Community Forums

CoCoDave · 03-22-2014, 09:09 AM

We're idly thinking about moving from our Monaco Windsor to a Country Coach. A lot of the coaches we have seen have CAT engines. I checked with the Cummins Coach Care shop in Coburg Oregon and learned that they do not do CAT's. So where do the CAT owners take their coaches for service?

I'm told there is a good CAT service shop in Junction City near the Country Coach operation. That could work since we normally have that kind of work done in Coburg. But what about on the road? Is there a network of "CAT Coach Care" shops?

Shops that primarily service OTR trucks are not our first choice.

TIA

2 Stroker · 03-22-2014, 10:50 AM

Dave
I have to call Petersons Machinery in Portland, Oregon to see about a valve job and may call one other shop. Here is a link in the Cat section that may help.
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f124/2004...ct-189181.html
2 stroker

laj · 03-22-2014, 10:53 AM

2 Stroker, why not use the one in either eugene, much closer or have you had a bad experience there?

laj · 03-22-2014, 10:58 AM

sorry 2 stroker. wrong end. wasnt correctly oriented.

smlranger · 03-22-2014, 06:21 PM

CAT's are very good diesel engines, as good as Cummins IMO. I had a CAT in my previous DP and used a local CAT dealer's shop for work that was unique to the engine. Most anyone can do your routine maintenance... oil, filters, belts, hoses, etc.

It is certainly true that since CAT is out of the highway engine business now, they don't have any RV-specific service centers. I now use my local Cummins Coach Care for most of what I need/want done.

However, if I liked a coach, I would not hesitate to purchase one with a CAT engine.

2 Stroker · 03-22-2014, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laj

2 Stroker, why not use the one in either eugene, much closer or have you had a bad experience there?

I should have for all the trips I have made to Junction City last year

2 stroker

CoCoDave · 03-23-2014, 07:17 AM

Thanks guys for the responses. I don't have any qualms about CAT engines per se. Or even the fact that CAT has been in and out of the over-the-road business. It's just that finding competent, fairly priced service is not always easy. Especially when the added requirement of respecting the coach's interior and other "house" components is layered on.

Speedco LOF works for CAT or Cummins. Tire shops don't care what engine is in the coach. But the CAT valve lash adjustment mentioned in one of the above posts is not something that Cummins Coach Care is willing to do.

So my question was where to take my potential 2003-2005 Country Coach with a CAT engine for its valve lash adjustment should it need one. Some place that wont track grease on the floor and incur the wrath of she-who-must-be-obeyed.

docj · 03-23-2014, 07:35 AM

The valve lash adjustment on CAT engines is something, I believe, is normally done at around ~45,000 miles and isn't done again until ~250,000 miles. The previous owner verified that the adjustment had been done on mine before we purchased it and I'm not expecting to still be driving it when it needs it again in another 160,000 miles! Even though it's a difficult job, it's my understanding that it can usually be done from the access to the engine in the bedroom under the bed.

As for obtaining service, we've had no problems getting serviced at CAT dealers that handle on-road trucks, or at independent truck centers in various cities. As was already noted, almost anyone can do basic oil changes, fuel filters, etc. And the rest of the MH is pretty much standard truck stuff. We use RV dealers when RV-specific expertise is needed, but rarely does that require expertise with "your" specific brand of MH.

B Bob · 03-23-2014, 09:58 PM

I have had the best results using a CAT dealer for engine work on my C12. Last spring we blew a charge air cooler a short distance from Bakersfield and just looked up CAT in that city. They took very good care of us and did not get the carpets soiled. Before that we had had service done by non CAT people and had some bad results.

As a company CAT is double the size of Cummins (I have owned stock in both is how I know) and there are lots of dealers and repair places around.

As far as the valve adjustment goes the CAT people last spring adjusted ours and all of a sudden our engine brake worked really well. Plus we started getting full power readings on the Silverleaf computer.

dons2346 · 03-23-2014, 10:20 PM

Are you looking just for oil changes? Then Speedco is the one to go to.

laj · 03-23-2014, 10:51 PM

if i choose not to do the work myself only cat dealers for me. the times i have taken it there as B Bob has said you couldnt tell they had even been in or worked on it. everything was left spotless.

CoCoDave · 03-25-2014, 09:07 AM

OK. Sounds like CAT dealers have shops that are willing and able to service engines in motor homes with all that entails. I have no idea if the C-12 in the 2002 Affinity we're looking at needs a valve lash adjustment. It was cited only as an example of something that Cummins Coach Care would not do as a consequence of their policy to not work on CAT engines.

Am familiar with Speedco and have been using them for more than four years.

docj · 03-25-2014, 03:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WindsorDave

OK. Sounds like CAT dealers have shops that are willing and able to service engines in motor homes with all that entails. I have no idea if the C-12 in the 2002 Affinity we're looking at needs a valve lash adjustment. It was cited only as an example of something that Cummins Coach Care would not do as a consequence of their policy to not work on CAT engines.

Am familiar with Speedco and have been using them for more than four years.

It's probably worth noting that some CAT dealers will work on motorhomes. It's important to check beforehand if any particular dealer services on-road trucks; if so, they probably will work on a MH. Some dealers will only do ag and/or construction equipment.

dmroaming · 03-28-2014, 11:12 PM

Just spent time at Cashman Cat dealer in Las Vegas - while they charge $115 an hour for trucks, they charge $140 an hour for RV and bus work. I suggest asking for their shop rates ahead of taking your rig in for service. While a case can be made that RVs are harder to work on, it strikes me that since they are harder to work on any given job will take longer and the service center will log more hours. Seems like it works from both ends for the service center.

Denny