Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Topic: Rebuilding Aqua Hot (Read 6004 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #100 – March 26, 2020, 07:05:13 pm

I got new fuel lines for the AH. I pushed them up till the yellow stops as informed. I also got the fuel injection clamps as informed. Thank you guys for the advice and heads up. The burner is reinstalled and hooked up. I am waiting on a buddy who is going to help me lift the unit off of the bench and up into the coach storage bay. From there I can move it around and into place by myself. I added the lights and switch into the bay but didn't get it hooked up to power. Everything is disconnected so I'll wait till I can test to make sure that I get the right wires. I also got the new checker plate put in on the floor.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #101 – March 26, 2020, 07:12:38 pm

My buddy showed up and helped me get the AH from the garage into the main bay. I have it on a 4 wheel cart so I can handle it anywhere I need to.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #102 – March 27, 2020, 05:49:29 pm

I decided that I needed to check the boiler for leaks before it got into a tight position so I pumped in 4 gallons of water. One of the fittings that I soldered I was uncomfortable with. It wasn't pretty and it was in a difficult position therefore my fears. And lo and behold there was a leak. I couldn't tell exactly where so I had to remove the burner to see/get at. It turned out that I hadn't tightened the union which I had put in for the preheat line. Got it tightened up and no more leak.......Yeah!

I then wrestled the AH back into it's cubby hole. With the time that it has been out, the coach has shrunk. It wouldn't go worth a plug nickel. After 2 hrs of wrestling it, I became victorious. I got it slid back in place and 1 foot bolted down. I will bolt down the others tomorrow when my strength and patience comes back.

The fuel filter assembly showed up today. I fabricated a bracket to mount it from the back side of the box to beyond the edge of the box. I was patting myself on the back until I realized while sliding it into the bay that it hung down to low by about 1/4". A slight modification will fix that tomorrow.

I connected the zone pump lines, and the preheat lines. I may change the routing on some of them, not sure yet. I still have to hook up the electrical from the coach to the unit, but I'm not only tired, I'm retired. Time isn't an enemy this time.

It feels like I did more, but can't remember what it was.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #103 – March 29, 2020, 07:11:42 am

Yesterday, I went thru drive thru at Taco Bell. Not a good choice, not my friend. Made for a short day on the coach. I got the new exhaust hooked up. That was it.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #104 – March 29, 2020, 10:49:47 am

Quote from: ohsonew – March 29, 2020, 07:11:42 am

Yesterday, I went thru drive thru at Taco Bell. Not a good choice, not my friend. Made for a short day on the coach. I got the new exhaust hooked up. That was it.

Larry

Hope it wasnt Taco bell exhaust... You are doing good.. I have learned in life it all comes down to this....

A little grease and a lot of determination!!

You are in the Home Stretch!! Now onto the electrical and the lines in the coach.

Awesome Job!!

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #105 – March 29, 2020, 11:01:12 am

Larry, at 75, I can relate to being exhausted after a short day of want to do jobs on our coach!

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #106 – March 29, 2020, 01:41:06 pm

David, I actually have some of the lines and electrical hooked up. Not all but some. I'm looking to possibly reroute slightly different with the modifications I've made. While laying under the coach working on the exhaust, I got dizzy and nauseous when I got up. I'm blaming it on the Taco Bell syndrome.

Today, I'm going to look at draining the rest of the antifreeze from the engine, taking off the coolant filter for replacement and whatever I can do while the weather is nice. They're calling for rain Monday evening, so I really don't want to be laying on the ground after a rain. The State of Ks has just announced stricter guidelines for staying in, so before they have to shut everyone down, I'm wanting to get my antifreeze and filter.

Right after lunch I'll get started

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #107 – March 29, 2020, 01:42:30 pm

Joe, I'm not quite 64, but do I feel the drain compared to just a few years ago. But it still beats the alternative

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #108 – March 30, 2020, 05:43:07 pm

I got the rest of the electrical lines hooked up. I was hooking up the diesel fill lines to the new filter when it became apparent that with the fittings I had, the hose would possibly be pinched. Went to NAPA for new fittings. Not is stock, will be in in the morning.

I went to get antifreeze this morning. Stopped at 2 NAPA, 2 OReillys, called 1 Walmart 40 miles away looking for Prestone Concentrate. Nada. Ended up finding the 15 gallons by going to 2 different Walmarts, 40 miles apart. That shot 2 hrs down the drain. No one knows why the run on antifreeze. My uneducated guess is someone put on the internet that it stops the corona virus. You know that if it is on the web, it's gospel. Another problem I have discovered with the lockdown from the virus. A couple of friends of mine are now home, lonely and looking to talk to someone on the phone for an hour or so. Glad I got to catch up with them, but it didn't expedite the work on the coach.

Hopefully tomorrow I will get the diesel lines finished up and work on the engine coolant. I still have about 5 gallons in there somewhere that I need to figure the best way to get out. The coach is in the driveway, slanted nose down. Any suggestions???

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #109 – March 30, 2020, 06:08:09 pm

Quote from: ohsonew – March 30, 2020, 05:43:07 pm

I still have about 5 gallons in there somewhere that I need to figure the best way to get out. The coach is in the driveway, slanted nose down. Any suggestions???

Larry,

1. I would pull the thermostat
2. replace thermostat cover.
3. fill system with distilled water, run engine, let cool, drain.
4. repeat step 3
Should be good to go

Mike

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #110 – March 31, 2020, 01:56:49 am

Have fun finding distilled water. Everywhere here is sold out.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #111 – March 31, 2020, 03:55:03 am

Mike, thanks for the advice. I wasn't sure on the best way to go forward. Would tap water work for the flush. As Bob pointed out, distilled water seems to be a rare commodity. Perhaps a couple of tap water flush, then a distilled water flush, then antifreeze/distilled water?

Thanks,
Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #112 – March 31, 2020, 03:56:59 am

Bob, Your correct about lack of distilled water. I did manage to get 15 gallons from our local Walmart last week. This should be close to what I need. 16 gallons of 50/50 antifreeze for the engine and 15 gallons for the AH.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #113 – March 31, 2020, 06:44:15 am

Quote from: ohsonew – March 31, 2020, 03:55:03 am

Perhaps a couple of tap water flush, then a distilled water flush, then antifreeze/distilled water?

Larry,

Under these conditions this would be your best option.

Doing it this way you need to use 100% antifreeze as using 50/50 you will be off on your % due to what water is left in the hoses and engine block that you can't get out. With your coach needing 16 gallons of coolant once you have flushed the system add 8 gallons of 100% then top off with the distilled water. Doing it this way will give you a closer mix of 50/50.

Mike

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #114 – March 31, 2020, 08:48:52 am

thanks Mike, sounds like a plan

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #115 – March 31, 2020, 05:35:06 pm

The fittings 'from NAPA didn't fit. The threads were just slightly wrong. It would screw in about 1/2 thread and then got tight. Sent them back. I wasn't going to ruin the threads on the new filter head. I ended up reshaping the mounting bracket. It will work and still be accessible. Got the diesel lines all hooked up, but still need to prime. All in due time.

I put in 16 gallons of antifreeze and water and got a radiator pressure gauge for helping to prime the zone pumps. With help from the forum on another topic, it went well. The pumps primed easily with the pressure. Now the problem. When I hooked up power to the coach, the heat exchanger fans were running in the kitchen, living room and bedroom even though the switches were all off. I didn't check the bathroom. When I jumpered the zone pump A to prime, the fans stopped running. After getting hold of Rudy, he walked me through a series of electrical checks. The nearest that we can tell is that the socket that holds Relay A in place is faulty. I have a call in to Roger Berke to see the how to's and where to's that need to happen to change this out.

I'm very happy that the pumps primed easy and so far no leaks. Once the fans get fixed that will be good. Tomorrow I hope to work on the engine flush and check the preheat bypass on the system.

Once again my thanks for all the advice, encouragement and help that the many members here have given me. I see light at the end of the tunnel. I just hope it's not a headlight

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #116 – April 01, 2020, 02:22:39 pm

As we near victory the smell is sweet. Smells like diesel fuel. I put water in the cooling system and warmed the engine up to 180. NO LEAKS

.

Definitely a load off my mind. I'm running out of time from some prior commitments so I'm taking the easy way out. I'm going to take Lola to Transwest in Belton, Mo. for the engine flush. It will cost a couple hundred dollars labor, but it gets it done in a more timely manner than I have.

I still need to connect/reconfigure the fresh water lines, but that should be a relative walk in the park compared to what I've already done. I will start putting the joey bed back in this afternoon while the engine cools so I can see if I need to add more fluid from air in the system. I anticipate having to do this a couple of times to make sure I have enough to get to Transwest.

The journey continue's. Thanks for the support.
Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #117 – April 01, 2020, 08:25:31 pm

Joey bed in. It went much better than I had hoped. The DW helped to align while I did the lifting. Didn't take 5 minutes once I had the side rail reinstalled.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #118 – April 03, 2020, 09:35:44 pm

I do hope that some how some way you get pictures posted. This sounds like quite the adventure!

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #119 – April 04, 2020, 07:45:07 am

I will try to get some posted over the weekend. I took the coach to storage yesterday awaiting it's trip for an engine flush and oil change on Monday. With this project, the garage was a complete mess with tools and dirt every where, so after parking the coach, it was reorganize the tools, pressure wash the floor and get things back to normal. In between the weekend projects, I will try to post some of the pictures showing the major spots.

And yes it has been and adventure and a learning curve. I believe the largest part is behind me.

Larry

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #120 – April 04, 2020, 10:26:45 am

Quote from: Mark D – April 03, 2020, 09:35:44 pm

I do hope that some how some way you get pictures posted. This sounds like quite the adventure!

What did you do to your coach today IX

teaser until hes able to get some pics posted

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #121 – April 04, 2020, 04:36:32 pm

As promised. Here are some of the ones before it came out of the coach.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #122 – April 04, 2020, 04:38:18 pm

Into the garage

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #123 – April 04, 2020, 04:41:54 pm

Taking things apart.

Re: Rebuilding Aqua Hot

Reply #124 – April 04, 2020, 04:50:48 pm

Starting to clean things up. That is as far as I have gotten downloaded from the camera to the computer, so you'll have to stay tuned for what is more to come. A word of caution when cleaning the housing. The label on the front panel with the model # and serial # scratched into, the ink writing on the label will disappear forever if you use brake cleaner to clean the stainless steel. Son't ask me how I know. The numbers can still be seen, but everything else is gone. And before you ask AH cannot/will not make you a new one either.

If you have questions, fire away. I'll try to answer as best I can. I also won't take credit for being able to do this project. I give credit to those that paved the way before me. I will say that I now understand this system MUCH better that before.

Larry

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