Somewhat perplexed, non-understanding

[Pete Masterson]

I think Ralph has a point -- but he might also be suffering from the effects of a previous owner's poor choices in "fixing" various problems.

For example, I found that my dual water pumps (for the house water system) were both leaking. After exploring the rebuild kits and considering the trouble of the R&R, I opted to remove the old system, simplify the plumbing around the pumps and install a variable speed pump. I've ended up with better water flow and an easier to maintain pump. (If/when it needs to be rebuilt, it will be easier to R&R and there's only one pump to deal with.) I hope my craftsmanship with the installation is of reasonable quality and that some future owner of my coach will be able to quickly see how it's put together, should future maintenance be required. 

I know that I've run across obviously "maintained" items that I find very puzzling. My 3-position exhaust brake, for example, has been modified to only offer a high and low setting. I can see that the relay for the 'medium' setting has been cut out of the system and the wires for medium have been switched over to the low relay. Since I'm now encountering some electrical gremlins in the exhaust brake control system, I imagine that the incomprehensible modification was done to "solve" or bypass an earlier problem. Since I'm now encountering difficult to troubleshoot problems in the same system, it's pretty obvious that the earlier modification didn't really fix the problem. Here, I'm with Ralph that this is a sign of some pretty poorly engineered/thought out repairs.

So, each of the coaches will have their own unique set of fixes and repairs made over the years. Some future owner may 'curse me' for the pump change out I made -- but the new variable speed pumps seemed like a good replacement for the previous (and very complex) dual pump installation. Only time will tell. 

Pete Masterson

'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42

El Sobrante CA

"aeonix1@mac.com"

On Mar 20, 2008, at 3:06 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

Good points made on both sides of this one.  Isn't it a little like 

restoring and old car?  Some want it original, some what the "looks" 

of the old car with all new stuff under the surface.  I think Ralph's 

position (at least as I see it is) know were you are starting from 

and were you are going to before you fire up the ole plasma cutter 

and start in on her. <snip>