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Bgonzo · 02-11-2019, 08:20 PM

Update on the travel....picked up the unit last Thursday and left Winter Haven, Florida Friday morning headed north on I-75. I got off at Tifton, Ga to head east towards Columbus, Ga and noticed a "ticking" sound when I went through an underpass and didn't think anything about it. By the time I pulled in to visit my parents, the ticking sound had transitioned to a jack hammer. Keep in mind, I couldn't hear any of this inside, only when I had the window down with having the sound bouncing back towards me. I got the flashlight out and took a look on the driver's side exhaust area and saw that the exhaust manifold had a good size leak at the rear cylinder.

Made some calls Saturday to find out no place was open to look at it and did some research to find that this was an "issue" with the 8.1 along with the possibility of shearing of a bolt. I found there was actually a Workhorse Chassis specialist in Birmingham but opened Monday.

To make a long story a lot shorter.
- workhorse specialist was basically a parts place now, stock manifolds were $1100 ea to replace if warped and a Doug Thorley header kit was $906.
- called a local place and they could get me in right away, diagnosis: warped manifolds and now burnt plug wires, opted for headers and went to Birmingham to pick them while they started.
- called dealer I purchased from and they verified full exhaust system check was done and no leaks were found but they would "take care of me" (I also did a walk around with the motor running before departure and heard nothing)
- 1 bolt sheared off in head, finally pulled out at 4:45pm, job to be completed in the morning.
- waiting to find out in the morning how the dealer will "take care of me", they already know I'm out $1083 for headers and wires and labor is still to come.

I'll update when I find out, should be interesting. If they offer to split the bill I'll be happy, total will be a little over $2k. If they step up and and take care of the whole thing I may become their new spokesman. Lol

tmw188 · 02-12-2019, 05:29 AM

Was it Precision Sales and Service in Birmingham that is now only a parts house?

lonfu · 02-12-2019, 08:16 AM

Don't hold your breath. exhaust manifold problems are the norm with these engines. Your header solution should solve it for some time. But, not forever as there is quit a bit of heat developed right at the manifold connection and any thing will fail... would suggest to use stainless steel exhaust manifold gaskets as they last much longer...

Bgonzo · 02-14-2019, 02:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw188

Was it Precision Sales and Service in Birmingham that is now only a parts house?

Basically yes. They said they were out 6 weeks min and weren't planning on taking any more in.

tmw188 · 02-14-2019, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bgonzo

Basically yes. They said they were out 6 weeks min and weren't planning on taking any more in.

So are they getting out of the service end? The good thing with them is they may keep regular parts in stock and report campaign repairs to the WH database. Outside of that nothing special. Any good large truck facility can do the work. I forget where is home for you? Are you able to drive it home the way it is if so just do it and get the repairs done at a shop near your home. If you need to take it back for something your there.

Bgonzo · 02-15-2019, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw188

So are they getting out of the service end? The good thing with them is they may keep regular parts in stock and report campaign repairs to the WH database. Outside of that nothing special. Any good large truck facility can do the work. I forget where is home for you? Are you able to drive it home the way it is if so just do it and get the repairs done at a shop near your home. If you need to take it back for something your there.

From what I understand, they'll deal mainly in parts.

I live in Alaska, I was able to get the headers on and other parts in Alabama. Currently in Salt Lake City and will departing tomorrow to begin the final leg(s) through Canada and then home.

tmw188 · 02-19-2019, 04:51 PM

Well how’s the trip going now?

Bgonzo · 02-20-2019, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw188

Well how’s the trip going now?

Back in Anchorage! Only problem is, via Alaska Air. Haha Generator and furnace took a dump on me in Helena, MT so we went back to Salt Lake City and left it at a shop to be repaired. I'll fly back down in May to try again.

tmw188 · 02-20-2019, 04:04 AM

Furnace I would think is a minor problem. What is the issue with the generator, it too could be nothing big. Fuel pump, or filter they would have fixed that in MT? It’s a nice coach maybe just needed some use.

Bgonzo · 02-20-2019, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmw188

Furnace I would think is a minor problem. What is the issue with the generator, it too could be nothing big. Fuel pump, or filter they would have fixed that in MT? It’s a nice coach maybe just needed some use.

Shop said they think the gen did have a fuel pump issue, all I've heard so far. It is nice overall and you could be right. Previous owners only drove it down to Florida from Canada once a year and back.