Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Topic: Oil pan cage protection does its job. (Read 1186 times) previous topic - next topic

Oil pan cage protection does its job.

July 02, 2018, 01:41:49 pm

This is embarrassing. We put a ding in our new to us U270. Situation: Very heavy cross traffic leaving us little time to turn left onto a four lane highway from a parking lot. The rear suspension compresses as the rear wheels dip into the lowest part of ramp at the street. Our momentum and weight drives the skid cage protecting the oil pan into the sidewalk. Hell of a noise.

Been in and out of same parking lot before without any problems!! Only difference this time being the traffic and our rushing a bit to make the turn. (Lesson learned: NEVER be in a hurry!) So we got lucky, the cage protected the oil pan. Now as to repairing it. This will require removal of the cage and replacement/fabrication of front tubular crosspiece and/or vertical sections too. Wish I could just find a complete cage at a salvage yard. Any suggestions??

I do have an excellent welder/fabricator if needed. Unfortunately can't keep the coach at his shop during repairs to the cage.

1. Is there enough clearance for skid cage be removed with the coach fully raised on air bags? (Safety stands blocking frame)
2. Can coach be driven without cage in place? (Have to park at home not at repair shop)
3. Where to look for collateral damage to anything else from such a "hit"?

This could have been prevented if we were more familiar with the "Raise" function of the HWH, when in motion.

4. How often do you used the "Raise" function when in motion? (What happens if over 5 mph?)

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #1 – July 02, 2018, 01:50:03 pm

Mike,

Have not worked on your particular year model, but on earlier coaches, the oil pan skid assembly is bolted on. So, it can be removed for repair. May need to drive rear wheels up on ramps as well raise and block rear suspension to get clearance.

Let us know what you find.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #2 – July 02, 2018, 02:09:40 pm

Hi Brett,

Skid cage is a bolt on. Called FOT to see what they would say. "Need a new one? We'd have to build it for you." No tips on salvage option. "Although there must be some out there somewhere". Meet with my welding guru later today.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #3 – July 02, 2018, 02:12:00 pm

The cage should be a piece of cake for a decent welder even a guru apprentice or a guy/gal in guru school.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #4 – July 02, 2018, 02:20:31 pm

Quote from: Mike J – July 02, 2018, 01:41:49 pm

4. How often do you use the "Raise" function when in motion? (What happens if over 5 mph?)

Never used it, but we don't go "off-road". Some Forum members need to use it every time they enter or depart their parking location, due to steep pavement angle. Don't remember who...perhaps they will respond.

If you are using the "RAISE" function (or the "DUMP" function) and exceed 5 mph, the U-joints may be damaged by the extreme drive shaft angle. I've never tested that theory on our coach, but that's what the book implies.

See page 28 and 29 in the manual linked below for a in-depth discussion of the "RAISE" and "DUMP" functions:

https://www.hwhcorp.com/ml20635.pdf

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #5 – July 02, 2018, 02:34:27 pm

On my '99 the minute your release the brakes it dumps the bags to level mode. I have tried to use the raise function to get out of my driveway apron but it releases too fast. I know I could remove the level fuse or modify with a switch but I just put blocks at the curb now.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #6 – July 02, 2018, 03:56:42 pm

Want to make sure I have proper safety stands before starting. Going to have steel fabricator make some stands before attempting repair of skid cage. Some forum members use wood. Others steel tube. I'm voting steel. Is trailer receiver tube, 2 x 2 inch thick wall square tube okay? Welder will have some tubing, he built a 20 foot dump trailer from scratch. Is 12 inch long tubing a good choice for a 2002 U270?

One concern is making sure coach is parked on an absolutely level site. Don't want to rely on the stands to support coach and end up twisting coach if site isn't level! Unfortunately, can't get rig into the work bay of my favorite welder where floor is level. Could park outside and keep the bags fully inflated above the stands but if coach were to settle down onto the stands when parked on unlevel ground.... bad things could happen! (If I am correctly understanding the dynamics of how FT suspension functions)

Probably should look for an alternate site that is level.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #7 – July 02, 2018, 04:19:43 pm

Great to hear the protective cage works. . .

We hold down while driving the All Raise button when entering a ship from a loading ramp at low tide. Every year HWH makes changes to the functions, so yours may be different. Try it, park somewhere else.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #8 – July 02, 2018, 05:35:58 pm

We also use the raise function occasionally. It's useful when we enter unlevel sites or driveways. We also enstalled a set of 6 inch casters in front of the rear mudflap. The plates they bolt to are already there on ours.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #9 – July 02, 2018, 07:28:13 pm

I have used the raise button a few times and didn't use it a few times that I should have. You have to hold the button or it rapidly goes back to travel mode. Wow that was quite a bump. There is a procedure of disconnecting some electrical stuff when welding something on the coach. You need to do that if a welder needs to maybe tack weld the pieces to get a good fit. It is in the manual for the coach.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #10 – July 02, 2018, 07:57:11 pm

Quote

Is trailer receiver tube, 2 x 2 inch thick wall square tube okay? Welder will have some tubing, he built a 20 foot dump trailer from scratch. Is 12 inch long tubing a good choice for a 2002 U270?

One concern is making sure coach is parked on an absolutely level site. Don't want to rely on the stands to support coach and end up twisting coach if site isn't level!

A lot of us use the 12" receiver tube. They work great. I you are going to put the supports on all four corners, I don't think you need to worry about being on a dead level spot as you won't be twisting at all.
jor

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #11 – July 02, 2018, 08:26:26 pm

Quote from: craneman – July 02, 2018, 02:34:27 pm

On my '99 the minute your release the brakes it dumps the bags to level mode. I have tried to use the raise function to get out of my driveway apron but it releases too fast. I know I could remove the level fuse or modify with a switch but I just put blocks at the curb now.

I've used the "raise" position a number of times when moving down the slope to my lower lot. I push the raise button after releasing the spring brake and it stays up as long as I am under 5mph.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #12 – July 02, 2018, 08:51:07 pm

For those with challenging Unlevel areas of us my long ago personal thought was to install a early unihome manual levers next to the drivers seat. Simply reorientates the ride height valve on a swivel base to change the neutral position.

Straight manual.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #13 – July 02, 2018, 08:57:41 pm

On my '99 I have to hold the raise button to keep the coach up while moving. If I want to keep it up I turn off the ignition while holding the button.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #14 – July 02, 2018, 11:10:10 pm

Our HWH Raise button is latching style, (programmed that way). Push it and coach goes up all the way. No need to keep button pressed. I'm not absolutely certain what makes it stop. Must be a mechanical limit switch/solenoid somewhere. Bags sure do get big. I look at them and feel some apprehension about what pressure they are holding. Only because we had a bag burst when fully inflated. It was an old bag, but the memory is fresh.

Welder gave me a hard time. Said I should get a motel room when traveling instead of driving around hitting things. That is because he knows me and likes to see me squirm. We take coach in tomorrow morning for a look see. Work to be done next week.

Jor, Lime green stands! Very cool. Maybe I'll airbrush fish scales on ours.... I also see a small block of wood zip tied to your frame. Is that to help with positioning the stand?

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #15 – July 03, 2018, 07:57:10 am

Quote from: Mike J – July 02, 2018, 11:10:10 pm

I also see a small block of wood zip tied to your frame. Is that to help with positioning the stand?

I don't think that is a block of wood, it looks like a temperature sensor for a clock to show the outside temp....

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #16 – July 03, 2018, 11:15:23 am

Keith got it right. I mount a temp temp sensor on that frame member. Just paint the receiver tubes so they're easier to see.
jor

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #17 – July 03, 2018, 11:52:26 am

Plenty of helpful input but I will add my thought.. Yes it's best to not get in a rush but when sitting in 4 lanes of idiot occupied traffic it is a knee jerk reaction to try and get out the way.. I've been there hundreds of times in a diesel rig. You did what seemed necessary at the time.. It's a fast and aggresive place on most any road and a high percentage of idiots coming at you are just that.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #18 – July 03, 2018, 08:07:29 pm

On occasion I will add 4 or more miles to our route by taking a right out into heavy traffic instead of a left. Sometimes even in our small tow car. T-Bone accidents can be severe, and I have little trust in some of the other drivers on the road to slow a little to let us maneuver.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #19 – August 31, 2018, 08:45:26 pm

Finally got info together to close out this thread on a positive note. My usual welder said it wasn't necessary to disconnect ground on chassis battery. I wasn't comfortable with that so went elsewhere. Oregon Motorcoach in Eugene wasn't going to be the least expensive choice but turns out to be better for us in long run because the old cage was damaged beyond repair. They fabricated whole new cage and replaced a broken bolt in frame due to damage. The heat exchanger/cooler for the transmission also had to be remounted to the new cage. New cage is 1.5 inch thick wall square tubing. The old one was thin wall.

As part of this repair/project I had safety stands cut from 2 inch thick walled receiver hitch tube. Scrap steel yard near me cut them to length, wife and I drilled holes for handles so they would be easy to move. Good thing I had them. Used them in repairing air leaks while parked at a friends ranch north of Moscow Idaho. The on-site service tech appreciated our being prepared.

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #20 – August 31, 2018, 09:33:46 pm

Mike, I hope your mechanic didn't leave that wrench under the coach in picture #3 !

Re: Oil pan cage protection does its job.

Reply #21 – August 31, 2018, 09:36:14 pm

Quote from: rbark – August 31, 2018, 09:33:46 pm

Mike, I hope your mechanic didn't leave that wrench under the coach!

Sharp eye!! Wish I had a prize for you..... No he didn't leave it there.

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