| Author | Message | ||
| Michael/MD Rating: |
3/26/05 More help, please!!!!!! To bring all back up to date, as it turns out both the starter solenoid and the starter would appear to be DOA. After removing the exhaust manifold (thus for the first time rendering visible all the electrical connections on the top of the starter) I double checked them by applying 24 volts directly to their connections. Both are dead as doornails. I rigged a hand cranked winch above the opening securing the cable to a sling made of nylon webbing strap that's slung under one end of the starter and tied at the other end to the starters ground lug. All electrical connections have been removed from the starter and the two upper bolts that secure the starter to the engine are out. Now, my problem is that I cannot reach (or even see) the last bolt, the third and lower bolt that secures the starter to the engine. Crawling under the coach (properly supported by jack stands) although from one place only I can just catch a glimpse of one corner of the bolts head it's impossible to reach without significantly dismantling components (with functions that are unknown to me) that are attached to the bottom of the engine, and or portions of elements that support the engine cradle, neither of which I would wish to do. From the top opening, though I can't see the bolt, I might if my arms were about 12 inches longer be able to reach it with a wrench or socket in one hand, but I'd also need to be able to get the other arm down there at the same time (which even if my arms were longer would be impossible) in order to be able to feel my way and get a wrench or socket on the bolt head. What to do. What to do. What to do. I've reached the end of my rope. Any suggestions out there???????? Thanks. Michael | ||
| TWODOGS (Twodogs)
Rating: N/A |
sounds like a job for an air ratchet | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
Did you try as I posted earler last time you asked ? If your muffler is just on the other side of the bulkhead from the starter You probley will have to drop it and climb in there and there is a big hole where the pipes goes through . You can reach all the bolts from there I had the crankcase breather off to clean it when I checked to see if all my starter bolts was tight. I also thought it would be hard to reach any other way but I thought could be done also by climbing on top of the motor. You will need a long extension and a thin wall 16 point scocket. NOW the above may not work for you if your a large man (Fat) you may not fit . In that case hire a skiny high school kid to climb on top of the motor to try to reach it from the top first. Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| Michael/MD Rating: N/A |
3/26/05 Hey TWODOGS! I've got one. Maybe I can attach an arm to it and lower it into place. then I'd have to position it over the bolt, find a way to squeeze the trigger, and then hold it strongly enough to keep from falling off the bolt. Good suggestion. I'll have to think on that awhile to figure a way to do that. Hi Brian! Unfortunately, the coach now sits at the top of the drive and there she'll stay till I have a working starter unless I dig a big hole underneath it. Thanks. Michael | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
If you air up the bags remove the control rods to get it to raise it up about 3" above stock height put spacers between the rubber stops and axle so it can not come down. Jack the axle up and put blocks under the wheels . The book says how much you need to get out the muffler. It can be done I did it but was fixing the muff and removed it that way. So it can be done with out diging a hole but its not easy. Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| Brian (Bigbusguy)
Rating: N/A |
I still think you can reach it from the top. Brian 4905 Klamath Falls Oregon | ||
| Michael/MD Rating: N/A |
3/26/05 I hope you ar right, because the other sounds like an awful lot of trouble. Still I guess it's good to know at least hoever much of a PITA, it can at least be done. Too tired tonight, tomorrow I'll try to reach it with the air ratchet. Michael | ||
| Stephen Fessenden (Sffess)
Rating: N/A |
You need a cut back socket for these bolts. The bolt that holds the starter together keeps even a thin wall socket from seating on the mounting nut. Start with a short socket. I do not remember the size, but it is the same as the other two nuts. Start with a short socket, 3/8" drive. At a bench grinder grind around the square hole side to make it much narrower there. The grind should taper out to full width about half way down. The idea is to make it fit under the bolt that holds the starter together so that it can fit on straight. The bolt causes a normal socket to be slightly sideways and it keeps slipping. I am telling you this from actual experience of spending three nights trying to get that last nut off before asking a truck mechanic friend and borrowing a self made cut back socket. Then it took 10 minutes with the right tool. You can also buy a cut back socket from sears, snap on, etc. | ||
| Tom Caffrey (Pvcces)
Rating: N/A |
Please disregard this post. Tom Caffrey PD4106-2576 Suncatcher | ||
| cgull
Rating: N/A |
mitchael i did this 3 tiems from the top i cut the hole a little larger and then repatched it you said the 2 top bolts wer out i would put the easest one back to taik the presur off botom bolt i used a boxend it only turns the nut maby a `1/4 then turn it over a nuther 1/4 inch i maid the hole larg enough to reach the bolt with my finger of left hand and with no presur on the bolt it caem out very easy good luck carl in sacramento ca | ||
| michael/MD Rating: N/A |
3/27/05 Hello Stephen Fessenden, Well I've got news for you. You say you spent three night trying to get that last nut off! I did better than that. I only wasted two before I learned about the same thing from a helpful fellow busnut at www.busnut.com. Thanks for that. Now I understand why I've been unable to get my socket on that #@%amed thing. Can't see it (a fact about which clearly you are already aware), can't reach it to get a good feel, and using an air tool it's really hard to know for sure whether your getting it or not. That is until that socket comes out without a bolt hanging from it. I've got just the right short 9/16 socket for the job. I'll start grinding it tonight. Thanks for the tip. Hi cgull! Good point. I think I'll put both top bolts back until I've got the bottom one out. The top bolts were easy once the manifold was out. I was thinking about using a wrench too (but only as a last resort). Thought I might heat and bend it (to curve it up) and maybe even weld something to it to add some length to it to make it easier to reach the nut. I think maybe a 1/4 turn may be generous, but at least with that twelve point bolt it's a little easier to turn in baby steps. Thanks for the suggestion. Michael |
