ZF "D" popout &

[williamcharrison]

Hi all,
Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most) all
was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess that
some things still puzzle me.
I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of drive.
I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I cycled
the light switch it would always pop out.
Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the engine
it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this normal?
There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent after
the engine warms up.

William C. (Chuck) Harrison
'90SP36 Akron, Ohio

[Fred Hulse]

William
My experience with the blue smoke on my 91 SP36 was the timing on the
injector pump.
Had it retimed at the Cat dealer and blue smoke was no longer there upon
startup.
Fred & Jeanne Hulse
Morristown Arizona
1997 Wanderlodge PT41

[Jeff August]

William, you made it home from The Big_E safe? Thanks for the supper
invite but I have to always have a couple Eldora hotdogs!
Jeff & Michelle August
80FC35RB
Plymouth Wi.
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
wrote:
> Hi all,
> Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most) all
> was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess
that
> some things still puzzle me.
> I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
> truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of drive.
> I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I
cycled
> the light switch it would always pop out.
> Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the engine
> it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this normal?
> There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent after
> the engine warms up.
>
> William C. (Chuck) Harrison
> '90SP36 Akron, Ohio

[pattypape]

Hi William,

When really weird things happen, it is usually a bad connection,
loose crimp connector or a ground connection or shorted connection.
Finding the culprit is the problem.
We have the ZF, but it does stay in drive when using the headlights.


But, when we were new owners of this Bus, sometimes when turning the
ignition key to the on or accessory position, there were no lights
or buzzers or start. It was totally dead. It was intermittant.
Sometimes it was live, sometimes really dead. We changed the
ignition switch, and it would still act up, giving us that sinking
feeling. We learned to push buttons on the dash, and it would light
up. Stomping on the brake pedal would work most of the time. We did
not feel secure with this solution.
So, we removed the dash and inspected those large screw together
wireing connectors, found many silver pins tarnished and turning
gray/brown, especially those connected to the ignition switch. We
cleaned all pin connections with a small wire brush and electrical
spray cleaner. There are at least four of these connectors in our
dash. All has worked for a full year, we are gaining confidence
in this solution. There is lots of current in that headlight
circuit.

This may have no "connection" to your problem.
Our crankcase vent does spew vapors, seems normal to me.

Bill 88 FC This may or may not help you, 92 in Michigan




--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
wrote:
> Hi all,
> Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most) all
> was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess
that
> some things still puzzle me.
> I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
> truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of drive.
> I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I
cycled
> the light switch it would always pop out.
> Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the engine
> it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this normal?
> There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent after
> the engine warms up.
>
> William C. (Chuck) Harrison
> '90SP36 Akron, Ohio

[williamcharrison]

Thx for the direction.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "pattypape"
wrote:
> Hi William,
>
> When really weird things happen, it is usually a bad connection,
> loose crimp connector or a ground connection or shorted
connection.
> Finding the culprit is the problem.
> We have the ZF, but it does stay in drive when using the
headlights.
>
>
> But, when we were new owners of this Bus, sometimes when turning
the
> ignition key to the on or accessory position, there were no lights
> or buzzers or start. It was totally dead. It was intermittant.
> Sometimes it was live, sometimes really dead. We changed the
> ignition switch, and it would still act up, giving us that
sinking
> feeling. We learned to push buttons on the dash, and it would
light
> up. Stomping on the brake pedal would work most of the time. We
did
> not feel secure with this solution.
> So, we removed the dash and inspected those large screw together
> wireing connectors, found many silver pins tarnished and turning
> gray/brown, especially those connected to the ignition switch.
We
> cleaned all pin connections with a small wire brush and electrical
> spray cleaner. There are at least four of these connectors in our
> dash. All has worked for a full year, we are gaining confidence
> in this solution. There is lots of current in that headlight
> circuit.
>
> This may have no "connection" to your problem.
> Our crankcase vent does spew vapors, seems normal to me.
>
> Bill 88 FC This may or may not help you, 92 in Michigan
>
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most)
all
> > was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess
> that
> > some things still puzzle me.
> > I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
> > truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of
drive.
> > I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I
> cycled
> > the light switch it would always pop out.
> > Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the
engine
> > it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this
normal?
> > There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent
after
> > the engine warms up.
> >
> > William C. (Chuck) Harrison
> > '90SP36 Akron, Ohio

[fred89sp]

I cannot argue with what you observed but am having difficulty
comprehending how the transmission selector switch could be caused to
do that. I have had the switch out of my 89SP and, as I recall, it is
strictly a mechanical device with electrical contacts. I do not see
how any electrical energy or lack thereof could cause the switch to
change selection. If you mean that the switch remained in drive but
the transmission went into neutral then you have a wiring problem that
I would ask ZF in Chicago for input.

Hold off buying a new switch, as I recall they are over $400.

Without disputing Fred Hulse's post, I associate blue smoke with oil
in the combustion chamber, not a fuel problem. Perhaps sitting
allowed some oil to seep past a valve guide. I would price the timing
setting job and that would be a factor in deciding whether to observe
the smoke for a while before undertaking a fix.

White smoke is caused by incomplete combustion, more commonly seen in
cold weather. Again I would want to see how persistent this problem
was before undertaking work.

The crankcase vent vapor you observed is normal.


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
wrote:
> Hi all,
> Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most) all
> was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess that
> some things still puzzle me.
> I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
> truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of drive.
> I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I cycled
> the light switch it would always pop out.
> Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the engine
> it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this normal?
> There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent after
> the engine warms up.
>
> William C. (Chuck) Harrison
> '90SP36 Akron, Ohio

[williamcharrison]

Hi Fred,
Thanks for the attention, but this phenomenon is repeatable.
The button actually pops out and the trans. goes into neutral if
I cycle the dash headlight switch (I don't drink and drive).

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fred89sp"
wrote:
> I cannot argue with what you observed but am having difficulty
> comprehending how the transmission selector switch could be caused
to
> do that. I have had the switch out of my 89SP and, as I recall,
it is
> strictly a mechanical device with electrical contacts. I do not see
> how any electrical energy or lack thereof could cause the switch to
> change selection. If you mean that the switch remained in drive
but
> the transmission went into neutral then you have a wiring problem
that
> I would ask ZF in Chicago for input.
>
> Hold off buying a new switch, as I recall they are over $400.
>
> Without disputing Fred Hulse's post, I associate blue smoke with
oil
> in the combustion chamber, not a fuel problem. Perhaps sitting
> allowed some oil to seep past a valve guide. I would price the
timing
> setting job and that would be a factor in deciding whether to
observe
> the smoke for a while before undertaking a fix.
>
> White smoke is caused by incomplete combustion, more commonly seen
in
> cold weather. Again I would want to see how persistent this
problem
> was before undertaking work.
>
> The crankcase vent vapor you observed is normal.
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
> wrote:
> > Hi all,
> > Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most)
all
> > was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess
that
> > some things still puzzle me.
> > I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
> > truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of
drive.
> > I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I
cycled
> > the light switch it would always pop out.
> > Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the
engine
> > it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this
normal?
> > There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent
after
> > the engine warms up.
> >
> > William C. (Chuck) Harrison
> > '90SP36 Akron, Ohio

[fred89sp]

The best I can do is suggest you e-mail or call Bennie at Bluebird and
if he cannot help, contact Veronica McDowell at ZF (847 478 6868) and
ask her to put you in touch with one of their technical people
familiar with Bluebirds.

Sure would like to find out the answer to this puzzle.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
wrote:
> Hi Fred,
> Thanks for the attention, but this phenomenon is repeatable.
> The button actually pops out and the trans. goes into neutral if
> I cycle the dash headlight switch (I don't drink and drive).
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "fred89sp"
> wrote:
> > I cannot argue with what you observed but am having difficulty
> > comprehending how the transmission selector switch could be caused
> to
> > do that. I have had the switch out of my 89SP and, as I recall,
> it is
> > strictly a mechanical device with electrical contacts. I do not see
> > how any electrical energy or lack thereof could cause the switch to
> > change selection. If you mean that the switch remained in drive
> but
> > the transmission went into neutral then you have a wiring problem
> that
> > I would ask ZF in Chicago for input.
> >
> > Hold off buying a new switch, as I recall they are over $400.
> >
> > Without disputing Fred Hulse's post, I associate blue smoke with
> oil
> > in the combustion chamber, not a fuel problem. Perhaps sitting
> > allowed some oil to seep past a valve guide. I would price the
> timing
> > setting job and that would be a factor in deciding whether to
> observe
> > the smoke for a while before undertaking a fix.
> >
> > White smoke is caused by incomplete combustion, more commonly seen
> in
> > cold weather. Again I would want to see how persistent this
> problem
> > was before undertaking work.
> >
> > The crankcase vent vapor you observed is normal.
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "williamcharrison"
> > wrote:
> > > Hi all,
> > > Just returned from an extended trip with my '90SP36 and (most)
> all
> > > was satisfactory. Though I learn new things each trip I confess
> that
> > > some things still puzzle me.
> > > I used the dash headlamp control to flash a passing
> > > truck that he was clear and the trans selector popped out of
> drive.
> > > I thought I had inadvertently touched it but confirmed that if I
> cycled
> > > the light switch it would always pop out.
> > > Also, we were stationary for 6 days and when I started the
> engine
> > > it blew blue oil smoke until the engine warmed up - is this
> normal?
> > > There is also a lot of vapor coming out of the crankcase vent
> after
> > > the engine warms up.
> > >
> > > William C. (Chuck) Harrison
> > > '90SP36 Akron, Ohio