We recently purchased this little gem (maybe?) and plan to get it next month. It is in AZ and we are in KY. So, our first trip will be a long one on I40. Is there anything I should have checked before the journey? We are having belts and hoses changed. Tires and brakes are good, but steering seems a bit loose. Actual mileage is 75,000.

Any comments will be appreciated, Roy

Belts and hoses are a good idea. I like NAPA hoses and Gates belts. Be sure the lower hose has a spring inside.

How much was the coach driven recently?

How old are the tires?

Are the sidewalls cracked?

Do the sidewalls feel wavy to the fingers?

Top off the differential.

How old are the plug wires?

Does the front susp have air bags? Do they hold air?

Since the steering feels loose, have it checked by a mech, preferably a front end shop. It could be OK to drive, or could be something that needs immediate attention.

Replace the brake fluid.

Check the vacuum hoses for brittleness.

Pour some carb cleaner in the tank.

New radiator cap.

New wiper blades in case of rain on the way home.

These are off the top of my head, and may not be complete. Perhaps others will add, or I will think of more.

Check the rubber fuel line by the fuel pump for brittleness or mushiness.

Same for the tranny cooler hoses if it has one.

Replace the inline fuel filter inside the right frame rail and the itty bitty one in the carb inlet.

Thanks Bill, I will print this out and use it for my checklist. Roy

If the coach has two fuel tanks I'd make sure to check the fuel lines like Bill H says. I also have a 22 foot that set around for a long time and the rubber was brittle and had a crack in it causing the fuel pump to suck air instead of fuel. My transfer valve leaked and I put an electric transfer valve. That solved a lot of problems. I'd listen to the alternator to see if you are able to hear any strange noises coming from the bearings. I would use a volt meter to check the voltage at the battery and make sure the alternator is getting the correct voltage to the batteries. It's amazing what fun you can have with an old rig. This comes from the voice of having been there done that. Dennis

dennis...what kind of voltage should the alt be providing to the battery? My gas gauge says full all the time..do you know how i would check that out? thanks..roy

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"The Hawk"
Celebrating 40 yrs of being a professional musician!!

1977 454 p30 21'

Roy I think that you should be getting around 12.5 volts when the engine is not running and around 14 volts with the engine running.. If you have an isolator you should be getting around 14.5 from the alternator and a little less through the diodes. Check both the coach battery and the starting battery to make sure that both systems are being charged. The gas guage problem might be a bad sender.

thanks dennis..i am getting around 15 volts from my alternator. I guess i can trace the fuel gauge wires to the gas tanks and find the sensor. Do i check it with an ohm/volt meter? Roy

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"The Hawk"
Celebrating 40 yrs of being a professional musician!!

1977 454 p30 21'

I'm not sure on how you check. Maybe Bill H has some itdeas. Good luck. Dennis

Easy way:

Turn on the headlights and rev the engine. Watch the headlights get brighter and watch the voltmeter in the instrument cluster go up.

Harder way:

Put a good digital meter on the battery and watch the voltage climb as the engine is revved with headlights on. A cold alternator will show a little above 14 volts, and will drop to above 13 as it warms up. This is also dependant on battery condition. A low battery will cause a lower voltage reading as it draws the voltage down. If you have an isolator there will be a .7 volt drop through it.

If the battery is getting 15 volts for any length of time, it will be overcharged. Once a battery is charged, it should not receive over 13.2 volts for long life. The temperature compensation built in to the Delcotron regulator provides this feature, as the alternator gets warm at around the same time that the battery should have recovered from the load of starting.

Have you checked the accuracy of the voltmeter?

[This message has been edited by bill h (edited March 29, 2004).]

thanks bill..everything checks out ok...roy

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"The Hawk"
Celebrating 40 yrs of being a professional musician!!

1977 454 p30 21'

Ummmmmmmmmm........that 15 volts is still too high.

I'm not sure about this, but what would happen if the battery that you were charging was not in very good shape? Could it cause the charge voltage to go higher? I don’t know, was wondering.

thanks..will take my batt in and get it checked..it came with the barth when i bought it a few wks ago...roy

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"The Hawk"
Celebrating 40 yrs of being a professional musician!!

1977 454 p30 21'