Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - Printable Version +- Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum (http://www.wanderlodgegurus.com) +-- Forum: Yahoo Groups Archive (/forumdisplay.php?fid=61) +--- Forum: WanderlodgeForum (/forumdisplay.php?fid=63) +--- Thread: Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... (/showthread.php?tid=5015) |
Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - Andy Coleman - 05-29-2007 18:14 Fellow Wanderlodgers: After sitting around for 10 months, I'm finally getting ready to drive out my 83 FC-35 and get it back on the road. During that time, I did the following; Modified my air intake system. Rebuilt and modified my power steering system. Adjusted the valve lash. Had the radiator cleaned and pressure checked. Replace the racor and fuel filters. Replaced all cooling hoses in front of the front tires. Two things I still have to tackle this weekend... Two of my four 6v starting batteries are showing a weak charge under load - even after charging for many hours. Can somebody recommend to me the best brand battery to replace them? A battery with good starting power and good reserve to run lights and assessories? Finally, I'm having trouble starting my Perkins generator. The previous owner used starting fluid to turn it over. I wonder if there is a pre-heating device on the geny that isn't working? Might anybody know how to replace it? The battery is fine. Any advice you can offer would be great! Looking to break in my coach on a cross country road trip this summer. I turn the big 4-0, and can't think of a better way to spend it. I hope to post photos of my air intake and power steering upgrades shortly. Thanks everyone! Andy Coleman 83' FC-35 Spring Lake Heights, NJ Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - ac7880 - 05-30-2007 00:21 If your coach still has 4 6 volt golf cart batteries, then I would do Trojan T105s. I would replace all 4 at the same time. On your gen you should have 2 rocker switches too start it, one by driver, one in kitchen. Hold the rocker switch in the down position for the preheat for approx 15 to 20 seconds then push on the upward position and see if gen fires. If not, repeat. Dan previous 83 FC35, now 94 BB BMC 37' --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > Fellow Wanderlodgers: > > After sitting around for 10 months, I'm finally getting ready to drive > out my 83 FC-35 and get it back on the road. During that time, I did > the following; > > Modified my air intake system. > Rebuilt and modified my power steering system. > Adjusted the valve lash. > Had the radiator cleaned and pressure checked. > Replace the racor and fuel filters. > Replaced all cooling hoses in front of the front tires. > > Two things I still have to tackle this weekend... > > Two of my four 6v starting batteries are showing a weak charge under > load - even after charging for many hours. Can somebody recommend to > me the best brand battery to replace them? A battery with good > starting power and good reserve to run lights and assessories? > > Finally, I'm having trouble starting my Perkins generator. The > previous owner used starting fluid to turn it over. I wonder if there > is a pre-heating device on the geny that isn't working? Might anybody > know how to replace it? The battery is fine. > > Any advice you can offer would be great! > > Looking to break in my coach on a cross country road trip this summer. > I turn the big 4-0, and can't think of a better way to spend it. > > I hope to post photos of my air intake and power steering upgrades > shortly. > > Thanks everyone! > > Andy Coleman > 83' FC-35 > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - Chuck Wheeler - 05-30-2007 03:26 Andy, I am 6 years into the Trojan T105s in our 82 BB. We make winter trips into the very cold and summer trips with a lot of dry camping. They have served us well though all of this. They still test O.K. but due to age they will get replace this summer before we begin our winter excursions. - Chuck Wheeler - 82 FC 31 SB Fort Worth, TX _____ From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of ac7880 Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 5:21 AM To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... If your coach still has 4 6 volt golf cart batteries, then I would do Trojan T105s. I would replace all 4 at the same time. On your gen you should have 2 rocker switches too start it, one by driver, one in kitchen. Hold the rocker switch in the down position for the preheat for approx 15 to 20 seconds then push on the upward position and see if gen fires. If not, repeat. Dan previous 83 FC35, now 94 BB BMC 37' --- In WanderlodgeForum@ yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > Fellow Wanderlodgers: > > After sitting around for 10 months, I'm finally getting ready to drive > out my 83 FC-35 and get it back on the road. During that time, I did > the following; > > Modified my air intake system. > Rebuilt and modified my power steering system. > Adjusted the valve lash. > Had the radiator cleaned and pressure checked. > Replace the racor and fuel filters. > Replaced all cooling hoses in front of the front tires. > > Two things I still have to tackle this weekend... > > Two of my four 6v starting batteries are showing a weak charge under > load - even after charging for many hours. Can somebody recommend to > me the best brand battery to replace them? A battery with good > starting power and good reserve to run lights and assessories? > > Finally, I'm having trouble starting my Perkins generator. The > previous owner used starting fluid to turn it over. I wonder if there > is a pre-heating device on the geny that isn't working? Might anybody > know how to replace it? The battery is fine. > > Any advice you can offer would be great! > > Looking to break in my coach on a cross country road trip this summer. > I turn the big 4-0, and can't think of a better way to spend it. > > I hope to post photos of my air intake and power steering upgrades > shortly. > > Thanks everyone! > > Andy Coleman > 83' FC-35 > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - Richard Hayden - 05-30-2007 04:02 If that still doesn't pre-heat, try the pre-heat switch on the gen. control box. Believe it or not, on my '81FC the pre-heat wire was never installed by BB. After installing a new wire to the galley switch it worked like a champ. Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Lake Stevens, WA ----- Original Message ----- From: ac7880 To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 5:21 AM Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... If your coach still has 4 6 volt golf cart batteries, then I would do Trojan T105s. I would replace all 4 at the same time. On your gen you should have 2 rocker switches too start it, one by driver, one in kitchen. Hold the rocker switch in the down position for the preheat for approx 15 to 20 seconds then push on the upward position and see if gen fires. If not, repeat. Dan previous 83 FC35, now 94 BB BMC 37' --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com Coleman" > > Fellow Wanderlodgers: > > After sitting around for 10 months, I'm finally getting ready to drive > out my 83 FC-35 and get it back on the road. During that time, I did > the following; > > Modified my air intake system. > Rebuilt and modified my power steering system. > Adjusted the valve lash. > Had the radiator cleaned and pressure checked. > Replace the racor and fuel filters. > Replaced all cooling hoses in front of the front tires. > > Two things I still have to tackle this weekend... > > Two of my four 6v starting batteries are showing a weak charge under > load - even after charging for many hours. Can somebody recommend to > me the best brand battery to replace them? A battery with good > starting power and good reserve to run lights and assessories? > > Finally, I'm having trouble starting my Perkins generator. The > previous owner used starting fluid to turn it over. I wonder if there > is a pre-heating device on the geny that isn't working? Might anybody > know how to replace it? The battery is fine. > > Any advice you can offer would be great! > > Looking to break in my coach on a cross country road trip this summer. > I turn the big 4-0, and can't think of a better way to spend it. > > I hope to post photos of my air intake and power steering upgrades > shortly. > > Thanks everyone! > > Andy Coleman > 83' FC-35 > Spring Lake Heights, NJ > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - davidkerryedwards - 05-30-2007 06:06 The Perkins has glow plugs. I'm almost certain these are series glow plugs. When one fails, they all quit working. You'll have to see if they are getting juice when activated and if they are working. I'm curious about your power steering since I just added a larger reservoir, put new hoses and a cooler on mine. Kerry 82 Fc 35 Denver Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - Andy Coleman - 05-30-2007 17:31 Hey Kerry, Babs Steering sent me a larger, vented reservior. However, I could not fit it under my doghouse. I mailed it back to Babs, and they custom made it shorter for me. Its a little smaller than the original, but vented. How did you go about installing a larger reservior? Where did you fit it? Thanks for the tips on the glow plugs. I'll test them this weekend. Andy 83 FC 35 Spring Lake Hts., NJ --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards" > > The Perkins has glow plugs. I'm almost certain these are series glow plugs. When one fails, > they all quit working. You'll have to see if they are getting juice when activated and if they > are working. > I'm curious about your power steering since I just added a larger reservoir, put new hoses > and a cooler on mine. > > Kerry > 82 Fc 35 > Denver > Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - davidkerryedwards - 05-31-2007 00:55 There are some pictures in the photos section. I attached it just to the right of the original, which is just left of center on the back wall of the doghouse, it would probably not work in your application since that is the location of your turbo. Kerry 82 FC 35 Denver --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > Hey Kerry, > > Babs Steering sent me a larger, vented reservior. However, I could > not fit it under my doghouse. > > I mailed it back to Babs, and they custom made it shorter for me. Its > a little smaller than the original, but vented. > > How did you go about installing a larger reservior? Where did you fit it? > > Thanks for the tips on the glow plugs. I'll test them this weekend. > > Andy > 83 FC 35 > Spring Lake Hts., NJ > Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - Andy Coleman - 05-31-2007 01:13 Hey Kerry: Like your photos! Not only do you have a larger reservior, you also installed an air cooler. Did you bypass the radiator cooler entirely or are you going through both? There are definite benefits to not having a turbo charger! Andy --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards" > > There are some pictures in the photos section. I attached it just to the right of the > original, which is just left of center on the back wall of the doghouse, it would probably > not work in your application since that is the location of your turbo. > > Kerry > 82 FC 35 > Denver > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > > > Hey Kerry, > > > > Babs Steering sent me a larger, vented reservior. However, I could > > not fit it under my doghouse. > > > > I mailed it back to Babs, and they custom made it shorter for me. Its > > a little smaller than the original, but vented. > > > > How did you go about installing a larger reservior? Where did you fit it? > > > > Thanks for the tips on the glow plugs. I'll test them this weekend. > > > > Andy > > 83 FC 35 > > Spring Lake Hts., NJ > > > Getting Back on the Road this Weekend... - davidkerryedwards - 05-31-2007 01:20 Mine had no cooling via the radiator. I was not aware any of the Birds did. So the air cooler is the only one. Was running about 220 or 230 degrees prior to the cooler and 130 (those numbers are all from memory) the only time I checked it after installation. I also installed fire sleeve insulation around the suction hose. The reservoir I installed was made by the same company that made the original. The vented top will also fit the original. Someone sells them on Ebay as MCI Bus reservoirs. I think I paid around $25 for the new reservoir. Kerry 82 FC 35 Denver --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman" > > Hey Kerry: > > Like your photos! Not only do you have a larger reservior, you also > installed an air cooler. Did you bypass the radiator cooler entirely > or are you going through both? > > There are definite benefits to not having a turbo charger! > > Andy > |