What's under the passenger seat of a front entry coach?

[Eric Perplies]

My air operated step well cover board needs to be repaired. The
bearings (looks like a drawer slide mechanism) that keep it running
straight are shot. I pulled the passenger seat today but I am now
faced with the next step which appears to be to remove the metal ??
plate that the passenger seat mount to, above the step well sliding
board.

Has anyone ventured into this area of the coach? Without knowing how
this plate is fastened to the coach I will likely have to pull the
carpeting from this plate to find the fasteners. I hate to pull up the
carpeting in this area because I won't be able to match it.

Does anyone have any tips to remove the passenger seat mounting plate?
Once I get that plate up the repairs should be pretty straight forward.

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL
currently in Fredericksburg, TX

[Curt Sprenger]

Eric,

I had the same wondering thoughts as I removed the passenger seat mounting plate in our '87 'Bird. Much to my surprise, after installing the wood floor, the seat plate/bolts tightened right up as they (hope) should. The nuts must be anchored (welded) form under. I may have purchased slightly long bolts to do the re-install.


Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA

On Wed, Jan 7, 2009 at 8:55 PM, Eric Perplies <"purple_ees@hotmail.com"> wrote:

My air operated step well cover board needs to be repaired. The

bearings (looks like a drawer slide mechanism) that keep it running

straight are shot. I pulled the passenger seat today but I am now

faced with the next step which appears to be to remove the metal ??

plate that the passenger seat mount to, above the step well sliding

board.



Has anyone ventured into this area of the coach? Without knowing how

this plate is fastened to the coach I will likely have to pull the

carpeting from this plate to find the fasteners. I hate to pull up the

carpeting in this area because I won't be able to match it.



Does anyone have any tips to remove the passenger seat mounting plate?

Once I get that plate up the repairs should be pretty straight forward.



Eric Perplies

96' 42' WBWL

currently in Fredericksburg, TX

[erniecarpet]

Eric, the carpet is glued and folds a couple inches under the metal plate. Have you removed the step well cover, yet? That has about 6 screws from under the cover that attach to the arm that attaches to the air operated ram. Wish you were closer to me, I'd be glad to help you.

By the way, how did you get your coach into that spot at the museum? That was a tricky maneuver.

Ernie-83PT40 in Weatherford, Tx

In a message dated 01/07/09 22:55:42 Central Standard Time, purple_ees@... writes:

My air operated step well cover board needs to be repaired. The
bearings (looks like a drawer slide mechanism) that keep it running
straight are shot. I pulled the passenger seat today but I am now
faced with the next step which appears to be to remove the metal ??
plate that the passenger seat mount to, above the step well sliding
board.

Has anyone ventured into this area of the coach? Without knowing how
this plate is fastened to the coach I will likely have to pull the
carpeting from this plate to find the fasteners. I hate to pull up the
carpeting in this area because I won't be able to match it.

Does anyone have any tips to remove the passenger seat mounting plate?
Once I get that plate up the repairs should be pretty straight forward.

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL
currently in Fredericksburg, TX

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[Eric Perplies]

Curt and Ernie,

Thank you for the guidance. In inspecting the plate after receiving
your input I see 60% of what will need to be done to remove the cover
for the step cover. It's funny how with a bird you often get involved
in repairs to areas that are out of your area of expertise. As you
sally forth you realize it's all put together with nuts and bolts.
There are so many areas that I now have some level of experience with
by just digging in. It is so very helpful to receive some council
from people who have "been there, done that." I hate messing with the
carpet tack strips next to the plate. It's way outside my area of
experience. Maybe I can avoid it. Time will tell.

Ernie, about how I got the bird in this tight spot: Because we're
volunteering at a military related museum they called a Chinook
helicopter in to help me get parked. ;-) During my first year of
owning this bird I would panic when I had to back this boat up. (My
first three months I would only accept a pull through parking space.)
After nearly five years I feel almost as comfortable backing as I do
going forward. Actually, I strongly prefer backing into a tight spot.

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL

[erniecarpet]

Eric, i have come to back my coach with a lot more ease then before. As long as I take my time.

Ernie-83PT40 in Texas

In a message dated 01/08/09 10:40:50 Central Standard Time, purple_ees@... writes:

Curt and Ernie,

Thank you for the guidance. In inspecting the plate after receiving
your input I see 60% of what will need to be done to remove the cover
for the step cover. It's funny how with a bird you often get involved
in repairs to areas that are out of your area of expertise. As you
sally forth you realize it's all put together with nuts and bolts.
There are so many areas that I now have some level of experience with
by just digging in. It is so very helpful to receive some council
from people who have "been there, done that." I hate messing with the
carpet tack strips next to the plate. It's way outside my area of
experience. Maybe I can avoid it. Time will tell.

Ernie, about how I got the bird in this tight spot: Because we're
volunteering at a military related museum they called a Chinook
helicopter in to help me get parked. ;-) During my first year of
owning this bird I would panic when I had to back this boat up. (My
first three months I would only accept a pull through parking space.)
After nearly five years I feel almost as comfortable backing as I do
going forward. Actually, I strongly prefer backing into a tight spot.

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL

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[Pete Masterson]

The step well cover is driven by an air cylinder that's located right along the side wall of the coach. It extends behind the passenger seat. 

When I replaced the flooring in my coach, I didn't see how the passenger seat was mounted. I left the original carpet on the cover over the stair well cover -- so I'm guessing you'll need to pull that off to get at any bolts used to mount the seat. The carpet is probably glued onto it -- it was not attached to any of the other carpet (that I pulled up). You'll probably damage the carpet under the passenger seat -- but you can probably get a scrap from  a carpet store in a contrasting (but compatible) color and glue it on to replace what you removed. (When you can't match something, it's better to make it look like it's different _on_ _purpose_.)

You're right ... the step well cover uses a drawer slide mechanism as a guide. The air piston is connected to the rear edge with a couple of screws and the slide mechanism also has a series of screws that hold the cover-board. You can completely remove the cover board by taking out all the screws. That will give you some access to the rest of the slide mechanism, but I don't know if you can get at it all without removing the cover (to which the seat is mounted).

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jan 7, 2009, at 8:55 PM, Eric Perplies wrote:

My air operated step well cover board needs to be repaired.  The

bearings (looks like a drawer slide mechanism) that keep it running

straight are shot.  I pulled the passenger seat today but I am now

faced with the next step which appears to be to remove the metal ??

plate that the passenger seat mount to, above the step well sliding

board.  

Has anyone ventured into this area of the coach?  Without knowing how

this plate is fastened to the coach I will likely have to pull the

carpeting from this plate to find the fasteners. I hate to pull up the

carpeting in this area because I won't be able to match it.  

Does anyone have any tips to remove the passenger seat mounting plate?

 Once I get that plate up the repairs should be pretty straight forward.  

[brad barton]

Eric,

It's not just the cost, time and effort of repairs, either. If you like doing that sort of thing, fine. But a recreational vehicle ought to be recreational and enjoyable. I enjoy myself a lot more when I'm not working hard.

Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@...

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To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
From: aeonix1@...
Date: Thu, 8 Jan 2009 18:44:44 -0800
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] What's under the passenger seat of a front entry coach?

The step well cover is driven by an air cylinder that's located right along the side wall of the coach. It extends behind the passenger seat.

When I replaced the flooring in my coach, I didn't see how the passenger seat was mounted. I left the original carpet on the cover over the stair well cover -- so I'm guessing you'll need to pull that off to get at any bolts used to mount the seat. The carpet is probably glued onto it -- it was not attached to any of the other carpet (that I pulled up). You'll probably damage the carpet under the passenger seat -- but you can probably get a scrap from a carpet store in a contrasting (but compatible) color and glue it on to replace what you removed. (When you can't match something, it's better to make it look like it's different _on_ _purpose_.)

You're right ... the step well cover uses a drawer slide mechanism as a guide. The air piston is connected to the rear edge with a couple of screws and the slide mechanism also has a series of screws that hold the cover-board. You can completely remove the cover board by taking out all the screws. That will give you some access to the rest of the slide mechanism, but I don't know if you can get at it all without removing the cover (to which the seat is mounted).

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 (For Sale)

<http://www.aeonix.biz/BBforsale.html>

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Jan 7, 2009, at 8:55 PM, Eric Perplies wrote:

My air operated step well cover board needs to be repaired. The

bearings (looks like a drawer slide mechanism) that keep it running

straight are shot. I pulled the passenger seat today but I am now

faced with the next step which appears to be to remove the metal ??

plate that the passenger seat mount to, above the step well sliding

board.

Has anyone ventured into this area of the coach? Without knowing how

this plate is fastened to the coach I will likely have to pull the

carpeting from this plate to find the fasteners. I hate to pull up the

carpeting in this area because I won't be able to match it.

Does anyone have any tips to remove the passenger seat mounting plate?

Once I get that plate up the repairs should be pretty straight forward.

---

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[Eric Perplies]

Well, I did it. Sort of. As it turned out one of the nuts that
secures the cover plate (on the underside of the coach) turned.
Because I have committed, (after the Jim Scoggins tragedy) to never
work under the coach without proper cribbing, I had to abandon
removing the slide plate cover. I did find a satisfactory solution to
my problem however. In tearing everything out I found the flow
control valves for the step well cover. I have adjusted the step well
cover to be able to move in slooooow motion. When the cover board
moves so slowly the two drawer slide mechanism (without ball bearings)
do a satisfactory job of guiding the board. The only downside is my
wife will have to wait 5 seconds for the cover plate to open or close.

If I'm not happy with how it works I will remove the cover plate when
I have the facilities to properly get under the coach.

Thanks for the help.

Eric Perplies
96' 42' WBWL