Hi, I have an 89 Oshkosh, Pace Arrow 34 ft, John Deere model listed on title, class A, Ford 460 gas motor. On a trip when I got on the freeway the belts fly off. Had emergency service 3 times and a school bus repair place work on putting new belts on it and did not see what was causing the problem. I ended up putting it in storage in St. Louis, Mo because the problem kept happening. My understand is that this RV was built by Freightliner, it was one of the last years they did Gas RV's. I would appreciate any info about my situation as I am going to return to St. Louis from NJ to try to get it fixed right and return to NJ. Thank you in advance.

To the best of my knowledge "Oshkosh" and "John Deere" are not the same thing, your chassis is one or the other and your title is a good clue. As
far as Freightliner is concerned they did not get
into the RV chassis business until 1995 when they bought the RV chassis business of Oshkosh and the
factory they still use in Gaffney SC. Freightliner will service late Oshkosh chassis but I don't know about John Deere. However your engine problem should be servicable many places.

The way I understood it... John Deere was bought out by Oshkosh and then Freightliner bought them out. So now, if you need a Oshkosh or John Deere part, you've got to contact Freightliner.

That being said, we are talking about a regular FORD 460 motor. If you can supply me with your vin# I'll try to cross it over to see which belts are on there.

You never said if it was 2 serpentine belts or 4 vee belts. I'm assuming it has carburetor but the 460 in my 1988 service trucks had MPFI. None of the earlier Barths had MPFI until I believe 1991.

If you have a serpentine belt, I would look at the idler tensioner. You did say that the belt came off - is that like it fell off?

Other way around. John Deere brought back the Dodge M600 chassis sometime during the 80's. It was later sold to Oshkosh and then to Freightliner. They were all 460 Ford powered.

Belts normally come off when the pullys are misaligned.

quote:

Originally posted by Gary Carter:


Belts normally come off when the pullys are misaligned.

Or damaged or improperly manufactured.

I had a friend with a Brougham on a Chevy chassis that ate belts. Every time I went with him, I ended up putting in a new belt or two for him. Finally, he took it somewhere and they replaced the crankshaft pulley. It was undamaged and looked good to my nekkid eye, but it failed the runout test when an indicator was stuck on it.

on the 89 Oshkosh, which most likely is the john deere chassis with a 460 ford. I have a mallard with the same chassis. believe it or not I bought mine nearly brand new 2 years ago. My coach had 2700 miles on it two years ago. I blew a belt because it was dry rotted original. I have the complete JD chassis manual, problem is the belts are so cluttered that they are narrow belts. I had the air belt come off and threw all the belts or twisted them. Everytime you tightent the alt belt it loosens the air pump belt.

Put brand new belts on it at the required tightening specs if you need them i will email u the specs. retighten the alt belt if your belt squeels when the trans shifts. Also retighten the air pump belt.

quote:

Originally posted by madrone:
To the best of my knowledge "Oshkosh" and "John Deere" are not the same thing, your chassis is one or the other and your title is a good clue. As
far as Freightliner is concerned they did not get
into the RV chassis business until 1995 when they bought the RV chassis business of Oshkosh and the
factory they still use in Gaffney SC. Freightliner will service late Oshkosh chassis but I don't know about John Deere. However your engine problem should be servicable many places.

Our title shows the make as Oshkosh and the model as John Deere. Like Jeep Patriot. Oshkosh John Deere.

The related thread, in which Donna posted, helps clear up the confusion.
https://www.barthmobile.com/eve...1087061/m/6811068061

So does this:
https://www.classicwinnebagos....dex.php?topic=2908.0

But, the chassis maker is a moot point in terms of a belt/pully problem.