units sways excessively

[putneyflash]

i have a 83 fc-35, not having owned a BB before, it appears to be
unstable to me, a litle top heavy perhaps, how do i know if the air
ride is functioning properly? unit has 80,000 miles,when should shocks
be replaced.
also if anyone can help me with the cruse conrtol please let me know.i
havn't found the vacuum pump as of yet.
thanks for all the good information on this forum

re brake 1983 fc-35

[erniecarpet@...]

re brake- my thoughts were the same as yours when we purchased our first
bird- 84-35FC. I was not use to the coach being so heavy as we had owned a
various selection of plastic palaces before. If the shocks are Koni's on the
front, they are adjustable. Lots of folks are away from the forum for the
holidays, so an answer might be slow in coming to your cruise question.
ernie-83pt40- no cruise


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

[Ralph L. Fullenwider]

Good morning:

The sway may be caused by the bolts on the sway bar over the rear axle
being loose. If your front and rear air gauges are at 120 psi and your
suspension dump switch is not dumped then your air bags should be up. If
you take a walk around the Coach when aired up and listen at each wheel for
an air leak and find none, this I would say that your suspension is up.
Also with the air up, your Coach should not be leaning from side to side
and you should be able to put your hand on edge, over the wheels.

I may have a vacuum pump on my shelf for the cruise. Have a photo of your's?

Safe travels,

Ralph and Charolette Fullenwider
Ralph's RV Solutions, Duncan, Oklahoma
http://home.swbell.net/rlf47/index.htm

At 03:54 AM 12/28/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>i have a 83 fc-35, not having owned a BB before, it appears to be
>unstable to me, a litle top heavy perhaps, how do i know if the air
>ride is functioning properly? unit has 80,000 miles,when should shocks
>be replaced.
>also if anyone can help me with the cruse conrtol please let me know.i
>havn't found the vacuum pump as of yet.
>thanks for all the good information on this forum
>
>re brake 1983 fc-35
>
>

[Jeff Miller]

On On the sway, it might be the coach, it might be you if you're not
used to it yet and overcorrecting. It takes a while for input to get to
the wheels and back to you, steer less and see what happens. Many
people find it easier to learn using the armrest and steering with one
hand.

If it is a stability issue, many possibilities:

You should have LRH / 16PR tires, inflation pressures are in the
transfer-switch door on the way up your stairs.

The original Koni shocks might be worn, might be replaced with non-
Konis (look for the Koni orange paint), or the original shocks might
need to be adjusted firmer. Shock bushings can also be worn.

The Panhard-Bar connecting the rear axle to the frame might need new
bushings, or the bolt at either end could be broken causing the axle to
be loose. I've seen a couple broken loose, not bad preventative
maintenance to replace the bolts.

The steering box bolts can be loose on the frame.

The steering box might have excessive play.

The steering "drag link" might have excessive play and need adjustment.

I can't remember ride-height on the '83 FC, but I believe it is around
19-1/2" to the ground from the body behind the front wheels and ahead
of the rear wheels. Someone will likely have the correct information if
this is not correct. Too high or too low will cause ride issues.

As far as the cruise-control, if you have the vacuum-cruise as
most '83s have (control on the turn-signal stalk) it should have an
aspirator / vacuum generator just behind the step-hole on the driver's
side of the front bumper. It should hiss / expel air as it creates
vacuum.

- Jeff Miller
in Holland, MI


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "putneyflash"
wrote:
>
> i have a 83 fc-35, not having owned a BB before, it appears to be
> unstable to me, a litle top heavy perhaps, how do i know if the air
> ride is functioning properly? unit has 80,000 miles,when should
shocks
> be replaced.
> also if anyone can help me with the cruse conrtol please let me
know.i
> havn't found the vacuum pump as of yet.
> thanks for all the good information on this forum
>
> re brake 1983 fc-35
>

[Richard Hayden]

We just went the same thing with our '81FC31. Spent around $4K and finally
found it to be the "dig Bones" both front and back. Those are the
stabilizer bars that hold the body in place with the frame. This is a very
long and expensive story that I won't go into now. So save yourself a lot
of time and expense by either checking or having them checked first thing.
The bushings were gone and were metal to metal. If you need to know the
whole story let me know. But, try this first and save yourself a lot of
money aned hastle.

Dick Hayden '87PT38 - Lk Stevens, WA - in Yuma now


>From: "putneyflash" >Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] units sways excessively
>Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 03:54:20 -0000
>
>
>
>
>
>i have a 83 fc-35, not having owned a BB before, it appears to be
>
>unstable to me, a litle top heavy perhaps, how do i know if the air
>
>ride is functioning properly? unit has 80,000 miles,when should shocks
>
>be replaced.
>
>also if anyone can help me with the cruse conrtol please let me know.i
>
>havn't found the vacuum pump as of yet.
>
>thanks for all the good information on this forum
>
>
>
>re brake 1983 fc-35
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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[John]

Dick,

I'm assuming by the term "dig bones", that you probably meant Dog
Bones and that you are referring to what is commonly known as the
Panhard Rod. Jeff Miller refered to this in his post and I have taken
a previous post by Jeff and added it to photos and drawings to show
just what is involved in the repair and or, replacement of the
Panhard Rod assembly. I have found this to be a very common problem
on the older 'Birds and it did greatly effect the handling of
my 'Bird. Check out;

http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/40441402

Be sure to click on "NEXT" at the right of each picture to see more
information.

"REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001"
John Finn
'82 35FCRB
BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE
TO VISIT THE "FINN'S INN EXPRESS" REMODELING ADVENTURE
GO TO;
http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457
'66 SUPERIOR / IH 392 GAS V8 32' PUSHER "FOR SALE"
SEE THE OLD COACH AT:
http://www.pbase.com/image/26052733
HOPKINS, SOUTH CAROLINA

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Hayden"
wrote:
>
> We just went the same thing with our '81FC31. Spent around $4K and
finally
> found it to be the "dig Bones" both front and back. Those are the
> stabilizer bars that hold the body in place with the frame. This
is a very
> long and expensive story that I won't go into now. So save
yourself a lot
> of time and expense by either checking or having them checked first
thing.
> The bushings were gone and were metal to metal. If you need to
know the
> whole story let me know. But, try this first and save yourself a
lot of
> money aned hastle.
>
> Dick Hayden '87PT38 - Lk Stevens, WA - in Yuma now
>
>
> >From: "putneyflash" > >Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] units sways excessively
> >Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 03:54:20 -0000
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >i have a 83 fc-35, not having owned a BB before, it appears to be
> >
> >unstable to me, a litle top heavy perhaps, how do i know if the air
> >
> >ride is functioning properly? unit has 80,000 miles,when should
shocks
> >
> >be replaced.
> >
> >also if anyone can help me with the cruse conrtol please let me
know.i
> >
> >havn't found the vacuum pump as of yet.
> >
> >thanks for all the good information on this forum
> >
> >
> >
> >re brake 1983 fc-35
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > SPONSORED LINKS
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Recreational vehicles
> >
> >
> > Wanderlodge
> >
> >
> > Automotive maintenance
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Recreational vehicle dealer
> >
> >
> > Used recreational vehicles
> >
> >
> > Automotive radiators
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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> >
> >
> > Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web.
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> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
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> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service.
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> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

[Richard Hayden]

Yes I did mean "dog bones" - sorry. I was typing in the dark last night on a
new computer. I later saw all of the good advice offered by others. Much more
detailed than my short note. I got the advice and the "dog bone" term from BB
Customer Service. But, it is indeed what Jeff says. Good luck.

Dick Hayden - '87 PT 38 - Yuma
----- Original Message -----
From: John
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2005 3:11 AM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: units sways excessively


Dick,

I'm assuming by the term "dig bones", that you probably meant Dog
Bones and that you are referring to what is commonly known as the
Panhard Rod. Jeff Miller refered to this in his post and I have taken
a previous post by Jeff and added it to photos and drawings to show
just what is involved in the repair and or, replacement of the
Panhard Rod assembly. I have found this to be a very common problem
on the older 'Birds and it did greatly effect the handling of
my 'Bird. Check out;


http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/image/40441402<http://www.pbase.com/iamflagman/i\
mage/40441402>

Be sure to click on "NEXT" at the right of each picture to see more
information.

"REMEMBER SEPTEMBER 11, 2001"
John Finn
'82 35FCRB
BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE
TO VISIT THE "FINN'S INN EXPRESS" REMODELING ADVENTURE
GO TO;
http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457<http://www.pbase.com/image/24977457>
'66 SUPERIOR / IH 392 GAS V8 32' PUSHER "FOR SALE"
SEE THE OLD COACH AT:
http://www.pbase.com/image/26052733<http://www.pbase.com/image/26052733>
HOPKINS, SOUTH CAROLINA

///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Richard Hayden"
wrote:
>
> We just went the same thing with our '81FC31. Spent around $4K and
finally
> found it to be the "dig Bones" both front and back. Those are the
> stabilizer bars that hold the body in place with the frame. This
is a very
> long and expensive story that I won't go into now. So save
yourself a lot
> of time and expense by either checking or having them checked first
thing.
> The bushings were gone and were metal to metal. If you need to
know the
> whole story let me know. But, try this first and save yourself a
lot of
> money aned hastle.
>
> Dick Hayden '87PT38 - Lk Stevens, WA - in Yuma now
>
>
> >From: "putneyflash" > >Reply-To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> >Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] units sways excessively
> >Date: Wed, 28 Dec 2005 03:54:20 -0000
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >i have a 83 fc-35, not having owned a BB before, it appears to be
> >
> >unstable to me, a litle top heavy perhaps, how do i know if the air
> >
> >ride is functioning properly? unit has 80,000 miles,when should
shocks
> >
> >be replaced.
> >
> >also if anyone can help me with the cruse conrtol please let me
know.i
> >
> >havn't found the vacuum pump as of yet.
> >
> >thanks for all the good information on this forum
> >
> >
> >
> >re brake 1983 fc-35
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > SPONSORED LINKS
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Recreational vehicles
> >
> >
> > Wanderlodge
> >
> >
> > Automotive maintenance
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Recreational vehicle dealer
> >
> >
> > Used recreational vehicles
> >
> >
> > Automotive radiators
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > YAHOO! GROUPS LINKS
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Visit your group "WanderlodgeForum" on the web.
> >
> > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
> > WanderlodgeForum-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> >
> > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of
Service.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>






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