| Author | Message | ||
| Chuck MC8 (209.86.140.101)
Rating: N/A |
In reading the various posts and threads about towing and related issues, I am wondering if those of you who have had mechanical difficulty while travelling in your bus,would mind posting the nature of the trouble and what did you do to rectify it, including costs if available? This may be valuable info for us without a lot of "road" experience in our busses. | ||
| Henry R. Bergman, Jr. (Henryofcj) (65.194.145.40)
Rating: N/A |
Yes I did and Yes I will; While driving my brand new to me '74 Crown 40-foot 3-axle 10-wheeler ex-schoolie (Yew!) North home from the LA CA area to Oregon where I live, the power steering pump (Victors VT-42, right hand rotation) failed in Sacramento on Eye Five at evening rush hour. My normally great handling coach suddenly became a real slug, requiring great Armstrong strength to armstrong the steering. Fortunately, the coach was designed for such an occurance. Seems the steering is power ASSISTED, not intergal power steering. Still could safely drive it, only it now took gobs and gobs of "Terminator" strength to do soossss. Pulled over when safe and I could hear the pump howling from the front door. It was so hot you could not touch it and fluid was everywhere. Fortunately, it was powered by twin vee belts off the crankshaft. Unfortunately, I did not have a tool kit (naturally!) Did have a Gerber type pocket multi-tool with a knife blade. Very sharp. Sosss, I cut both belts, instantly converting my coach to manual steering. Drove it all the way to Oregon that way, which was fun. Actually, after one got used to the heavy steering, the coach seemed to handle just the way as before with power steering, only harder to turn at low speed. Got the pump replaced when I got home ($355.00) and eveything is fine now. (knock on wood) Now again have one finger steering on a 16,000 pound front axle. Amazing machine. Thank you very much and CROWNS FOREVER!!! | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905) (206.148.164.81)
Rating: N/A |
I picked up my 4905 on a Friday afternoon and drove from Indiana to Ohio and lost the engine. I lost a crank and I ahd to repower on the road. I found a great shop in Celina, Oh. They let us stay in the coach and gave us electric.They also gave us a big suburban to drive at no charge. My wife and I think they went above and beyond. We also ahve had a lot of work done at U.S. Coach with everything going as planned. The work was done with a lot of love for the conversion and done when it was planned to finished. I try to plan my trips so Luke and Bill can work on my coach. Mike | ||
| Peter (Sdibaja) (209.242.148.130)
Rating: N/A |
On our way up I-5, from San Diego to Santa Rosa for the memorial service of a dear friend. We got an early start and were approaching Santa Nella at about 8:30 or 9am. I looked down and saw that we were down to 60 lbs air pressure! It normally runs 110 to 120. It was slowly dropping, we took the Santa Nella exit and pulled into the TA truck stop and parked behind the service shop. I looked under the hood..... wires, hoses, all kinds of things.... The right rear airbag was empty, the corner of the bumper was 4" off the ground! (no springs, all airbags on the bus) I went in and asked, they said pull it in and they would see what they could do. 2 hours later we had determined that the airbags were good, no leaks in the lines, the governor on the air pump was good, the pump must be bad. They had no parts for that, and were at the limits of their abilities. They pumped the system full with the air hose. They called Freightliner in Fresno. Freightliner said they would help but no way could I make it 60 miles without running out of air and the emergency brakes locking up. They gave 3 names and numbers of 24 hour mobile repair outfits. Noon Saturday....... A guy at the parts counter says "that is what I do! I do 24 hour mobile service! Not making air, the pump is bad.... I have to get a bolt, and finish fixing a turbo. I will call and locate an air pump on my cell phone on my way back to fix the turbo. It is $300 to $700 for the pump, 4 or 5 hours labor and travel at $65; you will be on the road tonight! I will call you within an hour." He called right on time..... no pump, had to order one, will be here on Monday! DAMN! Rent a car, do the service, come back and fix the bus, drive home Monday night? CRAP! We hang out, Sandi take a walk and finds a Bonsai tree convention at the hotel across the street. I dig in and trouble shoot the dead 12 volt system. Eureka! I found it! A 50 amp glass automotive type fuse that looks perfect but is toast. I get a box of 30's (no one ever heard of a 50 there) and all is well! Sandi gets back, I break the news. "It is an adventure!" 4 pm. One of the guys in the shop (my new buddy Leonard) finds out why we are hanging out and says "I have a buddy, Gabe, who fixes Detroits, let me call him, he can fix anything." He calls, Gabe will go home and get a pump of an old Detroit he has and will be there in an hour and a half. 1 ½ hours later Gabe is there. The pump he brought is slightly different, will not work! "Let's fix this thing, we don't know what is really wrong yet, sometimes they have a fiber drive gear that breaks." The pump he brought has a good steel gear, it might fit this pump and this motor! Gabe is 5'2" and built like a Sumo. I hold the light for him. He is right, after he loosens the pump and tips it out we discover it does have a fiber drive gear, and it is broken; he turns the pump and it is declared GOOD! He pulls the pump all the way (it has two water cooling lines from the engine, 2 oil lubrication feeds from the engine, in and out air lines and a governor). The gear fits the motor, it fits the pump! It has been dead dark since 5 minutes after he arrived, 40 degrees and blowing. Gabe is not a quitter, we will be on the road soon! 1 hour later, I hold the light still, now for Gabe to put all his tools away. We invite him in to wash up, he has a beer. This dude is as sweet as they come, a real pussy cat, salt of the earth. He wants $135 for 3 hours of work and travel, but says $120 as I get my wallet. I give him a $20 tip. He never asked a dime for the drive gear! | ||
| Luke Bonagura (Lukeatuscoach) (12.90.6.105)
Rating: N/A |
Hi Peter: Your "Break Down" is one of those things that can't be anticipated, with the "best" of maintenance because it occurred in area that can not be seen!!! Gabe was a blessing at the time, however I would caution you on one thing. The drive gear on your old compressor was steel on the outside with a Bakelite center and your replacement is Solid Steel. It was manufactured that way as a "built in" "Weak Point". Why??? In the event that your air compressor ever "seized up", then the Bakelite would break away, could fall down past your eninge gear train without doing damage and the biggest problem you would have is what you had, No Air Pressure. If the compressor now seizes, you have solid "Steel to Steel" and something has to "BREAK" It could be the engine cam shaft driving the "Steel" Compressor Drive Gear or the "Steel" driven gear on the compressor, or the "Steel" intermediate gear that connects the 2 "Steel" gears. If I were spending my money, I would remove the compressor, replace the "Driven" gear on the compressor with a Bakelite centered gear which will probably last as long as you own the coach (Depending upon how many miles per year you put on it. Just some "Food for Thought:, based upon my experience on a "COLD"!!! N.J. Wed. night, and most importantly, I Hope this HELPS!!!! LUKE at US COACH | ||
| John Rigby (24.174.234.92)
Rating: N/A |
Driving back from florida in our 4104 suddenly the engine quits.check everything I can.Call a mechanic he walks up to the rear and flips the emergrncy air shut off back to the run possition and she starts.the rear door switch was not making good contact,which is in the low oil/low air/high temp shut off circuit. For some one new to busing. change all filters/belts/hoses. Watch your gauges close,dont take a chance if one of them reads high or low STOP check it out. I would recomend joining one of the road sevices/we are in the FMCA service they supply the right equipment for our bus when we have used them. John and Tami We have enjoyed 15years of busing | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Driving from San Diego, got to Nevada, and quite to the opposite of Peter's experience, I looked at my air pressure gauge and saw that it (actually both of them) was PEGGED! 150PSI was all the needles would go to and they were pinned there. So as the first "immediate" thing, I unplugged both air operated windshield wipers's quick-disconnects and turned the valves on, and could thus let enough air out of the system on a continuous basis to balance things at 120, controlling it with the valves. Noisy as all getout though. At the next truck stop I pulled over and took a peek at Mr. Compressor... more specifically Mr. Schrader valve (spelling?) and found that a 1/8 pipe plug had actually unscrewed itself and fallen off, leaving the "feedback" airline open to the atmosphere, so of course the compressor was on full trying to do it's job but had no idea it was overdoing it's job... I dug in my toolbox and found a 1/8" NPT=>hydraulic hose fitting, screwed a tek screw down into it's center to plug it, screwed the mickey-mouse into the hole on the valve and proceeded on the remainder of my 2000 mile trip without incident. Got home and fixed it properly... I do carry ALL the tools with me at all times, including the skilsaw and sometimes even the welder!!! | ||
| Peter (Sdibaja) (67.115.10.62)
Rating: N/A |
Luke: excellent tip, I will take your advice and make the change in the near future! Peter | ||
| HondoJoeMC5 (65.138.130.176)
Rating: N/A |
My 8v71 blower shaft failed New Years Eve. Had to get towed back in. This is not an uncommon problem. Joe | ||
| Gene Jorgensen (Geno) (152.163.188.227)
Rating: N/A |
While driving to Chicago from Springfield, Mo. with my new purchase(MC7)on a Sunday I discovered around dusk that I had no juice to the lights. Pulled over at a rest stop and found out that I had a broken generator tension bracket. Stopped at an TA but was informed that they could not work on buses. Did give me a # for a truck repair that was 35 min. away and charged me $45 for an hour charge on the 8d's. As I was debating what to do a couple of truckers asked what was wrong. After explaining the problem they said that should be no problem to fix. So with what tools he and I had- we tackled the job. Took the toad off of the dolly and after two hours and two trips to the local Auto Zone we were able to find some belts for the pulley and a steering knuckle that would fit on the end of the broken bracket. Must be a common problem for this coach because both ends had been welded before.I offered the gentleman a $100 for what he had done but he would only except$50. Spent the night next to an idling semi but what the heck- we were on a new adventure. Boy was my wife excited about our new acquisition!! Gene | ||
| Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A |
Addendum to my earlier post... the main reason I now have my bus... about three years ago we rented a nice new 28' stick'n'staple motorhome to take to the desert for a couple of weeks. The first thing that had me feeling weird was all the STUPID indoctrination they made me go thru (watch the incredibly BORING 1-hour videotape, etc) then sign your firstborn away in order to drive the thing out. So we got on the road and it's the biggest P.O.S. I've ever driven. And it's NEW!! Ugh. We get to our destination fine although the mileage is horrible and it feels like it's going to roll at every turn. Spooky. On the way home though (1500 miles away) someone passes me honking and pointing. So I pull over to find that the driver's rear hubcap is almost falling off. No biggie. Popped it back on and got back on the road. Now this hubcap was rigged with a totally factory and totally mickey mouse hose thing that enables one to inflate the inner tire of the dualie set, with a standard air hose at a gas station, instead of having to have the type of "backwards" inflator that truckers use. What I didn't know was that it had ripped itself off of it's clips when the hubcap came loose. SO we got into Reno and I decided it would be a good time to dump my holding tanks at the first stop. I get out to do so and notice that the rear tire looks really low on air... come to find out the hubcap finished it's job and totally ripped the air stub completely out of the inner tire, so the outer one was full but definitely complaining 'cause it was all alone in carrying the load. So I carefully drove to the nearest truckstop and asked them if they could put in a new stub for me. This was at 4pm and they said "sure, take about an hour, have lunch and it'll be done. Well, finally at 5 minutes past MIDNIGHT they decided I was "worthy" of their time, and took all of ten minutes to fix it. And charged me a hundred bucks!! OUCH The rest of the trip was fine, until the giant arguement with the RV rental place who told me I'd have to pay for damages becuase I didn't call their phone number to have their road-service guys fix it... after an hour of arguing they finally backed off. That experience was it. I SWORE that I'd NEVER rent a piece of pooh like that again, if for no other reason than the money spent on the rental could have BOUGHT me a bus...(actually I ended up buying my Crown for $200 LESS than the rental cost me!!) and if I ever went in an RV on a trip again, it WOULD be a BUS, it would be MY bus, and I'd have my TOOLS with me for emergencies. And I now do, it is, and I love it!! (And so far, I don't have any "nasty" problems on the road...whoopee!!) Cheers and goodnight! Gary Stadler | ||
| Geoff (Geoff) (64.1.2.98)
Rating: N/A |
After reading all the stories one can surmise that just about anything can happen/break down. The best solution is preventative maintenance and thorough inspection of all components. Unfortunately, all of us are driving used buses-- how they were repaired and maintained in the past has a lot to do with how many problems with will have on the road. It is impossible to look inside an engine without taking it all apart, so you may never know what condition it is in, even if it has been "rebuilt". Most of the other drive train components can be inspected and preventative maintenance performed. As for my bus, I have comletely rebuilt the engine and replaced every component on it except the 280 amp alternator (and PS pump, cross my fingers). I know my transmission is good, I have installed new u-joints and rebuilt the rear end. I have inspected the rear axle and front bearings, I have replaced the radius arm bushings and all the shocks. The brakes are like new, I have rebuilt the front end and put a steering box, pus I have replaced all the air bags and leveling valves. In fact, I have completely gone through the bus from one end to the other. Whenever I go somewhere I always carry tools with me just in case something breaks-- so far in 10,000 miles I have never had to fix anything on the road. --Geoff '82 RTS CA | ||
| Larry Baird (Airhog) (66.171.15.108)
Rating: N/A |
Last weekend on my way from Rancho Cucamonga to Napa CA. in my MCI-7 I had a flat on the left rear tag at about 70MPH. it didn’t take long to lose most of the tire, at least the part that made all the noise. I drove 20 miles at around 20MPH and got a new tire and some much needed air. Most of the tires had only 60 PSI, guess it was my fault. Do most of you carry a spare and tools to change a tire or call road service? No other problems reported, have driven about 11,000 miles last year and the 8V71 has around 90,000 miles on it. Again, just because I have 5 air conditioners does not mean I sell them. | ||
| Ace (24.28.44.126) Rating: N/A |
One thing you DON'T want to do on a very dark night on the interstate is to run over a gator! Not the real kind down here in Florida but a cap off a semi! Didn't know it was there which was on a lonely part in SC, until I was ON it and too late to move (swerve) the bus without much potential damage so over it I went and the end result was a broken air line which didn't take too long for the air to escape and the brakes to lock up! I did manage to get the bus OFF the highway (barely) before coming to a full stop. A trucker heading north on his way to NJ with a load of tropical plants and his 6 yr old grandson pulled over and tried to help fix it with some fittings but none would work. He then gave us a ride 20 miles North AND back south 10 miles to the nearest truckstop ( no turn around) to seek a mechanic. None availlable at 1 am! The trucker then took us BACK into Florida, another 20 miles, to another truck stop where the mechanic was with his other half, in this case other third. Not the one he's married too either, (he said) and would be there to pick us up in about an hour. He did and took us BACK to SC to the bus. He looked it over and said he would have to go BACK to Florida and get the parts he needed and for us to stay in the bus. I thought as minutes turned into hours which felt like days that this guy would NEVER show back until I heard the clinking of tools under the bus. I think it actually woke me up as it was NOW daylight. Then I saw feet sticking out from under the bus and walked back to see what AND who was doing what and sure enough, the mechanic came back and said he was all done! He had to replace a hose and fittings. The reason it took him so long was he had to Make up the hose since he didn't have a stock one to fit! It worked great. The charge! $100.00 I couldn't get my money out fast enough and he insisited that I keep my money and for me to write him a check! We did and all went well from there! I told him I was heading BACK into Florida after this ordeal and he insisted we keep going as it would be ok to drive! We did, and went all the way to Bassett Va. without any problems! Goes to show you there are some good people still out on the road from the trucker to the mechanic! Now I wonder if he REALLY had to make up this hose and fittings or did he go back for seconds!  Ace | ||
| bobm (152.163.188.227) Rating: N/A |
I have had two tire blowouts with my 4104 and the problem we must face with conversions is good looking but out dated tires. Make sure you replace tires that exceed manufacturers recommended time. | ||
| Quest (198.29.191.147) Rating: N/A |
Ok, then if tire blow outs is a time related item, how do we know when the tires excced manufacturer times? Where do you find the info? q | ||
| Craig S (65.202.123.254) Rating: N/A |
Well, I too had the compressor go bad. We pulled over and called AAA. They said they would send someone and so we waited about an hour. We called again and found that all the big rigs to tow us were tied up on a bad wreck. In the meantime, a patrol car stopped and said he'd call someone local. They came out and changed the governor but that didn't fix it. They said they'd come back and tow us in, about 6 miles. I asked the guy to air us up and we'd follow him and he refused. Another hour went by and the same truck came back with a different driver. He said I'd have to pay now and that he'd send the tow truck soon as he could. This was all happening from about 5PM through to about 3AM when one of the big rigs we'd been waiting for from AAA finally showed up. He dropped the drive axle, gear fluid everywhere, and tried to cover the axle hole. No good, the axle went back in and he crawled under to drop the drive shaft. By 5AM we were on the way to a Freightliner shop. We had called ahead and made an appointment for service. We didn't get anyone to look at it until late in the day. They said they couldn't find a compressor 'till the next day so we got on the cell phone and found one cross town. That was delivered and they worked off and on to R&R. They broke the new one and then had to find another. Luckily they found one this time and they worked on it through the night. We were done at about 6AM. I couldn't get the guy to get the bill together for about an hour. When I finally got it it was $1200 of labor. We argued for a while, threatened to call corporate, yada yada, paid in protest and headed on our way. We stopped for fuel and found the axle leaking where it had been put on. The gasket was torn. When we got to our destination, I fashion a new gasket and enjoyed our stay. I wish I had a portable compressor. I might have been able to get myself to the local shop and spend less time broke down. Craig S | ||
| jmaxwell (66.42.92.13) Rating: N/A |
In 75k mi. I have had 3 blowouts (all w/fairly new tires w/ less than 20k mi. on them and proper inflation). The 1st time was a rt. front at 70 mph on I-5. No incidental damage but waited 6 hrs. on road service from 18 mi. away (that was FMCA endorsed road service). Their story was that since they had dispatched Les Schwab they had met their responsibility; if I wanted someone else I could pay for it and seek re-imbursement. Idid, and I did get re-imbursed. 2 other blowouts were inside duals, same one both times; I limped to the nearest truck tire centers and got new ones. As for mechanical problems: Near Wendover, Nv. broke a turbo discharge hose clamp. What a noise that makes on a 6% 4 mi. grade. Pulled over at the top, used 2 3" sewer clamps to make a 4" clamp, drove on to Maine and back before putting on a new hose and new torque clamps (I hate to work while on vacation). Another was compressor governor went and compressor built excessive pressure; fine, crack the bleed on the wet tank and lets finish this vacation--went 4000mi. and replaced governor when I rtn. home. Last one was in Illinois. Wouldn't start. Thought it was bad starter. Pulled it and took it too a rebuilder about 2 mi. away. He said it was fine: I said since it's out, rebuild it. He did, $50.00, new brushes, carriers, bearings, bushings. Put it back in, got the ohm meter out and started looking again. Dirty contacts on the starter relay in the rear elec. panel. Back to the rebuilder, new relay for $12 (I bought a spare at that price) and on with the vacation, lost about 4 hrs. Also fixed a leaking elbow on a radiator neck fitting w/ jb weld 35k mi. ago. That was in NY and I live in CA. I once pulled it out to do a perm. fix and was doing more damage to the brass radiator well than the jb weld when trying to clean it off so I left it. All the PM in the world won't prevent that occasional unforeseeable problem. Fortunately, I've never had a major problem but I suppose my time is coming. Oh well, the credit card will fix it. | ||
| Phil Pellowski (Viater) (164.58.86.161)
Rating: N/A |
On the way home from Portland Or. to Seattle after picking up my just purchased 1963 PD4106, I pulled over about half way for a cup of coffee and the bus stalled on the highway exit ramp. Let it sit for a moment and tried to start it with no luck. Hmmph, Did I mention this was on a Sunday morning on Mothers day? I could see the truck stop about 150 ft. ahead and just then a guy in a pick-up truck stopped by to see what the problem was. He asked if I needed a tow into the truck stop, I said I didn't think a pick-up would do it. He said he had a tractor trailor parked behind the truck stop. He got the truck and we wrapped a chain around the front bumper bolts and he towed me into the truck stop. He then called a friend who was a diesel mechanic who wasn't home at the time. He left a message and as luck would have it he just "showed up" a few minutes later for a cup of coffee. (Obviously I stumbled upon the local trucker hang-out). He took a look at the bus and decided that the original finger relay that provided power to the started had been faulty and the previous owner by-passed it with a stand-alone relay improperly mounted on it's side on the firewall. The jarring down the road had opened and closed the starter relay while the engine was running and locked up the starter. He has a couple of spare M40's but they turned the wrong way. I parked the bus for the week. The mechanic was leaving for Montana that night but would be back the following saturday. The original truck driver that towed me in gave me a ride with my old starter into Seattle that night and I spent the next week tracking down a new starter and new relay. Found a new CCW starter, rented a car and Saturday morning I was back on the road headed toward my bus. I got the the truck-stop and called the mechanic who wasn't at home. The person he was staying with told me she thought he was in Montana. I settled down with a cup of coffee shootin the breeze with my new found trucker friends who all seemed genuinly interested in how I was doing and at about 10:00 in strolled the mechanic just back from Montana. He installed the starter and relay wiring it up to a toggle switch in the engine compartment, charged up my batteries and sent me on my way. He wanted $120.00 for labor which I thought was more than reasonable. The whole experience wasn't tragic, just a little inconvenient. Tragic is when a family of 5 goes over a cliff in their mini-van. Keep it in perspective! Phil PD4106-1826 | ||
| Johnny (67.242.221.167)
Rating: N/A |
Well, I've had some problems in an RV, but no road-trips in the bus yet. 1977 Dodge class C, 24.5' Coachman body, 318 engine: driving through the mountains of New Hampshire in the rain (slowly, at 30MPH in second gear), suddenly everything stopped-engine died, no electricity anywhere, no horn, no flashers.....uh-oh. Coast to the side of the road, put out reflectors, pop the hood--a cable junction on the firewall had melted (probably because we were using every electrical thing in the vehicle at the same time, including the 4-ways, wipers, lights, stereo, and dash A/C). Solution: remove cooked wiring, jury-rig a connection together, discover the ammeter no longer works, finish trip with jury-rigged repair. When we got home, I rewired the connection, and decided not to futz with the notably trouble-prone Chrysler ammeters & just added a $15 voltmeter. 1972 RevCon class A FWD, 455 Olds engine: Stopped at a truck stop for gas, lunch, & a newspaper. Engine wouldn't restart. Check battery--fine. Check connections--OK. What the........? After all 3 of us (me, my wife, & a friend) and 2 helpful truckers spent half an hour poking around the RV, Liz (wife) noticed a funny-looking switch under the dash. She flipped it......and the engine fired immediately, since she'd deactivated the kill switch. Oops. That switch is now bypassed. This was our first trip, and the previous owner hadn't told us about that switch. I think that I kicked it when I was getting out of the driver's seat. OTOH, driving my skoolie 40 miles with a knocking, smoking 370 gasser wasn't too good a plan. I made it, but it still wasn't a good plan. | ||
| J.L.Vickers (209.34.24.45) Rating: N/A |
Road failure! I have been lucky. But one time with the PD-4104 that we use to own on the north side of Dallas,Texas on I-35 south it decided to quit due to a fuel problem. I then coaxed the PD-4104 to I-45 Bus repair south of Dallas,Texas. Found out that the primary fuel filter casting had a crack causing the fuel pump to loose it's prime and cause the engine to quit or loose power. Replaced the primary fuel filter casting. Then all was well. I now own a P8M4905A and so far it's been a good coach but we will have to wait and see what happens down the road. | ||
| Stephen Gutknecht (Roundsparrow) (66.174.37.153)
Rating: N/A |
New years day - I10 30 miles east of Texas. Damn roads are terrible in LA. One of the previous owners rode the brakes too miuch, nice and overheated. Brake drum shatters, tears into pieces on a rear wheel. Takes out alloy wheel ($400), airbag, speeedometer, shock ($45). Towing a bus is not fun. Had our 45,000 bluebird put on a flatbed. Luckly found a good shop in Texas. Tow truck driver ruined towing hitch (rear) and nicked generator compartment (front). Also wasn't smart enough to carry measuring sticks, luckily we cleared all the bridges. All drums had cracks, replaced them all. $2400 for all new drums (including tag) and repairs to damaged components. Check those drums for cracks. Our shoes still looked new, but the drums had cracks! | ||
| Johnny (67.242.221.56)
Rating: N/A |
Steven, all I can say is OUCH! Every time I see an enormous number following a $ here, I'm happier and happier I can do my own repairs (one reason I have a long-nose school bus). | ||
| Mike Eades (Mike4905) (206.148.165.90)
Rating: N/A |
Picked up our 4905 on Friday afternoon and drove about 150 miles when it died. Towed to a little town in OH. Tow operator was great. Let us sleep in coach until morning. He then towed us to Celina OH and asked the owner of Celina Desiel to open on Sat and look at our coach. He said he thought it was serious and he would check firhter in Monday. He then informed us that we had a bad 8v71. Well we decided to work it out and Bob replaced the engine and also replaced all the lines. Rebuilt the all the rear parts like Gen, Water pump, air compressor, etc. We went down the road in good shape. Nothing major since, for three years. Mike |