Tools and Fixit Stuff
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05-22-2007, 06:10
Post: #46
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Tools and Fixit Stuff
Mechanically, a Blue Bird is a bus ... built to commercial standards.
Heavy duty components intended to go a million miles or more. Of course, maintenance is required: oil changes, water, belts, filters, suspension components, and what not. But, for the most part, preventive maintenance is the primary concern. Only when preventive maintenance falls short do (most) mechanical issues arise. (Of course, a little bad luck might have a role as well -- and time, wear and tear will eventually require that some components be attended to. (Note, a fair number of Blue Birds have had engine rebuilds -- usually as a result of overheating damage -- that, which vigilance and good preventive maintenance could avoid. Also note, the DD 6v92 and 8v92 engines are _very_ sensitive to overheating caused problems. The Cat 3208 is, perhaps, a bit more forgiving. I have a DD Series 60 in my coach. I'm trying my best to not take any chances with it.) Electrical issues, however, tend to be a factor of time and exposure. Electrical components degrade as they repeatedly heat and cool through the cycles of use. Wires become corroded as exposure to the atmosphere causes it to degrade and the insulation to break down. Unintended and/or unexpected overloads, replacement of components that may draw more power than the original, etc. will also place demands on the electrical system. And, as many have noted, a coach can have some rather long runs of wire. While 120 VAC handles long wire runs fairly well, 12 VDC tends to much less efficient in the same circumstances. Earlier BBs sometimes have unfortunate arrangements where components are not in the optimum location-- leading to a 60' run (around corners, etc.) for a 12 V wire... a prescription for low voltage during sub-optimum conditions or corrosion, etc. Add to the mix the general complexity of the Wanderlodge with it's lengthy list of features and conveniences ... and you have a wiring wonderland -- in the sense of Alice in Wonderland... As I poke and prod my coach, I see little sign of any mechanical difficulties in prior years... but when I look at the wiring, I discover odd re-routings, blocked off circuits, and other evidence that knowledgeable and not-so-knowledgeable folks have been poking and troubleshooting and making work around solutions over the years. Sometimes, I contemplate the power center(s) and think, "Alas, it is a puzzlement..." Pete Masterson '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42 aeonix1@... On the road at Lockhart Texas On May 22, 2007, at 10:24 AM, runnerful wrote: > Wow, Pete, thank you for all this great info. My BlueBird file is > getting nice and fat. > > Onc thing that's emerging is that there are more electrical than > mechanical (powertrain related) problems. This is encouraging as I > feel much more comfortable dealing with electrical issues than > mechanical. |
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Messages In This Thread |
Tools and Fixit Stuff - msecoolcal@... - 05-20-2007, 05:26
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-20-2007, 06:16
Tools and Fixit Stuff - bubblerboy64 - 05-20-2007, 07:29
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Curt Sprenger - 05-20-2007, 08:14
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Wilhelmus Schreurs - 05-20-2007, 08:51
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Pete Masterson - 05-20-2007, 08:56
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Rob Robinson - 05-20-2007, 09:00
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Stephen Birtles - 05-20-2007, 09:14
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Wilhelmus Schreurs - 05-20-2007, 09:39
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-20-2007, 10:43
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-20-2007, 11:01
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Stephen Birtles - 05-20-2007, 11:48
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Rob Robinson - 05-20-2007, 12:05
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Gardner Yeaw - 05-20-2007, 12:12
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-20-2007, 12:27
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Pete Masterson - 05-20-2007, 12:43
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Gardner Yeaw - 05-20-2007, 13:00
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Stephen Birtles - 05-20-2007, 13:04
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Stephen Birtles - 05-20-2007, 13:05
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Curt Sprenger - 05-20-2007, 13:26
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Leroy Eckert - 05-20-2007, 13:27
Tools and Fixit Stuff - brad barton - 05-20-2007, 16:09
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Curt Sprenger - 05-20-2007, 16:25
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Gregory OConnor - 05-20-2007, 16:27
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Curt Sprenger - 05-20-2007, 16:56
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Gregory OConnor - 05-20-2007, 16:59
Tools and Fixit Stuff - g - 05-20-2007, 17:18
Tools and Fixit Stuff - brad barton - 05-21-2007, 00:34
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Pete Masterson - 05-21-2007, 01:59
Tools and Fixit Stuff - jim riordan - 05-21-2007, 03:53
Tools and Fixit Stuff - jim riordan - 05-21-2007, 04:17
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Pete Masterson - 05-21-2007, 05:33
Tools and Fixit Stuff - erniecarpet@... - 05-21-2007, 06:15
Tools and Fixit Stuff - keyriffic - 05-21-2007, 06:46
Tools and Fixit Stuff - jim riordan - 05-21-2007, 07:49
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Stephen Birtles - 05-21-2007, 09:04
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-21-2007, 10:12
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-21-2007, 11:04
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Gardner Yeaw - 05-21-2007, 14:41
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-22-2007, 02:47
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-22-2007, 03:14
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-22-2007, 03:24
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-22-2007, 03:27
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-22-2007, 03:33
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Wilhelmus Schreurs - 05-22-2007, 03:49
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Pete Masterson - 05-22-2007 06:10
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Pete Masterson - 05-22-2007, 06:20
Tools and Fixit Stuff - runnerful - 05-22-2007, 07:16
Tools and Fixit Stuff - Leroy Eckert - 05-22-2007, 09:16
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