| Escape to New York- Trip report [message #94310] |
Mon, 02 August 2010 11:07  |
gbarrow2
Messages: 765
Registered: February 2004
Location: Lake Almanor, Ca./ Red Bl...
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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Wayne and Lisa,
I hope you don't mind me hanging your laundry in public but perhaps we will receive some input from others to help deal with minor issues and possibly order parts before the coach gets to New York.
The coach is running great- No Problems.
I left MGM-GMC last Tuesday evening about 7:30. New BFG Commercial TA's inflated to 65 lbs all around.
I never hear the Electro Level pumps run but the bags stay inflated with no leak down overnight. So that system is ok.
Because your engine is new and the coach is new to me I am constantly watching the oil pressure and engine temp.
Stock oil pressure gauge reads steady on the 3/4 mark.
Stock water temp gauge stays on the 1/4 mark until we pull a long hill then it will rise to 1/2.
I have checked the temps at the thermostat housing, radiator cap, and various other spots with a infra-red thermometer. Nothing reads over 180*. I have seen no additional coolant in the expansion tank so the engine is not getting hot enough to overcome the radiator cap pressure.
The fan clutch operates normally on startup but I was concerned that it wasn't kicking in under load because I hadn't heard it.
Outside temps have been less than 90* I finally heard the clutch engage on a hill north of Klamath Falls,Ore. I have heard it a couple of times since; so it is working properly.
I check wheel temp when I get gas (which is often) by touching each one with my hand. None have been hot yet.
I also check the oil often. I have added 2 quarts in 1500 miles.
After leaving Miguels I headed over the Grapevine on I-5 toward San Leandro to pick up my wife.
Northbound the Grape vine starts out with six miles of 6% up hill. Temp never went above the 1/2 mark.
Below 50 mph I manually shifted to 2nd-was able to maintain 40 to 45 without WOT and no lugging. I'm not sure it is accurate but the vac gauge stayed above 10 inches.
Cruising at 60 to 65 on level road the vac gauge reads about 18 inches.
I spent the first night among the Newells and other high priced coaches in the parking lot at Harris Ranch, a well known spot by California RV travelers. Your "little" blue coach fit right in with the high dollar coaches. I was last in- after mid night- and first out.
I have been checking out the house systems as necessary while under way.
Miguel spent about an hour working on the water heater before I left his shop. Finally got it to ignite. I didn't need hot water so I turned it off. Turned it back on this a.m. to check it out. It lit right up and produced hot water in about 20 minutes. He also worked on the radio for me. It doesn't work; Gets power to it but won't turn on. Didn't make sense to have him chase that.
The house water system works well with plenty of pressure. If left on the pump doesn't cycle unless a valve is opened. So, there are no leaks in the system.
I have seen no oil, tranny fluid or engine coolant leaks under the coach.
The toilet is a Thetford Aqua Magic Aruroa. Looks good but doesn't hold water.The only problem with that is that the water sealis needed to prevent holding tank odor from rising into the coach.
I have tried cleaning the valve seal-I can't find any thing that should prevent the blade from sealing. The pedal and blade move freely but it just doesn't seal.
I'm sure the seal is easily replaceable but requires dismantling the toilet. Not a job I want to do on the road.
Maybe some one will have a suggestion that I can try. That is assuming that any one is still reading this.
When I first looked down through the toilet I was surprised to find the black tank dry and clean.
So we implemented the Rick Denny "no poop" in the coach rule.
I plan to deliver the coach with the tanks clean, empty and dry.
I pumped the fresh water tank into the black and gray tanks so I could check the macerator and dump valves.
That's when I discovered the 2nd minor issue. There are 2 small leaks in the sewer system. One is at the rubber reducer fitting that connects the drain line to the macerator. I tried tightening the clamps. Hard to do without ramps or jacks.
The other minor leak is on the downstream side of dump valve on the black tank flange. It has been repaired before.
I emptied the tanks ( the macerator works fine ) but he switch is under the coach near the dump valves; requires you to get down on your knees and look under the coach to activate it.
I bought a holding tank repair kit and and tried to fix the leak while at the KOA in Klamath Falls, Ore. It is difficult without being able to get the coach higher off the ground.I made it better but there is still a small drip.
That's why I want to deliver the coach dry and empty. It will be easy for you to repair.
The system is still operable. It is just a matter of leaving the valves closed until ready to dump. Then open the valves and activate the macerator. Both leaks are downstream from the valves and are very minor. There is no drip with the valves closed.
I hooked the coach to city water system once just to check for leaks. It didn't leak and none of the fixtures drip under pressure.
I filled the fresh water tank and treated it with bleach to sanitize it. I have since drained the bleach water, refilled and treated with baking soda. I will flush the fresh water system and the holding tanks few more times a few more times before we get to New York. So everything should be ready to go for you.
This A.M. I discovered that the furnace works fine. It got a little chilly overnight (some where in the 40's). Reset the thermostat and the furnace fired right up and ran till I shut it down.
Two issues that you may want to deal with sooner rather than later:
The door latch only catches on the first stop. The strike plate pin is worn out. Not a safety problem but an irritant.
I had the same problem with my door. I replaced the strike plate with one from Bert and Faye Curtis. Now my door closes easily and latches properly.
The other issue is the retactable door step. It doesn't work and hangs at a steep angle. It will be easy to slip and fall if you try to use it. And it hangs out far enough and low enough that you must be careful not to hang it up on the curb when parking on the street. I have secured it up with a bungee cord to keep it out of the way.
You may want to consider changing to a Ragusa step.
Oh, and by the way, we're having a great time, now at the West Glacier KOA Outside Glacier National Park, headed for Great Falls, Montana and then down to Yellowstone.
Gene Barrow
Lake Almanor, Ca.
1976 Palm Beach
[Updated on: Mon, 02 August 2010 11:23] Report message to a moderator |
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