Removing the doghouse 84FC35

[Keith Strehle]

Thanks Eric, I'm sure I can get this done. I have all the tools and
most of the skill required. Or is it the other way around? My
biggest challenge is where I live. I live on a Cul-de-Sac and the
bus sticks out into the street when I pull into the driveway.
Neighbors are pretty tolerant but I don't want to push my luck....

Keith
San Diego
84FC35

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