Sad Safety Reminder

[bumpersbird]

Here is a picture of my coach on the lift you mentioned.
Photo #37 in my photo album Bumpersbird.

http://autos.ph.groups.yahoo.com/group/W...os/view/70
06?b=37

I have a place for a pit. I just don't have the funds:{

Kurt Horvath
95 PT-42


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Pete Masterson
wrote:
>
> I believe the shocks where stopping the droop of the axles, so the
> stress wasn't on the air bags -- From what I could see, they were
not
> over-extended. This may not be true on older coaches -- but it
> appeared to be the case on my '95. Indeed, on some modestly
sloping
> camp sites, the leveling jacks will bring the wheels completely
off
> the ground, so BB must have engineered the suspension to allow for
that.
>
> CCW in Riverside does not have pits -- I'm told they're looking for
a
> new location (for the complete facility) as they've outgrown the
area
> they have, so they're not investing anything extra in the
facilities
> they have beyond basic necesities.
>
> When the wanted to do a full examination of the underside (and
wash
> the bottom of the engine, etc.) they used 6 "wheel jacks" -- huge
> hydraulic jacks that cradle each tire and raise up the coach
> (controlled by a computer that keeps them all moving together). It
> was an amazing thing to see. (I saw several busses raised up with
the
> things while I was there.)
>
> However, for some aspects of the service, the work was done next
to
> the "Blue Bird" section of the CCW facility. For example, the air
> dryer was removed (to be rebuilt) with the coach slightly raised
to
> let the technicians roll under the coach on creepers. I think the
> technicians would be very happy to have a service pit -- and
perhaps
> one will be made available in the future when CCW finds, builds,
and
> moves to a new facility.
>
> When I was at Henderson's Line-Up in Grants Pass Oregon -- seeing
how
> they worked on the coach from their pit made it very clear what an
> advantage it was. To tell the truth, I wish I had room for a pit
for
> the maintenance items I handle (but that's far from likely to ever
> happen).
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
>
>
> On Jun 9, 2008, at 5:28 PM, David Brady wrote:
>
> > This may not be true for all Wanderlodges, (I think it is), but
> > on my LXi the shocks will stop the drooping axles before the
> > air bags, thereby eliminating load on the air bags. I called Koni
> > and Justin assured me that each shock can handle 8500 lb of
> > dead load (tension) in this static configuration; consequently,
> > there's no risk of damaging a shock.
> >
> > David Brady
> > '02 LXi, NC
> >
> > bumpersbird wrote:
> >>
> >> Pete,
> >>
> >> I've seen some shops use the technique of using blocks under the
> >> jacks to get the wheels off the ground and to get the coach in
the
> >> air. I may be wrong but I think their is an issue of the air bags
> >> being strained beyond thier extension limits.
> >>
> >> Don't get me wrong I've had the wheels off the ground via the
jacks
> >> several times, but I don't like to do it and I think it could
easily
> >> damage the coach.
> >>
> >> I would suggest a pit or a lift for the safest way for working
under
> >> anything.
> >>
> >> Sometimes we take safty for granted, we think we know what what
were
> >> doing, most of us have spent a lot of time working on our
coaches and
> >> we know them intimatly. She can and will bite, if you don't mind
her.
> >> You just can't be too careful.
> >>
> >> Kurt Horvath
> >> 95 PT-42
> >> Fayetteville TN
> >>
> > <snip>
> >
>