Catastrophic Failure/Happy Ending

[gary miller]

That lurking monster of the dark struck one of our
GMCnetters -- Craig and Sally Miller (no relation to
the writer hereof). Late Monday evening while
traveling through the backwoods of Oregon they were
waved off the highway by an off-duty police man; he
yelled and screamed at them to get out of the coach ---
it was on fire!!. Well, the fire turned out to be a
front left hub which was glowing red hot and the grease
and boot were on fire. Extinguishers took care of that
with no resultant damage to the coach but the
bearing-hub assembly was shambles.

Craig caught me by cell phone just as I returned home
from dinner --- remembered my name from the Black List
(which he left at home!!). (BTW here is a suggestion
to all; include your city/state with your signature so
that we all get to know where each other is located ---
along with taking the Black list with you). Anyway,
the Millers' coach was towed about 75 miles to ANDERSON
AUTOMOTIVE in Bandon, Oregon. This is a small but very
well equipped shop run by Richard Anderson.
Richard moved my coach out of the way (installing
6-wheel Harrison brakes for me) and prepared to receive
the Miller's coach. It arrived about midnight. Richard
found a motel for the Millers and then proceeded to
tear the damaged hub apart and access the damage ---
new hub required. He closed up shop around 3 am!!!
Bright and early Tuesday Richard got the parts ordered
overnight express. Tuesday night he took the other
front hub apart and found the bearing welded to the hub
- -- had to cut it apart with a grinder. It, too, was
ready to disintegrate. So while waiting for the parts
he put a new bearing in the right side.
Wednesday am the parts arrived. Richard proceeded to
rebuild the left hub assembly and got the Millers back
on the road by 5 pm Wednesday.
Considering that parts had to come from the East, I
think that Richard Anderson should be nominated for
MECHANIC OF THE MONTH for his heroic effort to get
these stranded travelers back on the road. I know I am
proud to have him as my mechanic and strongly suggest
that you carve his name in your dashboard if you are
planning a trip to the Oregon Coast. Anderson
Automotive (541) 347-2704 andersonr .
Gary
North Bend, Oregon Coast

 

[richard waters]

Gene,
This was all I needed to start my day

My coach has 130,000 on the original engine, although the records
show that every thing on your Item 4 on your list has been replaced
except the big one. The engine!

Maybe I better not go to Iowa next month and instead leave my
coach someplace for a new engine. ??

I really don't know, but it seems like I should have a few more
miles left it. The oil has been changed every 2,000 miles etc.
Timing chain at 80,000 and I believe the original owner took very
good care of it. Oil consumption is low, it runs great.

My plan was to get the engine, trans etc. rebuilt in 2-3 years (about
15,000 miles) from now. Now I'm not so sure.

Richard Waters '76 PB, TROY, MI
- ---

> 4 (May not a truth, but I believe) if you have 100,000 miles on your
> 20 year old coach, you need new:
> engine
> master cyl
> vac booster
> gas lines
> gas pump
> water pump and temp fan
> brake cyl -front and back
> alternator
>
> These are going to leave you broken on the road. This is not to say a
> broken gear tooth or an errant duck through the radiator will not still
> get you. The items above I guarantee will happen to you. (most of them
> have happened to me)
>

 

[roger black]

Gene,
Really good advice to go along with the how to's on your web site. I learn
something every time I go there. So much to learn, so little time. Your
site is my "bible" when I want information. Thanks for being there.

Want the list on your site also? Don't want to put you out or anything, but
maybe with more availability more will learn to carry it with them. May
need to be on your "Pre-Flight list." Appreciate you pointing out the need
to have it with the coach, not in a file back home.

Roger

 

[richard guthart]

Gene,

What's a typical lifespan for the O.E. alternator?

Richard

> 4 (May not a truth, but I believe) if you have 100,000 miles on your
> 20 year old coach, you need new:
> engine
> master cyl
> vac booster
> gas lines
> gas pump
> water pump and temp fan
> brake cyl -front and back
> alternator
>
> These are going to leave you broken on the road. This is not to say a
> broken gear tooth or an errant duck through the radiator will not still
> get you. The items above I guarantee will happen to you. (most of them
> have happened to me)
>
> gene

 

[nate chase]

Gene,
I know in my case the gas lines leak like a sieve, probably had a water
pump or fan or something going bad that caused my coach to run hotter than
it should and lunched my engine (at least I think that's what happened). I
had 94K miles on it so you are pretty much right on.

Nate '75GB (deader than a door nail in) Omaha

>>>>>>
4. (May not a truth, but I believe) if you have 100,000 miles on your
20 year old coach, you need new:
engine
master cyl
vac booster
gas lines
gas pump
water pump and temp fan
brake cyl -front and back
alternator
>>>>>>

 

[nate chase]

Gene,
I agree with you here. I took my coach on a couple of small trips (150
miles one way) to test it when I first got it. Seemed fine with only small
things wrong that I needed to fix. Fixed alot of them. Wanted to go to Fargo
(500 miles) and blew the engine at 100 miles out. The way I look at this is
I was really glad it happened (if it had to) so close to home and I was
easily toad. Told my wife that we were very lucky it happened here and not
Mexico or Alaska (never been there but you get the point).
I sure hate to spend the $10K+ or so it will take to get the coach close
to like new (engine, trans, diff. and all the small goodies I've been
posting about) but once it's done we should be able to jump in it and not
have to worry (too much anyways).
When I broke down last week I had AAA and they toad me the 100 miles w/o a
whimper. Had it been longer it would have cost. I will revamp my plan to add
miles to the service or change services. I don't want to carry a coach full
of spares. Belts are one thing but I'm sure not gonna pull a head on the
side of the road. That's not my idea of a good time even at home. I don't
mind working on it but didn't want to make a career out of it either.
I have a very nice looking coach
http://www.gmcmotorhome.com/gmc_gallery/chase.html (pre Alcoa and Ramco
shot). I'd be hard pressed to come close to it with a newer unit. I'll have
a lot in it with the above mentioned items and when it's done it should last
another 25 years with the proper maintenance and TLC. Hopefully those next
25 years will be filled with fun and enjoyment but I'll have a plan if
they're not and it won't stop me from trying!
My ending isn't so happy just yet but I'm sure it will be very soon...

Nate '75GB (dead but not forgotten in) Omaha

>>>
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 07:41:12, -0500
From: JDDP32B (MR EUGENE R FISHER)
Subject: Re: GMC: Catastrophic Failure/Happy Ending

- - -- [ From: Eugene Fisher * EMC.Ver #3.1a PRODIGY ] --

I think you just have to know where your stress level is.... We have
these things to ride.... and I think we should. However, it is good to
have a plan. What would you do if. We all look at Dave and say he
went 200k plus... could happen. When I went to Mexico I went on a tour
that would return my coach to USA if I had a failure. Gave me a lot of
confidence and nothing bad happened.

I think you are doing the right thing. We should run on the spares,
not carry them. You have changed all the "little" things that could stop
you. If the engine quits just have a plan. For example, a post last
week --- only 22,000 on a new motor and it went out again. So who knows
when we will throw a gear tooth like Emery . Can't let it stop us , SOB
have the same problems with out the support we have.

I would say go for the 15k plus. If it goes ---it goes don't let it be
the worst thing that could happen. Could be you have 70 K miles still
to go and you would have missed the Rally for nothing. If everything
else is right hit the road..... we will come pick you up if you are near
one of us.

gene

>>>

 

[travis martin]

This is common...but instead of replacing the alternator, I'd suggest
replacing the brushes and bearings. In fact, if the bearings are good I'd
just clean and repack them. Nothing else wears except the commutator, and
it'll go forever if you don't let it get damaged. These parts are cheap, and
it's a 30 minute job when you have the alternator off. I agree that it
oughta get done around 100,000 miles before it strands you.

Travis

- -----Original Message-----
From: MR EUGENE R FISHER
To: rguthart ; gmcmotorhome

Date: Saturday, August 21, 1999 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: GMC: Catastrophic Failure/Happy Ending

>
>-- [ From: Eugene Fisher * EMC.Ver #3.1a PRODIGY ] --
>
>I do not know, but mine went out at 125K miles. There were no brushes
>remaining just wires rubbing on the slip rings. Now that is service.
>It gave its all for the cause.
>
>gene
>
>-------- REPLY, Original message follows --------
>
>Date: Saturday, 21-Aug-99 09:37 AM
>
>From: Richard Guthart \ Internet: (rguthart)
>To: gmclist \ Internet: (gmcmotorhome
>.org)
>
>Attachment: mimemsg.doc Code: 04MLATF \ Created: Unknown [2 Kb]
>
>Subject: Re: GMC: Catastrophic Failure/Happy Ending
>
>Gene,
>
>What's a typical lifespan for the O.E. alternator?
>
>Richard
>
>> 4 (May not a truth, but I believe) if you have 100,000 miles on your
>> 20 year old coach, you need new:
>> engine
>> master cyl
>> vac booster
>> gas lines
>> gas pump
>> water pump and temp fan
>> brake cyl -front and back
>> alternator
>>
>> These are going to leave you broken on the road. This is not to say a
>> broken gear tooth or an errant duck through the radiator will not
>still
>> get you. The items above I guarantee will happen to you. (most of
>them
>> have happened to me)
>>
>> gene
>
>
>
>
>-------- REPLY, End of original message --------
>
>
>
>Gene 76Palm Beach /Or/CA
>
>GMC Technical Information
>http://www.california.com/~eagle/