The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Topic: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance (Read 3126 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #75 – December 18, 2021, 01:18:52 pm

Quote from: GeoKM – December 17, 2021, 10:16:58 pm

Thank you for the photos.

I have seen some of the pre-load debate, I still do not understand it, one of the reasons I am thinking best left to professional.

Some basic knowledge helps here. There are two types of bearings that have pre-load. One is the angular contact bearing, usually reserved for very precise applications. In these the pre-load is built into the housing and shaft and all you have to do is tighten the big nut to specifications and bend over the locking tab.

The other type, mostly used in steer wheel bearings is the tapered roller bearing. IF a torque value is specified it is only to seat the bearings before backing off the big not to allow running clearance. Most applications specify how much of a wrench flat to "back off" the nut to obtain running clearance before inserting the cotter pin. The correct way is to use a dial indicator to measure the bearing clearance in one thousandths of one inch. Or, if you can't measure accurately you really don't know.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #76 – December 18, 2021, 01:34:37 pm

Well I have come up empty-handed so far in finding a repair shop that can tackle this within my 72-hour window. Even the mobile 24-hour mechanic said he couldn't get to it till late next week.... is there really that much of a backlog for this kind of work?

Looks like I will have to do this myself.... I was really trying to avoid this as I am not fully sure about the bearing load and do not have all my dials and tools here, they are up in Northern California, where my house is. I will have to buy a torque wrench and probably some sockets along with the parts. I think I can jack the coach up without too much issue, someone mentioned I have to jack both sides (left and right not front and back obviously) at once tho?? So I need two bottle jacks then (I already have 1 20-ton bottle jack)?

I did come across a weird thing when raising the coach to put the 11inch metal tube blocks in. The passenger rear does not lift as high as the rest of the corners? What could cause this?

Am I crazy thinking I can get this done by Monday?

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #77 – December 18, 2021, 01:43:32 pm

Quote from: GeoKM – December 18, 2021, 01:34:37 pm

I did come across a weird thing when raising the coach to put the 11inch metal tube blocks in. The passenger rear does not lift as high as the rest of the corners? What could cause this?

It is possible that you are just not waiting long enough. If you are not doing so already, try the procedure listed in post linked below:

Safety Stand Placement

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #78 – December 18, 2021, 02:42:29 pm

How far are you trying to drive the coach to get home?

I think the odds of getting the parts and installing them by Monday is slim. It may be possible if the bearings are not really bad that you could take everything apart and grease them up good to get you home a short distance. I would still want to be certain it is actually the bearings. before getting too crazy. Maybe just go use the bottle jack and get a tire in the air (one side at a time should be fine) just an inch or so and give them a spin by hand. Is there grinding noises coming from the hub?

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #79 – December 18, 2021, 02:42:35 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – December 18, 2021, 01:43:32 pm

It is possible that you are just not waiting long enough. If you are not doing so already, try the procedure listed in post linked below:

Safety Stand Placement

I held the up arrow for well over a minute and it just seemed to top out about 2-3 inches lower than the rest.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #80 – December 18, 2021, 02:45:01 pm

I watch the air pressure gage and when it reaches over 120 lbs I shut off the key and
they are all up.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #81 – December 18, 2021, 02:46:30 pm

Quote from: nbluesky – December 18, 2021, 02:42:29 pm

How far are you trying to drive the coach to get home?

I think the odds of getting the parts and installing them by Monday is slim. It may be possible if the bearings are not really bad that you could take everything apart and grease them up good to get you home a short distance. I would still want to be certain it is actually the bearings. before getting too crazy.

I need to drive it 600 miles home but then we are heading out for a long trip over multiple states.

I am pretty sure it's the bearings, given that there was water in there, probably for a couple of years, I can see rust when I take out the red cap and look at the nut in there. I am going to jack up each side now and give it a spin to see if it grinds but I can see what else would cause the rotational squealing sound other than a bearing. I know the brakes could hang but it rolls easily (guess hand turning it will confirm that) and applying the brakes and releasing them had no effect on the sound. It was purely based on speed.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #82 – December 18, 2021, 02:48:57 pm

Yup that sounds pretty convincing on the bearings. If you have a good truck parts shop that is open all weekend you have a chance! Otherwise get everything apart and ready for first thing monday morning at a parts shop. Bearings should be easy enough to find. The hub caps will be easy to find as well if needed. I would say a tear down is in order to see how bad things look.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #83 – December 18, 2021, 02:49:07 pm

Quote from: oldguy – December 18, 2021, 02:45:01 pm

I watch the air pressure gage and when it reaches over 120 lbs I shut off the key and
they are all up.

They all do that when I start it but the clearance between the frames is only about 8 inches at that point. I have to air them all the way up using the up arrows to get the 11-inch metal blocks in between the frames.

The coach does level fine normally when I have all the air out I start it and it raises to about 7-8 inches clearance between frames and the coach is level. It's almost as if that set of bags thinks it at full pressure and stops filling.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #84 – December 18, 2021, 02:50:50 pm

Quote from: nbluesky – December 18, 2021, 02:48:57 pm

Yup that sounds pretty convincing on the bearings. If you have a good truck parts shop that is open all weekend you have a chance! Otherwise get everything apart and ready for first thing monday morning at a parts shop. Bearings should be easy enough to find. The hub caps will be easy to find as well if needed. I would say a tear down is in order to see how bad things look.

I have a mobile mechanic that can come by Tuesday to get me squared away so that is my best hope so far. I am still going to check things out and make sure I am not having him come out for the wrong issue.

What do you mean by teardown? Isn't that essentially what I (or the mechanic) would be doing to remove it anyway?

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #85 – December 18, 2021, 02:51:44 pm

I mean using the up arrows until the air pressure is over 120 lbs.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #86 – December 18, 2021, 02:54:41 pm

Teardown means take it apart and then you will know what you need.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #87 – December 18, 2021, 02:58:54 pm

Yup, take it apart and get parts needed list in order. If you wait for the mobile mechanic you could be down for several days after that if they tear it down and find parts that are not immediately available. If you do that now you have a heads start.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #88 – December 18, 2021, 03:00:57 pm

Quote from: oldguy – December 18, 2021, 02:51:44 pm

I mean using the up arrows until the air pressure is over 120 lbs.

Hmm I guess I never really watched the gauge but looking at them now they both (red and white needles) read 120psi.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #89 – December 18, 2021, 04:28:00 pm

So I jacked up the driver's front just enough so I can turn the wheel. It moves about as freely as I would expect a mass this large to rotate. I do think the sound was coming from the passenger side but I wanted to have something to compare to so I did the driver's side first.

Question: I have a set or larger 6-ton jack stands, are those sufficient to hold up the front so I can have both wheels off the ground at the same time? If so where is the proper place to put them?

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #90 – December 18, 2021, 04:34:17 pm

It's OK to jack up one side at a time.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #91 – December 18, 2021, 07:23:01 pm

So I jacked up the passenger side and to my surprise, it seems to be the same as the drivers. Spins freely, no noise, no in-out play (the way you test the bearings on a diesel pickup) everything is solid. Other than the milky/rusty oil in there, you would think these were fine.... I feel like I should have them replaced no matter after seeing the rust and water in the oil baths but is there anything else that could cause a squealing sound other than a bearing? Brakes seem to be fully disengaged and the tire rotates with ease.

EDIT: So I think the passenger side is a bit harder to turn and doesn't freely spin as well.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #92 – December 18, 2021, 08:08:34 pm

You won't know what you need to replace until you take it apart and look at it.
You may only have to clean everything up. If everything is good you might
want to change the seal and don't forget to grease the lip of the seal.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #93 – December 18, 2021, 10:15:14 pm

Quote from: Chuck & Jeannie – December 18, 2021, 01:26:22 pm

Needs editing...

This growing old stuff sucks.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #94 – December 18, 2021, 10:17:42 pm

Quote from: GeoKM – December 18, 2021, 07:23:01 pm

SSpins freely, no noise, no in-out play (the way you test the bearings on a diesel pickup) everything is solid. Other than the milky/rusty oil in there, you would think these were fine.... I feel like I should have them replaced no matter after seeing the rust and water in the oil baths but is there anything else that could cause a squealing sound other than a bearing? Brakes seem to be fully disengaged and the tire rotates with ease.

For an 800 mile drive, I'd replace the tapered roller bearings and races. When you examine what comes out you'll understand.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #95 – December 19, 2021, 02:27:25 pm

Thread drift.
I just noticed your post and found it interesting that my coach is #4614 but a 95 Unicoach U320. I was told that it was the first or close to the first Unicoach made. Your coach and mine must have nudged each other on the production line.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #96 – December 19, 2021, 03:06:02 pm

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – December 19, 2021, 02:27:25 pm

Thread drift.
I just noticed your post and found it interesting that my coach is #4614 but a 95 Unicoach U320. I was told that it was the first or close to the first Unicoach made. Your coach and mine must have nudged each other on the production line.

Continued thread drift...I'm also a 95 Unicoach but a u295c. #4750 They had a little more time to perfect the build for mine

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #97 – December 19, 2021, 08:03:45 pm

I just read this thread. How well I remember your dad's posts and the excitement on the forum about resurrecting the SE.

I wish you well in getting this coach back on the road. .

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #98 – December 19, 2021, 08:57:08 pm

Simply place jacks under the axle , near the outer ends.
Remove the outer bearing and use an eye loop to check for scratches . Finds any and toss all of them, after noting the bearing numbers on the pieces.

I have found water enters the front hubs at the red seal and without the hub caps. Water may drip off of the cap seam directly on the hubs. Also water/metal hear cycling can draw moisture inside the large cast iron chamber.

Re: The mystery of user Geomm and #4612 Explained - Intro and Ask for assistance

Reply #99 – December 19, 2021, 09:20:55 pm

You should also have some way to block the axel so no accidents.

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