| Author |
Message |
Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 - 11:36 pm: | |
Well, at the last update, I noted a thumping noise that seemed to be a frequency of the wheel rotation. I have been making loops around the subdivision over the last few days trying to find the source of the rather loud, terrible sounding noise. I jacked up the front and bogey wheels and found nothing. Today, pulled the bogey wheels and
drove Pat around the loop (it was her first ride in the bus since we bought it) and had her listen for the source of the noise. The engine cover is off so that I can hear any issues. She said that the noise was in the area of the drive shaft.
I pulled the rear wheels and also ran the bus with the transmission in second gear and watched the drive shaft and could find nothing.
Now for the bad news. I decided to drain the rear end and make sure that there were no parts in the bottom. UNFORTUNATELY, there were a couple of teeth in the bottom.
I have no idea what could have happened. The last time the bus moved, it was behind a tow truck. They pulled the axle and the tow distance was only about 10 miles. Since I have started driving the bus, I have been very careful not to overload the rear end via bad clutch engagement or using much throttle in the lower gears.
So, I get to have the fun of removing the drop box and rear end and get the ring and pinion replaced. I guess the best source is Jefferson – any other suggestions?
I have a line on a MCI drop box and rear end, and am told they are the same as the Eagle. Can anyone confirm?
Torquester, if you read this, where did you get your rear end work done?
Obviously, the bus will not make it to Bussin 2006. There are just too many things that need to get done and this is a real set-back. We are still trying to find a way to make it to the rally.
The only good news is that the bus is a ball to drive with the automated 10 speed! I can’t wait to get past all of these nagging issues and get on the road!!!!
Jim Shepherd
Evergreen, CO
’85 Eagle 10
http://rvsafetysystems.com
Bus Project details: http://www.rvsafetysystems.com/busproject.htm (updated 2/17/05) |
John MC9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 12:00 am: | |
Well, we all have days like that....
When I get really disgusted at the way things are going with
my bus; really, really mad...? I throw a fist full of money at it.
No.... wait.... I do that all the time anyway... |
Tom Hamrick (Tomhamrick)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 8:21 am: | |
Jim, Sorry to hear of your setback. I am just finishing up with the same problem that you are having. When we pulled the drop box on our Model 10S we found the top drive gear was broken, the center idler gear worn out and the bottom drive gear on the pinion shaft was broken. How it continued to drive and not break the rest of the teeth is beyond me. The differential however is in good shape. Now the fun part. Just for the 3 gears the price is $3600. that does not count the gear shafts and bearings and rebuild cost. Since I had so much wrong, I chose to buy a brand new complete drop box from Jefferson. The cost was $4100 + the gear on the pinion shaft which is $725. $4900 total including shipping. I thought this to be a better way to go because everything is new including the case. I hope to have it put back in next week. Email me if you want to talk more. Tom Hamrick 1984 Eagle 10S |
Phil Hendrix
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 9:38 am: | |
Hi Jim,
Sorry to hear about the problem with the rearend, contact me I might be able to give you some names to contact about parts. I have been dealing with a similar problem as I am trying to get my ser 60 installed.
Phil Hendrix/Chicago |
Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 1:14 pm: | |
Hi Phil
It has been a while since we chatted, and I can't find your phone number in my planner.
We now have a toll free number for the business:
1**888**349**0704.
You can call and leave your number.
Jim |
Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, November 23, 2005 - 11:45 pm: | |
Today I pulled the drop box and rear end as a unit. The manual does not give very good instructions, but I suspect it would be much easier to pull the units separately. It was a huge, dirty job!!
I made a come-along support frame over the unit and it worked pretty good. However, I had to remove a bunch of brake parts (including the passenger side can) to get the pumpkin out. It has to move several inches forward to clear the housing and it gets into several brake parts in the area. I think that pulling them separately would get around some of the clearance problems.
The ring gear has one whole tooth missing and half of another. The drop box seems to be in good condition. The pinion had 11 teeth and the ring 41, so the ratio was 3.73.
Now I need to find the best parts supplier and someone in Denver to set it up.
Jim |
Tom Hamrick (Tomhamrick)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 4:22 pm: | |
Jim,
It is easier to pull the drop box first and then the differential. We still had to remove the passenger can and the brake relay on the bulkhead in front of the dropbox. I would advise that you check out all the gears, bearings and shafts in the drop box while you have it out. The center idler gear in mine was worn out. The shaft that goes through it had the teeth worn at an angle almost down to the shaft itself. The other gears would have been okay but broke because of the play in the idler. I have all the parts and hope to get installed by Saturday.
Tom Hamrick
1984 Eagle 10S |
Jim Shepherd (Rv_safetyman)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, November 28, 2005 - 10:53 pm: | |
Tom, thanks for the information. I took the pumpkin and drop box in today. They are going to disassemble them and see if I need any other parts other than the ring and pinion. Jefferson has the gear set and I will order it after we see if there are any drop box parts that need to be replaced.
I almost did not get the combined pumpkin and drop box out. It was obvious to me that they would have to go back in separately. Too bad the manual does not discuss this part of the procedure.
I looked at one of the failed teeth and it sure looks to me like there was a defect in the tooth. I sure hope so, because I would hate to think that the gears are too puny to withstand the torque (recall that I did not “cowboy” it). I am going to have them save the gear set and see if I can find someone to give me an “expert” diagnosis.
Jim |
Marc Bourget
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, November 29, 2005 - 12:55 pm: | |
Jim, One of my local "resources" is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at a local university.
He's got all the goodies, including an electron microscope. I bring him broke "thingies" from time to time as examples to use in class exercises.
Only problem is the logistics from you to me!
Onward and Upward |