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Forum
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RE: Diesel service in houston area?
What ENGINE-- Caterpillar or Cummins???
What chassis?
How old (from when the engine went into the chassis). A quick rough guess is the date on the tires, as most chassis makers use "just in time", rather than buying tires ahead. Last 4 digits of the number beginning with DOT...molded into ONE sidewall of each tire indicate the WEEK and YEAR of tire production.
Remember, things like coolant went to work the instant they hit metal, NOT when you/original owner bought it.
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wolfe10
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11/18/08 10:38am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: HELP!! House Heater NOT Heating on 95 Safari Sahara???
Most furnaces are serviced from OUTSIDE the coach. The PC board, burner, etc are there.
But for the burner to be the fault, you would have to have the sail switch closing (as it should), the PC board receiving the signal and sending out the signal for the igniter to light (clicking) and propane valve to open. If any of these did not function properly, the burner could not be tested.
Again, let us know WHERE in the process yours has stopped working.
Are these your symptoms?
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wolfe10
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11/16/08 07:09pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: HELP!! House Heater NOT Heating on 95 Safari Sahara???
Two other causes of a sail switch failuring to close (and therefore signal the PC board to turn on propane and spark the igniter):
1. Restriction or blockage in the air return (inlet side of furnace).
2. Restriction or blockage or turned off air vents (outlet side).
Along with insufficient voltage, ANY of these can cause inadequate air flow to close the sail switch.
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wolfe10
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11/16/08 05:14pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Anti-freeze leak
If the leak was indeed from a loose hose clamp, check it again when it is COLD. The metal shrinks and often leads to leaks.
Constant torque clamps are more expensive than standard clamps, but help compensate for expansion/contraction. Most auto parts houses (that deal with trucks/diesels) have them.
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wolfe10
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11/16/08 05:11pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: HELP!! House Heater NOT Heating on 95 Safari Sahara???
1. Verify propane by turning on stove.
2. Listen OUTSIDE the furnace as someone turns it on. Does the igniter "click"? Do you smell propane? Either indicates that the PC board is seeing that the SAIL SWITCH is closed (adequate air flow).
3. If no click or propane, verify voltage AT THE FURNACE. Low voltage can cause inadequate fan speed to close the sail switch.
Let us know what you find.
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wolfe10
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11/16/08 03:30pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Anti-freeze leak
1. Tighten clamp.
2. If leak persists, either you or dealer/mechanic/etc diagnose and fix.
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wolfe10
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11/16/08 03:27pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Propane ?
Anytime you are not using it (i.e. storing it) it is a good idea to turn off propane. The 5 seconds it takes to do so is worth the gain in safety and even an extremely small leak can waste gallons of propane over a winter.
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wolfe10
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11/15/08 03:31pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Won't Start
Though I have not been a part of the discussion (to this point), a few comments may be in order:
1. It is very difficult to diagnose over the Internet.
2. Obviously, location of components is not standardized-- even within the same manufacturer.
3. In tracing any electrical fault such as yours, you continue to go "downstream" from where you have power/12VDC to where you do not. YUP, you need a wiring diagram to do this.
4. It would be hard to imagine that any professional would take $1100 worth of hours or replacing of good parts to find this problem. There are just not that many components between a known good ignition switch and known good starter/starter solenoid.
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wolfe10
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11/15/08 08:01am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Mixing tires
Michelin 255/80R22.5
http://www.michelinrvtires.com/michelinrv/tires-retreads/tireInfo.do?tread=XRV
Loaded radius 17.9"
Goodyear 265/75R22.5
Strangely, I could not find the same information on the Goodyear site
http://www.goodyear.com/rv/products/g670.html
But looking it up in the Goodyear RV Tire and Care Guide (2005):
Loaded radius: 18.2"
As a matter of comparison, the Goodyear states their tread depth as 12/32"= .4375". With a Static loaded radius difference of .3", running the two different tires IS roughly the same as combining a new and 3/4 worn out tire (in terms of height) in a dual situation.
YOU will have to determine whether you want to do this. I WOULD ELECT NOT TO DO SO.
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wolfe10
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11/15/08 07:22am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: ULSD = poor mileage
Page 9 of this Caterpillar document (#20) discusses how ULSD will affect engine performance and economy:
http://ohe.cat.com/cda/files/614008/7/ULSD%20FAQ.pdf
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wolfe10
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11/15/08 07:04am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Thread compound/ Propane regulator
http://www.rectorseal.com/index.php?site_id=1&product_id=212
Lowes and Home Depot carry this product. I have used this for 30 years and is the best thread sealant out there. This Rectorseal will even seal 3200 psi Hydraulic threads for the jack systems. Doug
Also what I use, but like already stated, NOT on flare fittings.
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wolfe10
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11/14/08 07:06pm |
Tech Issues
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RE: Mixing tires
If run flat, it is ruined.
And indeed, a 265/75 can not be safely used in combination with a 255/80 in a dual application-- there is just enough difference in diameter that it will not work.
Best answer is to buy one more 265/75 and move both the new and almost new one to the front or buy another Michelin 255/80 and put the new one on front and the old front one in the rear).
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wolfe10
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11/14/08 03:39pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Absorbed Glass Matt Batteries
They are the highest price, best quality batteries around. We have used them for decades on our boats and RV's.
Advantages:
1. Less internal resistance-- accept a charge faster.
2. No out-gassing unless severely overcharged.
3. No leakage-- in fact are shippable by air in the U.S.
4. Very low self discharge rate-- will last months longer than other batteries under no use/no charge conditions.
Disadvantage: COST
Here are the batteries we run in our coach (house batteries) and sail boat: http://www.lifelinebatteries.com/
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wolfe10
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11/14/08 03:34pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Michelin Super Singles anyone?
There ARE some advantages (lower rolling resistnace and slight improvment in mpg) in retro-fitting super singles.
There could be SIGNIFICANT advantages were a chassis designed utilizing super singles. You could move frame rails/springs outboard almost 4" on each side in most applications. Even using exactly the same suspension components, ride and handling would be significantly improved (particularly side to side motions/sway).
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wolfe10
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11/14/08 01:26pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Refrigerator not firing on gas
Pull out the owners manual on your refrigerator. Likely toward the back is a section on "burner area tune-up. No parts and no special tools are needed.
Things the tune-up will address that can cause your problem are:
1. Dirt, rust or spider nest in burner tube that restricts flame to smaller than necessary to close the thermocouple.
2. A spec of dirt in the propane jet.
3. Misaligned igniter/thermocouple.
4. Restriction in the flue causing too small flame.
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wolfe10
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11/14/08 11:06am |
Tech Issues
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RE: Cummins/Freightliner Cruise Control
Yup, we need to know the brand of cruise control. Bendix? Other?
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wolfe10
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11/13/08 04:10pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: dip stick for 99 maga
Ya, Caterpillar would NOT be the source. Remember, they (same as Cummins) would supply the engine with a "standard" short dipstick (like in a truck). Since each chassis maker mounts the dip stick TUBE in a different place, THEY are the ones who spec the dipstick.
And "Calibrating the Dip Stick" when you install the new one is CRITICAL. The process is discussed on the Cat RV Club tech website, in the handout that Caterpillar presents at FMCA Maintenance Seminars and likely other places as well.
Here is a post of calibrating the dipstick: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/21842886/gotomsg/21844227.cfm#21844227
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wolfe10
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11/12/08 06:06pm |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Air Dryer Filters Replacement
There are three main brands of dryers that have been used over the years on RV's (Bendix, Midland and Haldex), so first thing to do is verify what dryer you have.
On some of the older ones, the factory reman units are more cost effective than rebuilding. On most, replacing both water and oil coalescing filters is less money.
Make sure to bleed off air pressure to ZERO before beginning work.
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wolfe10
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11/12/08 06:14am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Another Transynd Question
My AT542 doesn't have a lockup converter and will go to 300 pretty quick if I don't downshift to third pulling a long hill and it also gets hot quick using the exhaust brake.
Jim
Jim is correct, BUT for those with the Allison 3000 and 4000 series (I do NOT know about 1000 and 2000 series), the torque converter stays locked with the exhaust brake/engine compression brake on, so NO extra heat generated in the transmission.
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wolfe10
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11/11/08 11:29am |
Class A Motorhomes
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RE: Tire Pressure
You do not have 195... They may be 295...
And determining the correct PSI without basing it on your actual weights is WRONG.
Michelin and Goodyear both spent a lot of money determining the correct PSI based on actual weight. Take advantage of their knowledge.
BEST: All wheel position weighing. Base PSI for all tires on an axle on the HEAVIER WHEEL POSITION.
OK: Axle weights. ASSUMES perfect left/right balance.
Unacceptable: what coach manufacturer's sticker says-- your actual weights may be different by THOUSANDS of pounds-- meaning you will be over/under inflated.
Hopefully unacceptable: What is on the sidewall of the tire. Is said hopefully, because if indeed this is the correct PSI for your tires, YOU HAVE NO SAFETY RESERVE-- THE TIRES ARE CARRYING EVERY OUNCE THEY WERE DESIGNED TO CARRY.
Running more than 10% overinflated is almost as bad as running under-inflated.
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wolfe10
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11/11/08 09:47am |
Class A Motorhomes
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