Sad Safety Reminder

[PM7088@...]

PIts are wonderful to work in. They are also a huge liability as falling into
one can be lethal. Building codes in many areas do not allow them.

Pete


-------------- Original message ----------------------
From: Pete Masterson
> 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>
> >
>