1980 FC with Cat 3802 - fan bearing replacement - any history of problems?

[Lewandowski98040]

Chuck -

Thanks for responding, but it sounds like you have something more
modern and more repairable than my full-time fan, which has no
electric clutch. My worn bearing is not an idler. It carries the
full weight of the fan.

I should probably contact Bluebird on Monday. I assumed that
Caterpillar was the logical place to start, since they made the engine
and Bluebird merely mounted it on a chassis. It sounds like your fan
assembly was a worthwhile and cost effective improvement. Perhaps
Bluebird still has those parts in stock. I would be happy to solve
this problem with a modern upgrade for $650.

yours truly

- gl
206-232-4740


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Chuck Wheeler"
wrote:
>
> George,
>
> I'm not quite sure what bearing you are talking about, but when we
first got
> our 82 there was a lot of fan noise and it came from the electric clutch
> that was coming apart. I ordered a complete kit from Blue Bird that
> provided a new fan, Horton air clutch, and temperature switch. The
cost was
> about $650. The only other bearing would be in the idler and that
assembly
> is in the $300 range or less than $100 if you just replace the bearings.
>
> When we first got our Bird Kathy thought that I had just purchased "yard
> art" as I spent the first few months getting it into shape. We have
since
> put 11 to 13 thousand miles a year on it but I about lost my happy home
> before I got it on the road. We are about to head off on a two
month trip
> to visit family during the holidays and she is very fond of the old bird
> now. Since we are about the same vintage we can exchange phone
numbers in
> case you need help. This site and members sure helped me get going!
>
> - Chuck Wheeler -
> 82 FC 31 SB
> Fort Worth, TX
>
>
> _____

[Lewandowski98040]

Gregory -

Thanks for the tip about the oil pick-up tube and screen.

Yes, one idler pulley bearing was bad, and it has been replaced.

I did hear from Mike already. He told me to pack my bus off to the
local Cat dealer ( Something that was already part of the plan laid
out in my original post).

I haven't heard from anyone who has experience with the same fan
assembly that I have, where the fan shaft and bearing were
manufactured as one complete unit, for a full-time, clutchless fan.
It is a five inch shaft permanently wedded to a 2.12 inch wide
bearing. (Federal Bearing part number PF 36047 for engine model
3A3208, AR number 9N 5158)

Apparently, this fan design was abandoned around 1980 because it
wasn't a successful design, or, alternatively but much less likely, it
was so successful that I have the only unit that ever failed in
service and therefore the only such unit that ever needed replacement,
so no spares were ever stockpiled and no other birder has experience
replacing this strange duck with something of more modern design.

I'll see what Bluebird says next week.

Thanks again to all who wrote tonight.

- gl





--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Gregory OConnor"
wrote:
>
> George, When and if you find a need to pull down the pan, replace the
> oil pick-up and screen. Bryant or BlueBird Bus facilities may not be
> the best choice. The 3208 is older than most bus models in operation
> ( much like the 8V92 in my bus). I would call a local Cat Parts
> supplier and ask the parts clerk for a recommendation of a customer
> who works on 3208 units. If you want to verify the Speedo, you can
> try and multiply the engine hours by 30 and see if it is closer to
> 100,000 or 200,000. The bearings on the fan and idler pulleys often
> fail from enginecleaner solvent pressurewashing. it may be time to
> check idler bearings (if any).
>
> I think the owner of Gus's Garage is named MikeH. He is a forum
> member and Mike's garage would be the best place to surrender a sick
> bird. He is very knowledgeable and experianced with the Cat in your
> bus (Cat is nick name for the engine manufacture and not a slant on
> your copilot of 38 years). I am an experienced Bird fanciers but I
> dont understand how that would qualify me to give good material
> advice? I would have better advised you the curtains and carpet
> choices.
>
> I enjoy your style, welcome
>
> GregoryO'Connor
> 94ptRomolandCa
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Lewandowski98040"
> wrote:
> >
> > Hi -
> >
> > I'm a newbie.
> >
> > My wife and I just purchased a 1980 FC 31 from a nice guy (Don D.)
> in
> > Oregon. For me, it was love at first sight, but realistically, I
> > know that this is going to be a high maintenance affair with an
> older
> > lady. Her speedo reads 90,000 miles but Don said that her true age
> > could be 190K, since he was not her first lover. I promised him
> that I
> > would be kind, and try to keep her proud heritage mostly intact for
> > the next owner.
> >
> > Before venturing too far from home, I introduced the Bird to my
> > nephew, Rob, who owns a busy transmission rebuild shop in Issaquah.
> > He put her into one of his service bays for two weeks. He serviced
> > the Allison and the differential, rebuilt the power steering pump,
> > sent the radiator out to a rebuilder, replaced some leaky hydraulic
> > hoses, etc. Even though Rob normally runs with a fast, young,
> racing
> > crowd that's swigs synthetic lube and snorts nito injection, he
> seems
> > to have bonded with my old Bird as he gently poked and prodded for
> > tell-tale signs of fatigue and imminent failure.
> >
> > Among other things, he found that the radiator fan bearing is "a
> > little loose". He tried to replace the bearing but this bearing is
> no
> > longer available from local suppliers. It has a shaft that's
> > integrated into the sealed bearing assembly. The Cat. replacement
> > part is a whole new assembly. with a different mounting bracket and
> > normal bearing with separate, removable shaft. It would cost me
> > about $1,500 for these expensive parts and the shop time to install
> them.
> >
> > I am wondering if any veteran Birders have found a source for the
> > (presumably less expensive) original bearing, with its embedded
> shaft,
> > and what is the service/failure rate of that original style
> bearing?
> > I don't want a seized bearing to send the spinning fan flying
> through
> > my new radiator.
> >
> > Rob, also recommends that I take my bus to the local Blue Bird
> dealer
> > (Bryant Motors) for an engine checkup. He suggested that I want
> might
> > to have her valves adjusted and her head bolts tightened. What else
> > is prudent, in the way of preventive maintenance? What should I
> > include, in my instructions to the technical wizards at Bryant? If
> > possible, I want to sacrifice a little cash now for peace of mind
> down
> > the road, to avoid having to surrender a sick Bird to the tender
> > mercies of part-time grease monkeys at Gus's Garage & Liquor Stop in
> > Widespot Wisconsin next summer.
> >
> > Meanwhile, my bride of 38 years wants to know why we're still tied
> to
> > the dock, instead of sailing off into the sunset, on that golden
> > voyage that I promised her when I brought this old Bird home to live
> > with us. Just like on my wedding night, I'm stalling and hiding my
> > inexperience with grand promises of how wonderful everything will
> be,
> > when I finally get out of neutral. Any helpful marital advice from
> > experienced Bird fanciers would be much appreciated. I've already
> > used up the old trick of vague promises about new carpets and
> curtains.
> >
> > George Lewandowski,
> > Mercer Island, WA
> >
>

[davidkerryedwards]

I think you'll find a number of people speaking highly of the Horton Air Fan
replacement.
People have had trouble finding replacement parts of the electric fan and
converted to the
Horton.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Lewandowski98040" 20.Lewandowski@...> wrote:
>
> Gregory -
>
> Thanks for the tip about the oil pick-up tube and screen.
>
> Yes, one idler pulley bearing was bad, and it has been replaced.
>
> I did hear from Mike already. He told me to pack my bus off to the
> local Cat dealer ( Something that was already part of the plan laid
> out in my original post).
>
> I haven't heard from anyone who has experience with the same fan
> assembly that I have, where the fan shaft and bearing were
> manufactured as one complete unit, for a full-time, clutchless fan.
> It is a five inch shaft permanently wedded to a 2.12 inch wide
> bearing. (Federal Bearing part number PF 36047 for engine model
> 3A3208, AR number 9N 5158)
>
> Apparently, this fan design was abandoned around 1980 because it
> wasn't a successful design, or, alternatively but much less likely, it
> was so successful that I have the only unit that ever failed in
> service and therefore the only such unit that ever needed replacement,
> so no spares were ever stockpiled and no other birder has experience
> replacing this strange duck with something of more modern design.
>
> I'll see what Bluebird says next week.
>
> Thanks again to all who wrote tonight.
>