Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Topic: Saved some major bucks yesterday! (Read 1418 times) previous topic - next topic

Saved some major bucks yesterday!

November 03, 2021, 10:24:15 am

As some of you know, I am here in Boulder City at Scott & Kim's beautiful home (DSD), getting some much needed TLC done on our coach! Scott found some cost saving dollars yesterday and we attacked them. The bracket holding the retarder on the tranny had some minute cracks, so it was removed and brackets added to beef it up and reinstalled. Just a few minutes later, Scott found the high pressure line coming from the hydraulic pump with a rub down to the wires inside the hose. Went to Carquest here in Boulder and got a new hose made and installed on the rig. If one of these had gone down on the road, we most likely were looking at a tow and big bucks! Thank you Scott for your eagle eyes and perception on what to look for. In writing all of this, I would suggest all owners raise up your coach, block it and crawl underneath and check for any and all issues. Much easier to repair in a driveway than on the side of the road. Hope this helps someone out there! Spend a little now or a lot later!

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #1 – November 03, 2021, 10:32:46 am

Scott is a great guy and a wealth of knowledge. Enjoy your stay!

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #2 – November 03, 2021, 10:34:12 am

Quote

Just a few minutes later, Scott found the high pressure line coming from the hydraulic pump with a rub down to the wires inside the hose.

I second this advice. You will fine many instances of hoses and wire loom rubbing against something hard. Probably the best preventive measure is to ID them and protect the hose or wire loom with a larger section of hose held in place with zip ties.
jor

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #3 – November 03, 2021, 10:38:06 am

Quote from: jor – November 03, 2021, 10:34:12 am

I second this advice. You will fine many instances of hoses and wire loom rubbing against something hard. Probably the best preventive measure is to ID them and protect the hose or wire loom with a larger section of hose held in place with zip ties.
jor

Yup, I save/dumpster dive for old hoses for just that purpose.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #4 – November 03, 2021, 10:47:34 am

Yup, been there, done that. Had a hose rubbing against the air intake ducting and added a hose covering and cable tied the entire thing away from the corner of the sheet metal housing. (five years ago)

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #5 – November 03, 2021, 11:23:40 am

Just called Scott's Foretravel help hotline yesterday myself. Great service, will leave five star review

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #6 – November 03, 2021, 12:10:30 pm

Who is Scott??
Where us this service?inquiring minds .....

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #7 – November 03, 2021, 12:21:44 pm

Read the first post.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #8 – November 03, 2021, 12:45:17 pm

Quote from: jor – November 03, 2021, 10:34:12 am

I second this advice. You will fine many instances of hoses and wire loom rubbing against something hard. Probably the best preventive measure is to ID them and protect the hose or wire loom with a larger section of hose held in place with zip ties.
jor

+ 1. When I change oil or grease things, I routinely just lay under coach staring at things and looking for potential issues. Gives me a little piece of mind.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #9 – November 03, 2021, 12:46:46 pm

Quote from: Bob & Sue – November 03, 2021, 12:45:17 pm

+ 1. When I change oil or grease things, I routinely just lay under coach staring at things and looking for potential issues. Gives me a little piece of mind.

One of the main reasons for doing it yourself.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #10 – November 03, 2021, 01:15:39 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – November 03, 2021, 10:38:06 am

Yup, I save/dumpster dive for old hoses for just that purpose.

Me too. I get accused of hording but it has bailed me out many times.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #11 – November 03, 2021, 07:36:11 pm

"As some of you know, I am here in Boulder City at Scott & Kim's beautiful home (DSD), getting some much needed TLC done"

Not to sound "Stupid" but "Who are Scott and Kim". Maybe there Foreforum I.D.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #12 – November 03, 2021, 07:47:16 pm

Quote from: Gerry Vicha – November 03, 2021, 07:36:11 pm

"As some of you know, I am here in Boulder City at Scott & Kim's beautiful home (DSD), getting some much needed TLC done"

Not to sound "Stupid" but "Who are Scott and Kim". Maybe there Foreforum I.D. ?

Goes by dsd here on the forums.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #13 – November 03, 2021, 08:47:18 pm

Joanne Whitaker's retarder bracket broke during a road trip dropping the retarder on the road causing her a tow and repair. Due to her post and letting others know to check theirs, I checked mine (photos below). The stress crack appears to be because the bracket is not gusseted. Looks to me mine was just about to fail. I thought pictures are worth a thousand words. Joanne's thought was why doesn't MOT or FOT let us owners know of potential problems like this. I thought it was a great question. I would suggest you check yours. If you don't who will? Thanks to everyone sharing what they do in terms of preventive maintenance and to keep their coach running. Awesome group.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #14 – November 03, 2021, 09:14:57 pm

Quote from: WBates – November 03, 2021, 08:47:18 pm

Joanne Whitaker's retarder bracket broke during a road trip dropping the retarder on the road causing her a tow and repair. Due to her post and letting others know to check theirs, I checked mine (photos below). The stress crack appears to be because the bracket is not gusseted. Looks to me mine was just about to fail. I thought pictures are worth a thousand words. Joanne's thought was why doesn't MOT or FOT let us owners know of potential problems like this. I thought it was a great question. I would suggest you check yours. If you don't do it who will? Thanks to everyone sharing what they do in terms of preventive maintenance and to kept their coach running. Awesome group.

I think there was a recall on them back in the day

Keith

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #15 – November 03, 2021, 09:46:09 pm

Keith, I too heard there was a retarder bracket recall back in the day but try finding it now.

1999 FORETRAVEL U320 Recalls (4)

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #16 – November 03, 2021, 10:56:09 pm

I mentioned this issue over 5 years ago after having a pin hole in the high pressure line while driving down the highway N Carolina. Lost all the oil in a nice straight line and covered the towed. Replaced it and once home over the pit I checked as many hoses as possible by wrapping with straps of rubber.
When Don and Tys visited us he too while over the pit spent time doing the same.
Johnh

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #17 – November 03, 2021, 11:00:29 pm

These are low cost repairs with hi cost and pain if ignored. There is no reason for a typical bracket like this to fail but it was not engineered for the long haul, but many have worked for years before failure. Regardless they all need to be inspected regularly till modified. IMO. The hydraulic hose was installed wrong by the tech and it too has lived 100k+. Would of lasted as long as the rest if was positioned and clamped correctly. I certainly cringe thinking of my friends being stranded and at the mercy of a tow company on the side of the road. Also there was almost no visual indication of the cracks till it was sandblasted which actually surprised me.
Scott and Kim

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #18 – November 03, 2021, 11:42:08 pm

If I remember right mine was only welded on one side and the wrong side
for proper support. It won't break now.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #19 – November 04, 2021, 10:39:05 am

Tackled a long needed repair on the generator front bearing. Bearing was a little rough. Not a fun job, but doable. Will tackle the re install today! Ordered the bearing from Amazon, thanks to Scott's part number and link! You come away with the fact that you have great satisfaction in finding and repairing issues that keep these wonderful coaches running down the road.

TIMKEN 6206-2RSC3 2 Pcs Double Rubber Seal Bearings 30x62x16mm, C3 Clearance,...

As an Amazon Associate Foretravel Owners' Forum earns from qualifying purchases.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #20 – November 04, 2021, 11:40:25 am

Quote from: WBates – November 04, 2021, 11:29:27 am

Wow Joe, that's a job. I envisioned having to pull the generator and getting in over my head. I drove mine to Jeff at Powertech to have the armature bearing replaced and to go through the generator. Were your diode mounting posts loose? Mine were and I am so glad he noticed them loose and tightened them while he was in there. Also had the new style voltage regulator installed. Nothing was wrong with the original one but Jeff mentioned they had a reliability issue when I pressed him about the overall condition and if there were any other parts that might cause an issue while things were torn apart. Below are photos of the Stator (smaller outside piece that needs to be pulled to get to the bearing), the diode leads (yellow ring wires), armature bearing. If there is a next time, I believe I will try and tackle it after I saw how things came apart and that the generator did not have to be pulled.

How much did it cost at Powertech if you don't mind sharing?

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #21 – November 04, 2021, 11:43:45 am

Wow Joe, that's a job. I envisioned having to pull the generator and getting in over my head. I drove mine to Jeff at Powertech to have the armature bearing replaced and to go through the generator. Were your diode mounting posts loose? Mine were and I am so glad he noticed them loose and tightened them while he was in there. Also had the new style voltage regulator installed. Nothing was wrong with the original one but Jeff mentioned they had a reliability issue when I pressed him about the overall condition and if there were any other parts that might cause an issue while things were torn apart. Below are photos of the Stator (smaller outside piece that needs to be pulled to get to the bearing), the diode leads (yellow ring wires), armature bearing. If there is a next time, I believe I will try and tackle it after I saw how things came apart and that the generator did not have to be pulled.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #22 – November 04, 2021, 11:45:51 am

How much did it cost at Powertech if you don't mind sharing?

Bearing $20, labor $680. Cost me money for the preventative work but Powertech no longer has any more replacement armatures should the bearing seize and tear up the armature. I heard from someone at Nac that two customers recently came in with need of armatures and none could be found. Paul Yasbeck bought the last one for one of his customers several months ago. I tend to be risk adverse thus spending the money...

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #23 – November 04, 2021, 12:20:25 pm

Quote from: dsd – November 03, 2021, 11:00:29 pm

Also there was almost no visual indication of the cracks till it was sandblasted which actually surprised me.
Scott and Kim

That's why we have Magnaflux and dye penetrant inspection processes.

Re: Saved some major bucks yesterday!

Reply #24 – November 04, 2021, 12:40:59 pm

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