Bulkheads

Topic: Bulkheads (Read 2321 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #25 – October 23, 2024, 10:06:11 pm

Years ago I believe Foretravel had a rear axle problem with a vertical square looking frame piece located about each side of the engine. Foretravel admitted it was not strong enough and some threated lawsuit, so it was reinforced with another steel piece next to it. The height of the frame member was about 2' as I remember.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #26 – October 23, 2024, 11:54:31 pm

Barry thanks for mentioning this. Yes there is a additional vertical tube just inboard on both sides. My first thought was that's weird. It's just looks like an extra and not tied in well. Granted I was looking at my own coach with the bags down low. Lots of smart engineers have designed lots of products and they have a reason for there guidance. I can personally say I've never owned a rod oven either. Just tried to buy new for important projects and keep it sealed except when pulling rod out. Above my skill set. Definitely an interesting issue. The poor small welds concern me enough to do a deatailed inspection on my coach next year. Tomorrow is knee replacement Day so I'll be preoccupied with my own issues. Coach has waited 20+ years a couple more non active months wont cause any issues for me.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #27 – October 24, 2024, 08:52:07 am

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – October 23, 2024, 10:06:11 pm

Years ago I believe Foretravel had a rear axle problem with a vertical square looking frame piece located about each side of the engine. Foretravel admitted it was not strong enough and some threated lawsuit, so it was reinforced with another steel piece next to it. The height of the frame member was about 2' as I remember.

While searching for more info on this, I came across this topic which has a PDF that somewhat shows the structure (photo from a brochure):

Chassis failure on 1998 U 320

This old post by Jon Twork seems to indicate the additional support might have started with the 1997 model year

Frame problems

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #28 – October 24, 2024, 04:20:54 pm

I'm on the list to talk to James. Got the wheel off the left side of the coach and the weld is got a short
crack in the trailing arm. I have started to weld on the right side, it is hard to get at.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #29 – October 24, 2024, 04:34:32 pm

Just talked to James and he said they don't have any drawings.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #30 – October 24, 2024, 05:02:29 pm

I am sure someone posted drawings of the chassis as I remember printing them off. I seem to remember it was a member in California.
Just looked thru names in book but nothing jumped out..
I do not have the coach so cannot look in files.
Johnh
Correction. It was the Roof layout not chassis.
Sorry

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #31 – October 24, 2024, 05:18:21 pm

John,

I'm like you as I thought that there was some prints on this. The other thing is that I thought there was some pics. of the repair and gussets that were added. My IT person hasn't found this either. It could have been on another Forum that I have been banished from.

Mike

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #32 – October 24, 2024, 05:27:38 pm

Before, During, After

Don starts buttoning her up (split from What did you do to your coach)

Chassis construction photos from Don and welding on your FT

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #33 – October 24, 2024, 05:34:21 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – October 24, 2024, 05:27:38 pm

Before, During, After

Don starts buttoning her up (split from What did you do to your coach)

Chassis construction photos from Don and welding on your FT

Brett,

Those are Don's bulkhead repairs; I believe we're trying to find what Foretravel did as a "soft recall" years ago in terms of added structure in the engine sub-frame area.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #34 – October 24, 2024, 05:36:00 pm

Quote from: Michelle – October 24, 2024, 05:34:21 pm

Brett,

Those are Don's repairs; we're trying to find what Foretravel did as a "soft recall" years ago in terms of added structure.

Yup, Don did a superb job of documenting bulkhead structure and repair. As much an artist as craftsman.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #35 – October 24, 2024, 05:40:31 pm

Michelle,

Yes that is what I am talking about. I know that at least 2 coaches that had those gussets add after failure.

Mike

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #36 – October 24, 2024, 07:10:27 pm

Quote from: Pamela & Mike – October 24, 2024, 05:40:31 pm

Michelle,

Yes that is what I am talking about. I know that at least 2 coaches that had those gussets add after failure.

Mike

It's not on that other board under "gussets", "sub frame", "failure" or "welding". Has to be somewhere in the Yahoo Archive.

Searching on "gussets"

Bulkhead repair

Bulkhead separation

Searching on "welded"

bulkhead

Frame problems

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #37 – October 25, 2024, 04:13:04 pm

I have gotten them welded and got the first gusset welded in. There is another one that will be heavier
below the one in the picture.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #38 – October 26, 2024, 03:31:45 am

Just a wild thought.
If you could remove the bolt and then move the arm out of the way. You'd be able to get to that weld just a little bit better. .... OR. Measure, and the cut the arms the are welded on there, that would open up that area to get a better weld. ? Bad idea?

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #39 – October 26, 2024, 03:50:22 am

You'll never get that bolt out without cutting it at both ends,I will bet the metal spacer is rust welded to the bolt and no hammer
will get the bolt out.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #40 – October 26, 2024, 06:38:42 am

Quote from: Bob & Sue – October 26, 2024, 03:31:45 am

Just a wild thought.
If you could remove the bolt and then move the arm out of the way. You'd be able to get to that weld just a little bit better. .... OR. Measure, and the cut the arms the are welded on there, that would open up that area to get a better weld. ? Bad idea?

More room is always preferred. Do not cut the arms. The drag links IMO would need to have an inner tube to support them if they were cut. They make an induction heater coil to make it possible to heat the nuts to a cherry red to help remove them but the rest of the bolt is going to be ruff to remove. I'm willing to bet Peter's coach has more snow, rain, weather than all our coached combined. That's is its purpose to go skiing. Nice feature with stick welding is you really can reach into tough positions. LOL it's so easy to talk about this with my knee raised up to heal.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #41 – October 26, 2024, 09:07:16 am

The nuts are not the problem,it's the spacer around the bolt.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #42 – October 26, 2024, 07:42:51 pm

Yes it would be nice if it was easier to get at but the welds are good. I wish Foretravel had done as
well and then I wouldn't have to do this work. One pass on 3/8 plate is not enough. I'm using
7018 and that holds better than most rods.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #43 – October 26, 2024, 08:07:43 pm

Tough spot to get at. Nice weld with that low hydrogen 7018. I might start with some penetrating agent, a little heat, and an air chisel. It will come loose.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #44 – October 29, 2024, 11:04:48 am

Finally figured out how to add another brace. The welding is finished. This afternoon I will add
the bulkhead braces

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #45 – October 30, 2024, 01:25:13 am

Thought about the above picture and think you need to consider the pivot point of the torque rod in the picture,if the rest of them
are anything like that one you may have a problem with your suspention going up and down,you've got 20 pivot points like that on your coach and that rust may be impeding them from moving,trying to make you aware of a potential problem.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #46 – October 31, 2024, 08:36:41 pm

The first picture is a brace I made to hold the area around the hose opening in place. I did that
a while ago. The other pictures are braces to help hold the bulkhead in place until next summer
when I have the time and the weather to rebuild the bulkhead. The trailing arms look OK but I will
take a look when raising and lowering the coach.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #47 – November 01, 2024, 11:38:31 pm

May want to make sure the rear axle doesn't migrate forward or aft when shift into forward or reverse with parking brake released and front tires chocked. You need to see yourself by having someone load the coach up. Brakes will produce much higher loads.

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #48 – November 02, 2024, 11:56:18 am

I agree with John44, looks like all the pivot points need serious lube job. Skiing has taken a toll on chassis. I would be really interested to see what the condition of metal is like under spray foam. If water has been getting thru, that too may be an issue as our roads like a lot of highways use the liquid in winter that is a major factor for rust production.
These coach's like all RV's are meant for dry weather.
Johnh

Re: Bulkheads

Reply #49 – November 02, 2024, 12:49:28 pm

So the Bushings are rubber bonded on a steel tube/bushing. They are pressed into the link arms. They twist during range of movement unless the mount bolts were left undertorqued. Curious what type of external rubber lube you recommend?

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