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Always Learning
I do a full service on my coach every 5000 miles and that typically is 2 or 3 times a year. With the pit I can do a routine service which includes a full chassis lube, oil change, all filters changed, all air tanks drained and valves checked, plus all fluids checked including coolant, differential, power steering, etc. If I just wanted to get the job done quickly it is a 5 to 6 hour job. But I usually go beyond the routine and do a detailed inspection. Being a little lazy it is a good excuse to just putter around beneath the bus and tell myself I am checking it over. I look for anything loose, signs that hoses are rubbing against something, or evidence two pieces that are bolted together are not loose.
Because I do not always bring the steer tires off the floor my inspection of the front steering components consists of grabbing parts and seeing if I can shake them. But usually once a year or so I do have the steer axle wheels off the floor and I can do a detailed check of the ball joints and other parts of the steering system. This past week was one of those times. The wheels had no play up and down, but when I moved them back and forth side to side I had play in the drivers side tie rod. Not excessive or dangerous slop, but the movement was there and it should not have been. Prevost upgraded the tie rod ends so I was unable to just replace one end or even both ends, so the entire tie rod including ends was replace eliminating any slop in the entire steering mechanism.
That was the first time I ever had to replace any steering related component. I would not have found the problem until I saw excessive tire wear, or worse something came apart.
The lesson learned today is what has been a hit and miss way to check my coach’s mechanical condition as far as the suspension or driveline is to make it a formal part of my schedule. I don’t know how others who do maintenance do their own bus or how service providers do routine maintenance but I now realize if I had not been putting on shocks I might have missed the bad tie rod end(s). There are so many things to service and check that even after 24 years I am still finding better ways to do service on my coach.
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4 Replies
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I know this is beneath you since I own a CC but if you need to figure out a better way to service a coach, I will bring mine to TN and let you experiment on trying to find a better way and when found you can apply this new found knowledge to your Liberty !!!!!!!
OK
Since my CC mentor has left us I will try to take his place !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I have had two CC coaches over my pit. We aren’t fussy. My thinking is you bring it here and I will put it over the pit and supervise as you get your bib overalls greasy.
While banging the hell out of the tie rod ends to get the thing to drop out of the tapered holes I was looking around under my coach at all the potential fittings that could need replacement as the coach ages. Some of them I have no idea how to get enough swing to beat them apart. I would let you use my pit for almost no fee just so I could watch as you practiced taking your CC apart and putting it back together.
I would provide beverages.
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Godfather, why don’t you edit that to 5000 miles. Unless your doing 150k a year.
Later
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Done. Sharp eyes. Nothing gets by this crew.
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