Sad Safety Reminder

[Stephen Birtles]

the other problem with a pit it is considered a confined space for
industrial purposes
look that little beauty up along with confined space entry gas testing
and a whole myriad of other regulations

Stephen 77fc35
dupreeproducts.com



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Dorn Hetzel"
wrote:
>
> Well, I was going to put a fence around it and size it to fit the
bird with
> entrance steps at one end. Probably only make it 4 or 5 feet deep
and run a
> drain to a downhill location so it won't hold water. Thinking about
> building a "bird house" over the pit later and just having the pit
> underneath the birds normal parking spot
>
> On Tue, Jun 10, 2008 at 9:01 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > I think you are entirely correct about the pits. I use a quick
> > change oil place to have the oil in my cars changed. They have a pit
> > which you drive over. It's situated in a garage with a garage door in
> > front of and in back of the pit (drive thru). I noticed it was their
> > practice to have the customer drive into (and therefore over) the pit
> > and then exit the car to wait in the waiting room while the oil was
> > changed. The problem being that with an average length or short car
> > the customer if he walked around the back of his car as would be your
> > typical path to get to the waiting room he was exposed to the very
> > real chance of falling into the pit. I saw this situation and told
> > the owner he was absolutely NUTS to operate this way. I don't know
> > if it was my effort or not but I noticed the next time I was thru
> > there they had covered the back part of the pit so that a person
> > would have to go under the car in order to hit the pit. It would
> > worry me a lot to have a pit on my property. If it wasn't covered it
> > would fill with water and what ever. I guess for some it's a good
> > option but for the average guy I think you are better off farming out
> > the work that requires a pit to do the work. Lets face the reality
> > of this stuff. If you can afford to own and fuel one of these things
> > cash can't be that tight to risk your life. I think some of our
> > problems are (well I know they are) that we don't want to admit to
> > our limitations and especially as we age. Age can bring experience
> > and good judgment but it also can bring a stubborn attitude that "I
> > can still do this".
> > John Heckman
> > central Pa
> > 1973 FC
> >
> >
> > >
> > > 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>
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> >
> >
>