuel for a few hours , maybe I just add another 20-30 gallons of fresh diesel and some fuel conditioner and call it good?

I kinda expected to see other junk floating or stratifying into a layer in that sample.

I won't be taking this on a maiden voyage for some time anyway (where I could possibly develop a fuel-related breakdown). 

With best regards,

Michael 

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #65 –
Good plan. Gen set runs, Cat will be happy.

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #66 –
I also have a fuel problem.  However, my fuel sample is dark black/green with black soft specks in it. You cannot see the bottom of the white bucket with one inch of fuel.  Is this what algae looks like?

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #67 –
Wesley,

In a word, YES.

If you are near a marine area, look up "Fuel polishing".  They come to your vehicle (or more commonly boat) and put a suction line into the bottom of the tank.  They have high capacity pump and several fuel filters. The fuel goes through their filters and returns to the tank. 

Of course, if contamination is bad enough, it may be better to have the fuel removed and disposed of.

In any case, add a biocide (common item at marine stores).

Brett

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #68 –
To my knowledge #2 diesel fuel has a seven (7) year shelf life as long as it is in a sealed fuel tank and humidity can not enter the storage vessel.  (That means stored with a cap in place) This was prior to content changes, (Ultra Low sulfur). Other blends of Diesel range from 12 months to two years... :-\

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), new information

Reply #69 –
Well, folks -- I called Foretravel today and gave them my build number. Now --- this does not make me love my new-to-me Coach any less, but it is not one of the rare ones fitted with the hydraulic retarder, after all. Despite the fact that it has the sticker up front next to the factory I.D. plate indicating it was so equipped, it is a Jake Brake Coach. There is no "R" on the end of the Allison stamped metal plate model number (even though I also found out from another source that Allison is notorious for those plates being wrong), but more indicative is that I couldn't see the large casting with the vane torque-convertor absorber on the tail of the Allison that is supposed to be there. So I was suspicious.

It might have been a simple human error, as the next Coach in the build sequence (4613) was fitted with the Allison retarder. A guy must have mixed up the two on the production floor and slapped the sticker on mine by mistake.

I also learned a valuable lesson about inspection of wiring last weekend (Do it twice). I had posted here that I removed the metal covers in the basement bays to inspect the wiring for any rodent damage as I was recommended to do. Whereas there was a lot of droppings in the tray floors, I did not see any chewed/damaged wiring -- despite moving the different looms away from each other and inspecting. This past Sunday I was on my back with a wet vac hose and cleaning out the droppings and disinfecting the area's -- and I decided to re-inspect. Glad I did before the new batteries all show up and I plan to put electricity into the Coach for the first time this Sunday.

I found one wiring loom that is different from all of the others. They are all in a ribbed hard plastic cable wrap. This harness was coiled up (vs. the others that were straight from front to the back) and sitting on top of all of the others, and it was wrapped in a fabric-like flexible jacketing. And indeed -- the mice did get through the jacket and chewed 4 or 5 of the wires apart. But it's an easy fix as it is only in a 4-6" long area, and I'll just go buy the right color wire to keep the coding correct and use crimp connectors to repair it.

Now wouldn't that be something if this helps clear up the mystery of why the Coach was abandoned in that RV Park (that was changing ownership) to begin with. What if those wires prevented it from starting ? (like they led to the CAT ECU -- from the main cockpit ignition switch, for instance), and the son of the original owner just was done with the whole deal on a complex machine he inherited, anyway. I'll take pics and post them of the affected harness this weekend. Maybe I can also look for that color code and location on the wiring diagrams I have to confirm this idea I'm thinking.

A 2 oz. mouse takes down a 15 ton Coach?. hmmmm.....

Anyway --- I continue to be more impressed as I poke around deeper each visit with the build quality of this machine. I'm loving it.

If all goes according to plan, this weekend it is fitting all new batteries, basic check-out of electrical systems, bleeding the Gen-set fuel feed and firing up the Powertech.

All the best,

Michael McLaughlin
 

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), new information

Reply #70 –
You will find the jake works great also. I have one of the rare M11 coaches with a jake. It does just fine.
Never having owned a coach with a trans retarder, I've got nothing to miss!

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #71 –
I too think my Jake is more than adequate and it never overheats on a long down hill. If its good enough for a semi truck it should be good enough for a motorhome. I personally think using the service brakes more often is positive for overall safety.

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #72 –
You will be very happy with the Jake brake.  How many stage it it?

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), new information

Reply #73 –
soldering those joints might be better in the long run than crimp connectors, and I am fond of shrink tubing as well for that finished look -available at radio shack

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #74 –
Good points, Tim

I have to pull out the soldering iron anyway to repair one of the tank pick-up wires. And -- shrink wrap is still good insurance.

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #75 –
PatC,

I don't yet know how many stages. This is a whole new platform for me. But I'm liking what I'm fast learning!

Michael

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #76 –
Quote from: geomm –
PatC,

I don't yet know how many stages. This is a whole new platform for me. But I'm liking what I'm fast learning!

Michael
Look at the side of the upper heads on the engine and you will see the Jacob name embossed in the upper head. If just the one position switch in the switch bank labeled "retarder" it is generally wire for all 3 stages to come on at once. While no experience with the trans retarder, I like the Jake brake. Once you get it all going you will want to have the trans reprogrammed to have the trans downshift to 5th gear instead of the standard 4th, and then downshift manually to 4th if needed. Go back and do some Foreforum searching for topics under the jake brake and read up on it. There are some unique operating features that you must be aware of to get the most out of it. There are different operating modes that works under and most of them have been covered in past discussions. I put a little bumper on my switch so that I could find it quickly as I reached down to turn it on, see pic.
Good luck,
Rick

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), new information

Reply #77 –
Quote from: Tim Fiedler –
soldering those joints might be better in the long run than crimp connectors, and I am fond of shrink tubing as well for that finished look -available at radio shack

No crimp ever

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #78 –
Quote from: geomm –
PatC,

I don't yet know how many stages. This is a whole new platform for me. But I'm liking what I'm fast learning!

Michael

I thought I did not remember a retarder.  The jake works really well on that  cat.  I sold 3176 marquis with a three position jake so i think its available.  customer preference software allowed the jake to work on cruise control btw.  2,4,6 cylinder mode could adjust the amount of jake for different uses.  Customers would tell me that they put both feet off the pedals and went 67mph up and down hills at 8.25mpg.  With a heavier coach and a towed car.  They loved it.

Cat always understated the hp.  I asked the cat man and he mentioned that some states tax trucks based on road horsepower.......

Plus foretravel on some engines were able to program their own power settings.  The series 60 demo must have been 600 or so.  Why? Empty coach would go zero to 60 in 18 seconds. Time yours and you will appreciate that number.

Like I said the issue was corrosion in the block.  Have a cat guy look at this.  For sure.

Re: Biting the bullet (hard), I finally have my dream Coach - a 1995 U300 SE

Reply #79 –
Also found a pair hydraulic bottle jacks, set in same spot works great also and provides the ability to keep body raised to the full height instead of letting the body down on the blocks.
FWIW only
Dave M