Community Forums

HavasuRed · 08-13-2013, 10:01 PM

Thanks to this site I became aware of the dry PTO problem with so many Country Coaches. Recently took delivery of a "new to us" 2005 Allure and as soon as I got it I crawled underneath and discovered the retro-fit had never been done. It's real easy to tell, just count the hoses to the PTO. One bad, two good! I ordered the retrofit myself online and saved a lot of money. Some places wanted as much as $525 but found it for $400. Funny, only in the RV business can a company like Chelsea-Parker design something that fails within 25k miles and then sell a retro fit for $500! Anyway, a local truck shop did the work and the old shaft was close to failure with a lot of play. They told me several stories of catastrophic failures that they have seen in several vehicles. If you haven't taken care of it, i recommend like so many on this site to take care of it now. If you order it yourself it will cost you about $700 to get and have it installed. If it breaks, big $!

2 Stroker · 08-13-2013, 10:26 PM

Had mine done when I got my coach in January before I picked it up. Good that you got it before the big $$$$ Keep an eye on the radiator another weak spot

2 stroker

HavasuRed · 08-13-2013, 11:09 PM

Had that done before picking it up!

2 Stroker · 08-13-2013, 11:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HavasuRed

Had that done before picking it up!

Medico · 08-14-2013, 10:55 AM

We checked the VIN on my Magna. CC said it had been done during the recall. Glad for that. Everyone should check.

mel s · 08-14-2013, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HavasuRed

Thanks to this site I became aware of the dry PTO problem with so many Country Coaches. Recently took delivery of a "new to us" 2005 Allure and as soon as I got it I crawled underneath and discovered the retro-fit had never been done. It's real easy to tell, just count the hoses to the PTO. One bad, two good! I ordered the retrofit myself online and saved a lot of money. Some places wanted as much as $525 but found it for $400. Funny, only in the RV business can a company like Chelsea-Parker design something that fails within 25k miles and then sell a retro fit for $500! Anyway, a local truck shop did the work and the old shaft was close to failure with a lot of play. They told me several stories of catastrophic failures that they have seen in several vehicles. If you haven't taken care of it, i recommend like so many on this site to take care of it now. If you order it yourself it will cost you about $700 to get and have it installed. If it breaks, big $!

HavasuRed
What does PTO stand for?
Power Take Off?
In my world PTO has always meant "power take off".
I have one on my garden tractor and many trucks I've driven had them for the dump box.
Mel
'96 Safari

Peralko · 08-14-2013, 01:23 PM

Yes, it is power take off. Country Coach used this PTO to mount the hydraulic pump, which powers the cooling fans and power steering. No fun with a 36,000 pound motorhome with no power steering--I've been there, but not due to the PTO-issue. We had a hydraulic hose burst. Of course, cooling fan issue make the lack of power steering quickly a moot point, since the engine will overheat pretty quickly!

mel s · 08-14-2013, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peralko

Yes, it is power take off. Country Coach used this PTO to mount the hydraulic pump, which powers the cooling fans and power steering. No fun with a 36,000 pound motorhome with no power steering--I've been there, but not due to the PTO-issue. We had a hydraulic hose burst. Of course, cooling fan issue make the lack of power steering quickly a moot point, since the engine will overheat pretty quickly!

Peralko
Thank you.
Mel

smlranger · 08-14-2013, 07:16 PM

Fortunately, previous owner had the wet pto fix done on our Allure. I am curious though why CC uses a transmission mounted PTO to drive the hydraulic pump? Is this more efficient than other methods? Do other brands of coaches with side radiators use engine mounted, belt-driven hydraulic pumps? Does the PTO pump use less engine horsepower than a belt-driven pump?

dons2346 · 08-14-2013, 09:39 PM

Here is a website for JD's service. JD was a Country Coach tech that started his own business after the BK. His site has some good info on the wet PTO's You can get a wet kit here cheaper than anywhere else. JOHN DAVIS RV SERVICES INC.

He also has a good supply of parts for our CC's

sallylillian · 08-16-2013, 06:02 AM

I have the dry PTO but have the whole assembly pulled each year, checked and regreased when I have the full service. Wet pto's can fail too.

Michael
2008 Allure

Knob Creek · 08-25-2013, 12:45 PM

Can anyone point me to a shop in Elkhart, IN who can install the wet kit?

Knobby

HavasuRed · 08-26-2013, 09:32 AM

Hey knobby, any good heavy duty mechanic can do it. I just searched the web for the part. Ordered it. Printed this page http://www.jdrv1.com/sitebuildercont...s/pto-101a.pdf

Took it to a truck mechanic with the pictures and he did it in a couple of hours. Really pretty simple. The page I listed give the part numbers and everything