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[GMCnet] Clasco on the road [message #211314] Sun, 16 June 2013 20:56 Go to next message
glwgmc is currently offline  glwgmc   United States
Messages: 1014
Registered: June 2004
Karma: 10
Senior Member
We are just outside San Antonio, TX, tonight after enjoying the balmy 104 degree day 4 today. Humidity is down a bit, but it is still HOT. Coach continues to run very well indeed. Averaging 8.5 mpg and no sign of vapor lock. Oil consumption is around a quart in 500 to 600 miles but I don't know if the dip stick is properly calibrated,or not. The indicated temp is high reading between 205 and 215 but it is stable and never climbs higher. When we stopped to register at the RV park tonight I could not find anywhere on the radiator a reading anywhere near as high with my heat gun as registers on either of the two gauges. I can't believe two gauges would both be off that much, but I guess it is possible. Neither of us hear the fan clutch cycling but even idling in the hot sun with the AC on the temp does not rise. The PO had installed two electric fans in front of the AC condenser in front of the top,part of the radiator. When turned on while stopped they do lower the tem
p, but I can't tell if they help or hurt while under way. The lower part of the radiator is clear. This 77 lacks the air deflectors,that are on our 78 Royale and that could make some difference. The cross over is not blocked and both front wheel liners are in place and in tact. There are no louvers to let heat out. I really think running with the liners removed as we have done for years with our Royale makes a big difference and I will likely remove them on this one as well once we get home.

I am trying to determine whether to change the fan clutch as a preventative measure and/or to add external oil coolers before we hit the western mountains. Is there any way to check whether the fan clutch works or not while we are parked? I would get shot by my heat intolerant better half if I opened the hatch with the engine running. Any suggestions?

Both the dash air and the roof top air work really well, thank goodness. The dash air has been on the whole way and the roof top air is on whenever we are parked. The electro level air bag controller seems to work properly and there is no apparent leak down while parked. The two rear sway bars do make it hard to level side to side but otherwise the raise/lower functions appear to work as they should. There is a newer Thomas air compressor in place of the Dana (which is still in the pod as a spare).

Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
Http://jerrywork.com
541-592-5360
Cell 541-499-1027
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Jerry & Sharon Work
78 Royale
Kerby, OR
Re: [GMCnet] Clasco on the road [message #211319 is a reply to message #211314] Sun, 16 June 2013 21:13 Go to previous messageGo to next message
C Boyd is currently offline  C Boyd   United States
Messages: 2629
Registered: April 2006
Karma: 18
Senior Member
Sir: a working fan clutch should come on for about a minute when starting after sitting overnite then quieten down.



glwgmc wrote on Sun, 16 June 2013 21:56

We are just outside San Antonio, TX, tonight after enjoying the balmy 104 degree day 4 today. Humidity is down a bit, but it is still HOT. Coach continues to run very well indeed. Averaging 8.5 mpg and no sign of vapor lock. Oil consumption is around a quart in 500 to 600 miles but I don't know if the dip stick is properly calibrated,or not. The indicated temp is high reading between 205 and 215 but it is stable and never climbs higher. When we stopped to register at the RV park tonight I could not find anywhere on the radiator a reading anywhere near as high with my heat gun as registers on either of the two gauges. I can't believe two gauges would both be off that much, but I guess it is possible. Neither of us hear the fan clutch cycling but even idling in the hot sun with the AC on the temp does not rise. The PO had installed two electric fans in front of the AC condenser in front of the top,part of the radiator. When turned on while stopped they do lower the tem
p, but I can't tell if they help or hurt while under way. The lower part of the radiator is clear. This 77 lacks the air deflectors,that are on our 78 Royale and that could make some difference. The cross over is not blocked and both front wheel liners are in place and in tact. There are no louvers to let heat out. I really think running with the liners removed as we have done for years with our Royale makes a big difference and I will likely remove them on this one as well once we get home.

I am trying to determine whether to change the fan clutch as a preventative measure and/or to add external oil coolers before we hit the western mountains. Is there any way to check whether the fan clutch works or not while we are parked? I would get shot by my heat intolerant better half if I opened the hatch with the engine running. Any suggestions?

Both the dash air and the roof top air work really well, thank goodness. The dash air has been on the whole way and the roof top air is on whenever we are parked. The electro level air bag controller seems to work properly and there is no apparent leak down while parked. The two rear sway bars do make it hard to level side to side but otherwise the raise/lower functions appear to work as they should. There is a newer Thomas air compressor in place of the Dana (which is still in the pod as a spare).

Jerry Work
The Dovetail Joint
Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
in historic Kerby, OR
Http://jerrywork.com
541-592-5360
Cell 541-499-1027
_______________________________________________
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C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
Re: [GMCnet] Clasco on the road [message #211323 is a reply to message #211319] Sun, 16 June 2013 21:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
Senior Member

C Boyd wrote on Sun, 16 June 2013 19:13

Sir: a working fan clutch should come on for about a minute when starting after sitting overnite then quieten down.




To add to what Chuck said, the fan should be hard to turn first thing in the morning on a cold engine. The fluid has 'settled' overnight and the clutch should be engaged at (and before) first start up, as Chuck stated.


Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
Re: [GMCnet] Clasco on the road [message #211337 is a reply to message #211314] Mon, 17 June 2013 07:42 Go to previous message
Steven Ferguson is currently offline  Steven Ferguson   United States
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
Senior Member
What Chuck said Jerry. That clutch should engage upon startup and make a
heckuva racket. After as little as a minute later, the racket should
begin to diminish. Before starting, reach in and turn the fan blades by
hand. There should be some resistance. With your best effort to spin the
fan while cold, you should not be able to get more than one or two blades
of rotation..
I have never had a positive experience with pusher mounted ele fans. My
results are that they block too much ram air at cruising speeds. I have
scads of Schneider ZDDP additive here and I'll leave a case out for you. I
usually make the San Antonio run to here in one day, a good GMC should only
take two:>). You are going to have trouble finding a park within a days
drive from where you are. Ozona has one park, Circle Bar RV park, and it
is a real dump ($50/night). The Caverns of Sonora, Sonora, TX has 48
spaces, good water and no dump station (185 miles). If you can do 300
miles, there are 4 -5 campgrounds in Ft. Stockton, TX. Hilltop is close to
Walmart and fuel. Clean place.
If you can make 285 miles the next day, you'll be in Las Cruces. One of
the nicest parks in that town is the Hacienda RV park less than a mile off
I-10. Exit 140 S, quarter mile later turn L on Stern Dr. Dead ends at the
park. The best Mexican restaurant in Las Cruces is not far from you but
don't go there unless you invite Hal and Shirleen Kading. Hal owns Las
Cruces Flying Service just up the hill from you on your way out of town.
Another very warm, 260 miles and you'll be here. Full service and Nancy is
looking forward to your visit. Stay as long as you want and rest up, it
gets hotter from here!
Steve


On Sun, Jun 16, 2013 at 6:56 PM, Gerald Work <glwork@mac.com> wrote:

> We are just outside San Antonio, TX, tonight after enjoying the balmy 104
> degree day 4 today. Humidity is down a bit, but it is still HOT. Coach
> continues to run very well indeed. Averaging 8.5 mpg and no sign of vapor
> lock. Oil consumption is around a quart in 500 to 600 miles but I don't
> know if the dip stick is properly calibrated,or not. The indicated temp is
> high reading between 205 and 215 but it is stable and never climbs higher.
> When we stopped to register at the RV park tonight I could not find
> anywhere on the radiator a reading anywhere near as high with my heat gun
> as registers on either of the two gauges. I can't believe two gauges would
> both be off that much, but I guess it is possible. Neither of us hear the
> fan clutch cycling but even idling in the hot sun with the AC on the temp
> does not rise. The PO had installed two electric fans in front of the AC
> condenser in front of the top,part of the radiator. When turned on while
> stopped they do lower the tem
> p, but I can't tell if they help or hurt while under way. The lower part
> of the radiator is clear. This 77 lacks the air deflectors,that are on our
> 78 Royale and that could make some difference. The cross over is not
> blocked and both front wheel liners are in place and in tact. There are no
> louvers to let heat out. I really think running with the liners removed as
> we have done for years with our Royale makes a big difference and I will
> likely remove them on this one as well once we get home.
>
> I am trying to determine whether to change the fan clutch as a
> preventative measure and/or to add external oil coolers before we hit the
> western mountains. Is there any way to check whether the fan clutch works
> or not while we are parked? I would get shot by my heat intolerant better
> half if I opened the hatch with the engine running. Any suggestions?
>
> Both the dash air and the roof top air work really well, thank goodness.
> The dash air has been on the whole way and the roof top air is on whenever
> we are parked. The electro level air bag controller seems to work properly
> and there is no apparent leak down while parked. The two rear sway bars do
> make it hard to level side to side but otherwise the raise/lower functions
> appear to work as they should. There is a newer Thomas air compressor in
> place of the Dana (which is still in the pod as a spare).
>
> Jerry Work
> The Dovetail Joint
> Fine furniture designed & hand crafted
> in the 1907 former Masonic Temple building
> in historic Kerby, OR
> Http://jerrywork.com
> 541-592-5360
> Cell 541-499-1027
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>



--
Take care,
Steve
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