PT40 inspection prelims

[Don Bradner]

I had a 90 PT40 (the one I've mentioned before in Phoenix) inspected today.
Won't get the photos until later tonight or maybe tomorrow, and the written
report a day or so later, but I have the highlights that I thought I would share
for comments.

Positive things:
Coach condition generally good, inside and out. Engine ran well, no sign of
leaks, belts and hoses look good.

Problem areas:
Bad propane leak. He said when he turned the gas on, he could both hear and
smell it. Of course the seller says they will take care of it, but???... As a
result, no testing of propane appliances has occurred. Refrigerator worked on
AC.

Batteries are shot. Had to get battery cart to start the coach, and the coach
set were so bad that he had trouble testing some of the things that only run
from the inverter. Seller says they will replace batteries. Generator started OK
(presumably separate battery - can someone tell me if that is the case in a 90?
- I know it was later). I'm told it has 6 Group 24s, 3 chassis, 3 coach. That
would be pretty marginal for me, I'm a pretty heavy power user for electronics.
Don't mind running the generator for the boondocking we do (primarily a month in
Q every year), but not if they run down in a hurry. Anybody out there who has
undertaken to add batteries to a coach like this?

Signs of water staining on walls at windows behind both front seats. Worrisome
for someone who spends a lot of time in Eureka California! Hard to test to tell
if anything has been repaired or not. On the plus side, we do have experience
with doing our own window removal and replacement, but I don't know if the Bird
windows would be different.

Some cracking of formica walls in bedroom. The inspector felt it was probably
not abnormal wear and tear.

A specific comment from the inspector: He said it had been awhile since he had
inspected a Bird, and he had to refer to the manual a few times to locate some
items. He said he's had quite a few jobs recently on "ordinary DPs," Winnies,
Monacos, etc. that are 2-4 years old. He said it was a real pleasure to do one
on a Bird where everything was so solid and well-built.


Don Bradner
http://www.arcatapet.net