Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270 (Read 2119 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #25 –
Quote from: John44 –
Just ordered 8 8805-1010 for $165 free shipping and 5% military discount,which came to $1254 delivered.

from,ULTRARVPRODUCTS.COM
 
ps,they also have a engine upgrade section and have a upgraded thermostat and hoses for the hyd fan units.

Extremely interesting web site.

I have been working on the fan controller on my 97 and in my testing the 180 degree dynamatics seems to be too low.

Fan runs on high all the time.

Bought one of the 199 degree controllers from a beaver c15 owner who had an extra.  Not installed yet BUT it seems country coach and beaver ran a 199 degree controller versus Foretravel ran a 180 in all of our coaches.

Cummins has my thermostat not opening fully to 195. 

Not sure if Foretravel had reasons to run the fan on high from lower temps than the others in the biz but the power consumption is over 40hp on high.

If anyone wants the dynamatic part number I can get it off my unit.

Or these guys have the same one and maybe will sell it without the unneeded hoses if you have the 180 degree one.

My silverleaf would once in a while jump up several miles per gallon on a flat straight road.

My shop manager said the only thing that could change the load against the engine that much is the hydraulic fans.

He mentioned running them on high heats the oil excessively also.  May result in fan motor and pump failures prematurely.

Extra power and/or more mpg? 

Temp gauge might come up from the 176 that my silverleaf shows normally but that's ok with me.


"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: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #26 –
Bob,

I agree-- ideal to have at least a 5 degree F delta between thermostatically controlled temperature and temperature at which the fan goes to high.  If less than that, you are paying HP/diesel to run the fan on high, even if the cooling system without the fan can keep up.

But, it is, or at least should NOT be OFF vs ON.  You still need air flow over the CAC in order to properly cool down intake air on its way from turbo to engine.  More LOW vs HIGH speed fan.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #27 –
Quote from: wolfe10 –
Bob,

I agree-- ideal to have at least a 5 degree F delta between thermostatically controlled temperature and temperature at which the fan goes to high.  If less than that, you are paying HP/diesel to run the fan on high, even if the cooling system without the fan can keep up.

But, it is, or at least should NOT be OFF vs ON.  You still need air flow over the CAC in order to properly cool down intake air on its way from turbo to engine.  More LOW vs HIGH speed fan.

The controllers idle mode does run the fan on low.  No off.  The intermittent higher mpg that the silverleaf showed was really a help in showing this issue.

My research was that there is a 15 degree ramp up in speed.  They say 20.  Either way it seems that Foretravel selected a valve that would run the fan on high almost constantly.

Having received many calls and countless conversations over the years because the temp gauge moved at all I can see why they did this maybe.

Jor built cooling systems for railroad engines and he thought my data also showed the fan on too high.

Thanks for the delta input.  I knew that there had to be a actual engineering number in the system.

My buddies Tour has a rear radiator on his 450 and his gauge hits 210 and his on/off electric fan controller comes on and his temp drops quickly.

Not a sophicated as our piloted wax capsule with its variable speed design,

Hope this helps anyone.  My m11 has always felt slightly slow to me.  Last mechanical thing is the fan controller after the resonator installation.

Then maybe back to the cummins dyno just to see if the turbo or injectors have/ had any issues.
"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: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #28 –
Quote from: Lewis Anderson –

After converting to OAT coolant, I found that my engine normally operated at 170. 

Andy1

I'm pretty sure that you are the only other person that I've heard mention this.  I suspected that the original coolant had never been changed when I got around to doing it and noted a similar drop in engine temperature when changing over to Peak Global OAT but thought that the temperature drop may have been down to old coolant.  Since you have owned your Foretravel for quite awhile, had you been keeping up with the coolant maintenance prior to switching over to OAT?  I've been wondering for a while what could cause the drop in engine temperature.
Robert
Build # 5304
1998 34' U270 Cummins 6CTA8.3

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #29 –
Actually, Texaco ELC was the OE coolant in many Foretravels.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #30 –
Tony Pasquale ('99 U295 36') was kind enough to bring his coach to the rest area on I-95 near RT 32 in Laurel, MD and I got to ride his coach and even test drove it.  He defintely have much better shocks than mine (my new shocks are coming in today :) and his steering is quite better than mine (mine is bit more mushy, bit more play).  Also bit more power, but I think it is normal as I believe he got electronic 8.3 with bit more HP than my mechincal 8.3.

I think it would be good idea to have good honest local mechanic (Tony says there is one around Baltimore area) to take a good look at my engine to make sure everything is good before next road trip

Any ideas to improve steering, replacing any parts that has rubber stuff in it (tie rods etc...)?
1996 U-270
Build # 4951
Cummins 8.3

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #31 –
Does FT have ODB-II port?  Would love to have ODBLink MX plugged into and use iPad to monitor those guages.  I guess not in my 96 with mechanical 8.3.  Any other way to do that?
1996 U-270
Build # 4951
Cummins 8.3

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #32 –
Jamie,

There was no play in any of the steering linkage when I checked your coach.  Yes, the rubber boots were pretty well shot, but will go a long time as long as kept greased. The only play is in the Sheppard steering box. Sadly, it is not adjustable.

To minimize play/mushiness: Make sure tires are not under inflated.  Shocks will help, as extra motion as you go down the road IS a steering input, requiring you to correct it.

But, the only way to tighten the Sheppard M100 steering box is to have it blueprinted.  These people have a good reputation (Used by Henderson, Precision Alignment, etc): REDHEAD steering gears – Steering Gear Rebuilding & Re-manufacturing

They are in Washington state.

Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #33 –
Quote from: jclark93 –
Any ideas to improve steering, replacing any parts that has rubber stuff in it (tie rods etc...)?

I don't know if these will fit your coach but they should. This is the Peterbilt # L24VC0109  a dealer may have them in stock. You may shop around on line for a better price and save a $ or 2. Here is a link to Peterbilt  on line store. L24VC0109 Boot | Steering Accessories | Ross Gear | Peterbilt Parts

Here is a link to some pics. as to what you are up against. What did you do to your coach today v

Pamela & Mike
Pamela & Mike 97 U 320

"It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."

Re: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #34 –
Slightly preload the front wheel bearings
"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: Just had 3 day 1,600 or so mile road trip with my 1996 U-270

Reply #35 –
I've split out a couple of topics from this one since it was becoming a multi-thread catch-all.

This should help keep related Q&A together and improve future searches.

It's usually best to start a new topic for specific questions, especially if they don't match the topic title.  Makes it easier for folks to respond and chronological replies to all be related to the same question.
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320