[Wayne]

Jon,

Thanks. I must be thinking along the same lines.

“Spend an evening with your computer to create a master maintenance schedule for your specific coach.”

I have been doing exactly that and going over the maintenence records to see what has been done recently enough to count. Like a power steering pump and filter replaced 3 years and 5500 miles ago is likely good enough.

“Oil changes are usually based on mileage.”

I’m having it changed at 5500 miles but the same 3 years. Thats old enough for me.

Coolant and transmission fluid changes are usually time based,

Coolant will be tested and changed if needed. It is probably time. Transmission is ok for now.

I do have the auto slake adjusters but I’ll get someone to give alla good look. I plan to have the differential changed as the coach has just under 100,000 total miles. I have no place to really work right now, but the good news I have a trackhoe in my yard and a new hog road to the new barn site. Timber will be cut this week. So maybe soon I can do more myself. For now I’m trying to get it ready for tailgating this fall.

If your aux air system leaks down I would at least try to locate the obvious leaks. If the bus leans after a while when parked I would pay particular attention to the air bags and related fittings and Norgren valves.

I think I got some useful information last night. I leveled the coach and let it sit for 12 hrs. System pressure loss was 70 psi or 5.6 psi/hr or 09 psi per minute. Leak is small. Driver front dropped 1/4 inch I’d say thats acceptable. Driver Rear did not move. Even better performance. Curb front dropped 3/8 inch, still not bad.

Curb rear dropped 1 full inch. I think I found something to focus on.

Thanks again.

[petar]

Gil,

The manuals for the inverter/chargers and remote panels are available online. FYI, if your inverter/chargers are labelled Heart, they are actually Xantrex units.

Yep they are the heart /Xantrex units and I have the manuals for those.

If you discover it’s time for new batteries, check with Tom first.

The jury is out the Batts at least until they are equalized. They are just short of 3 years old and are the Lifeline 8D AGM type. Tom as in a couple of posts above?? Tom??

Thanks

[Archived]

Joe,

You may think testing the anti freeze is all you need to do but trust me. Your coolant needs to be maintained exactly as called for with changes based on time depending on whether it is 2 year or six year for coolant that meets the EC-1 spec. For some reason the 2 stroke engines tend to plug radiators if the coolant is not changed per schedule and even then there is no guarantee you will not be recoring it.

The temps you reported are excellent so to keep things that way don’t overlook coolant changes.

I saw your remarks and some of the posts on the other site regarding the leveling (pneumatic) system. I would strongly suggest you take advantage of the articles here to help you understand your coach’s air system, with a special understanding of how the leveling system works before you decide the system works or needs attention. Your coach should not drop or lean and your primary and secondary brake system pressures should hold without loss for months. When I read of guys on the other site dealing with leaks by installing a hydraulic leveling system instead of correcting problems I wonder why they don’t spend far less money and time fixing what usually amounts to some leaky fittings and valve replacement.

The biggest problems I see owners reporting are related to the pneumatic systems. That is understandible. Every owner understands oil changes and grease jobs. but maintaining an air system seems to always get overlooked. At the very least all air tanks need to be drainied often, such as at every time the coach is lubed. The air dryer element needs to be changed any time there is evidence it is spitting oil for certain, and usually to a schedule that does not let it get to that point. If the coach auxiliary air compressor is run frequently its water trap or filter needs to be drained or service often. If there is a suspicion any moisture the air system, especially the suspension Norgren valves plan on either cleaning, rebuilding or replacing them. They will make solving air loss problems difficult if they are not leak free.

One very common ommission is failing to verify the protection valves on the coach air system are working. This can be done when draining moisture from air tanks and should be done.

If it is rubber it is going to crack, tear, break, dry out, or otherwise not work as intended. You can get away with ignoring aged air bags, brake chambers or Norgren valves just so long. If you are OK not changing them to a schedule just have a plan in place to deal with a failed air bag or brake chamber diaphragm. Sometimes the repair, tow or trailering charge exceeds the cost of just replacing them all when they reach a certain age.

[Jim]

Joe,

You probably already know the battery drill. Charge them fully until float and then unhook the cables. Your resting voltage should be around 12.8 +/-. Then load test to make sure they’re good. If you need batteries, just let me know.

[Archived]

On our Angola (which also didn’t come with converter manuals) There is a seperate breaker panel for the inverter power than shore/genset power. I.e. everything which goes through the inverters goes to one breakerbox, everything else to another and they are completely seperate systems. This is labeled as the “inverter group” and the “direct group”

There’s an ATS (Automatic Transfer Switch) which goes between the genset and the shore power. In our coach its in the bay next to the generator. It feeds the “direct group” In that “direct group” breaker box theres a set of breakers which feeds the rectifier input on the inverters. Thats how the shore power/genset gets into the “inverter group” .. This is also why there’s a power drop on the “direct group” when you switch on/off the generator to get to shore power. The genset has priority and will kick over the ATS when it fires up and stablizes (usually about 15-30 seconds)

You should be able read the labels on the breakers for each group to know what loads are on the inverters and which ones are direct only ..

[Archived]

Jon,

The temps you reported are excellent so to keep things that way don’t overlook coolant changes

Its next on the list. Oil had to go first and then coolant. That may be as early as this week. I took it to a local RV dealer for oil change (no barn yet to do my own work) and he had told me he could do it then changed his mind. So I’m looking for an alternate shop for the coolant change, differential gear oil change, bearing leakage check and air dryer change. I’ll get an assessment of the airbags and a look for the larger leaks.

take advantage of the articles here

Hector sent me the three PDF files this morning. I may wait until I have the new barn built to tackle this one as I want a safe place to work this issue sans reasonable sucess of the the above.

[Archived]

Wyle.e.kyote,

There is a seperate breaker panel for the inverter power than shore/genset power. I.e. everything which goes through the inverters goes to one breakerbox, everything else to another and they are completely seperate systems. This is labeled as the “inverter group” and the “direct group”

These are the type of “hints” that help a lot. I plan to go thru and list everything that is powered from each breaker on the BASS panel and will eventially get back to where those breakers are feed and I will understand this beast.

The preventative maintenance has my attention right now but I will work my way down my long list of understanding how this thing works.

Thanks

[Hector]

Tom,

Charge them fully until float and then unhook the cables. Your resting voltage should be around 12.8 +/-.

I need a power pole bad to float and equalize then see where I stand.

Thanks

[JIM]

Joe………in a word: “Generator”

[Patricia]

Jon,

in a word: “Generator”

Genny oil and filter changed less than 20 hrs ago. Oil lloks lightly used. I’ll check to see when the coolant was last changed. I assume it is a 2 year frequency also.

Joe

[Archived]

I suggested generator as a means of charging your batteries in the absense of shore power, not to suggest it needs service

[Archived]

Jon,

LOL I got it now.

Joe

[Archived]

That’s OK. With a new coach you have so many things floating around in your mind, adding more to contemplate doesn’t help.