[Fred F.]

Victor:

DirecTV all the way for us now. We have HD but not in-motion. A few years ago we had Dish with an in-motion on another coach. We liked to be able to turn it off when not travelling but had constant problems with Dish. Many phone calls. We had Direct in motion for 4 years on the coach we had before the Prevost and now have HD DirecTV in the Prevost but not in-motion. We’ve never had a problem with DirecTV. The 2 bus receivers are on our home account.

You should be walking the dog not watching TV anyway.

[Fred F.]

In 1994 they were not the wrong hoses.

[Fred F.]

It is very late after a very long day at Prevost Ft. Worth. I will try not to give color commentary or opinions tonight, but a basic run down of the facts.

I pulled the bus in the shop about 7:15 AM.

I cranked it up about 9:55 PM to check for air leaks and then take a test drive. After looking for air leaks and inspecting things after the test drive I pulled into a spot for the night at 11:00 PM.

Here are the things that were completed in 15++ hours.

Replaced one R-14 valve.

Replaced one R-12 valve.

Replaced the wheel seal and brake pads on driver’s side tag.

Replaced the wheel seal and brake pads on passenger’s side tag.

The calipers are taken off anyway so there was essentially no extra labor to change the pads while the seal was being replaced.

Installed a new “thingamahoochie” that fastens the tag chain on the driver’s side.

Three different guys worked on it from three different shifts. No one mentioned any difficulties or problems along the way and I was nearby in the lounge or sitting on the outside bench the whole day. If there was any problems they gave me no indication.

Davy

[Fred F.]

You are correct Jon with the PITA description. I have done the job on an H. Obviously the driver toll window. Someone told me it could be done by “feel” without much disassembly. BS. A considerable access problem for me involving removal of the driver chair just to effect removal of left dash panels without damage. Good luck.

[Fred F.]

I cut all the hoses to have new ends for the manifold I used. They are long enough.

What is holding the Tee is a metal “gripper” that resists moving the Tee out of there as long as the brass ring is not pushed in. But I wouldn’t bet removing the Tee and replacing it with the correct plug will cure the problem because the rubber O ring may have been damaged.

Have you tried hammering the Tee deeper to see if that temporarily slows the leak while you await a new manifold?

The ultimate solution is to change manifolds and fittings and use compression fittings plus shutoff valves.

[Fred F.]

Thanks, guys. I had one R14 or R12 replaced a couple of years ago in Houston. The rest of them are unchanged, I believe. I was there to have a leveling valved changed on one side and when I pulled out, the bus would not hold pressure. The replacement valve took care of it. That was before I had so much more replaced at Jeff’s.

Next, question. Is this something I should try to get into Ft. Worth next week (I have no idea if they can get me in and I am very pressed for time, but I know you make time for emergencies) or Jeff’s later in the year?

Oh, to be in Tennessee!

Davy

[Fred F.]

I have looked at a number of coaches and some pricing makes no sense, in either direction. There have been coaches whose price was influenced greatly by owners who had a strong emotional attachment, or owners who were upside down financially and the prices were high compared to what the market seemed willing to pay.

But I have seen coaches “given” away. Some coaches that appear to be priced well below the presumed market had strong odors, or significant signs of lack of care. A coach that shows well in photos can knock you over with the odor of tobacco smoke or animals. Surfaces that look good in photos can be scratched, cracked, soiled, worn ot torn.

I helped a couple that looked at two coaches that looked and sounded good based on photos and descriptions. Both were a disaster because of things that didn’t even show up in photos and weren’t revealed in conversations with the owners / sellers. A/Cs did not work, tires were 10 years old, a generator was leaking fuel or oil so bad it was dripping from the bay, a leather seat had a long rip in it. etc. Both had been scrubbed, degreased, and had loads of tire dressing and both were in dire need of expensive repairs.

I presume careful buyers will know what a coach is worth and dealers who are not emotionally attached to a coach tend to price coaches realistically.

[Fred F.]

I ran across this while trying to find something definitive regarding TES 295 spec fluids compared to motor oil or Dextron.

It is relatively short and appears to be specific to Foretravel coaches, but it is directly applicable to our coaches also. The service intervals really do tell the story because they are so much longer if Transynd or equivalent is used. There is a greater expense using the synthetic fluids, but if it prevents the loss of a transmission it is well worth the expense.

http://beamalarm.com/Documents/transynd-fluid-change-interval.html

[Fred F.]

There is no doubt Peter’s offer is ideal, and having immediate access to service is superb. In fact if you can get Peter to come along that is all you need because he can rebuild the average Prevost just from the parts he carries.

The mindset I bring to the table is everyone going should insure their coach is as up to snuff as possible so they feel they will not need service and that none will be available. I would be concerned knowing service is available is going to allow some folks to defer needed maintenance because they know someone has their backs.

[Fred F.]

FYI – The later 4th A/C is labeled Aux A/C, is not on the inverter circuit and does not have a heat pump.

[Fred F.]

Jon is correct on $$ spent on already converted factory coach. That’s where it ends. I do/did not have enough cash or was there financing avaiable for such a purchase. Idea world there would be. So slow infusion of cash was the only way I could afford a bus. If you have 50,000$ cash or can find some one to finance a 25yr old bus —Go for it! Other wise you/I have to do with what I have. Would at least go for a mid 90’s 60 series bus. 2 strokes mechanics are getting rare. I like 2000yr and older non egr engines. Just a alternative life style. Just a want a be factory coah owner /realistic not in my $$$$ ability. Bob PS you need to share a first name and general location as more info will be shared.

[Fred F.]

Christie’s bus may soon become available:

Christie

[Fred F.]

The delivery charge just doubled.

[Fred F.]

Out in Vegas yrs ago fueled my mci jumped in to pay came back found my dobie hanging on the arm of a man inside my bus. I pulled him out the door into the pumps and he took off running I gave my dobie a steak dinner that nite I now lock Prevost door with my new dobie girl inside Be careful out htere people

[Fred F.]

Jerry is correct…That relay is pulled wether towing or not. Geo.