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

[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
>
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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