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Topic: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot (Read 4049 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #50
Scott, can you provide some details on the "turn-table" you are using?  I am not familiar with that device.  Do not imagine I would ever need one, but curious. 
VERTEX 3900-2332 Horizontal/Vertical Rotary Table, 12": Amazon.com: Industria...
Amazon.com: Electric Drill, 3/4 In, 350 rpm, 10.0A: Home Improvement
Scott
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Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #51
Scott,

 Very nice work you're doing, there, on your AH rebuild. I like your "powered" rotary table.  ^.^d I always enjoy seeing others save time/effort/money using crafty improvisation.

Greg
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #52
for those that don't know,  Scott is using tools found in a machine shop setting.  Shop vernacular is making chips-- I started doing it about 30 years ago and I know others on the forum that have been or still are involved in the trade.
Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #53
Hopefully won't have a problem with copper feeding off roll. Currently my only worry. I put in a ball bearing axle in the spool but it's a lot smaller radius than I would like. Will have a body watching it roll out or helping to feed it to prevent a kink in it. The nylon tensioning black plate has about ten pounds of tension. There is a variable transformer on the drill and it will start slowly from being fully stalled. Mastic is going in a grout bag and will figure out what works good after we start. May end up with hand applied to drum and turn onto the layer of it. I'll reach out do DavidS and ask him what worked good for him. If anyone has mastic imput it will be helpful, or for that matter any insight.
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #54
Shop vernacular is making chips-- I started doing it about 30 years ago
Had to Google it, I'm even more confused
Vernacular
Vernacular is a women's clothing store with a curated mix of Apparel, Accessories, Jewelry and Gifts. Locations in Columbus, Ohio, Cleveland, Ohio, Atlanta, Georgia and Dallas, Texas.
Am I missing something?

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #55
Hopefully won't have a problem with copper feeding off roll. Currently my only worry. I put in a ball bearing axle in the spool but it's a lot smaller radius than I would like. Will have a body watching it roll out or helping to feed it to prevent a kink in it. The nylon tensioning black plate has about ten pounds of tension. There is a variable transformer on the drill and it will start slowly from being fully stalled. Mastic is going in a grout bag and will figure out what works good after we start. May end up with hand applied to drum and turn onto the layer of it. I'll reach out do DavidS and ask him what worked good for him. If anyone has mastic imput it will be helpful, or for that matter any insight.
Scott

Pretty sure mine is wrapped with a ceramic blanket for heat and insulation. Bought a 2" thick blanket and wrapped everything with it.. it works wonderful. No mastic at all.

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #56
for those that don't know,  Scott is using tools found in a machine shop setting.  Shop vernacular is making chips-- I started doing it about 30 years ago and I know others on the forum that have been or still are involved in the trade.

Or are the proud daughters of a tool maker.....
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

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #57
Okay. I purchased two gallons of the heat transfer mastic to put between tank and copper. That was that cement/mortar like stuff I needle scaler removed.
McMaster-Carr
Will put thermal blanket outside of copper to hold in heat from boiler.
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #58
Hopefully won't have a problem with copper feeding off roll. Currently my only worry. I put in a ball bearing axle in the spool but it's a lot smaller radius than I would like. Will have a body watching it roll out or helping to feed it to prevent a kink in it.
Scott
Yeah, the mass of all that copper going over the small spool could cause problems, but a competent baby sitter should eliminate that. Would it be practical for you to devise a free rotating, vertical axis, table for the copper to unwind from? This would reduce the chance of kinking. Also, I'm wondering if winding at a 90 Deg. angle to the unwinding coil will put a twist on the coil as it's wound on the tank. Something to consider if the copper doesn't behave well during the winding process.

Greg
Greg & Cathy
2000 U320 4010 DGFE Build #5650
Had: 1999 Tradewinds 7370

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #59
Yeah, the mass of all that copper going over the small spool could cause problems, but a competent baby sitter should eliminate that. Would it be practical for you to devise a free rotating, vertical axis, table for the copper to unwind from? This would reduce the chance of kinking. Also, I'm wondering if winding at a 90 Deg. angle to the unwinding coil will put a twist on the coil as it's wound on the tank. Something to consider if the copper doesn't behave well during the winding process.

Greg
I was originally thinking the new roll would be smaller that 4-5 feet across. I do have a horizontal rotating table for 1-2 feet. If it runs into a issue I'll unwind down my driveway. Will scratch it up dragging it back thou. I believe that with a constant tension it should behave till it's rolled up on burner. Kinda time limited once you start also. Starts setting up in a hour. Copper is in pure annealed state.
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #60
Not sure if I can write this coherently but I was thinking if you could lay the copper over the tank then as you spin the tank it unrolls the copper in the same direction as the coils.  IOW as the tank spins it rolls the copper in the same direction so that it rolls tighter onto the tank?  By doing it this way you wouldn't be unwinding or uncoiling the roll but tightening the coils as it winds onto the tank.
About clear as mud and not sure it would work better.
Forest & Cindy Olivier
1987 log cabin
2011 Roadtrek C210P
no longer 1999 36' U320 build #5522
2013 Rzr 570 & 2018 Ranger XP1000
2006 Lexus GX470
2011 Tahoe LT 4x4
Previous 1998 45' 2 slide Newell, 1993 39' Newell

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #61
OK Scott your google must be west coast this is my meaning LOL
Vernacular
noun
noun: vernacular; noun: the vernacular
1.
the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.
"he wrote in the vernacular to reach a larger audience"

Chris
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #62
That's what I googled. That's what it bought up. Sorry, hope your not mad at me. Just something I had never heard. Still confused.
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #63
Not sure if I can write this coherently but I was thinking if you could lay the copper over the tank then as you spin the tank it unrolls the copper in the same direction as the coils.  IOW as the tank spins it rolls the copper in the same direction so that it rolls tighter onto the tank?  By doing it this way you wouldn't be unwinding or uncoiling the roll but tightening the coils as it winds onto the tank.
About clear as mud and not sure it would work better.
Makes sense to me except no way to tension mechanically
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #64
Makes sense to me except no way to tension mechanically
Scott
Ratchet strap with a little tension on it attached to something with a solid mount.. almost like those exercise bikes with the belt and the wheel can be tensioned from a little to a lot.. depending on what's needed for resistance ..

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #65
Finished earlier. All went well. Zero twist issues. Didn't end up using tensioner, Did by hand while guiding on. Used exactly 1 gallon of mastic with enough left over to cover the top section where the copper tubing had been Annealed before by aqua hot use  Real happy it's almost behind me.
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #66
Scott, all you like is "finishing up"
Chris
Ps. and  no I'm not mad at you, I got a good chuckle out of it
1999 U 320 DGFE
Build Number 5523
Chris & Elka Lang
In the field, Lonoke AR

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #67
The long list got a big chunk knocked off it today. Still lots left. Will be nice to get this part behind me. The mastic was quite heavy/thick, had to mix in a pint of water to thin out enough to use in grout bag. Ended up with a extra gallon of mastic for some other project. It's already in the paint fridge cooling to about 50 deg. The mastic is already hard to the touch. Lot of work, can't even imagine doing without a power turn table, but sure is a lot nicer that 9k out the window. Got video if I can figure out all that is needed I'll post.
Scott
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #68
✔️👍👍

Very nice, Scott.
Roger Engdahl and Susan Green
2001 U320 3610 #5879 (Home2) - 2014 Jeep Cherokee or 2018 F150
Hastings, MN

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #69
Scott, for posting video If you have iPhone see below

2000 GV320 4010 build #5712  2019-?
1999 Bounder 2000-2008
Bardstown, KY
🥃The Bourbon Capital of the World🥃


Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #71
You make it look easy!

2000 GV320 4010 build #5712  2019-?
1999 Bounder 2000-2008
Bardstown, KY
🥃The Bourbon Capital of the World🥃

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #72
Awesome job Scott!  Future issues with the AH by owners will be most appreciated of the time and effort you went through and the wonderful writeup of your experiences!  Thank YOU!
Joe & Dottie Allen
Sold!  December 2023.      2000 U320; build # 5645
Our coach " Maxine"
Motorcade #  15922;  Escapee 150950; FMCA F330833; Boondockers Welcome;  Harvest Hosts;  Thousand Trails
'98 U320 from 2000-'06
USAF '62-'66

"Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for." ―Epicurus

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #73
So during the start of this entire problem Rudy reached out to me and we talked about several items to be addressed. Today I put 16 gallons in the aqua hot. I can't even imagine ever trying to pour in from the radiator cap on top. Rudy recommendation was to service thru the drain valve with a pump using a five gallon bucket to mix coolant and distilled water in. I deviated from his recommendation by using a vacuum pump and pulling coolant it the system from drain valve. Disconnected overflow tank hose for pump. I've done this is the past On other systems and the side benefit is that it sucks the air out first from everywhere. The pex lines above the radiator cap are all full looking. Crazy how it works but nice that It does. You must hold open negative pressure check valve in cap. Ran out of time to run pumps so there still may be some prime issues. Pumps up to 15 psi with no leaks and acts like there is little air left in the system. Still waiting on new cap showing up tomorrow (Amazon) "using forum link, support your forum".Will pump up and check operation then Re vacuum system one last time and top off overflow tank to cold level. Building new 2" exhaust after service.
Scott

Re: Found my leak U320 Aqua hot

Reply #74
Took coach out for a test ride today and was real nice having hot water for the first time. Our aqua hot has been damaged since day one. Will need to turn tempering valve up a little warmer I think but not a big deal. Was one of the biggest projects . Thank you Rudy! Thanks for all the wise words of wisdom.
Scott