[Dale]

Hish,

There are plenty of electrical connections in the steering bay for an ignition source. That would be the place to tie into the seat air solenoid. I picked one for my GPS and Presssure Pro that activates when I flip the master Prevost cutoff at the dash.

[Dale]

I also agree with Andre. I liked the format better than Branson which was a little too structured even into the evenings for my tastes. An extra day of general Q&A and social time appears to be about perfect. Less rain would have improved the socialing in the morning and evening but who is in cahnge of the weather.

[Dale]

I don’t know the year the retarder became available. It is part of the transmission

[Dale]

Everybody can balance their tires as necessary and in a manner that they feel is OK.

There is no one best method.

Weights will not do long term balancing. One sudden stop and it is likely the tire will slip on the rim. A Prevost owner had a new set balanced and installed and as an experiment ran a mark from the tire to the wheel. He then did a hard stop. The marks were no longer lined up after the stop. But even if that never happens keep in mind balancing with weights does not balance the entire rotating mass. It balances the tire and wheel but does not balance the hubs or brake discs or drums.

Pixie powder or balancing media works well because it does balance the entire rotating mass, including the brake drums and hubs. It needs the proper amount installed and it needs to have the screened valve cores that come with it installed. An owner using it has to use a very simple technique to avoid any issues with the material getting under the valve core seal. The tire pressure should be checked using the combination pressure gauge and air valve. Push the tire chuck on to the valve stem to read the pressure, and even if the pressure is perfect, before removing the chuck from the valve stem give the tire a short blast of air, which clears the valve core seat of any debris.

Centramatics work exactly like balancing media. The difference is the media is contained within a ring on the outside perimeter of the “discs” which mount behind or between the coach tires. If it was not for their costs everyone would be using this type of balancer. A tire balanced with a bag of loose media has a cost of about $12, and the same cost using Centramatics is about $75 or slightly more per tire. You would have to change or service tires about 6 times to justify the cost. And no one method is without it’s issues. I have had Centramatics fail, but the company stood behind them and replaced them at no cost to me.

I have used weights (never again), balancing media, and I now have Centramatics. I would be using pixie dust if the coach dod not come with Centramatics because of ease of use and cost.

Tiure repair methods are not affected by any of the methods of balancing.

[Dale]

Does Centramatics last beyond the life of the tires, or better put, what’s the life-span of Centamatics?

[Dale]

My friend Larry had a 1997 Vantari and my wife had just gotten into Saddlebred Horses,he told me to not waist my money and just go ahead and purchase a Prevost,so in 2006 I purchased a 2001 Marathon and in 2007 I purchased a 2005 Liberty then a year later I purchased a 2008 Liberty which I still have.I have only been in campgrounds in all 3 coaches a total of 3 nights,we do horse shows and vintage races which are 50-70 nights a year in the coach.I was not sure this would work but looking back the Ritz Camper is the best decision I made for our hobbies.

[Dale]

Dick,

I have owned the coach since July of 2012 so lets say 3 years. The previous owner had it for 10 years. I’m not sure how much it was used by the previous owner but I don’t beleive much in the last 2 years of his ownership. The coach had 96,000 miles on it when I bought it.

When I purchased it I asked the previous owner if he had changed brake chambers. Answer no. Air bags? answer no. I put those items in the price along with aged out tires. I got a reasonable maintenance history after reconstructing it from a file drawer of receipts. I did not get any usage history.

But as I’ve said in posts before, I bought it with the intent to get it back up to par before my retirement. I intentionally planned 3 years to zero it out. I’m on track with that plan. I immediately hit the fluids and filters, oil, coolant, fuel, differential, lube, air dryer desicant, genny oil, start batteries – all immediate needs. Followed last year by house batteries, brake chambers and flexible air lines, norgrens, steer and tag tires. In 2015 I’m back around to oil, fuel, tranny fluid and fliters, plus shocks and airbags. The last major item are the drive tires which are still in date (by michelin stds but not everyones).

That tag bag has not been blown out for the 3 years I’ve had the coach. I have been fighting the leans on that side for 3 years and did have the middle bag changed. But the coach would drop down over night not in a minute. The aux tank pressure gauge (I installed in 2013) cycled with the compressor so you can see the load and unload cycles. The last 2 times I drove the coach both 30 mile warm-up runs, It would lean immediately when stopping. It was leaning when I pulled in at Jeff’s. This was the only run where I noticed the aux gauge not always reaching 120psig. The compressr did not run the entire 335 miles but it sure looks like it ran a very high percentage. Since it cut off infrequently it made a lot of water.

I have only had the means (ramps and stands) to get under the coach myself since June 2014. I’m doing more of own work but the air bags and shocks were a bit much for me. I changed the oil and tranny fluid/filters and when I did the lube I found the hub seal leak. At the same time I drained the primary and secondary air tanks. No oil or water. I did not drain the wet tank. When Jeff did it was wet. Leason learned always drain all tanks. There was also an emulsion of oil/water in the base of the air dryer when Jeff changed the desicant. I know the tanks were dry 900 miles ago, I should have known they were dry 300 miles ago.

Having the ability to get under the coach is invaluable. But you still have to do everything you know to do – drain all tanks.

Was the 3 year plan a little too long – well that bag was “blown”.

[Dale]

I have a 2008 Legendary XL-II. It has been a good coach. It does NOT have bus air, so if that is on your list of things you have to have…move on to something else.

Mine has been very good as far as quality of the interior goes. It has many of the same things in use to this day…Crestron, Headhunter water pump and toilet, Trace 4000 watt inverters and the Kohler generator. I would say that most of the issues I have had were with the chassis more than the house side. I have roof airs, so I can not say how the basement air will work. Dave Rousey from Styleworks RV is available to help if you have questions..he used to work for Legendary. He also has wiring diagrams etc. if they are not in the coach. Also Jeff Rowe can do pretty much whatever you would need as well.

I have also had the Prevost delamination repair. No panel issues like before. I like the slides, but I have a newer version than the 2005 will have. Even so, I think that year would be ok.

You should drive it to see if you like it. I don’t think you have IFS, and the XL-II will. I think mine handles very well.

I think someone here at PC has a Coleman basement air unit for sale…they had one. Maybe they will resond as to how well it worked.

[Dale]

I actually replaced the switch AND TIMER with an automotive push botton starter switch, like from the 40’s. The toilet now flushes for as long or short the period of time that you hold the switch. I’ve found it very satisfactory.

[Dale]

Re: The different groups and their possible participation in any event..

There are many men in this organization far more financially successful than I would ever even pretend to be but having served on twenty-five corporate boards and over fifteen charitable board organizations…. I know one thing…..For any diversified project to succeed, the building of a consensus is essential and in general it is not that hard if all concerned feel they are truly a part of the process. Everybody reading this knows this to be true…. and I am certain many can add greatly to the thought.

With that said, what if five Prevost ownership groups were selected and representatives from each group asked to participate in a conference call with the objective of determining their group’s level of interest in a national PREVOST get together. To avoid any analysis of who is the primary sponsor of the event, an internal committee could be formed made up of PC representatives who are themselves, members of the individual groups to be invited… (one from Prevost Proud, POG, Texas Prevost, etc.) That committee, once informed as to the appropriate persons to be contacted, would extend the invitations to the representatives to be included in the call…..you would take it from there.

It is my feeling that a lot of the conversation regarding other organizations is overdone and I would be willing to work to solve any wounds that might continue to be hanging around that might initially surface…particularly with one group that is consistently mentioned… but, in reality, I do not expect them….We are all our own persons and I really don’t think many of us have the time to spend on past issues…. whatever they were…. and I believe with the exception of a couple of folks, everyone feels the same way….at least that is my position. If this idea takes root, the organizational “memebrship lines” will be crossed very quickly, from my view. I believe you have a great idea that will require a lot of work…. a lot of team work!

Further, it would be my thought that if the rally gets in gear, the sponsors will follow the potential business… they won’t have to be asked…

I hope my comments will be accepted in the spirit with which they are given…

Pres

[Dale]

Is it safe to assume all other circuits in the coach work?

If so start at the electric panel for 120V and start checking breakers and connections. I assume you tried to reset the GFCI?

[Dale]

1% to 4 % water added at every fill up. That would add up in a hurry I would think. Don’t drain any water out of my Racor Filter or haven’t since I bought Coach in 2011 and check it all the time. Use an additive PM Diesel Kleen but found a product that I used to use years ago on small 2 stroke detroits, 3-53’s and 4-53 engines that ran constantly for days at a time. and never had problem with injectors. Essential Lube by Hyrotext. This low sulfur fuel today scares me with these old engines. Figure you need something to lube upper.

[Dale]

8v92? Might have to call a heavy mobile mechanic. If you do make sure he’s seen a 2 stroke if that’s what you have. Keep us posted and let us know how you turn out. Did you put new batteries in today? That’s odd if there bad but could happen. In Texas wish I could help.

[Dale]

Well, in true Southern fashion, all the nice folks around me have been trying to help. Including the folks on the big H3-45s with the race decks on top. (They have 12 of those here!) The most popular theory is that the starter solenoid is jammed against the flywheel. They say I need to get a big sockets nd pulls handle and turn the engine over and it will break it loose and be fine. Sounds crazy, but I actually had that happen to me a couple of hears ago on another bus I had. Turned the engine over at the crank and then it started right up. Just as now, I had spent alli day trying to get it started, even to including buying four new start batteries and it still wouldn’t turn over.

So the question is, does anyone have those tools and live close to Atlanta Motor Speedway? Or can any of you local folks suggest someone to call? I appreciate any input.

BTW, my new batteries are from NAPA. But I don’t have a toad or any way to get around. If it is a bad battery, that’s where I’d like to take them.

[Dale]

Not that I’m aware of, unless you have access to some of the fancy equipment in the garage area of one of the racing teams. I pulled them out, loaded them in the back of our Sport Trac (at the time) and took them to a NAPA store that fortunately was about 5 miles away. If you take that route, make sure you take photos of the wiring connections and diagram them completely. Very easy to get things hooked up incorrectly, especially if you’re frustrated and your memory is shot (like mine!!).