[Bernie]

Thanks for the feedback , I am waiting for my Ford dealer to respond to see if any changes were made to the transmission /transfer case. The information that i have so far gives the sense that towing on a 2015 even with the transfer in neutral should be done on a limited basis.

Do you have any issues with battery drain due to the key left in position to keep the steering lock free?

Thanks again

[Bernie]

Hi Jon, I’ve been reading your posts for a few months now and realize you have considerable knowledge with these buses. Yes you are correct as to the usage of the bus, I’m guessing at our usage from past usage with other RV’s, and for the most part we will have shore power and if not, we will would not be shy about using the generator. I’ve been reading our Marathon manual and it states that we should have 6 8D batteries, but upon looking in our battery bay, it will only hold 4 batteries. Being new to the Prevost I am wandering if you could, say watch tv, run some lights and run the heat at night if needed, without having to run the generator. Thanks Jon for your insight.

Mark

[Bernie]

Like Jerry, we prime the engine of the #90 Heilig-Meyers Ford at the beginning of the day, but we heat the old to 180 degrees first. I use Joe Gibbs Racing Oil which is synthetic. My engine builder and the Joe Gibbs engineers have told me the oil needs to be “up to temp” before it really starts to work in a high stress racing engine application, probably doesn’t apply to our Detroit Diesels. In spite of all that prep, when I start the engine I never switch the ignition on until the starter has turned the engine over enough to give me oil pressure.

We used the same procedure with a Twin Beech 18 on floats that had a pair Pratt & Whitney R-985s … never switch the ignition on until we had oil pressure. Never bring the power up until the oil temp comes up.

I had the race car at the engine builder once for some valve train work. After heating the oil I was priming the oil with the cordless drill. The engine guy, Joe Rhyne reached into the car, pulled the trans out of gear, flipped the master on, and hit the starter to turn the engine over. He did this a number of times while I primed the engine with oil. He explained that if you don’t turn the engine over while priming that all of the oil passages don’t get opened up and exposed to the flow of oil. Made sense to me.

So the engine above that can be primed, I would surmise that without spinning the engine during the prime it isn’t getting the full benefit of the prime.

Now with these computerized engines in the Prevosts, I wonder why they aren’t programmed so the computer knows how long its been since being shut off, can determine if the engine needs to be primed or not, and if it needs to be primed with oil the computer allows the engine to spin with the starter until there is oil pressure (indicating the engine is primed), and then allows the engine to start. Too much wear and tear on the starter? Or are we worrying about that problem that doesn’t exist. Interesting question for Detroit Diesel.

[Bernie]

Had the same issue leaving OK city rally this fall. 365 steers(date 2012) rotated to tags Apr ’14 after careful inspection. 5000mi later same damge as Grizz on the LR. Repl at Prevo Dallas and repl the other one at Jeff’s a short time later. Can only speculate as to cause, but will not rotate any longer. Geo.

[Bernie]

Amen !

[Bernie]

Dawn, I would be very worried about damage to the coach without a connecting point for the flagpole near the top. The ladder attachment for 25′ flagpole worked great on a plastic coach I had, but without the upper ladder attachment point, the pole would have been hitting the back of the coach with even a gentle breeze. They are very flexible. Your pipe insulation idea sounds good, but better would be to combine that with an anchor to the coach at least 3/4 of the way up. I just bought a big portable bathtub/shower grab handle that attaches with special suction cups for that purpose. (Walgreens) It is supposed to hold the weight of a human so should be ok to secure a flagpole. The instalation and de-install via step ladder might be a PIA however.

Ours has a solar powered beacon on top. Some of the whips I’ve seen are battery powered. If those aren’t options you can likely get the power you need from the outlet in the engine compartment that powers the engine block heater. It’s switched at that dash for convenience. Unplug the block heater and secure the cord in case you forget to plug it back in before driving. Use a 12 volt transformer if necessary.

I recommend against the liquid pole erection methods mentioned above until you are safely back at the bus.

[Bernie]

I have a camp locator pole after two drinks it stands straight up LoL!!! Trina thinks its funny , I still get lost

[Bernie]

I think Jon a seminar about air systems and other things is in order for people to understand all the things to keep track off , or service . What do u think?

[Bernie]

Ronald,Did you check the inlet size to the pump?

[Bernie]

Eric:

Love the train whistle

[Bernie]

Peter,

Did you check them for leaks and how did they do?

[Bernie]

From the front take cover off

[Bernie]

Looks like the best Jon , outstanding job have fun with it

[Bernie]

Rick,

I assume you have a Headhunter toilet and if so, you’ll need 50 psi for it work properly. Don’t remember the GPM. If you don’t have a Headhunter toilet, there are other pump options.

Did you guys notice Jon’s unpolished copper pipes…

[Bernie]

Peter, Mr Emerson got that right, Life is a journey, to be enjoyed every step of the way, as the song says you may never pass this way again!, Gary