steering box

[bubblerboy64]

Thanks Greg and Chet. I printed out your helpful replies and will
pass them along to the shop for their reading pleasure. Chet, I
certainly know from where you are coming. It is my intention to do
the best I can and to live with the rest. I spoke to another former
FC owner (now has a PT) and he stated that the factory says about 10
years it's time to replace springs. He also reported that when he did
that it helped with keeping her going straight on uneven pavement.
So I believe I am going to do it if the $'s aren't too bad. I've got
this coach quiet, and running well. It deserves what I can do within
reason to make it drive as close to new as is practical. Actually
the handling was never the main issue, it was ride quality. But if
replacing the springs helps both ride and control that would be even
better. Greg, thanks for the heads up on the power steering. I don't
think it does get worse as I drive but I will pay attention to that
as well.
John Heckman
central Pa
1973 FC
>
> John,
>
> I have been looking into improving my steering also. While seeing
that all
> is tight I have been told by Blue Bird that the steering box (Ross
HF654)
> used on my coach was referred to as a dump truck steering box and
that play
> is normal and very little could be done to improve it. One Ross
> representative told me that a HFB64 box was much better and some of
the
> people at Blue Bird indicated this was the box used on later model
FCs to
> improve the steering. Blue Bird told me that they did change a few
coaches
> to this new box and about 40 hours of labor a well as some
modification were
> required. That is when I decided to live with what I had.
>
> Chet Geist
> 1981 FC33, Austin, Texas
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of bubblerboy64
> Sent: Sunday, August 24, 2008 3:11 AM
> To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Steering box
>
>
> My bus is in the shop as we speak sorting our suspension and
handling
> issues. The fellows have told me that they have things in pretty
> good order but are concerned about some "free travel" which they
have
> traced to the steering box. Now here is the issue. This steering
box
> was a rebuilt box which the previous owner replaced about 20K
miles
> ago. (The previous owner said this greatly improved the handling.)
> The guys are telling me that my options are to live with this free
> travel or get another remanufactured steering box. My concern is
> that I might get another only to find its no better then the one I
> have now. My fellows are also not really familiar with BB's and I
> wonder if they are expection the impossible with this old FC? Any
> suggestions or tricks which I might pass on to the shop. They did
> say there was some type of adjustment that they were going to try
to
> make but it was "tricky" if they went just a little too far then
the
> steering would potentially have a tight spot or a hitch in it.( I
may
> not have that exactly right as to their discription but you likely
> get the point. They said what they were going to adjust but that
> didn't stick in the ole knoggin) The shop works on RV's and heavy
> equipment and is very well respected. They don't see a lot of
BB'ds
> so if there is any thing I can pass along they are more then
willing
> for my information.
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 FC
>