1997 Spartan chassis service manual........

[dieseldave56]

I recently replaced all three of the Ridewell HCV ( ride height control valve) and PPV ( pressure protection valves) because they are no longer in production and not available from anyone in the Western Hemisphere! Replumbed the air lines , new dump valves , ect , ect. Well 1st sign of trouble .....................

But I have no definitive point to point ride height dimensions. I have received several answers from nice folks but no two answer are the same (granted and understandable that all had different chassis and different year chassis) I woukld like to be able to see something in writing. Spartan can not help with the dimensions or make available a chassis service manual for my IC2242. I have the Spartan Owners / Operators manual .

Any how if someone , anyone has access to or can point me in the direction of a service manual, I'd appreciate the effort.


thanks, dave

[dieseldave56]

Well the nice folks at Spartan Parts and Service deprtments wanted to help but emailed a PDF file for a 1996 Spartan chassis owners manual. Included was a note from whom ever sent the PDF that they know this would not help as the ride height dimensions are not within this Spartan chassis Owners manual ( note , the IC 2242 chassis for m/y 1996 is much different than the 1997 IC 2242 I have under my American Tradition as 1997 was the first year introduction of their slide-out).

The ride height point to point locations and ride height dimensions are in the Spartan Chassis Service/ Repair manual. But where ot find such a manual? I have asked two Fleetwood/ American dealership service departments , west coast RV wrecking yards, local RV repair shops, used technical manual stores, the Spartan Chassis Owners Club, ect , ect. Next I will wait by the freeway and as the RVs head south find and pull over the first 1997 American Tradition and ...............?

dieselDave 1997 American Tradition 370hp

[Route 66]

Have you talked to Chris McCord at Spartan? He is one of the most helpful guys in Spartan Service.

He should be able to get that info for you.

[dieseldave56]

Howdy Dirk , Got your message and I'll do my best to follow.


Thanks for the referral to Chris McCord, you are the second person that has mentioned him by name. I have run thru a gambet of nameless folks from parts , customer service to the service dept and they have all tried to help, nice folks. They have sent me links and emailed me irrelevant items to do with IFS chassis, to pre 1997 chassis that don't apply. Some times they make note that they understand that what they have sent will not help.

I have a friend from a motorcoach specific forum that sent scanned pages of his 2000 Eagle with the Spartan Mountain Master chassis ( very similar) with IFS. But as he (RJ ) pointed out to me today, look at the notes in the pages where the lubrication layout and diagram. Sure enough there were point to point locations and the dimesions for both I Beam and IFS chassis. RJ's document and my pre-dissassembly measurements surprisingly enough have the same measurement location ( for the straight I beam front axle) and the same dimension.

Now I must get another documented confirmation to prove to myself . I have engaged the "Ask the Question" website where experts in particuklar fields answer a question for a specific fee. I have Jeff, who is a diesel mecha......... technican who has got 1/2 the question ( the measurement location and dimension for the rear axle ride height) correct. I have asked several RV repair shop on line if they could provide specifics.

I'll get it all done before spring when I have to go back to South Dakota to sell our 3000 acre cattle ranch. Thanks Dirk for the referral

[dieseldave56]

With the help of several kind fellow RVers, I am able to report that i have the information I have searched for ........ As I thought my Spartan IC 2242 is the same as the Spartan Mountain Master chassis in many regards including the ride height point to point locations and dimensions.

The rear is dimension 8.50 plus 0r minus .062. As measured from the bottom of the double stack frame to the centerline of the rear axle ( differential housing weld transverses across this line as the two halves of the differential are welded together. This weld line can be used as a point of measurement for convenience) .

The front dimension is 10.25 plus or minus .062. Point to point measurement locations are from the bottom of the double stack frame to the Eaton I beam axle pad ( the spring pad is a machined flat mounting surface).

Thanks to all the contributed.. dave