1980 FC with Cat 3802 - fan bearing replacement - any history of problems?

[Lewandowski98040]

Hi -

I'm a newbie.

My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.) in
Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an older
lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him that I
would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
the next owner.

Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in Issaquah.
He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He serviced
the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young, racing
crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he seems
to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.

Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing is no
longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to install them.

I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
(presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded shaft,
and what is the service/failure rate of that original style bearing?
I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying through
my new radiator.

Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird dealer
(Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want might
to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What else
is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind down
the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop in
Widespot Wisconsin next summer.

Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied to
the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to live
with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding my
inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will be,
when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and curtains.

George Lewandowski,
Mercer Island, WA

[Mike Hohnstein]

Yo, newbie dude. Take it to a Cat dealer and get it fixed right the first
time. Don't try to economize under the engine cover, as that fan would be a
real buzz saw on the radiator. On the road repair for that job with tow could
top 5 grand. Get some towing insurance too. Rich people bought Birds new, now
you got to act like a rich dude to keep it up. Or act like a heavy duty diesel
technician.
Mike Hohnstein
Native of Portland OR
Germantown, WI
83FC35
----- Original Message -----
From: Lewandowski98040
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 3:26 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 1980 FC with Cat 3802 - fan bearing replacement -
any history of problems?


Hi -

I'm a newbie.

My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.) in
Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an older
lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him that I
would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
the next owner.

Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in Issaquah.
He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He serviced
the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young, racing
crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he seems
to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.

Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing is no
longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to install them.

I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
(presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded shaft,
and what is the service/failure rate of that original style bearing?
I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying through
my new radiator.

Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird dealer
(Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want might
to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What else
is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind down
the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop in
Widespot Wisconsin next summer.

Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied to
the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to live
with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding my
inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will be,
when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and curtains.

George Lewandowski,
Mercer Island, WA





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gardner Yeaw]

Gaorge,
As far as the fan, I have no idea. As far as getting on the road,
you are off to a tremendous start. Just knowing someone you trust to
check out the hydraulic things is a major plus. With the trans and
power stearing fixed up, and the radiator ready for another 200k
miles or more you are in the 'Cat bird seat'. I agree with getting
the engine checked out and serviced unless you have documents to
show it was done before. Beyond that, tire condition(age), required
systems (water/toilet/generator/refrigerator/stove/lighting), and a
destination, you are more than ready to begin enjoying your coach.
Take a short trip, and then longer ones until you gain confidence in
your self and the coach (the coach will be the easy part). Don't
think of vintage bird as old and in need of more maintenance. They
are built better than most and once you clean up things that were
not maintained, they are more dependable than most. I have a '78 and
it is pretty solid as far as getting there and back.

Gerdner
78FC33

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Lewandowski98040"
wrote:
>
> Hi -
>
> I'm a newbie.
>
> My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.)
in
> Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
> know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an
older
> lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
> could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him
that I
> would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
> the next owner.
>
> Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
> nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in
Issaquah.
> He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He
serviced
> the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
> sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
> hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young,
racing
> crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he
seems
> to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
> tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.
>
> Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
> little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing
is no
> longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
> integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
> part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
> normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
> about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to
install them.
>
> I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
> (presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded
shaft,
> and what is the service/failure rate of that original style
bearing?
> I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying
through
> my new radiator.
>
> Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird
dealer
> (Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want
might
> to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What
else
> is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
> include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
> possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind
down
> the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
> mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop
in
> Widespot Wisconsin next summer.
>
> Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied
to
> the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
> voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to
live
> with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding
my
> inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will
be,
> when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
> experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
> used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and
curtains.
>
> George Lewandowski,
> Mercer Island, WA
>

[one_dusty_hoot]

Welcome Greorge, I like your style of writings,
Have you every been referred to as Washington George?
Hope you and the bride have miles of smiles with
the new to you bird.

Couple things you haven't mentioned, maybe just
left them out intentionally but in case you didn't
Tires, Air Bags, if you go them,1980's was the first year.
Belts, hoses, clamps, did he change the PS hi press. hose?
Did he change the filter in the Allison?, Change the rear end lube.
Air Compressor filter, Air Dryer, AD-2?
Racor fuel filter, final filter, Air, all filters including the
power steering filter down inside the cannister.
Front Wheel Bearings/repack
Brake Linings, check for water in the wet and dry tanks
Heck, just make you a list like nothings been done and go from
there, start recording when you did it and you know it's done.

I can't help you on the bearing, it's an idler too??
$1500 would go a long way puting an electric fan on
the radiator, no ideas for you here, I have always
been under the impression that a good machine shop
could build about anything. How about picking the
bone of a 3208 at a junk yard, one that's spilled its
innards, get on he net with 3208 rebuilders, etc.

I have missed some things I know, one important thing
when you get your bride and your lady on the road is to
have a good time, good times come without troubles.
I have never had a good time with trouble on the road.
Bob Janes, '87FC35. Greenville, SC







--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Lewandowski98040"
wrote:
>
> Hi -
>
> I'm a newbie.
>
> My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.)
in
> Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
> know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an
older
> lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
> could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him
that I
> would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
> the next owner.
>
> Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
> nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in Issaquah.
> He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He serviced
> the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
> sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
> hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young,
racing
> crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he
seems
> to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
> tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.
>
> Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
> little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing is
no
> longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
> integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
> part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
> normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
> about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to install
them.
>
> I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
> (presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded
shaft,
> and what is the service/failure rate of that original style
bearing?
> I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying
through
> my new radiator.
>
> Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird
dealer
> (Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want
might
> to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What else
> is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
> include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
> possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind
down
> the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
> mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop in
> Widespot Wisconsin next summer.
>
> Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied
to
> the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
> voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to live
> with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding my
> inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will
be,
> when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
> experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
> used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and
curtains.
>
> George Lewandowski,
> Mercer Island, WA
>

[chet geist]

George,

I am not sure I am talking about the same thing, but when I got my 1981 four
years ago I had a rattle coming from the fan and the truck shop I went to
replace the "fan clutch bearing" with a part number "5106WCCBOW" cost was
$54.56. You might try that number at the local bearing shop and see if
anything comes up. Hope you find an answer to your problem.

Chet Geist
1981 FC33, Austin, Texas


-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Gardner Yeaw
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 7:31 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: 1980 FC with Cat 3802 - fan bearing
replacement - any history of problems?


Gaorge,
As far as the fan, I have no idea. As far as getting on the road,
you are off to a tremendous start. Just knowing someone you trust to
check out the hydraulic things is a major plus. With the trans and
power stearing fixed up, and the radiator ready for another 200k
miles or more you are in the 'Cat bird seat'. I agree with getting
the engine checked out and serviced unless you have documents to
show it was done before. Beyond that, tire condition(age), required
systems (water/toilet/generator/refrigerator/stove/lighting), and a
destination, you are more than ready to begin enjoying your coach.
Take a short trip, and then longer ones until you gain confidence in
your self and the coach (the coach will be the easy part). Don't
think of vintage bird as old and in need of more maintenance. They
are built better than most and once you clean up things that were
not maintained, they are more dependable than most. I have a '78 and
it is pretty solid as far as getting there and back.

Gerdner
78FC33

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Lewandowski98040"
wrote:
>
> Hi -
>
> I'm a newbie.
>
> My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.)
in
> Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
> know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an
older
> lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
> could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him
that I
> would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
> the next owner.
>
> Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
> nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in
Issaquah.
> He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He
serviced
> the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
> sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
> hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young,
racing
> crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he
seems
> to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
> tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.
>
> Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
> little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing
is no
> longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
> integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
> part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
> normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
> about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to
install them.
>
> I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
> (presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded
shaft,
> and what is the service/failure rate of that original style
bearing?
> I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying
through
> my new radiator.
>
> Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird
dealer
> (Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want
might
> to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What
else
> is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
> include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
> possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind
down
> the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
> mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop
in
> Widespot Wisconsin next summer.
>
> Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied
to
> the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
> voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to
live
> with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding
my
> inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will
be,
> when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
> experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
> used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and
curtains.
>
> George Lewandowski,
> Mercer Island, WA
>






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Lewandowski98040]

Gardner -

Thanks for the encouragement. I just visited my Bird in the shop. The
sight of that shiny, newly rebuilt, radiator and hoses are a real
confidence builder. Maybe the radiator fluid level sensor will stop
sending false alarms now that the (formerly collapsed) baffles in the
upper fill tank have been rebuilt.

Nephew Rob is sure that this rig only has 90,000 miles on her, not
190K as the previous owner had speculated. There wasn't enough sludge
and goo built up inside the tranny, the differential, or anywhere else
to support that odometer rollover speculation.

I now have a new question about the water pump. The (presumably) 26
year old water pump doesn't seep or drip, and the shaft feels rock
solid. Rob is willing to rebuild the pump, if I really want to pay
for it, but he warns that it is not always wise to fix what ain't
broke. The old seals are holding and new seals are only as good as
the manufacturer's skill and luck can make them.

What's the history of 3802 water pumps? Are they typically bullet
proof and extremely long lived? I'm running the red Caerpillar
coolant that is supposed to last for hundreds of thousands of miles.
Is the water pump over-built to those same never-say-die standards?

I'm just looking for advice from any opinionated Birder who has put a
few hard miles on one of these old 3802 engines.

- gl

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gardner Yeaw"
wrote:
>
> Gaorge,
> As far as the fan, I have no idea. As far as getting on the road,
> you are off to a tremendous start. Just knowing someone you trust to
> check out the hydraulic things is a major plus. With the trans and
> power stearing fixed up, and the radiator ready for another 200k
> miles or more you are in the 'Cat bird seat'. I agree with getting
> the engine checked out and serviced unless you have documents to
> show it was done before. Beyond that, tire condition(age), required
> systems (water/toilet/generator/refrigerator/stove/lighting), and a
> destination, you are more than ready to begin enjoying your coach.
> Take a short trip, and then longer ones until you gain confidence in
> your self and the coach (the coach will be the easy part). Don't
> think of vintage bird as old and in need of more maintenance. They
> are built better than most and once you clean up things that were
> not maintained, they are more dependable than most. I have a '78 and
> it is pretty solid as far as getting there and back.
>
> Gerdner
> 78FC33
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

George,

I'm not quite sure what bearing you are talking about, but when we first got
our 82 there was a lot of fan noise and it came from the electric clutch
that was coming apart. I ordered a complete kit from Blue Bird that
provided a new fan, Horton air clutch, and temperature switch. The cost was
about $650. The only other bearing would be in the idler and that assembly
is in the $300 range or less than $100 if you just replace the bearings.

When we first got our Bird Kathy thought that I had just purchased "yard
art" as I spent the first few months getting it into shape. We have since
put 11 to 13 thousand miles a year on it but I about lost my happy home
before I got it on the road. We are about to head off on a two month trip
to visit family during the holidays and she is very fond of the old bird
now. Since we are about the same vintage we can exchange phone numbers in
case you need help. This site and members sure helped me get going!

- Chuck Wheeler -
82 FC 31 SB
Fort Worth, TX


_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Lewandowski98040
Sent: Friday, November 17, 2006 3:27 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 1980 FC with Cat 3802 - fan bearing replacement
- any history of problems?



Hi -

I'm a newbie.

My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.) in
Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an older
lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him that I
would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
the next owner.

Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in Issaquah.
He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He serviced
the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young, racing
crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he seems
to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.

Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing is no
longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to install them.

I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
(presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded shaft,
and what is the service/failure rate of that original style bearing?
I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying through
my new radiator.

Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird dealer
(Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want might
to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What else
is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind down
the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop in
Widespot Wisconsin next summer.

Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied to
the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to live
with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding my
inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will be,
when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and curtains.

George Lewandowski,
Mercer Island, WA






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Lewandowski98040]

Chet and Bob -

Thanks for the responses.

I just want to pause long enough to clear up one thing. The previous
owner, Don D. was no couch slouch regarding maintenance. He performed
a lot of maintenance and he kept copious notes. However, this is a 26
year old rig that had seen some years of neglect prior to falling into
Don's hands. His tale of driving this poor bus home to Oregon in the
middle of winter, from a midwest car lot, four years ago, is a hair
raising tale of baling wire fixes on road in white-out snow storms.

Four years later, the basic safety systems seem to be in good repair.
Don installed new rubber all around, just a little over two years ago.
There is still 3/4" of brake lining on the shoes, and Don kept those
air tanks dry, even installing new drain valves in some cases.

My nephew, the mechanic, took the maintenance to another level,
dropping the transmission pan, changing the filers, inspecting the
innards, changing the differential fluid, replacing many hoses,
including some that Don had installed brand new only two years ago.
He rebuilt the power steering pump, replacing that filter that Bob
mentioned.

By the way, Chet, I think you must have the new improved fan assembly
on your rig, not the old style fan assembly. You are fortunate to
have the new design. $54 is about what it would cost me (instead of
$1,500) if I had to replace a bearing on the new improved fan
assembly. However, the large, complex, part that is sitting on my
kitchen table, from the old style fan assembly, is clearly worth more
than $54, if it were still available anywhere. It is just not worth
$1,500 (in my mind). Bob's idea of converting to an electric fan is
also an intriguing alternative. I may take that up with the local Cat
mechanics before I write the big check for a whole new assembly.

Please understand that this Bird is no rambling wreck, thanks to Don's
kind care, but after 26 years and 90,000 miles, lots of things have
just become too brittle, too rusty, too dirt clogged, or too obsolete
in design (like those irritating fluorescent coach light inverters) to
be reliable. I want to take her to a slightly higher level of
reliability, more like the 1990s, if possible.

Bob, thanks for your list of things to stew about when I can't get to
sleep at night (compressor, air tanks, etc). I'll append it to my
growing worry-wart checklist.

Keep the good ideas comin'.

- gl

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "chet geist" wrote:
>
> George,
>
> I am not sure I am talking about the same thing, but when I got my
1981 four
> years ago I had a rattle coming from the fan and the truck shop I
went to
> replace the "fan clutch bearing" with a part number "5106WCCBOW"
cost was
> $54.56. You might try that number at the local bearing shop and see if
> anything comes up. Hope you find an answer to your problem.
>
> Chet Geist
> 1981 FC33, Austin, Texas
>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------\
-----------
And Bob Janes, (one_dusty_hoot ) wrote:

. . . Couple things you haven't mentioned, maybe just
left them out intentionally but in case you didn't
Tires, Air Bags, if you go them,1980's was the first year.
Belts, hoses, clamps, did he change the PS hi press. hose?
Did he change the filter in the Allison?, Change the rear end lube.
Air Compressor filter, Air Dryer, AD-2?
Racor fuel filter, final filter, Air, all filters including the
power steering filter down inside the cannister.
Front Wheel Bearings/repack
Brake Linings, check for water in the wet and dry tanks
Heck, just make you a list like nothings been done and go from
there, start recording when you did it and you know it's done.

I can't help you on the bearing, it's an idler too??
$1500 would go a long way puting an electric fan on
the radiator, no ideas for you here, I have always
been under the impression that a good machine shop
could build about anything. How about picking the
bone of a 3208 at a junk yard, one that's spilled its
innards, get on he net with 3208 rebuilders, etc.

I have missed some things I know, one important thing
when you get your bride and your lady on the road is to
have a good time, good times come without troubles.
I have never had a good time with trouble on the road.
Bob Janes, '87FC35. Greenville, SC

[Gregory OConnor]

George, When and if you find a need to pull down the pan, replace the
oil pick-up and screen. Bryant or BlueBird Bus facilities may not be
the best choice. The 3208 is older than most bus models in operation
( much like the 8V92 in my bus). I would call a local Cat Parts
supplier and ask the parts clerk for a recommendation of a customer
who works on 3208 units. If you want to verify the Speedo, you can
try and multiply the engine hours by 30 and see if it is closer to
100,000 or 200,000. The bearings on the fan and idler pulleys often
fail from enginecleaner solvent pressurewashing. it may be time to
check idler bearings (if any).

I think the owner of Gus's Garage is named MikeH. He is a forum
member and Mike's garage would be the best place to surrender a sick
bird. He is very knowledgeable and experianced with the Cat in your
bus (Cat is nick name for the engine manufacture and not a slant on
your copilot of 38 years). I am an experienced Bird fanciers but I
dont understand how that would qualify me to give good material
advice? I would have better advised you the curtains and carpet
choices.

I enjoy your style, welcome

GregoryO'Connor
94ptRomolandCa

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Lewandowski98040"
wrote:
>
> Hi -
>
> I'm a newbie.
>
> My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.)
in
> Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
> know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an
older
> lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
> could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him
that I
> would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
> the next owner.
>
> Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
> nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in Issaquah.
> He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He serviced
> the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
> sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
> hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young,
racing
> crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he
seems
> to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
> tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.
>
> Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
> little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing is
no
> longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
> integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
> part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
> normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
> about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to install
them.
>
> I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
> (presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded
shaft,
> and what is the service/failure rate of that original style
bearing?
> I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying
through
> my new radiator.
>
> Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird
dealer
> (Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want
might
> to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What else
> is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
> include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
> possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind
down
> the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
> mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop in
> Widespot Wisconsin next summer.
>
> Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied
to
> the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
> voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to live
> with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding my
> inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will
be,
> when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
> experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
> used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and
curtains.
>
> George Lewandowski,
> Mercer Island, WA
>

[Lewandowski98040]

Mike -

Thanks for the response. My Bird is going to the Cat dealer, right
after we finish rebuilding the peripherals.

Apparently, there are several versions of this fan assembly, including
some with electric clutches, which mine does not have. I just want to
find the upgrade that offers the best bang for the buck. $1,500 for a
simple, full-time fan bracket and bearing (no clutch or thermostat)
didn't sound like such a good deal to me. I'm not cheap but I'm
nobody's pigeon either.

I know that this bearing has to be replaced with something. For
fifteen hundred bucks, it should be pretty darn complex and wonderful
, or it can be something simple and bullet proof for a whole lot less.

I've seen plenty of "rich dudes" stranded on the side of the road. It
takes more than a big checkbook to keep the bad bearing gremlins at bay.

yours truly
-

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Hohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> Yo, newbie dude. Take it to a Cat dealer and get it fixed right
the first time. Don't try to economize under the engine cover, as
that fan would be a real buzz saw on the radiator. On the road repair
for that job with tow could top 5 grand. Get some towing insurance
too. Rich people bought Birds new, now you got to act like a rich
dude to keep it up. Or act like a heavy duty diesel technician.
> Mike Hohnstein
> Native of Portland OR
> Germantown, WI
> 83FC35