[Jay]

How many problems and accidents are self inflicted?

You cannot fix stupid.

[Jay]

Thanks Al, I did pull the large access cover off and found….nothing. What did I miss?

Ron

[Jay]

Hello, there are Freightliner truck shops in Redding CA and Medford OR that will work on Detroit Diesels. You may be able to find a mobile mechanic that can come to you. Have you taken a mirror and looked at the back side of the 90 fitting?

Mt Shasta is a beautiful place.

Milo

[Jay]

Everything looked good so we left this morning. We’re in Mt Shasta. We’ll need to tow it tomorrow. Hopefully somewhere in OR where we can fix it. But may have to wait til Monday cause AAA needs a destination.

[Jay]

Jay where are you at? I thought you were going to leave
Sunday.

Thanks, Milo

[Jay]

You might start here to see if Prevost can help……….

PASS representatives can be reached anytime by calling
1-800-463-7738 from anywhere in the US and Canada.

[Jay]

Thanks for everyone’s input, exactly what I was looking for. Based on it, think I’ll run the 315’s until my own experience convinces me I need to change. The challenge will be micro managing the acceptable pressure range of 125 for the weight but not over 130 per Michelin’s limit. Example: Leave Chicago at Christmas at, say 0 degrees, arrive Naples two days later at 50 degrees plus the heat generated by rolling resistance and I’m over 130. We have all the air pressure we need on board, so why doesn’t some entreprenurial type come up with a hummer inflation system adapted to our rigs? Barb would be an outstanding micro manager. 🙂

[Jay]

David, mines an 2002 XLII Parliament. Just changed the dryer filter today and it`s located in front of drives axle. Easy to get to, changed it in @ 15 mins.

[Jay]

I added pull cables to my Flxible. Sure beats getting dirty under the bus!

[Jay]

Jon,

Membership count in PC fuel program is based on fee charged of $250 per year by the program provider. If you fail to pay this fee your not in PC fuel program.

So lets pretend PC is a trucking company. With 500 members, 50% now are regular users in fuel program after years of membership gallons per month purchased can only go one way….up

Discounts probably were entry level when qualification was at low number of trucks (buses). So someone begin with a number, lets say 20 PC trucks buses in our fleet.

Now after several years trucks (buses) have increased in the PC fleet. Level of discount back to fleet owner or members increase on a monthly base as gallons sold increase or it should. There should be tier levels in place …

A) Keep PC members at the pumps

B) Reward each member (the group) with

increase cents per gallon discounts.

C) Are you a member ? Yes, if you paid

250 fee.

Some of us have been in the truck stop business and discounts increase to the fleet (PC) by amount of gallons purchased per month.

Actually the Federal case against Flying J pretty much spelled it all out to the world why truck stops fuel is always at higher posted prices.

So my question is ….Are we getting the bang for our buck based on average gallons by numbers as users has gone up ?

Thank you,

AL

[Jay]

My Centramatic is installed between the two drive wheels.

[Jay]

I spent a lot of years in the snow belt and I can assure anyone that spraying water on a coach or car that has been driven on the roads might flush off some of the dried salt and sand there is enough hanging on even after the most vigorous flushing to abrade the finish no matter what the next step is.

You can flush with running water and loosen with a soft towel, sponge, brush or anything you want, but the bottom line is whatever is stuck on the surface of the vehicle that has to be rubbed loose so it can be rinsed off is being rubbed on the surface of the finish.

Power washing drives it into the surface before it is flushed off. Sponges, soft towels and soft brushes also rub the grit across the surface. It is a fact of life and any surface treatment such as wax or any so called surface protectant is abraded along with it.

[Jay]

checked both Detroit and generator antifreeze for strength today, both are at – 45 c, so nothing more needed, the Detroit has had a recent radiator replacement so obviously antifreeze done at the same time.this coach was registered in Missoula MT so it has already seen some cooler temps. the main thing here in Alberta is to keep indoors out of the wind, the already cold temperatures with the wind chill is what does the damage, storage next year will not be an issue as we are progressing with quotes and start dates for a stand alone heated Bus Barn.

Electrician coming next week to upgrade the existing 30 amp plug in to 50 Amp, so should be able to maintain all required services, thats heaters in both the bays and the interior, i can select either 2 110 volt heaters or the infloor heat option, either i think will keep the interior well above 0 deg.

Going for inspection later this week so will have all air tanks drained to ensure no moisture present.

Spent a long time today looking and checking the water systems, the pumps and hot water heaters are on the N/s of the coach the Hot and cold water manifolds are directly opposite on the off side of the coach, with the hot water heaters drained and bypassed, the approx distance across the coach is now 8.5 to 9 feet, so when pumping antifreeze through both the hot and cold manifolds the furthest forward distance to the kitchen sink is approx 4 feet from manifold, towards the rear of the coach is the shower unit this is almost directly above the manifolds, so i am now not surprised that 2.5 US gallons will in fact fill the water lines. This however brings me back to my earlier question and lack of understanding as to previous posts have indicated owners using up to 13 US gallons to winterize, where has all the pink stuff gone ?

i have today poured approx another 2 gallons down all drains to flush P traps, removed and drained fresh water tank filter, rinsed dishwasher and washing machine, cycled water through the insta hot lines, any further use of antifreeze is only going into the grey or black tank.

The Webasto system is connected into the main engine cooling system and is therefore protected by the antifreeze as previously checked, i guess the proof of all of this will be apparant next year when filling with water for thef first trip out in 2019 !

[Jay]

As a follow up to my earlier post, this is by way of an update and a request for Further information.

In my first post here I requested info regarding a 40 foot coach, and AC units etc, time has moved on and after viewing 5 coaches I have purchased a 1995 Marathon 45, # 326, previously owned by Chris and Myrna Crawford , maybe some of you are familiar with the coach ?

I received good advice here from several members who responded to my requests, the main issue I took on board was the advice to consider a 45 foot and that is what I have eventually gone with, the advice is now very clear and the additional space is appreciated.

The other issue I have read a great deal about and researched when looking for a coach was the AC systems, this coach has OTR and I have to say I do really like it, along with 3 cruise airs, the webasto system, 110 volt heaters in Salon and bathroom and in floor heat I feel I am well looked after for either heat or cold.

The coach was being sold by a family friend of Chris and Myrna in Oregon near to Eugene, we spent 4 days in and around the coach, and then 4 days driving back to Canada, it ran without fault, (Thanks to Jon and his check lists) I visited marathon where the coach had update work completed in recent years, spoke to maintenance guys there who all vouched for the coach.

Again reading info available on this site I started looking for a coach with a budget in mind, this coach fitted the budget, available maintenance history is sketchy due to the circumstances surrounding the sale due to the passing of Chris the previous owner, some documentation is not readily available but is being followed up and yet may turn up. Major items replaced in the last 2 years include all tires, all batteries, all air bags, equalizer, TV,s, Water heaters,

The coach does have some items that need attention, and were identified during inspection mainly electrical issues with washer / dryer, and I cannot get the front of the coach to air down, all other functions work normally, so all in all very happy with the coach.

Today I have begun winterising in preparation for an Alberta winter we regulary see temps down to -35 Celcius, coach will for this year be in a unheated barn, plugged into 30 amp shore power, so far I have drained fresh water tank, drained and flushed black / grey tank, drained both water heaters, removed one water pump,drained all low points as available and hooked the remaining water pump up to cold and hot supply lines and have antifreeze into all Hot / Cold taps toilet and shower, not yet flushed with antifreeze are washer and dishwasher.

So far I have pumped in approx. 3 us gallons, on this site I have read of owners using up to 13 gallons to winterize, what am I MISSING ??

Would appreciate any advice re winterising this unit. And would like to Thank all who have helped me in the purchase of # 326

Thanks

Gordon

[Jay]

Thanks, Jon. And thank you for the articles posted here, particularly the one about listening to your coach. There’s a lot to absorb there so I’ll be reading it a lot. And we will definitely zero out the maintenance when we get it up here.