Removing the doghouse 84FC35

[Eric Johnson]

Keith,
I have an 84FC without a swing radiator either so don't feel lonesome on this
issue.
Pulling the radiator is a pretty simple proposition once you've done it and know
what to
expect. Here is how it goes:
1. Get under the coach and close the three block valves that isolate the engine
cooling
from the coach heating loops.
2. Disconnect the electrical wires that run to the driving lights in the
bumper.
3. Put a floor jack or other means of support under your front bumper and
remove the
four large bolts holding it in place.
4. Take the bumper and set it aside.
5. Open the door in the front of the coach and remove the radiator cap. Open
the
radiator drain cock and drain the coolant to a suitable container(s). I use 3
five gallon
plastic gas cans. Total liquid capacity is 12-15 gallons.
6. Remove the hexhead rivnuts holding the middle steel panel in place. I use a
cordless
drill to get these out expeditiously. You will also find a couple of phillips
screws hiding
behind the black vinyl trim strip that need to be removed to get the panel
removed.
7. Open up the doghouse hatch in the coach and remove the hose clamps on the
large
and small hoses you see on the top radiator tank. Unhook the temperature sensor
wire
from the tank.
8. Remove the hose clamps on the radiator hose at the bottom of the radiator.
9. You will find that, with the assistance of a floor jack or other lifting
device, you can tilt
the radiator forward and that will allow you to do a lot of work on the front of
the engine
without completely removing the radiator.
10. If you choose to completely remove the radiator, you will have to
disconnect the
transmission cooling hoses from the bottom of the radiator. When I do this, I
use rubber
stoppers to plug the hoses so I don't lose a lot of transmission fluid. You
will have to
drain the transmission fluid remaining in the radiator but that isn't a
significant volume.

When you're done. Reverse the above. Like I said, takes about an hour each
way. Good
luck with your new to you coach. BB's are a great way to travel and live.

Regards, Eric in San Antonio
84FC35SBWL2

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