Dead on road.

[Fffrank]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

Y
I'm trying understand your problem with the intake clamps, that side of the system is under vacuum and shouldn't impact boost. How were the clamps blown off. Just over tightened.

Haven't done a great job at responding to everyone but this one I did want to reply to.... Because it was something I learned during this process that was so interesting to me. Diesel engines do not create vacuum.... The power is modulated not by a throttle body or carb but by the qty of fuel delivered to the system.

The intake is not under vacuum but rather (and confusingly!) it is under boost (which is provided from the turbo.) In many ways diesel engines are running opposite from gas engines!

[CountryB]

The Turbo air inlet side (before entering turbo) can be in a vacuum (that's how the air filter restriction gauge works), and the Turbo air outlet side (going to intake) is under boost.

So a leaking hose/clamp in the air inlet side can suck dirt into the turbo/engine, and a leaking hose/clamp on the turbo outlet side can cause loss of boost.

[GonetoRaces]

How is the girlfriend and the dog holding up.

I guess you will meet her expectations of “not a project” as you have everything fixed by the time you get home.

Sorry about the damage to your bike rack.

Enjoy the hills. Wishing you nothing but good times from here on out.

Safe travels.

[RobRoy]

Originally Posted by Fffrank

You know..... I tend to bring these situations on to myself. The original plan was to leave on Dec 14 for 3 weeks of snowboarding. I'm not sure that ever came up in this thread but there were certainly concerns/issues/worries about winter camping and the challenges that come with it.

Settle in for a long post if you're bored.

After the December that I had, I should be beelining it for home, right? That's not how I operate. I knew that I had a choice: get home and sell the coach or battle test it. I couldn't baby it and spend every mile feeling like there was a storm cloud over my head and that I was only waiting for the next major breakdown. I need to have confidence that it will work and do the job I bought it to do.

So as soon as it was running we pointed it north. We have a reservation for new years at Fireside Resort just outside Jackson Hole. I also have a google map of RV friendly ski resorts and there was one on the way that interested me.... So we put White Pine Ski resort in Pinedale, WY in the GPS and now I'm happy to report we are slopeside, warm, well fed and I've got a makers mark in hand. I'll be on the first chair at 9am tomorrow and whenever my legs give out we will head to Jackson.

But..... About today. We made it but it wasn't smooth.

First stop was O'reilly for a clamp for the intake. They didn't have the right size (of course had one a hair too big and one a hair too small) so ultimately decided a regular hose clamp would get us moving until we could truly fix it. No such luck. Blew off as soon as I got to the first on ramp.

Next stop autozone. Found the right clamp (wasn't easy) but $5.99 later and we were moving fast again!

Blew the intake again 6 miles later. Was cursing and trying to figure out if I'd be able to spot and pick the clamp back up on the interstate if we looped around..... Imagine my surprise when it wasn't the new clamp that had given out but the old one!!? Luckily it was still there and I realized that it was never fully torqued down. Fixed on the side of the highway and no further intake issues.

Made it to laramie to stock up on groceries (liquor) and hit the self serve car wash. Rig was FILTHY after all the towing spray and needed 20m of wash bay time. Not fun in 10F weather.

Pulled into the grocery store and discovered my motorcycle rack was mangled and my two Z125s were barely even attached to the back!! I wish I had a photo but I was pretty embarrassed and needed to focus my energy elsewhere...... Must have hit a bollard leaving the carwash. It was tight and you know how the back of these things swing. One of the trays was bent in half with yellow paint down the leading edge. Luckily the bikes were still there and no real damage besides the rack. Some ratchet strap engineering and back in business. Will need to have a welder address when back home but it's solid now.

Made it to Wamsutter, WY - Loves Truck Stop - to get a propane fill. Very nice woman hooks up the tank and the fill hose starts spraying all over the place. There's a check valve in the tank to prevent anything in there from leaking out but the hose is shot and I need to have a new one made. Can't get propane until then. Tank is half full so should be OK for a few days - and lined up a repair when we get to Jackson.

Can you believe this is still the same day?

Start experiencing some high coolant temps coming west out of there. There are some relatively mellow (but long) climbs but the temp gauge isn't making any sense. It is going up to 220F and then slowly back down to 160F but doesn't have any rhyme or reason. I adjust my speed up and down and keep an eye on whether it's when om the boost or off and can't make sense of it. Mobile tech did tell me we lost some coolant during the repair and that I should top it off when I have a chance. But..... Downside of my motorcycle carrier is that I can't open the rear doors, it's a big ordeal to unload so that I can and so we declared if the low coolant light wasn't on I must have been ok. After spiking over 220F on a flat spot of road I decided I should take the time before it got real dark (and real cold) and unload the bikes and top off the coolant. It was indeed very low. Filled it correctly and temp problems were now in the rear view mirror.

So we have now traversed most of Wyoming and collected every repair merit badge possible. We are 3 miles from our destination. Haven't seen another vehicle in 75 minutes. This has to be one of the most remote ski resorts in the US (which is cool!) and the headlights cut out. Jiggling the switch makes them come on and off. Enough that we can flicker them and with the full moon and the fog lights we can avoid the deer on the road (seriously.... 3 miles and saw at least a dozen deer.)

But like I said: battle testing. Tomorrow the coach will get another repair (I like to think of them as upgrades) and then I won't have to think about headlight switches for a long time.

Before that I have a good sleep and an early chairlift to look forward to.

You are the man Frank!....and have the patience of Job sir.

Happy Trails and enjoy your well deserved vacation.


You will be talking about this for years.

Happy Trails from back here in the cheap seats

[jacwjames]

Originally Posted by Fffrank

Haven't done a great job at responding to everyone but this one I did want to reply to.... Because it was something I learned during this process that was so interesting to me. Diesel engines do not create vacuum.... The power is modulated not by a throttle body or carb but by the qty of fuel delivered to the system.

The intake is not under vacuum but rather (and confusingly!) it is under boost (which is provided from the turbo.) In many ways diesel engines are running opposite from gas engines!

So the clamps came off on the output side of the turbo??? Did you have to have these clamps off to work on the injector pump.

[Pillbox]

I hereby grant Frank knighthood.
Sir Frank, you are the man!
Thanks for sharing your adventures, Look forward to here you made it home.

Terry

[Alpine36]

Nice work Frank! Now that you're rolling again enjoy your travels, you made it thru about the worst of circumstances. Nothing like earning a three week roadside apprenticeship to have under your belt.

Here's to fresh powder, short lift lines and plenty of Makers Mark.
Happy New Year!

[Unplanned Tourist]

As a HD truck mechanic for 40 years, I had my share of replacing diff's, tranny's and working on engines in winter and summer weather. Much nicer in the summer.

Not nice crawling around under a loaded logging truck out in the snow and bush changing a tranny that weighs 8-900 pounds.

I have to tip my hat to you Frank, for getting it done with what sounds like very little diesel engine experiance. Hope it runs like a top till the day you sell it!

[Mile Marker 42]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

So the clamps came off on the output side of the turbo??? Did you have to have these clamps off to work on the injector pump.

I believe on Frank's model, they had to remove a pipe to gain access to the lift pump.

[jacwjames]

On mine the air filter canister sits right above the injector pump, there is a pipe that crosses over the top of the engine but this is on the vacuum side of the turbo. The pressure side of turbo is all on the opposite side.

[Mile Marker 42]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

On mine the air filter canister sits right above the injector pump, there is a pipe that crosses over the top of the engine but this is on the vacuum side of the turbo. The pressure side of turbo is all on the opposite side.

I believe you have full access to your engine due to your side radiator? Lucky guy you are:-)

[jacwjames]

Yes side radiator which does provide good access to the front of the engine. Limited access on passenger side where the transfer & injector pumps are. The muffler is low on the passenger side of the engine so I can't get at the transfer pump easily from below.

Still better then a rear radiator

[Fffrank]

Originally Posted by jacwjames

On mine the air filter canister sits right above the injector pump, there is a pipe that crosses over the top of the engine but this is on the vacuum side of the turbo. The pressure side of turbo is all on the opposite side.

Maybe I'm wrong about there being boost on the inlet side but I don't understand how else it would have blown the clamps - or why they would be high pressure clamps rather than regular spring clamps or hose clamps?

I'll post a picture when back home. On the final stretch across South Dakota right now. Has been an uneventful few days in regards to things breaking!!

[R.Wold]

Uneventful is nice. Really nice. Soothing even. I could use a little uneventful about now....