M380, air locks, tranny, differential, filters and bay doors

[ronmarabito2002]

One nice thing about figuring it out yourself: You won't forget it
anytime soon.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "scoggins_jim"
<scoggins.j@a...> wrote:
> The new coach has a little over 6000 miles on it.
>
> Yesterday I changed the transmission fluid over to Transynd—the
> synthetic fluid recommended by Allison. Any fluid can be used that
> meets TES 295 specs. In that much original fluid remains in the
torque
> converter, one must change it again after 50000 miles. Then it is
good
> for 150000 miles. However, I will use the heavy service parameters
of
> 25000 and 75000 miles coupled with a filter change every two years.
> See http://www.allisontransmissions.com
>
> Switched the differential fluid to 75W90 synthetic. Will do it
again
> in a year as some old fluid remained in the bearing hubs. When
> switching to synthetic there is always the danger of the wheel
seals
> leaking even though Arvin Meritor says the seals are compatible
with
> conventional and synthetic fluid. Would really like to have a
> temperature gauge for the differential.
>
> All my 86PT friends know that I am a slow learner but now I need to
> demonstrate it to my M380 friends.
>
> We all know one cannot deploy the slide with the street side bays
> open—that is clearly stated in the owner's manual. They don't talk
> about some other things that can happen:
>
> The front door has an air lock activated by a switch on the
console.
> This is in addition to the mechanical door locks. If it is left
off,
> the air lock engages and disengages above and below 3 miles an
hour.
> It clicks and hisses on an off frequently if one is driving around
> slowly: Aggravating. If one engages the air lock, it does not click
> back and forth: It stays on. I had engaged this switch a week ago
or
> had accidentally switched it on. Yesterday morning, preparing to go
> have fluids changed, I started the engine and went outside, closed
the
> door, and started a walk a round. Came back to get in—door is
> locked—the air lock happens to be at top of door and it is clear
the
> conventional mechanical locks were not engaged. There I am standing
> outside, engine running, door locked. Even if I had a key it would
not
> help. Went to back of coach and turned off engine with the rear
> compartment switch. It was evident that air pressure had to be
> depleted. Depleted the coach air by plugging into the tire fill air
> outlet and exhausting all the air. The door would now open. JEEZ!
>
> Got to the garage. Getting ready to change the filters in the
tranny.
> There are short and long filters in for the 3000MH Allison
> transmission. I had called bird and Allison. Both said I would need
> the short filters. So that's what I had purchased a week earlier.
We
> get the old ones out and they are the long ones.
>
> $%%^^&^^$@%!@!)(*^&^! Had Dragon Lady come get me and drove to
> Ashland, VA and back to get the different filters. When I bought
the
> original filters the clerk behind the counter tried to protect me
from
> myself. He asked if I was sure the tranny took the short filters.
My
> reply: Allison and Bluebird say it uses the short. Tricked again.
>
> By the way, the two Allison "Gold" filters are called that for a
> reason. They cost 83.00. They are high pressure wire mesh filters.
The
> filter kit also includes the gasket and "o" rings that are needed.
>
> At the garage, after changing the tranny fluid we could not get the
> engine started using the switch up front. Wanted to take it for a
ride
> and be sure the tranny level fluid was adjusted correctly. As the
> engine bay door was up (we had filled the transmission through the
> filler pipe) we tried starting the engine from the rear switch. It
> worked fine. What's going on? Mechanic hooked the computer to it—no
> bum tranny or engine codes. So there we are scratching our heads.
Me
> and all the yard birds: Opie, Festus, Clyde, and Gomer. Not a clue
> among us. We call the shop foreman. He takes one look and
says, "Close
> the engine bay door." Yep, there is a safety interlock to prohibit
> starting the engine from the front with the engine bay door open.
>
> To recap:
>
> Beware the air lock.
>
> Closing the engine bay door makes starting the coach a lot easier
>
> The 3000MH transmission uses the long filters
>
> I'm sure everyone knew this stuff but me and you guys were just
> letting me figure it out on my own.
>
> Regards,
> Jim Scoggins
> 04 M380
> Stafford, VA