[Davy]

I guess tools are friends that have Marathons no need for tools Liberty

[Davy]

When I bought my coach at 6 years of age and about 45000 miles, it would emit visible smoke from the breather tube at idle. I was told this was not unusual and it’s possible the rings were not yet properly seated due to it’s low mileage. Possibly BS but the smoke bothered me.

I installed a positive crankcase ventilation device designed to filter the air from the valve cover, separate the oil and return it to the oil pan and the cleaned air routed to the intake tract. As I installed it, the cleaned air is discharged to atmosphere but it’s still emitting less emissions than stock and I don’t see smoke. Engine uses about 1 gallon of oil/10,000 hard miles. Current mileage is about 240,000. The downside is that I am replacing the filter element with every oil change (10,000 mi) due to contamination and the element is about $100.

Can’t remember manufacturer/model # but if anyone is interested I can dig out my info……ding……Donaldson spiracle

[Davy]

Well, the engine is 21 years old with 185,000 miles. The blow-by at high load could be due to increased wear. But the engine does not consume oil between changes, there is no blue smoke on acceleration and when I open the oil filler at idle, there is no pulsing oil mist which would indicate a problem with a single cylinder. So, my take is the blow-by is within acceptable parameters. It is just more visible on these pre-EPA engines.

I understand there is a metal mesh in the valve cover to trap the oil before it gets to the slobber tube. I’ll have to take a look and see if I can clean that mesh without taking off the valve cover.

[Davy]

Another PC member and I were heading to south FL, and decided to overnight at an RV park in Wildwood FL. I made the reservation and the lady gave me specific instructions to get to the park. She said to take the LH turn lane on the 4 lane highway and turn left right into the RV park. It had just gotten dark so that did not help.

I got into the turn lane to turn left across the 2 opposite lanes and realized too late the entrance to the RV park was not across from the turn lane but was about 100 feet back down requiring me to make a 180 and not a 90 degree turn. Worse, directly blocking me from using every inch of the road plus the shoulder was a highway speed limit sign on the shoulder directly on my turn path. I was towing so I could not back up so until I got the toad unhooked and backed away from the coach the bus sat on and across two lanes of traffic. The cop arrived shortly, and was not happy, and his flashing lights caused the lookie-lookies in the opposite lanes to all but stop. Lifting the tag axle would have been a waste of time because when the nose of the bus was almost touching the speed limit sign it was just about in the middle of the windshield. Lifting the tag helps, but not that much.

Turns out the RV park lady was drunk and she never had a problem making the turn because she had a 34 foot Winnebago.

If I knew I had to make a 180 and not a 90 I would have made the turn from the fast lane giving me another 8 or 12 feet of turn radius and would have had no problem.

I have a 34 percent grade on my driveway and I have to raise and lower my coach at various points to prevent high centering and to get into the garage, plus I raise and lower the coach as necessary over my pit in the garage for various purposes and haven’t ever raised the tag. Remember, if you raise the tag for any purpose the rear of the bus will drop so you need to be absolutely sure if the rear drops it will not create an issue. Raising the tag means the rear is now only supported by the 4 drive axle air bags and not the total 6 air bags so it may not even come back to ride height depending on how your axles are loaded.

The above is in response to an email that would not work for a reply and the last paragraph addresses a statement about raising the tag axle when raising the front end.

[Davy]

thanks

[Davy]

Larry: I’m happy with the Blue Ox tow bars, both the original Blue Ox and the apparently new, updated, improved model (especially the nice dark brown color).

What puzzles me is the experience I had at Blue Ox in Lincoln. I felt like I was at the state fair and someone was trying to sell me hot tub or special orthotic inserts for my shoes.

But I don’t think that is a reflection on the quality of the Blue Ox products. I see Blue Ox tow bars on the hitches lots of Prevost coaches, many much, much newer than ours.

[Davy]

Thank you I must have finally done something right because everything started working. Now I’m concerned with bulk charging and if I can over charge when should they go to float. I’ve pushed every button and not knowing what I’m doing I’m afraid I may have inadvertently done something wrong. We are back on the road with generator running

[Davy]

Our previous 45 footer was a SOB with 600hp, preselect at 2nd gear. When the Jake brake kicked in it was like standing on the service brakes. I never ran with the Jake on and turned it on when needed, shifting back between the two activation settings (3 cylinder braking or 6 cylinder braking).

Our current XLII had the preselect set to 5th gear. I first thought the Jake was not functioning… then learned to manually down shift – all the time!

When my “new driver” began learning, I had the preselect set to 4th gear. Now I can leave the Jake on 80% of the time and even out West in the long downhill grades, manual downshifts to 3rd or 2nd are rarely needed.

Like all have said, the setting is very personal, related to how you drive and your experience. I don’t think there is a wrong way as long as it works for you.

[Davy]

I think he’s shooting for as many buses as planes he’s owned.

[Davy]

Once the up grade is installed no more special tool or ladder is needed way faster and easier

[Davy]

Check out this YouTube video, at time mark 2:10 that end of the tool is mentioned but be patient… at time mark 7:54 the tool is actually used.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxJzMggROe8

Linda

[Davy]

What some seem to be missing, is that with the Jake on, in the example of going down the hill, the engine is still under a load or making power if you prefer, just not a fuel made load / power. It still is making heat and compression, the valves are still opening and closing and there is still boost, and all the rotating parts are being used to try to slow or maintain the vehicle speed.

Seems like power being used to me.

[Davy]

Brake file won’t openwon’t

[Davy]

Chad, it will be interesting what you find as far as your tank situation on your coach. A brake release tanks sounds like you have DD3 brakes and a set up for accessory air completely different than later model coaches.

[Davy]

Sorry folks, the Seminar has been cancelled and refunds will be done today for those that signed up and paid. –