Getting Back on the Road this Weekend...

[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

[ac7880]

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"
wrote:
>
> 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
>

[Chuck Wheeler]

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"
wrote:
>
> 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]

[Richard Hayden]

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, "Andy
Coleman"
wrote:
>
> 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]

[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

[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


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> 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
>

[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" wrote:
>
> 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
>

[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


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> 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"
wrote:
> >
> > 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
> >
>

[davidkerryedwards]

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" wrote:
>
> 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
>