Updates from RRadio/Scott

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Updates from RRadio/Scott

December 22, 2012, 02:06:59 pm

This thread is the result of splitting the discussion off from Scott's classified here: 1991 U300 6V92TA trade for class C

I just made my final desperate plea for help in the form of a slightly misleading Craigslist advertisement looking for a laborer with a pickup truck for two days of work... of course I didn't mention ANYTHING about this work involving a diesel pusher radiator... so now I wait for some unsuspecting Craigslist reader to call me and get sucked in...

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #1 – December 22, 2012, 03:03:04 pm

It seems to me that the rear radiator is the "show stopper" for diesel mechanics. The difference between engine access between rear radiator and side radiator is remarkable. We owned SOB diesel pusher for eight months. I like DP, but after experience with first coach would only have one with good access to the engine.

Unfortunately, you have experienced some of the worst problems with a rear radiator DP. Best wishes for successful resolution.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #2 – December 22, 2012, 03:28:11 pm

Quote from: nitehawk – December 22, 2012, 08:49:30 am

Dave, even better, now that Christmas is nigh. How about any Foretravel/Foreforum member that can, in the spirit of Christmas, send Rradio $5 or $10 to help him get out of that burg and get his coach to someplace that could help him. Obviously wouldn't take an awful lot to get a tow to the next town for service.

Nitehawk: How would one go about this? Maybe send to a MO c/o "Gen Delivery" and then PM RRadio?.....or if he has PayPal that would be a cinch. Whatcha think? BTW, Merry Christmas to you too.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #3 – December 22, 2012, 03:44:32 pm

The rear radiator rigs can still be great RVs if you can do a little DIY work. I have seen several Euro buses with the radiator/electric fans mounted up on the roof. A very nice, neat installation. Not hard to run the plumbing straight up. Solution #2 would be to snake a couple of tubes to the front and then mount up to four aluminum radiators with ducting in the nose. They are available on ebay very reasonably. All four would run a fraction of cost paid for one new radiator from Foretravel. This would be easier on the tall U280/U300 models as they have lots of room in the nose. You would then have all the access advantages of a side radiator plus no hydraulic pump/motor to worry about. Might be win-win. Roof installation could use the stock radiator.

There are over 36,000 available on ebay at: aluminum radiator in Radiators & Parts | eBay

Don't have any problem with sending $5-$10. Have been in tough spots before myself.

Food for desperate thought.

Pierce

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #4 – December 22, 2012, 04:33:21 pm

What's a good address that we can send money to? I'd like to help, too.

I'm wondering if we could send enough to have the coach moved to a place that can do the work properly. Can the coach be towed, or does it really need a Landall?

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #5 – December 22, 2012, 05:10:03 pm

I'll send money to contribute to having it towed to a dealer, how do we do this....anybody.

Roland

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #6 – December 22, 2012, 06:37:06 pm

Engine access hasn't been an issue with my rear radiator U300. After I got the radiator out I was amazed how few items it blocked access to. The mechanics that have looked at it were glad it had the rear radiator. They told me the side radiator is much more difficult to remove. I don't want electric or hydraulic fan motors. I like the pneumatic clutch with fan belts. It seems like it would be much more reliable, especially now that I got rid of the fiberglass fan.

It will cost $750 to tow the coach to Tennessee RV, which isn't really necessary at this point. I truly do appreciate your generosity my friends. All I need is someone with a pickup truck and a couple of days to help me with this radiator. I already did the whole job once. I could possibly be out of here in a couple of days if someone would respond to my Craigslist advertisement, or if one of these diesel mechanics would help. I will be asked a hundred questions in church tomorrow morning and I may possibly get a new volunteer then (?) ...it's just so frustrating to have the thing running twice now only to have to take it apart again and again, which is probably how I lost my volunteers in the first place.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #7 – December 22, 2012, 09:35:12 pm

I'm in Columbia, about 50 miles south of Nashville. Let me know where you are, and I'll drive up to see if I can help.
I'm running a 1990 U280 GV and have thrashed through quite a few minor problems. If the leak in the radiator isn't too bad,
a trick taught me by an OLD, old-timer. Pinch the leak shut with needle-nose pliers. Carefully pinch, and no twists, so you don't
open up some other fins.

I nicked my radiator with a utility knife while removing a stuck radiatorhose, and my hand slipped. Pete told me how to pinch it shut and it lasted another 20 thousand miles, before I traded it in. If you can find the leak, and pinch it closed, there's plenty of spare capacity that it won't miss
that one pinch worth of cooling.

Steve.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #8 – December 22, 2012, 10:20:48 pm

I can't reach the leak and I can barely see it. The radiator is almost removed now. I may have a Craigslist reader who will help me haul the radiator to the shop.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #9 – December 22, 2012, 10:26:44 pm

I'm turnin' in now. I'll check for directions in the AM.
Good luck.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #10 – December 23, 2012, 12:06:14 am

Youracman, Thank you
I hope we (as Foreforum Members) can help out Rradio in some way.

Unfortunately our Christmas is going to be sad. Jus rec'd the news that My 91 yr old mother probably won't make it to Christmas. She has been unresponsive for the last seven days and Hospice warned us that she isn't likely to last two weeks.

If Rradio can supply us with a mailing address I would like to send him $10 in my Mother's name, seeing as how it is close to Christmas. Treasure the ones you hold dear as you never know when they might leave you.

Merry Christmas

Nitehawk

Update: Mom just passed

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #11 – December 23, 2012, 07:24:41 pm

Nitehawk, I am so sorry for your loss. I will pray for your family. My problems seem so small.

I'm not at my mailbox currently but here is my contact information:

Scott Cook
Reluctant Radio
718 Thompson Lane
Ste. 108-106
Nashville, TN. 37204

(615) 482-7650

my email address can be found at...

Reluctant Radio

...by clicking any of the links on the left side of the website and scrolling down to the bottom of the page. I'm not gonna post it here in case the spambots go through.

I am not in need of money unless something else unforeseen happens. I will not turn down your gift in honor of your mother however. One thing I've learned through this is to just say thank you and then help someone else later.

Steve, I believe I may have a Craigslist reader who will help me take the radiator to the shop tomorrow. If you still want to drive over here anyway, and you really don't have to but I won't turn you away if you do, drive east on I-40 to exit 320 Genesis Road in Crossville then exit southbound and immediately turn westbound on Interstate Drive by the BP truck stop, I'm in the parking lot of Cumberland Worship Center beside the BP, the address is 145 Interstate Drive... my cell phone number is: (615) 482-7650 I may reinstall the radiator the day after Christmas if you'd rather wait until then. No doubt there will be a lot more to do during the reinstallation.

Thanks so much for all your help my friends

...I mean all of you, not just Nitehawk and Steve.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #12 – December 23, 2012, 08:09:44 pm

Scott:
I'll call your cell if I'm going to be later than 9:00.
See you tomorrow.

Steve

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #13 – December 23, 2012, 10:41:37 pm

Thanks a bunch Steve!

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #14 – December 26, 2012, 05:49:53 pm

Scott:
I broke down and looked. My Cat 3208T has a fiberglass fan.
IMHO it will be a LOT easier to change than yours was. Assuming I poke no radiator holes while changing it.
BUT, It has lasted 155,000 miles, I think I'll just let it run for a few years.

If it aint broke, don't mess with it.

Steve

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #15 – December 27, 2012, 06:49:22 pm

...this fiberglass fan issue needs to be added to the TOP of the used vehicle inspection list immediately before someone else buys one ...make the owner change out the fiberglass fan for a nylon one BEFORE you buy the coach ...moderators, please add this fiberglass fan issue to the list ...a huge deal has been made about the bulkhead issue but no mention has ever been made of the fiberglass fan issue, I did my research before I bought and I wish it had been on the list ...(sigh) ...and then there's the fact that nobody will work on a diesel pusher, that never got mentioned on this forum either, and I read everything on here before I bought mine

...another similar issue that was recently brought to my attention is that a rock can be kicked up by the tire and fly right into the fan, which will drive it into the radiator and leave you in the same situation I'm in right now, it actually happened to someone already ...so a sheet of hardware cloth needs to be installed as a rock guard across the bottom of the engine to keep rocks out ...I'll let you know how after I figure it out myself

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #16 – January 25, 2013, 08:19:10 pm

Scott, we haven't heard from you in a while. Would you please give us an update? Do you need any help?

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #17 – January 26, 2013, 09:14:10 pm

I heard from Scott. He's moving around, and now at Henry Horton State Park, TN.
Thanks for all of the concern. I'll let him tell the full story of the fan and radiator.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #18 – January 26, 2013, 09:21:53 pm

Thanks for the update. I imagine he could write quite a book about his adventures. Glad he is okay.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #19 – January 27, 2013, 08:38:37 pm

Sorry, I didn't have any internet access in Henry Horton state park. I'm in civilization now!

...What do you guys want to know about? ...Does anyone care about the state parks in Tennessee if I write about them? They're really nice, loaded with wildlife, scenic, fun, inexpensive, and practically empty this time of year. In the summer the COE campgrounds are open and you'll probably find me at those instead. There's an unadvertised 25% discount for veterans who are TN residents during the off season. You have to ask about it when you pay for your campsite. At Henry Horton state park there are unadvertised loaner bicycles available at the hotel. You give them your driver's license and they give you a bike for the day. When you bring the bike back you get your driver's license back... Again, you have to ask about it because it's not advertised anywhere... Does anyone care about this stuff if I write a new topic about it?

Scott

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #20 – January 27, 2013, 09:07:07 pm

I think that we would all benefit from that type of information

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #21 – January 27, 2013, 09:21:10 pm

Yes, please!

Also, how did you find driving in the park with your coach? Any low-hanging branches to snag stuff on the roof, or stubborn trees or rocks at sharp corners?

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #22 – January 27, 2013, 11:20:02 pm

I really think what most are also interested in is what happened re the radiator fix after your last posting on it a long time ago??
John H
ps, and are you the new paster, church leader etc there now or what?

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #23 – January 28, 2013, 08:14:02 pm

I too am anxious to hear about the radiator repair. I also would be interested in hearing about the state parks as well. We really enjoy the Great Smoky Mtns Nat'l park specifically Elkmont campground but the state parks do have one major advantage.. electrical service.

Re: Updates from RRadio/Scott

Reply #24 – January 28, 2013, 10:22:02 pm

David, all the parks are tight fits for any diesel pusher. I have a 36' and it's difficult to get in and out of the parks. Most state parks and national parks won't even accept a coach any bigger than 36' and some don't accept coaches longer than 35' ...so I lie and they never get out the tape measure to check.

The radiator is working very well, probably better than ever. I never had any radiator problems anyway other than a tiny pinhole leak that Foretravel plugged with some radiator stop leak. The major malfunction was the fiberglass fan that exploded with no warning and destroyed the radiator. The new fan is made of fiberglass reinforced nylon. I can't see any fiberglass in it though, it just looks like it's all nylon to me. I had a slight leak on a hose clamp that I already tightened and it stopped leaking immediately. If you get rid of your fiberglass fan now before it explodes this will probably never happen to you. If it does happen there's a strong probability that you won't be able to get any diesel mechanic to work on it. Have the tow truck take you directly to a radiator repair shop instead of a diesel repair shop. Go on the assumption that you'll have to do the work yourself. It's not as difficult as everyone thinks. I will give my cell phone number to the moderators so I can be contacted when this does happen to someone ...and it will because it appears that none of you are going to get rid of your fiberglass fan. Everyone is in denial about it even though I've made it plain that this happens all the time. The tow truck operator brought in two more trucks with blown fiberglass fans in the first two weeks I was stranded there. He said that's about average, one every week or so. He's towed a hundred of them, many of them diesel pushers. The manufacturer of the fan even told me it happened to their company diesel pusher last summer. They inspected the fiberglass fan right before they left on the road tour and decided it looked okay so they left it on there... and it exploded and destroyed their radiator leaving them stranded in the middle of nowhere for a long time. These are the guys who manufacture the fans and they know exactly what to look for and they can't even identify a fan that's about to explode just a few hours later.

I'll post a separate reply about the state and national parks.

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