Removing the doghouse 84FC35

[ac7880]

Since you have an 84, I am guessing you do indeed have the swing
radiator. Are your sure it is not a swing radiator?

Dan prior 83 Fc35
NM

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Strehle"
wrote:
>
> Unfortunately the folks I bought the bird from were not very
familiar
> with the maintenance schedule. It appears the Bird was maintained
on
> a regular schedule but was stored outside. It has a very new
> appearance on the inside but the outside has suffered a little.
Not
> much though. It was a "family" bus. Several brothers used the bus
> from time to time and none of them were real clear on what had been
> done. I had a friend and fellow bird owner, Robert Britton, check
it
> out for me. I drove it from San Jose to San diego 500+ miles with
no
> problems.
>
> This mobile mechanic was recommended by a local and well respected
RV
> shop in Escondido. But I agree and don't plan on letting him do
> anything except general maintenance. I like to do as much of the
> work as I can. Doghouse removal is one of the things I'll do
before
> having the valve adjustment done. Same with the hoses and belts.
> The air filter is just like yours and shouldn't be a problem.
>
> I plan to turn it into a "proven" coach by putting some miles and
> some usage on it.
>
> So tomorrow I'm getting the front tires replaced and then the
general
> maintenance stuff. Just trying to get a little peace of mind
before
> driving to Arizona in April.
>
> I guess I'll have to save the coolant change, belts and hoses for
> another weekend. I'll get the mobile mechanic to help me out.
I'll
> do the grunt work.
>
> Then I'll need to get the tranny serviced...
>
> It never ends does it? But it's been a lot of fun so far!
>
> Keith
> 84FC35
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"
> wrote:
> >
> > Keith,
> > If your air cleaner filter is mounted on the top of the engine
like
> mine is, there is
> > absolutely no reason to remove the doghouse to change it. It's a
> large, square, metal box
> > that sits right on top of the turbo intake. I recently changed
> mine out in 20-30 minutes.
> >
> > Bear in mind, there are various skill levels out there when it
> comes to mechanical help.
> > This guy may be able to "check" belts and hoses but I wouldn't
let
> him near the 3208
> > engine internals (I'm talking valve adjustments, etc) unless he
is
> a trained, experienced,
> > diesel mechanic. Many of the really qualified people don't like
to
> mess with motorhomes
> > and things like doghouse removal, so you will need to talk to
other
> Bird owners in your
> > area or conduct your own search to find someone that CAN do it
and
> WANTS to do it at
> > some reasonable cost. Hint...your local Caterpillar shop may do
> the job, on their terms,
> > but you will pay very dearly. My first valve adjustment/injector
> change cost $2,400 done
> > by Cat. This was after they estimated the cost at $800. They
> blamed it all on the time it
> > took to remove and replace the doghouse.
> >
> > There is no way to check condition, replace belts and retension
> your belts without
> > removing the radiator. Same goes for hoses. There are quite a
> number of hoses you can't
> > even really see from above or below the engine. I open up the
> front or our coach at least
> > annually to look things over. Check the file I posted in the
files
> section under "3208 Belts
> > FC" if you want more data on belts and tensioning.
> >
> > Changing oil/filters, air filter belts and hoses is a good place
to
> start. Do you know the
> > original owner so you can find out when and what maintenance
items
> he has done
> > recently? There is a real laundry list of other items, as I'm
sure
> you're aware, of other
> > things to look at. I can send you a maintenance spreadsheet I
use
> to keep track of stuff on
> > our coach if you're interested.
> >
> > Finding an 84FC with only 36,000 miles is quite a find. If it
was
> stored and maintained
> > well you are in luck. Low mileage is great from a cosmetic wear
> standpoint but these units
> > do best from a mechanical standpoint when they are used regularly.
> >
> > Regards, Eric in San Antonio
> > 84FC35SBWL2
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Strehle"
> wrote:
> > >
> > > I just bought the Bird and I'm trying to catch up on some of
the
> more
> > > immediate maintenance issues. Oil/filter change, fuel filter,
> air
> > > filter, check belts and hoses, lube the chasis, etc. The guy
> said he
> > > can do most of this in three hours. However, as it turns out,
> this
> > > Bird has 36,000 miles so it seems like a good time to adjust
the
> > > valves.
> > >
> > > But one thing at a time... I don't have a swing radiator. I'm
> just
> > > wondering if he can get at the air filter without removing the
> dog
> > > house. And is there any access to check/adjust the belts from
> the
> > > bottom?
> > >
> > > Keith
> > > 84FC35
> > >
> > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Eric Johnson"

> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > Keith,
> > > > You won't need to remove the doghouse to check the belts,
hoses
> and
> > > air filter but you
> > > > will need to open up the front of the coach which is much
> easier
> > > than removing the
> > > > doghouse. If you have a swing radiator, it will be a pretty
> short
> > > job to get to the front of
> > > > the engine. If you don't have a swing radiator (I don't) you
> will
> > > need to drain the radiator
> > > > and remove it. Takes about an hour when you're used to doing
> it.
> > > >
> > > > Removing the doghouse is required when you need to get into
the
> top
> > > of the engine to
> > > > adjust valves, replace injectors, etc. I posted a
Wanderlodge
> > > procedure for this in the Files
> > > > section of this forum. I just had an experienced BB mechanic
> pull
> > > the doghouse to do
> > > > some engine work. Took him 2 hours to get it out and 2 hours
> to
> > > put it back in. It's heavy
> > > > and cumbersome to work with in a fairly tight area. Avoid
this
> > > unless it's time to adjust
> > > > valves (every 40,000 miles per Caterpillar).
> > > >
> > > > Regards, Eric in San Antonio
> > > > 84FC35SBWL2
> > > >
> > > > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Keith Strehle"
> > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > I recently saw a post on removing the doghouse. I'm having
> some
> > > > > maintenance done tomorrow by a mobile mechanic and thought
it
> > > would be
> > > > > a good idea to be familiar with doghouse removal. He says
he
> will
> > > check
> > > > > all the belts , hoses, and air filter, etc. I think it
> > > says "dynapak"
> > > > > on the filter housing and I'm certain I'll need to remove
the
> > > doghouse
> > > > > to get at the belts, etc.
> > > > >
> > > > > Your help is appreciated, Keith
> > > > >
> > > > > 84FC35
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>