Want to buy Bluebird

[Pete Masterson]

I had a 'shimmy' in the front end - and a pull to the right ... I
took my coach into Henderson's Line Up (in Grants Pass OR) and they
discovered that (1) the Blue Ox True Center unit installed by the
previous owner was bent and jammed. (2) The drag link needed a new
tie rod end. (3) The left front tire was ruined and (now) out-of-
round due to the wear caused by 1 and 2. I also had a shock mount
that was cracked.

I had the coach wheels aligned, the drag link was replaced (and a new
tire was installed), and a Safe-T-Plus unit was installed that
replaced the True Center unit. Both the True Center and Safe-T-Plus
have a dampener to help control steering and a "trim control" (dash
switch operated) to help relieve pressure on the steering due to road
crown, cross winds, etc. The shock mount was re-welded. The front
shocks, adjustable Koni's installed by the previous owner, were
tightened slightly.

(One might debate the addition of the Safe-T-Plus -- or the True
Center -- but it does seem to give a modest improvement to the
handling -- and the trim adjustment is a convenience that reduces
driver fatigue.)

The wear on the drag link didn't strike me as unreasonable on a
vehicle with 130,000 miles -- it might have been less likely if more
thorough preventative maintenance had been performed -- or not. The
components are large and heavy. But so is the vehicle. I've had front
end components on other vehicles (mostly automobiles) need attention
at similar (and less) distances -- one factor is the number of pot
holes, curbs hit, etc. that hammer on front end components. While one
vehicle might go 200,000 miles and not show appreciable wear, another
identical vehicle under more grueling conditions might show
significant wear after only 50,000 miles.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
aeonix1@...
On the road at Lockhart Texas



On Nov 23, 2007, at 7:51 PM, Kurt Horvath wrote:

> Marty,
>
> All I can say is yes. I have cracked tiles and some minor grout
> problems around the cabinets. I wanted to put in new tile with
> floor heating, but after reading some of the recent posts on the
> question I think I'll live with what I've got for a while. The guys
> at Parliment Coach told me eventually tiles will crack, due to the
> frame and body flexing while underway. It's a roll of the dice, I
> think the shorter coaches are more rigid in the frame and the body.
> While the tiles are cracked none of them are coming off the floor.
> I have dropped several heavy items on the tiles, never a problem
> with that. Knock on Wood!
>
> When I bought my coach she pulled hard to the left. I had to
> replace the airbags, shocks & weld upper shock mount left side, all
> the tie rod ends, and drag link ends, and new tires, and of course
> alignment. It had 130,000 miles on it at the time. As I recall some
> of the guys have had simular problems as I did on our year coaches
> 95 PT-42. I don't know if this pertains to your coach, Bluebird
> built the 42's chassie, I believe your BMC has a Spartan Mtn.
> Master chassie. Take her to reputable shop and have them check it
> out. No let me change that take her to several reputable shops,
> then make a decision on what needs to be done. If anything, other
> than standard service. Never hurts to shop around.
>
> Kurt Horvath
> 95 PT-42
> 10AC
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message ----
> From: martingregg598
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, November 23, 2007 6:33:58 PM
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Want to buy Bluebird
>
> Hi Kurt, any Ideas why the tile cracked like it did on your coach? Did
> the grout crack or the tile? On my coach no cracks, I have yet to drop
> something heavy on the tile. I have never been a big rig guy so I
> can't
> help but wonder when all those big front-end part ware out?
> Marty Gregg
> 95 BMC 37
> Kennewick WA
>
>
>
>
>
>
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