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| [GMCnet] Barely Uneventful Trip to GMCDL Rally [message #91295] |
Tue, 06 July 2010 17:14  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma:
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Senior Member |
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Since we're going to help the hosts with the GMCDL rally at Dillard, GA
(almost NC) this week, we left before 9AM this morning, 2 days before the
official start.
The first accelleration out of our neighborhood on US19, I didn't thing the
transmission was ever going to make the 2-3 shift --- it was above 45 mph
with little throttle. But the next 30 miles proceeded normally, including
the sputter & dying engine after about 25 miles. Switching to Aux fixed
that. In the next town, we stopped to fill up with gas.
The pump shut off at 30+ gallons with a little burp down the side of the
coach. Doesn't seem like much when there should have been <6 gallons left
in the combination of the two tanks, but the price in that little town was
too high, so I didn't try to dribble more in.
When I started up again, SHE complained of the gas smell, and continued to
do so off and on for the next little while, despite my describing the burp.
Accelerating out of the station, the 2-3 shift was again sluggish.
After a couple of stop lights caught us and the transmission was still
acting funny, I decided to stop in a supermarket parking lot to check the
transmission fluid. Since I haven't yet calibrated the romote dipstick
after the Cad installation, I raised the engine hatch, engine still running,
to check the fluid.
At the left rear of the engine I have a 30 psi fluid damped fuel pressure
gauge mounted between the hard line from the surge tank and the SS clad
flexible line to the throttle body. Squirting out of the hole where the
glycerin is installed to damp the gauge was GASOLINE! There was a big,
continually evaporating and being replenished puddle on the intake manifold,
and gas was running around the flange of the left rocker cover and cascading
down over the exhaust manifold -- none of it dripping off because it was
evaporating too fast.
I shut the engine down and grabbed the fire extinguisher from beside the
entry door but by the time I got that, all the liquid had evaporated. With
the door and windows open to clear the fumes, I got the tool box and removed
the failed gauge.
Under the sofa bed I've always carried a 12"x18"x2" parts box with
everything from nails and wood screws, thru 2-56 machine screws to 1/2-13
bolts and nuts, to pipe fittings, with some of 'most everything below and
above those. It's been a lifesaver for me and others many times. But I
discovered yesterday that it was missing! The only thing that can have
happened to it is that I had it out of the coach (unusual) finding a piece
for someone at either GMCDL Calhoun or Bean Station in May and left it
behind. Al Samsel couldn't find it at BS, so I guess it's gone forever.
At any rate, that left me stranded with no way to plug the hole in the fuel
line. I was about to disconnect the toad when I noticed an Advance Auto
store next door to the supermarket! Yep, they had a $3.80 brass 1/8" MPT
plug. So we were underway again in about 10 minutes.
The transmission was at least full of fluid and after that stop, for the
next 210 miles, it shifted fine. Maybe this 425's smarter than I've given
it credit for: If I hadn't stop to check it, the coach would probably have
soon burned to the ground.
The rest of the trip was uneventful, but I don't think my junkyard fan
clutch is working. I never heard a roar (nor did she) and the engine temp
ran about 230-235*F most of the way, with 90+*F ambient. Cad500's are noted
for running hot, but not quite that hot. Only the 13 psi radiator cap kept
it from boiling, and I had to be careful before a couple of engine shutdowns
to fast idle it a while before killing the engine.
We're expecting about 60 coaches, I'm told -- an unusually high number for
us except at BS, expecially this time of year. I'll report more late.
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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