Breaking-in the new 77FC on Thanksgiving

[Brent Swartzentruber]

Gardner & Bob - thanks for the valuable information.

I like the floor jack method except for the balancing part because I
don't have a nice smooth level surface to work over. I did use my
floor jack to unweight the slide to help pull it out.
Maybe some minor mods to the floor jack to attach it to the gen
support would help with balance or possibly a platform like Gardners.

I am definitely going to replace the tires. I just wanted a better
understanding of the failure mechanism as tires age.

Yes LaPaz is in Baja Sur (south). It's about 800 miles south of the
boarder in California. Drive slow, don't drive at night and pay
attention - words to live by in Baja.
Brent
Ventura,CA
77FC31

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "one_dusty_hoot"
wrote:
>
> Brent,
> The original 6.5KW Onan sits on a plate with about
> a 6" lip on the front side. Secured in place with
> 6-1/2" stud bolts, 3 each side.
>
> I use a floor jack finding Center of Gravity, lower
> and drag it anywhere, set it down on 2 concrete blocks
> either end to work on it.
>
> Carbon should be removed from cylinder heads every
> 500 hours. Here you cannot buy just the head gasket
> anymore, have to buy the whole kit, about $140 +/-?
> You can't get the manifold heated choke anymore. Use
> a choke cable and manual choke. Check the generator
> brushes when you have it out.
>
> LaPaz Baja is in Mexico, right? You have the testicles
> of a brass monkey if you think you can make it there
> and back without problems. If you are taking anyone
> along that you care about, you would be changing out
> those 8 year old tires. You will not get ANYONE on this
> forum to agree with you that they will be fine for the
> trip. You have 27,000# in your hands, precaution is the
> word of the day.
>
> Bob Janes, Greenville, SC
> '87FC35 "Traveller"
> '77FC31 "Ruffin it EZ"
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Brent Swartzentruber"
> <swartzentruber1@> wrote:
> >
> > Thanks for the info Bob. If this gen slide-out is an after-
market
> > add-on then it's a poor excuse for one or a bad installation.
> > Has anyone installed or reinstalled one of these. Any pictures?
> >
> > If the original gen compartment didn't have a slide-out, how was
> the
> > gen accessed? Does anyone have pictures of their original no
slide?
> > I have an Onan Marquis 7KW and I'm considering a better way to
> mount
> > it. Some of the original mounting brackets have been cut-off,
so
> new
> > vertical supports will need to be welded to the frame.
> >
> > The tires are 8 years old but show no signs of cracking. Do
they
> > deteriorate on the inside? I do intend to replace them before
our
> > first big trip in four weeks - La Paz, Baja.
> >
> >
> > Brent
> > Ventura, CA
> > 77FC31
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "one_dusty_hoot"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Brent, The '77 FC31 did not have a slide-out, what
> > > you have is an after market add-on.
> > >
> > > Tach is attached to front of engine, could be DC gen.
> > > The coupling could be broken as well.
> > >
> > > Valve to circulate water may be off, manual valve.
> > >
> > > Age on tires says that would be priority item.
> > >
> > > Tire size larger than std could affect the speedo or
> > > it may just be off.
> > >
> > > Tapping a starter to get the last out of it is a
> > > sign the brushes are worn out and the armature is dirty.
> > >
> > > You'll Love the Adventure,
> > > Welcome, and happy trails in your new to you bird.
> > >
> > > Bob Janes, '87FC35, Greenville, SC
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Brent
Swartzentruber"
> > > <swartzentruber1@> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > We are really excited about our new Wanderlodge. I got our
new
> > > 1977
> > > > FC31 home last Saturday from Eugene, OR. The 900 mile drive
> home
> > > > was mostly a pleasure, though my ears where ringing after
12.5
> > > > hours. I averaged 10 mpg - mostly 60-63 mph. (I think I
can
> do
> > > > better with practice).
> > > >
> > > > here are some pictures of the new rig, my wife Hillary, and
her
> > > > sister at the beach near Ventura, CA where we spent
> Thanksgiving
> > > > (bbq'd the turkey)
> > > > http://www.pbase.com/bajaroad/wanderlodge
> > > >
> > > > I must admit the purchase was a stressful process. The
> generator
> > > > wasn't as new as suggested, the engine heaters don't work,
the
> > > > instrument panel lights are mostly out, the tach doesn't
work,
> > the
> > > > speedo is off by about 5%, the front tires are about 8yrs
old,
> > the
> > > > storage compartment pans are rusting badly, and the previous
> > owner
> > > > didn't know the ins & outs of the rig's systems.
> > > > The interior, the body & paint, brakes, engine, and trans
all
> > seem
> > > > in good shape and well maintained.
> > > >
> > > > The generator worked fine after I got home. In fact I used
it
> to
> > > > power my saw to trim a low hanging tree. But later in the
week
> > it
> > > > wasn't cranking over. I could here the starter clicking
when I
> > > > toggled the switch, but no crank. I removed the starter
this
> > > > morning and it is definitely shot. One of the permanent
> magnets
> > is
> > > > broken, but I'm not sure if I did that while initially
> persuading
> > > > the starter to work with a few light taps with a wrench. So
I
> > will
> > > > replace the starter and see if that was the problem.
> > > > ? Anyone have experience with an Onan non-OEM replacement
> starter.
> > > >
> > > > The issue I am most determined to remedy, but fear could get
> > > > expensive, is the generator slide-mount. Whoever installed
the
> > > Onan
> > > > did a hack job and didn't maintain the same level of
mechanical
> > > > structure. I had to use a come-along to pull it out. The
Onan
> > > > doesn't require as much overhead clearance, so I would like
to
> > > raise
> > > > the whole system while I'm at it.
> > > > ? Has anyone had experience with these slide supports
> > > >
> > > > Brent
> > > > 77FC31
> > > > Ventura, CA
> > > >
> > >
> >
>