A New Member to the Family!

[Andy Coleman]

Hello Jay,

Thank you for your post. My "new" 83 bird does not downshift until it
hits 1,700 RPM. I should probably adjust that somehow.

You are right - I noticed that once I dropped below 2,000 or so, I
lost most of my power. I could not recover until the hill ended.

I did manually downshift quite a bit on my trip home.

On one hill, I was going so slow in 3rd, I actually had to downshift
into 2nd.

Is 2nd bad for the trans? Also, since the 647 Allison does not lock
the torque converter until 3rd gear, was I slipping the transmission
and making matters evern worse?

On the bigger hills, it seemed as though all the factors compounded
themselves into a speed so slow I could have jumped out and ran faster!

I have much work to do, and much to learn!

Andy

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jay Darst"
wrote:
>
> learn to manually downshift early so that you maintain 2,300 or more
> RPM on FC's and 1,750 RPM on DD's. Keeps the engine making a lot of
> boost, thus more HP.
>
> Jay Darst
> 85PT40
> Springfield, IL after a 1,802 mile run(roundtrip) to Maxton, NC to
> THE funnest Bird group rally EVER!
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman"
> <sforman@> wrote:
> >
> > Andy,
> >
> > I have an 82 FC with your same engine, and while it is certainly
> not
> > quick, it performs much better than what you have described. Mine
> > will cruise comfortably 60-65 mph. Grades will slow it down, no
> > doubt about it, but I've never had one drop me below 50. Now,
> > granted, I have never crossed mountains, but it doesn't sound like
> > you did, either. Sounds like there may be a power reduction
> problem
> > your mechanic will need to find. Does the engine smoke under
> load?
> > Check your air cleaner element, too, I changed a severely clogged
> one
> > out last year and there was a noticable change in performance.
> >
> > Also, keep in mind that there is a bit of driving technique
> required
> > when driving these busses through hills, have to run hard downhill
> to
> > build up momentum to make it back up.
> >
> > Scott Forman
> > 82 FC35RB
> > Memphis
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Andy Coleman"
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > Hello Everyone,
> > >
> > > Proud to say that I've just officially joined the Wanderlodge
> > Family.
> > > I'm now the owner of a 1983 FC-35 with a 225 HP turbo 3208.
> Bought
> > > it Sunday. Drove it 500 miles from Malta, Ohio to my home in
> > Central NJ.
> > >
> > > I wonder what the neighbors think about the new, brown addition
> to
> > my
> > > backyard!
> > >
> > > Bought the bus from a family that did not use it much. Only a
> few
> > > thousand miles of driving over the past 3.5 years.
> > >
> > > The power steering pump leaked fluid all the way home. Had to
> re-
> > fill
> > > several times.
> > >
> > > The worst problem I had, however, was speed. I averaged under
> 50
> > MPH
> > > through the 500 mile journey. Some of the Pennsylvania hills on
> > Route
> > > 70 & 76 slowed my coach down to 25 MPH in the right lane with the
> > > emergency flashers on. Any upward elevation change, even slight
> > ones,
> > > slowed my coach down into the low 50s. It was the long climbs
> that
> > > choked it. And the only excess weight in the bus was my
> girlfriend,
> > > tool box and 100 gallons of gas!
> > >
> > > A good friend of mine is a diesel mechanic. He is going to take
> a
> > > look at the bus for me shortly. I told him about this great
> forum,
> > > and he recommended that I ask experienced folks like yourself if
> > this
> > > performance is normal, or an indication of a problem.
> > >
> > > I realize that they are heavy buses, but are they really that
> slow?
> > > Even with the turbo? Creeping along in the right lane is
> dangerous!
> > >
> > > My friend and I are going to change the fuel and air filters,
> adjust
> > > the valve lash, replace the belts. Anybody else have
> suggestions?
> > > They will be greatly appreciated!
> > >
> > > Andy Coleman
> > > Wanderlodge Virgin No More!
> > > 83 FC - 35.
> > > Spring Lake Heights, NJ
> > >
> >
>