dadstoy
Not a Newbie
Posts:43
Registered Users
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| 03/03/2008 11:00 PM |
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Hi All,
I spent the weekend at the MH with a
very long list of maintenance items to do. It hasn't been that fun
trying to find parts. The only Camping World (1.5 hrs away) in my area
doesn't seem to carry a lot in the store.
One of the first
tasks on my list was to fix the water leak at the toilet. I wasn't sure
if the leak was at the hose fitting or the valve on the toilet. I had a
hard time finding the hose fitting. No one seems to have the original
fittings that are in the MH. A local RV parts store had a different
type of fitting and he said they use them all the time and they work
great. I picked up the toilet valve at Camping World. The only label on
the toilet said "Traveler". The parts person was very helpful, but she
said I needed to give her the model name/number. This was kind of silly
since these values are very different from one another (size and
shape). She brought out two of them, one very large and different
looking and one like I had. I told her that I think I will just take
the one that looks just like the one in my hand! Only problem was that
this value was over $40.
I turned on the water and checked for
leaks. Of course, I now had another leak. This one at the fittings on
the accumulator tank. This would have ruined the weekend! There is a
valve in line, but it did not turn off the water. Well, I looked
through all the bins and boxes that my dad had and I found a shut off
valve that I could use. Ok, for the moment, no water leaks. I will have
to get the water tank plumbing hooked back up next time.
can only attach 3 pics so will continue in next post...
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dadstoy
Not a Newbie
Posts:43
Registered Users
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| 03/03/2008 11:14 PM |
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The water heater looks a little old, but it fired right up and it works just great. Finally I can wash dishes and take a shower. The heater duct piping have a lot of whole in it. I got some heavy duct tape and wrapped the sections of the duct that I could get to.
I was going to replace the stove top with a new Magic Chef 3 burner that Camping World sells. Camping World didn't have it in stock at the store. Does anyone have any recommendations for a stove top? Any one know if this Magic Chef is any good? The only thing I think I will miss with a new stove top is the cover that the original top has. The cover gives more counter top space when the stove is not in use. Also, if I change the stove, I have to deal with the gas line that comes to the front of the old stove but needs to hook into the rear of the new stove. I'm thinking of just using a flexible extension. I hope it works.
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dadstoy
Not a Newbie
Posts:43
Registered Users
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| 03/03/2008 11:19 PM |
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Next, I installed some new lights. I put two new sconces in the bedroom area. All the cabinet panels in the MH are actually metal. I still have to finish the installation. I have to cut the screws down and find those little nuts to put on the ends. I will also enclose the wires.
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dadstoy
Not a Newbie
Posts:43
Registered Users
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| 03/03/2008 11:30 PM |
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I wanted to spruce up the kitchen cabinets some so I installed drawer pulls. I also want to install a new counter top and a new sink and faucet.
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dadstoy
Not a Newbie
Posts:43
Registered Users
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| 03/03/2008 11:53 PM |
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I know the generator had always worked well, but I have tried a few times over the last couple of months to start it with no luck. I've read most of the posts about the gensets and figured a full tune up was in order. I've had a really difficult time getting tune up parts for it. The MH also has a different gen set then what I thought it did. I have the owner's and parts manuals for the 6.5 NH RV gen set. So I really ended up getting some of the wrong parts. The actual gen set is the 4.0 BFA series C.
I changed the air filter (both models use the 140-0495 air filter). I drained the oil. I was really black and thick. It took awhile for the oil to drain. I replaced the filter with the NH filter (122-0800), mine should use the 122-0645 filter. I believe the only difference is that the NH filter is 1 inch longer. There is plenty of room for the longer filter. I made a little mess when removing the filter being that it is mounted horizontally. I put in 3 quarts of new oil.
I could not find a fuel filter for the gen set. I did take the advice of many on this site and installed a clear inline filter so that I could see if the gen set was getting any gas. I was afraid that this might have been the problem. I also got a set of points/condenser. When I removed the cover to the points, the points looked fairly new. I got the points for the NH gen set any way and the part number for the BFA is different. I left the points alone. I didn't even have a spark plug socket to check the plugs (could find plugs for it either!).
Well, I thought I would give it a try! I pressed the start button at the gen set until gas filled the in line filter. Good! We were getting fuel. I cranked it over a few more times. It sputtered twice, belched out a puff of black smoke, then started right up! It took a minute to warm up and then purred like a kitten!
I bet the reason it didn't start is that it might have been low on oil. I learned about the low oil shutoff switch from this site!
While the gen set was running, I started the MH engine. I had it running for just a few minutes and it threw a fan belt. This is the problem that my dad had time and again. I see he didn't get the problem solved. This is the problem that I had my fingers crossed over for the drive down from Oregon. Well I don't have to move the MH for another two months so I don't need to get the belt back on for a little while.
I have no idea how I'm going to get the fan belt back on. I can't even see the belts. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Well, that's all for this time around!
Dean
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cajuncruiser
Newbie
Posts:6
Registered Users
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| 03/04/2008 1:36 PM |
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| Congrats on your headway! You are probably dead on about the low oil. I learned that little nuance with my gen. at home with no electricity for 6 days after hurricane Lilly. |
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Jim Elliott
Camper
Posts:64
Registered Users
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| 03/04/2008 6:05 PM |
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I have no idea how I'm going to get the fan belt back on. I can't even see the belts. Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated!
Well, that's all for this time around!
Dean
Dean, This is one way..............I dig the staples out of sides of that BIG shroud and remove the bolts at the top.
You will find the bottom half is only tucked in soooo after the top/bottom has been removed place them together and drill some 1/4 inch bolt holes (I drill 4) so you can reassemble the shroud easily.....
Now for the hard part, Once you can see every pulley (from the bottom up) a straight edge will be your best friend along with a "Thin string" with a weight attached to it..............
If the coach (motor) is level just drop the weighted string over EVERY pulley and check for center....Now everything starts from the engine/crank pulley for line up, Once you find the offending pulley/s the work begins.
Another item is the "Correct belt size" and I have NO idea what belt width you have....
Jim |
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Airstream345
Site Host
Classic Master
Posts:1333
Administrators
Louisville, KY
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| 03/04/2008 11:25 PM |
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| I agree completely with Jim on this. I bet you have a misaligned belt. Its hard to really "see" the belts so they can easily get installed on the wrong pulley. |
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Steven Webster
1986 Airstream Classic 345
Host, ThisOldRV.com |
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dadstoy
Not a Newbie
Posts:43
Registered Users
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| 03/31/2008 10:35 PM |
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I scraped, brushed, primed and painted the forward external storage locker. At the rate I'm moving on this, I should have the "large" one done by the end of the year! With the amount of rust (large flakes) in the bottom of these bins, I was really surprised that they have not rusted all the way through. I don't think I'm going to store anything heavy in them just in case. All winter long, the inside bottoms were full of water. They are not water tight in the least bit.
I painted with a truck bed paint. I was going to Zolatone the bottom and sort of think that I wish I did. Maybe I will try that on the next locker and see what I think.
Thanks
Dean
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COOPERHAWK
Moderator
Expert
Posts:843
Administrators
East Central Minnesota
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| 04/01/2008 10:14 AM |
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I have been redoing my storage bins as well. They are rather easy to remove by unbolting the four bolts that fasten them to the slides. Much easier to work on then. 
I also coated the bottom and sides with rubberized undercoating in a spray can. I did the battery compartment first and also replaced the slides at the same time. The weight of the batteries had worn out those slides. |
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1985 Airstream 345 Turbo-Diesel
VFW,Legion, NRA
FAA Air Traffic Control Supervisor (Retired)
http://www.cooperhawk.net
mailto:jimcooper@cooperhawk.net
"People are okay in ones and twos. After that number they tend to choose up sides and wear arm bands and berets." |
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