[gary]

Actually my engine painting is a never ending process. It consists of a combination of things to do such as masking, some parts removal such as taking advantage of an oil filter change to get behind the filters, taking advantage of a coolant change to get some hoses off and out of the way, and pulling some stuff like the air intake pipes to get at places covered up.

In addition to masking some stuff I also use a stick taped to the paint brush to reach places too hard to get to other wise. Yes I said paint brush. The engine is a casting and has a rough surface anyway so if I leave brush strokes that’s OK. But I also use multiple colors and artists brushes to detail it. I use gray on the alternator and AC compressor. I use flat black on the bolt heads unless they were zinc or cad plated, and those I use silver.

I use a wire wheel to clean up some of the brass fittings, I clean the various hoses using Gunk or something similar.

If I can’t see it, or can’t reach it without major disassembly it doesn’t get painted. As Okie says there is probably 3 days involved in painting and detailing an engine, but after I get the big easy stuff done, I spend an hour here and an hour there doing spots I missed or spots I can get at because I have something apart. The job never ends because once you get the engine looking good then you have to do the chassis parts, all the brackets, the alternator, starter, AC comnpressor, plus the turbo and power steering pump need some attention. Those I just use a wire wheel.

Then you have to do the copper polishing, and finally you need a tiny brush to clean inbetween the fins on the radiator.

[gary]

All good advice. I will echo the awning comments. If you are not at the coach the awnings are to be retracted. Even if you are at the coach, if the wind starts to kick up, retract the awnings. Too many of us have had an expensive lesson when we failed to retract awnings.

Ladders, grilles, etc are purchases to make after you have given some thought to how you are going to store them for carrying. Typically you are going to need a tool box, chairs, some small tables, ladder, grille, cleaning supplies such as a bucket, towels or chamois, fluids such as soap, wax, wheel polish, etc., a set of steps or a platform, an entry mat, awning rods, etc. The ideal situation is to buy those items with consideration to how much room they take up.

You may consider a pair of bicycles and the space they take up more important than cleaning supplies for example. But no matter what you feel important to carry you need to select those things with consideration for the need to carry other items as well.

Before you buy anything look at other people’s coaches and see what they use and what they carry. That will also help you understand how to use the space you have available also.

[gary]

C’mon Chuck. You know Barbie likes Diane and Larry’s Vantare. Step up to the plate and go to a Series 60, slides, and 45 feet.

We’ll list yours for sale free PLUS I will offer next year’s PC membership free. What a deal. In fact if Tom agrees we can make it a policy to offer free coach for sale ads to any member who belongs to the TBC (Two Bus Club)

[gary]

Billy,

You cannot get the 12v coil & valves from Prevost, they only have 24v. You’ll have to get them from Liberty. I’m assuming your talking about the 5 port manifold in the steering bay. If Jeff in parts tells you to get them from Prevost, you’ll end up with 24v.

[gary]

I dropped in on Jeff Wed afternoon for a discussion about future service.

I can attest he was hard at work and needed the hour break I gave him. Nice looking coach.

[gary]

I have no experience with real wood flooring, and I do know however that for durability entertainer coaches use a synthetic material and it is glued in place. It was explained to me that gluing serves to eliminate issues with buckling and provides protection against spilled drinks which might be a common problem in entertainer coaches.

I like wood, but we have a man made material that looks like wood and nothing could be easier to clean. No scrapes, no dings when something is dropped on it and we have walked on it in street shoes (something we never did before) and it looks like it did when we bought the coach.

[gary]

David,

You are going to have A LOT of Prevost memories. Please keep the bad ones out and try to remember the few special moments when you were not getting something fixed, waiting to get something fixed or returning to Prevost to have them fix the correct thing. It usually takes Prevost at least 2 visits to get the fix right but you will still pay for the wrong fix and the right fix.

I’m not making this up, I now see this on a fairly regular basis and it’s just been detailed out in a recent post about overheating issues. It seems to have become the norm and you just have to accept that the techs aren’t tech’s any longer but just parts replacers who hope to get it right without the background to know if they are doing the right thing or not.

Unfortunately, this is not exclusive to Prevost. It seems to be a problem in the entire industry and you just have to hold tight onto your checkbook, supervise every thing everyone does, tell them when you thing they are mistaken and then, in the end, just hope you don’t get stranded in the desert.

[gary]

John,

My Corbin deadbolt key is L4 70 262523.

[gary]

You might be interested in having these valve stems installed;

Borg Valve Stems

The wheel has to be removed and the tire partially broke down since they are replacements for the existing valve stems.

Once installed it is easy to check tire pressures, even the inner dually. There is not flexing, wear, etc.

I know of about a dozen RV’ers that have been sucessfully using them for years, me included.

[gary]

Flexible….. As early as 5/1-5/4 as late as 5/15-5/18. Whatever suits the greater number.

[gary]

I have been reading about the ‘differences’ since last summer.

Outlaw is now Emerald Coach. Simply, they are an entry level converter. I never investigated this converter as I wanted a company that has been in business longer and a upper level coach was OK and is what we wanted.

Millennium. They put their generator radiator on the roof and they install Aqua-Hot for heating. They use four inverters and use Prevost and Valid slides.

Marathon. They put their generator radiator in the front of the coach behind the grill. They use two inverters and use Prevost and/or Valid slides. They use Webasto for heating. Marathon will probably do just about anything you want (adding more inverters, using Aqua-Hot). They lean towards AGM batteries and will put in Lithium if you want them. Marathon does not show a full bath at the rear of the coach in their 2014 plans but will build one if you prefer. They use four roof 15,000 btu units and have separate grey and black tanks. Uses a jake brake. Marathon does not put a navigation screen on the passenger side anymore as I had seen them in previous coaches. They do not install macerators.

Liberty. They put their generator radiator in a separate compartment mid way down the driver’s side. It has a grill at the bottom of that compartment for air flow. They pretty much use only Webasto for heating and only use Prevost Slides. If you go with four slides, they use four roof 13,500 btu units. They use one holding tank for black and grey (189 gal). Liberty puts a navigation screen on the passenger side for the co-pilot to see (they say it’s also a small TV). Macerator and heated floors standard. They use 4 inverters.

My investigating experience is that Liberty is the most expensive of all the converters. They are not as flexible on changes but to me, they have thought out everything so well, they know what works and what has worked for many, many years. Liberty only uses a retarder for engine braking. They also only use Lithium batteries. Their floor plan, to us, did not need any tweaking. They also do not use electric slide trays, manual only.

All of them (Marathon, Millennium and Liberty Coach) , use the Crestron system.

We really only focused on Marathon and Liberty. Liberty Coach really spoke to the ‘inner’ me.

MM.

[gary]

Tom,

That’s a nice H, but at that price I think it will be for sale a long time….

[gary]

Ron,

It is beautiful. How do they charge? Per color, per foot, per customer’s ability to pay… 🙂 Seriously, can you give us a rough idea of what a bus repaint costs at this shop?

[gary]

We spend the night at the Wal Mart in Alabaster, just south of Birmingham on I 65. Been there many times. Mexican resturant within walking distance and sells a pitcher of Margaritas for 12 bucks. Food is not too bad either.

[gary]

Tom Thanks sorry it is my miss understanding of your point. That is a great picture thanks for sharing it with the group.

It would be very interesting to uncoil the cooper and see how they build the coolant tank. I know one of the people at WOG did some work on his Aqua Hot. I will call Kurt Horvath who took apart his Aqua Hot to get more information. Will post again and maybe with some pics.