| Author |
Message |
bobm (64.12.102.151)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 7:10 pm: | |
I have a 4104 but dont get to travel much in the winter. i try to drive it at least 5-10 miles every three to four weeks. is that enough (time and distance) |
FAST FRED (209.26.87.44)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, February 03, 2002 - 6:03 am: | |
NO way!! You have almost a ton of engine back there and its a very good design , so uses little fuel ideling , there fore makes almost no heat unless being driven.
The entire coach needs a warm up & work out as condensation forms in almost any place there is air.
So you need to warm the tranny , and rear axle up too.
I have not seen in print a minimum to keep the unit from deteorating , but DD has instructions in Da Book on preserving an engine , that are very detailed.
MY own personal system is to drive one 100 mile high speed blast every month.
Once you get used to the idea , its easy to go camping ( in any stage of completion) ,
or at least take the bride to a resturant in a town an hour or two away,
or go visit a museum you only read about.
A good two hour run gets all the systems working enough so you will have fewer suprises , when you finally go on the "first big trip".
So little use is extreme punishment for the DD so you might consider shortening the 6000 mile interval down some ,
or go by the calender for oil change timing.
FAST FRED |
Dennis Gloe (Tontorod) (63.27.107.224)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, February 05, 2002 - 10:49 am: | |
Hey Fred,
What is the plan during the conversion process? I have read that this can be a 1 to 3 year project in most cases. I also read somewhere that a set of tires should be figured on every 7 years regardless of milage due to weathering. Should a person that buys a coach with decent tires try to sell them and get new when conversion is finished? |
FAST FRED (209.26.87.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - 5:34 am: | |
TO keep morale up its best to USE the coach , at least monthly.
Camping is best as its a delight to see the progress .
That first head call at O' Dark 30 , where you dont have to go outside, is such a pleasure!
Its hard to do if your converting in ND and are installing some complex heating monster , for a couple of months , thats why Museums and resturants could be the destination.
With tires I have found that the old stuff doesnt seem to get warm enough to blowout on 2 hour rides.At least up north.
WE got away with very old tires for the conversion time , but on the slab for 12 hours , going to FL for lots cheaper tires , 2 blowouts in a day was a real pain.
There is very little time during the conversion when the coach must be out of service.
A bit of skeduling and you can DRIVE the baby all thru it!
Of course that assumes that the FIRST thing you did was go over the coach ,
correct problems , and if needed install the new parts to get the steering finger touch soft , and steering straight .
Same with the brakes ,start battery , and suspension.
So many folks make the mistake of playing house , first , rather than getting functional.
Then , after a couple of years , the problems have grown HUGE , from lack of use , and most of there cash is now gone!
"FOR SALE Coach 95% complete , needs some work."
Is the usual result.
FAST FRED |
FAST FRED (209.26.87.20)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 06, 2002 - 5:37 am: | |
TO keep morale up its best to USE the coach , at least monthly.
Camping is best as its a delight to see the progress .
That first head call at O' Dark 30 , where you dont have to go outside, is such a pleasure!
Its hard to do if your converting in ND and are installing some complex heating monster , for a couple of months , thats why Museums and resturants could be the destination.
With tires I have found that the old stuff doesnt seem to get warm enough to blowout on 2 hour rides.At least up north.
WE got away with very old tires for the conversion time , but on the slab for 12 hours , going to FL for lots cheaper tires , 2 blowouts in a day was a real pain.
There is very little time during the conversion when the coach must be out of service.
A bit of skeduling and you can DRIVE the baby all thru it!
Of course that assumes that the FIRST thing you did was go over the coach ,
correct problems , and if needed install the new parts to get the steering finger touch soft , and steering straight .
Same with the brakes ,start battery , and suspension.
So many folks make the mistake of playing house , first , rather than getting functional.
Then , after a couple of years , the problems have grown HUGE , from lack of use , and most of there cash is now gone!
"FOR SALE Coach 95% complete , needs some work."
Is the usual result.
FAST FRED |
Mallie (208.165.104.15)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 13, 2002 - 10:30 am: | |
I kinda agree with FF, but there are at least two goal in running the engine. One is lubrication, to keep all parts covered with oil to prevent corrosion. The cylinder wall are the first thing to rust, so just starting it momentarily will help. The other is to get hot enough to vaporize any moisture in the oil, etc. So I would say you are doing the right thing, driving it, keeping all the moving parts lubricated, Brakes, etc. I would think 5 to 10 miles should bring pretty much do it all. However, a hundred mile would do it better occasionally. |
Ken Klunder (Novice) (12.17.141.2)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 05, 2002 - 1:02 pm: | |
After reading the information above we have a related question. We are in the process of purchasing a bus which has been setting for a while. Is there a process, or something we should do, in starting the bus and getting rolling? |
jim (209.240.222.32)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 05, 2002 - 5:27 pm: | |
new fuel filters prior to trying to start it.....check coolant level....belts... hoses.... fresh batteries too....look for evidence of any major leaks on the ground..... after you get it going, change the oil and oil filters....have oil sampled....check coolant condition...listen for anything that doesn't sound right.....air leaks... metal squealing..etc...make sure that trans and diff oil is ok..... brakes adjusted..... common sense will prevail......my $0.02 worth...jim |
|