Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

Radiator removal

September 17, 2020, 01:48:05 pm

How big of a job to remove a radiator in a 1999 U270 with 8.3 cummins  now may hr too remove and install

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #1 – September 17, 2020, 05:15:42 pm

Took me about 14 hrs total , working  at my own pace, I got it all loose and my fan moved away from the shroud and used a fork lift to lower it down.

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #2 – September 17, 2020, 05:31:37 pm

Thanks I was told by a shop it was a two day job just to get it out they won't $1600.00 to do the job I think I'm going to take it out my self

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #3 – September 17, 2020, 05:49:19 pm

Rick, I took mine our went to harbor freight and bought a roll around lift table that goes up to about 30".  Used it to lower CAC and radiator.  I didn't keep up with time but don't remember it being that bad.  Wouldn't hesitate to do it again, hope I don't have to but would do it.  while I was doing everything I installed a wax valve fan control and replaces the engine thermostat and all hoses.
Chris

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #4 – September 17, 2020, 06:05:51 pm

 Now that you say that I have a hydraulic table and I also have a  forklift and tools just not familiar with these couch's and Diesel engine and I would like too change all rad hose and hydraulic hoses I had a hydraulic hose burst the other day on the fans made it to a Farm  tractor place and they repair it in under an hour  part ,labour, oil, tax  under $300. That was one of the cheapest repairs I've had in a long time so far in 2020 had too do Bulkhead steering box and now I need a rad but I love this coach

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #5 – September 17, 2020, 10:35:37 pm

Since I have full body paint I didn't want to remove body panels.  I removed the cross brace in the rear and slid it out backwards on a harbor freight transmission scissor jack.  The fans and shrouds just dangled there.  About 4 hours out, and 4 hours reinstall and I'm inexperienced.  If you could lift the coach and drop it down it'd be crazy easy.

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #6 – September 18, 2020, 12:01:50 am

I will check that option out

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #7 – September 18, 2020, 12:56:06 am

Anyone have any pictures of the radiator complete out it looks like the radiator is in a frame is it hard for a shop to Recore 
Can you get a remanufactured radiator ready to go in or just fine a rad shop and have it done it looks to be a very heavy duty rad

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #8 – September 18, 2020, 08:21:25 am

This is the only one I have, and yes they can be recored

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #9 – September 18, 2020, 09:47:10 am

They look very Heavy duty look at the size Gauge of steel tank on that I didn't realize you had two radiators one on each side I presume

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Reply #10 – September 18, 2020, 10:08:09 am

Only one radiator the opposite side on unicoaches has an air conditioning condenser.

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #11 – September 18, 2020, 11:45:29 am

The radiator has end tanks that bolted to core headers with gaskets. The radiator is very rebuildable unless the fins and tubes are rotted. Any heavy truck radiator shop can take care of it.

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #12 – September 19, 2020, 01:49:16 pm

Rick, I did the job three years ago, documenting everything and posted a lot of photos.  If you put radiator and "Sven" in your search box you should get everything you need.  I used two motorcycle jacks (less than $100 each at HF) to lower and raise and my tractor to move the radiators from and to the coach.  I also replaced all of my hoses at that time as well as the CAC and transmission cooler.  Saved a fortune on labor and bought materials directly from the manufacturers instead of FT.  I found it necessary to remove body panels, which was fairly simple given that the screws holding the trip were exposed.  I also have full body paint and I may have lost a little that were on the screws themselves.  See my photos.
Let me know if you have questions.
Sven

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #13 – September 19, 2020, 05:04:05 pm

Thanks going to look it up

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #14 – September 20, 2020, 08:47:36 am

We took on this task of replacing the radiator this spring in Ron's (Redtractor) side yard/driveway. Although my coach has the M11 engine, likely similar steps to get it out and back in...

I looked carefully at Sven's posting of his experience, great tips and photos. Ron (redtractor) had all the experience! We parked the Fortravel so the rear-end was over the edge of where the gravel sloped down, in order to clear the side of the coach. Used one HF motorcycle jack to begin lowering the unit down. The problem is the last 12 inches or so to get the radiator on the ground to pull it out and away from the coach was a challenge.  Ron came up with a really simple but ingenious means to do this safely! It's heavy and awkward to muscle out.... He got some 3/4" threaded rod. We threaded this into the upper coach mounts and used washers and nuts to capture the radiator that was resting in the lowered motorcycle lift. Once we had that connected, lifted slightly with the 3/4" threaded rods, and removed the lift. The radiator was safely "hanging". Then used the threaded rod to lower to the ground, where we used Ron's tractor with forks to pull the assembly away, and bring the new radiator in, (once assembled).

Took two days to do the job. It's dirty, its bull work, but can be accomplished. As you see from the photos, we left the fan motorsunder the coach, but had to disconnect the hydraulic lines to get the radiator out. Ron used different colored zip ties to identify hoses and mating fittings on the motors.

Jeff

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #15 – September 20, 2020, 09:31:38 am

Thanks for the tips everyone has giving me    I'm getting a good foresight in this job going to change all hydraulic lines and rad hoses on this job I had a hydraulic hose on fan motor blow on the road last week the Rad  fins Look good the leak  is coming down on the in side of the tank and can't see with Fan cowling it not a very big leak there just dry up antifreeze I add antifreeze  every couple of thousands miles just enough to keep you worrying about it on every trip

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Re: Radiator removal

Reply #16 – September 21, 2020, 07:30:31 am

A lot of us have successfully used Bars Leaks to stop small radiator leaks for hundreds of thousands of miles.

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