Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

Third Knuckle solution

Hello all,

Third knuckle solution. Anyone who works on their Bird will tell you its not
easy to access a LOT of things including hose attachment points. I was reminded
of this yesterday when I decided the high-pressure power steering hose needed to
be replaced before it gave way while under way. The access point for the upper
end of the hose on our 83 FC is from the front below the brake pedal. There is
no way to get a straight wrench in there and have leverage. Although I have some
decent tools, I don't have offset wrenches, crowfeet and universal joints that
might solve this problem. So off to Sears I go expecting to spend some dough.
Fortunately they did not have what I was looking for.

So I backed off and started thinking about what I was trying to do. I decided it
was essentially a plumbing job. I've been fixing toilets and sinks in rentals
since I was a kid and am all too familiar with basin wrenches. For those of you
not familiar, this is essentially an offset pipe wrench with a spring-loaded jaw
that works like a ratchet.

I knew the one I had at home was too small for this job so off the Home Depot I
went. Sure enough, they had a nice larger one made by RIDGID <
http://tinyurl.com/or95y2 > for about $30. The shaft on this unit is square and
this allows one to use a large adjustable wrench for needed torque.

Well, the proof is in the pudding. Even though the PO installed a new PS pump
just before I bought the coach, the high-pressure hose was not changed and it
appears to be original. The fitting at the top was beginning to rust. I sprayed
it down with Power Blaster and let sit over night. This morning I took out my
trusty RIDGID 1017 put it in place but could not break the nut using its built
in rod lever. So I go out the 12" adjustable and set it on the square shaft.
Bingo, nut broke loose no problem at all. Needless to say, this basin wrench
represents a third knuckle and will be rolling along with us from now on.

Bill
__________________
Bill and Lisa
BILLISA Adventures LLC
1983 FC-35 SB "Casa Billisa"

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Garamella" wrote:
>
> Third Knuckle solution.....
>


'What a great post, excellent description, and useful tip. Thanx Bill!

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\/\/\…Fred

__________________

Fred & Wendy Bellows

Queen Creek, AZ (so.east Phx)

'90 SP36

"Maunder Maximum"

photos of coach
and upgrades

current location

Bill I used a Basin wrench to remove the compressor coolant hose above the
starter on our 8V92. when you reinstall, it is best to put the difficult fitting
on first. this also helps keeping trac of not rotating the hose out of a
comfortable position and causing future interior ply separation. (notice hoses
have a relaxed state line printed on them)

I am of the thinking that overheating FC ps pumps and premature failure of those
pumps is due to improper front end alignment. going down the road you are
always causing the pump to work against a equal and opposite which feels very
minor at the steering wheel. steering is limited in cooling to the volume of
fluid designed for a properly aligned front end.
Greg of Tim&Greg 94ptca



--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Garamella"
wrote:
>
> Third Knuckle solution
>
> Hello all,
>
> Third knuckle solution. Anyone who works on their Bird will tell you its not
easy to access a LOT of things including hose attachment points. I was reminded
of this yesterday when I decided the high-pressure power steering hose needed to
be replaced before it gave way while under way. The access point for the upper
end of the hose on our 83 FC is from the front below the brake pedal. There is
no way to get a straight wrench in there and have leverage. Although I have some
decent tools, I don't have offset wrenches, crowfeet and universal joints that
might solve this problem. So off to Sears I go expecting to spend some dough.
Fortunately they did not have what I was looking for.
>
> So I backed off and started thinking about what I was trying to do. I decided
it was essentially a plumbing job. I've been fixing toilets and sinks in rentals
since I was a kid and am all too familiar with basin wrenches. For those of you
not familiar, this is essentially an offset pipe wrench with a spring-loaded jaw
that works like a ratchet.
>
> I knew the one I had at home was too small for this job so off the Home Depot
I went. Sure enough, they had a nice larger one made by RIDGID <
http://tinyurl.com/or95y2 > for about $30. The shaft on this unit is square and
this allows one to use a large adjustable wrench for needed torque.
>
> Well, the proof is in the pudding. Even though the PO installed a new PS pump
just before I bought the coach, the high-pressure hose was not changed and it
appears to be original. The fitting at the top was beginning to rust. I sprayed
it down with Power Blaster and let sit over night. This morning I took out my
trusty RIDGID 1017 put it in place but could not break the nut using its built
in rod lever. So I go out the 12" adjustable and set it on the square shaft.
Bingo, nut broke loose no problem at all. Needless to say, this basin wrench
represents a third knuckle and will be rolling along with us from now on.
>
> Bill
> __________________
> Bill and Lisa
> BILLISA Adventures LLC
> 1983 FC-35 SB "Casa Billisa"
>

Where were you when I needed you?

Regards,
GPSGary
1984FC35SB