Removing the doghouse 84FC35

[Keith Strehle]

Yep, very sure. I may install one later but right now I just want to
attend to the immediate maintenance issues. Seems like pulling the
radiator is not too much trouble? I need to change the coolant
anyway.

Speaking of coolant --- I've heard mention of coolant conditioners
and checking the pH level? Do you know about that? Some have said
it may be in the form of a filter?

Thanks, Keith
84FC35


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "ac7880"
wrote:
>
> 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
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>