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Topic: HWH solenoid rebuild - update??? (Read 909 times) previous topic - next topic

HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Chuck, Jeannie and Bella did such a fine job in acquiring the solenoid rebuild kits and mailing them out, I was just wondering how many of you have actually used the kits and rebuilt your six packs?  And if you did how did it go?

I will start mine next week.  I could use some encouragement.  ;D
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #1 –
I used kit to rebuild both 6 pack , went smoother than I anticipated, but I tend to over think and over plan each job .
I grabbed a handful of those tags that grocery stores leave out for bagging and tagging bulk nuts and trail mix etc and clipped them on to connectors as I disconnected each  valve
Jimmy
2003 U295 3620

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #2 –
I have done 1- 6 pack rebuild but on a C Coach. Mine are fine but will do them when I have time.
The job is simple- to an extent. Hard part is getting to them so I strongly suggest to look at the wire bundle and air lines and consider undoing the plastic ties to allow the block to lower some to make it easier to work on. On doing that coach I also removed the air lines after marking them to make sure they went back to right place as this is very important of course.
Doing the actual change over is easy unless you get a stubborn base that will not unscrew. I used water pump pliers to get a good hold. Clean the parts completely along with the aluminum block carefully and use a bit of silicone grease to help hold O rings in place. Otherwise simple, just may be a very awkward position.
I did help Barry (Beam) with 2 sets of his so have some experience to say the above.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #3 –
I would also add that without the patience and guidance of the members on this forum, I would have given up and sold the coach long ago.
Again thanks
Jimmy
2003 U295 3620

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #4 –
I ordered mine from Tom in the Newell Forum.  Should be here any day.  I will work on them in Florida and will keep in touch with the progress.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #5 –
I bought two kits - back before I even had an rv to use them on. Now that I have my FT hopefully I'll never need to do them because it looks like I would need six months of yoga to be able to bend myself in such a way to get to the valves.

But I look forward to pics of how others do it in case I ever need to!
95 U300SE

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #6 –
That is very true, they are in almost impossible locations. Someone did not think this one out when placing them there. Easy when there is no frame etc of coach (living area) to get too, and absolutely no reason for them to be where they are as 12" more length of air lines would have made it a breeze, and placing the bolts for holding in place could easily have been on the lower side instead of top! There is ample wiring to drop the block down to work on so that is why I removed the plastic air lines from it first. Mark them well (I used a different colour tie strap on each one)
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #7 –
I just received my rebuild kit from Tom McCloud in the Newell forum.  He stated he has 2 kits left from this last build that are available .  He said he will build another batch when hs gets enough people needing them.  PM me and I will give you his email addressed if interested.

John M.
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #8 –
Well finally rebuilt the front and rear six packs.  Had Son and Son-in-Law under the coach tagging and removing the six packs.  I sat at the out side table and rebuilt them - replacing plunger, spring and "O" rings.  Not difficult. 

Had the front solenoids rebuilt and put back on the manifold by the time the boys had the rear one pulled.  They mounted the front one and attached the air lines and solenoid wires while I was rebuilding the solenoids on the rear manifold.  Once I was finished with the rear rebuild the boys reinstalled it and connected all of the hoses and solenoid wires.  I asked the boys - My son is an elevator mechanic and son-in-law is a master welder - how confident that everything is attached correctly and both were 92% confident.  Started the engine and built air in the system and hit the "raise" button on the HWH control pad and we heard a loud hissing sound from the front six pack. Engine off - drained air from the system and the boys went to work diagnosing the problem.  Two hours later and a number of reconnections, engine starts and stops everything worked.  They both agreed that they could have done a better job marking all of the lines and hoses.  :-D  In the end the HWH/Foretravel schematics properly identified each wire set and hose and placed in the proper position.  The boys said that if they were to do this again they would verify FT labeling against the schematic and not mark/label the lines/wires at all.  (I would not make that recommendation.) 

There are three "O" rings on each solenoid - also a plunger and a spring.  One "O" ring is internal around the Plunger assy. the other two are on the base of the solenoid that makes the seal between the aluminum manifold and the solenoid.  In all cases the inner "O" ring was pliable and the two other "O" rings were hard and difficult to remove with a pic.  I also observed some material build-up under where the large "O" rings kissed the manifold leaving "crud" where bare metal should be.  I took my Dremel with a brush and some brake cleaner and removed this build up and cleaned the areas as best I could.  On each rubber facing on the solenoid plunger an indentation was clearly observed.  My guess is that we were getting "blow by" due to lack of good seal but there is now way to know. 

Some have had the "O" rings replaced at FT or MOT and have reported a distinct decrease in aux. comp. cycles.  I considered doing this too but was lucky in that we had available two young bucks that were willing to go where no man had gone before.  The cost of the two rebuild kits from Tom was a bit less than one hour of FT/MOT shop time.  I did thank the boys with a little "pocket" money.

I am anxiously awaiting to hear our aux. comp. cycle.  I will log the run time length and cycle times for the next few days to see the difference.

In retrospect I would recommend replacing the air fittings with quick disconnects as Chuck had done with his excellent job and writ-up.

I again thank and applaud those of you that have gone before us and completed this job and assisted us through your documentation.

Soooooo - The job should have taken 3 to 3 1/2 hours to complete and saved us approx. $2K+/-.

PS - We did find some white powder in some of the solenoids but didn't appear to be enough to "gum up" the works?

Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #9 –
Thanks Chuck - If not for your posts this would have been a FOT/MOT repair.  ^.^d
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #10 –
I rebuilt the front 6-pack, and haven't done the rear one yet (much harder to get to.)  Only problem with the rebuild was getting the corrosion on the manifold around the solenoids cleaned.  I did that in place, and in retrospect, would remove the whole manifold block the next time.  I was worried that the manifold fastening bolts would be frozen, and didn't want to go through drilling out and re-tapping.

Had a little leaking around two of the solenoids after rebuilding, which I found with soap solution.  Retightening the solenoids solved that, and the coach has not leaked down at all over multiple 2 or 3 week stays, so the rear rebuild has moved to lower priority :) .
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #11 –
Our rear six pack was easier to get to than the front one.  Go figure.  :D
Scott & Carol Seibert
2001 42' double slide U320 - Sold
Previous - 2002 36' U320

Re: HWH solenoid rebuild - update???

Reply #12 –
Quote from: Carol & Scott –
Our rear six pack was easier to get to than the front one.  Go figure.  :D


I did my rear six pack today.  I wish I had my sons close so they could have done the remove and replace while I did the rebuild.  LOL.  Took me about 7 hours doing it all by myself.

I aired up the bags this evening and will check in the morning for leaks.
1998 U320 40'
2005 GMC Yukon
MC# 17609