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Another radiator leak!
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Might be a little late to the party, but will contribute. Just before we traded the previous bus (liberty), we had Jeff (Alan) replace our radiator with a new one. Researched the rebuild vs new economics, and without scientific analysis or algorithms, decided on the extra handful of Benjamins (400). Alan’s arms were the fork lift. I brought the new radiator to the shop and gave Jeff a copy of the invoice protected in a plastic slip cover. He put it in my file for future reference. If you call Jeff he can tell you where I bought it, how much it cost, and the date.
Since March starts tomorrow, we are moving from Tucson to Fort McDowell (Phoenix)for the month of March at Eagle View Rv Resort. Cubs spring training in Mesa. We found the rv parks in Mesa to be 1960’s vintage and a little too tight to navigate a 45. Email me if you need anything or want to play. We just spent February with Andre and Kathy Jeffries in Tucson. It was coincidental. Good luck Dick!
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Al: it’s green. NAPA. ETLC put it in over New Years.
Dan: Thanks for the tip!
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Dick, if you get a chance, put on your hiking shoes and visit Enchanted Rock, also the Nimitz Museum.
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Thanks Don: The leak became apparent at Fredericksburg when we were there for a few days. Two days at Nimitz Museum and we climbed Enchanted Rock. Going back while we’re in dry dock.
BTW … Nimitz/Pacific War Museum is outstanding. We’d spent five days at WWII Museum in New Orleans. Learned a ton at Nimitz.
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Dick, A break down away from home is of interest to all of us. Please keep us posted daily until your radiator repair is complete and you are back on the road. Darrell
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Radiator, CAC, etc removed today.
Apparently the fan clutch made contact with brace across the radiator, the fins were broken off, and the pieces were propelled in the radiator.
They also found what they think is a pin hole in lower part of the radiator (separate problem). They also found deterioration in the radiator fins in the other lower corner.
So today we ordered a new fan clutch hub, fan blade, gearbox belts, and fan belt from Prevost. The gear box is in California.
Tomorrow morning the radiator heads to the radiator shop in San Antonio for a new core.
Tomorrow I’ll try to figure out why the fan clutch hub made contact with the radiator strut.
Appreciate hearing from anyone with a previous experience.
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I cannot remember exactly how the fan clutch mount travel is limited beyond the 3 drive belts from the engine. Obviously as long as the belts are in one piece the fan and clutch cannot strike the radiator. But there needs to be a mechanical stop so that in the event of a belt failure the pivoting assembly travel is limited to prevent contact.
Look carefully for that mechanical stop, and if necessary adjust or modify it so there is no potential for the fan or clutch to hit the radiator. Keep in mind the fan, when engaged, is moving a huge amount of air so it is pulling very hard against the belts and if they should fail that force is literally going to pull the fan and clutch toward and possibly into the radiator. Metal flexes so insure there is ample space between the clutch, fan and radiator with the belts removed.
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Thanks Jon.
The service manager where I’m at has the same concerns. We’ll study that.
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Day #2
The parts arrived this morning overnight from Prevost in California. The radiator went to radiator shop in San Antonio this morning. Hoping to get feedback from rad shop on Wednesday.
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Dick,
Thanks for taking the time to keep us all apprised of your “journey”. We all benefit from the experiences of others and it gives us more insight when we are getting ready to set off on a trip.
Much appreciation,
Doug
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Dick I thought I was the only one that had this problem. After replacing 2 of the alum clutch hubs I have done this. I went with AX 73 belts They are about one inch shorter then th AX 74s. That being said I could not use the mini air bag. I made a mechanical tensioner instead. In my case the hub was hitting the cross brace on the radiator. Talked to several different people . All I got was never seen that before. Something is flexing some where. I have checked everything. Anyway here is a couple of pics.
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My bus does NOT have the cross brace. My bus is a 1995 chassis, S-5665, an XL 40 footer. I have the same engine as Dick and Craig, 470hp 12.7 Liter S60. The difference is their buses are 45 footers.
I guess the 45 footers have the cross brace, 40s don’t?
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Here is a picture of our metal strap that prevents the fan hub from contacting the radiator should the belts break.
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Mine too has the mechanical stop. I slipped my Dayco AX74 belts off, push the fan/gearbox towards the radiator and up against the stop, and I still have 1.25″ between the radiator and the fins of the fan.
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Right now, the plate at the end of the air bag is up against the safety bracket.
The Shop I’m at has big diesel pusher experience, but I might be their first Prevost. The shop manager wants to put a spacer in between the safety tab and the plate on air bag.
Your fan clutch looks just like mine.
With the air bag plate up against the safety tab, I’m concerned something is “broke” that is allowing the mechanism to move to the driver’s side.
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