MICHIGAN wanderlodge inspection help needed in Lansing, MI

[Kenneth G Samson]

hello, birders -

i am preparing to head to New Mexico and Arizona soon in the '76 FC33
i purchased in Michigan. This is my first Wanderlodge, and my first
big diesel and while it apprears to be running very well, i do have
some concerns with the allison transmission and the air brakes
[another first for me] - i am nearly totaly deaf and cannot rely on my
hearing for picking up on potential problems, and can only rely on the
vibrations i feel. This is where my concern about the allison comes
in, it 'feels' wrong to me, like it is taking too long to upshift, and
does not downshift as quickly as i had expected.

i was wondering if any list members are near Lansing, MI and could
come and inspect the whole coach for me, and give me pointers, advice,
etc. before i head to the southwest on it's first long journey? My dad
will be going with me after he arrives from PA, and although he is a
retired mechanic, he has no diesel or big truck experience.

while i cannot hear, and would need someone who is also willing to
write on paper in order to communicate with me, i can speak clearly -
you will have no trouble understanding me.

thanks in advance,
ken
-currently hanging out at the Lansing mall on W. saginaw, alternating
between panera cafe and Barnes & Noble bookstore for wifi, eats, and
good reading.

[davidkerryedwards]

It shouldn't feel like a car transmission.(unless my experience with
mine is anomalous) I think mine shifts up at around 24-2500rpm. It
should feel similar to the way you've experienced city buses
shifting. It shifts later than what you would expect with a car.

Kerry
82 FC 35
Denver

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Kenneth G Samson"
wrote:
>
> hello, birders -
>
> i am preparing to head to New Mexico and Arizona soon in the '76
FC33
> i purchased in Michigan. This is my first Wanderlodge, and my first
> big diesel and while it apprears to be running very well, i do have
> some concerns with the allison transmission and the air brakes
> [another first for me] - i am nearly totaly deaf and cannot rely
on my
> hearing for picking up on potential problems, and can only rely on
the
> vibrations i feel. This is where my concern about the allison comes
> in, it 'feels' wrong to me, like it is taking too long to upshift,
and
> does not downshift as quickly as i had expected.
>
> i was wondering if any list members are near Lansing, MI and could
> come and inspect the whole coach for me, and give me pointers,
advice,
> etc. before i head to the southwest on it's first long journey? My
dad
> will be going with me after he arrives from PA, and although he is
a
> retired mechanic, he has no diesel or big truck experience.
>
> while i cannot hear, and would need someone who is also willing to
> write on paper in order to communicate with me, i can speak
clearly -
> you will have no trouble understanding me.
>
> thanks in advance,
> ken
> -currently hanging out at the Lansing mall on W. saginaw,
alternating
> between panera cafe and Barnes & Noble bookstore for wifi, eats,
and
> good reading.
>

[Kenneth Samson]

i sure hope you're right, because that is exactly what mine is doing,
upshifting at about 2400 rpm. it just seems so high and unecessary, and
'feels' like it should be upshifting at about 1800 rpm. when the next gear
finally hits, it does fall back to 1800 until i bring it to highway speed
where it settles in at 2400 again. my gears are 5.29, does that have
anything to do with it?

sounds like a good bet since three or four recommendations immediately come
up for jeff, so i am going to contact him and see about driving over there
for an inspect before we go southwest.

i just got hit with a $500 tow bill today. i have been spending a lot of
time a the Lansing mall, reading and working on my computer at barnes &
noble. the mall manager assumed that the rv was "abandoned" [his word] and
hauled it off, along with my two little dogs. idiots. i parked in a
different spot each day and went out frequently to check on the dogs and
walk them and patronized several different stores during the day as well,
but 'hey, it's one of them wanderlodges, they must be rich, let's soak 'em
huh?' $500 for a freaking tow? i just know that mall manager is getting
himself a nice healthy kickback from the towing company.

Two and a half years of full timing in other motorhomes and i have never had
a nasty surprise like this. this thing is my HOME. full-time, for cryin'
out loud... isn't there a law that protects my HOME from being hauled off as
opposed to a mere vehicle? i'd love to sue their corporate butts but i
haven't got that kind of money to retain someone.

thanks for letting me vent,
ken

On 8/31/06, davidkerryedwards wrote:
>
>
> It shouldn't feel like a car transmission.(unless my experience with
> mine is anomalous) I think mine shifts up at around 24-2500rpm. It
> should feel similar to the way you've experienced city buses
> shifting. It shifts later than what you would expect with a car.
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com,
> "Kenneth G Samson"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > hello, birders -
> >
> > i am preparing to head to New Mexico and Arizona soon in the '76
> FC33
> > i purchased in Michigan. This is my first Wanderlodge, and my first
> > big diesel and while it apprears to be running very well, i do have
> > some concerns with the allison transmission and the air brakes
> > [another first for me] - i am nearly totaly deaf and cannot rely
> on my
> > hearing for picking up on potential problems, and can only rely on
> the
> > vibrations i feel. This is where my concern about the allison comes
> > in, it 'feels' wrong to me, like it is taking too long to upshift,
> and
> > does not downshift as quickly as i had expected.
> >
> > i was wondering if any list members are near Lansing, MI and could
> > come and inspect the whole coach for me, and give me pointers,
> advice,
> > etc. before i head to the southwest on it's first long journey? My
> dad
> > will be going with me after he arrives from PA, and although he is
> a
> > retired mechanic, he has no diesel or big truck experience.
> >
> > while i cannot hear, and would need someone who is also willing to
> > write on paper in order to communicate with me, i can speak
> clearly -
> > you will have no trouble understanding me.
> >
> > thanks in advance,
> > ken
> > -currently hanging out at the Lansing mall on W. saginaw,
> alternating
> > between panera cafe and Barnes & Noble bookstore for wifi, eats,
> and
> > good reading.
> >
>
>
>



--
-kgs

HTTP://WWW.BIBLIOMARKET.COM

http://just-go.to/bibliolodge/


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gardner Yeaw]

There was a recent entry in the forum referencing the shift points by Hank
Hannigan. If you search on 'valve body' you should find it. He mentions that
his Allison had 2800 rpm springs and he had them changed to 2600. It would
seem that 2400 is probably a good setting, but you might want to check with
an Allison shop that has a Valve Body machine if you think there is a
problem,

I don't know what RPM my 78 shifts at because my tachometer stops at
2200. Oh well, at least I have something to fix that doesn't cripple the
old Bird.

Gardner
78FC33
-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of Kenneth Samson
Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2006 8:08 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: MICHIGAN wanderlodge inspection help
needed in Lansing, MI

i sure hope you're right, because that is exactly what mine is doing,
upshifting at about 2400 rpm. it just seems so high and unecessary, and
'feels' like it should be upshifting at about 1800 rpm. when the next gear
finally hits, it does fall back to 1800 until i bring it to highway speed
where it settles in at 2400 again. my gears are 5.29, does that have
anything to do with it?

sounds like a good bet since three or four recommendations immediately come
up for jeff, so i am going to contact him and see about driving over there
for an inspect before we go southwest.

i just got hit with a $500 tow bill today. i have been spending a lot of
time a the Lansing mall, reading and working on my computer at barnes &
noble. the mall manager assumed that the rv was "abandoned" [his word] and
hauled it off, along with my two little dogs. idiots. i parked in a
different spot each day and went out frequently to check on the dogs and
walk them and patronized several different stores during the day as well,
but 'hey, it's one of them wanderlodges, they must be rich, let's soak 'em
huh?' $500 for a freaking tow? i just know that mall manager is getting
himself a nice healthy kickback from the towing company.

Two and a half years of full timing in other motorhomes and i have never had
a nasty surprise like this. this thing is my HOME. full-time, for cryin'
out loud... isn't there a law that protects my HOME from being hauled off as
opposed to a mere vehicle? i'd love to sue their corporate butts but i
haven't got that kind of money to retain someone.

thanks for letting me vent,
ken

On 8/31/06, davidkerryedwards < kerry.edwards@...
> wrote:
>
>
> It shouldn't feel like a car transmission.(unless my experience with
> mine is anomalous) I think mine shifts up at around 24-2500rpm. It
> should feel similar to the way you've experienced city buses
> shifting. It shifts later than what you would expect with a car.
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com

,
> "Kenneth G Samson"
>
> wrote:
> >
> > hello, birders -
> >
> > i am preparing to head to New Mexico and Arizona soon in the '76
> FC33
> > i purchased in Michigan. This is my first Wanderlodge, and my first
> > big diesel and while it apprears to be running very well, i do have
> > some concerns with the allison transmission and the air brakes
> > [another first for me] - i am nearly totaly deaf and cannot rely
> on my
> > hearing for picking up on potential problems, and can only rely on
> the
> > vibrations i feel. This is where my concern about the allison comes
> > in, it 'feels' wrong to me, like it is taking too long to upshift,
> and
> > does not downshift as quickly as i had expected.
> >
> > i was wondering if any list members are near Lansing, MI and could
> > come and inspect the whole coach for me, and give me pointers,
> advice,
> > etc. before i head to the southwest on it's first long journey? My
> dad
> > will be going with me after he arrives from PA, and although he is
> a
> > retired mechanic, he has no diesel or big truck experience.
> >
> > while i cannot hear, and would need someone who is also willing to
> > write on paper in order to communicate with me, i can speak
> clearly -
> > you will have no trouble understanding me.
> >
> > thanks in advance,
> > ken
> > -currently hanging out at the Lansing mall on W. saginaw,
> alternating
> > between panera cafe and Barnes & Noble bookstore for wifi, eats,
> and
> > good reading.
> >
>
>
>

--
-kgs

HTTP://WWW.BIBLIOMARKET.COM <HTTP://WWW.BIBLIOMARKET.COM>

http://just-go.to/bibliolodge/ <http://just-go.to/bibliolodge/>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]