Initially, I drove the 1976 Birchaven w/rear bath (has only about 58K miles) from Winlock, WA to Lake Grove, OR. The rig handled and steered really well during the thousand miles of getting familiar with it. During this familiarization period, I replaced the steel rims with aluminum and new Michelin tires and had a front-end alignment with some needed replacements for the front end. Then I began my renovations with the reaction arms for brake drums and quad-bags while assisting Todd Lissner, an excellent, involved and concerned mechanic.
We completed the rear driver side (left) installation and got started on the rear passenger side (right) and discovered the following issues:
The right bogie assembly frame mounting area has 4 shims - only 3 shims on the left.
After installing the reaction arm trunions to the front and rear arms we noticed the front trunion did not pivot as freely as the rear trunion do to the constriction caused by the shims on the spindle.
Upon closer examination, we discovered the following:
There is a crack on/in the leading top segment of the lower part of the bogie assembly in the part forward where the arm pivots. Also the leading spindle has several shims on the bottom position where it is bolted to the front arm and at the 12 o’clock position in the bearing race on the spindle, there’s about a .5 inch long gouge.
It looks like the rig had hit a pot hole or something that caused the crack and gouge to occur on the passenger side.There was no information about the repairs done to the right side - just the presence of the aligning shims.
When removing the brake drums there was no wear in the bearings nor other visible damages. I’ve had new bearings installed in the drums and they’re ready to mount.
Would I be able to ‘limp by’ with this damage? It was working until we discovered this situation. How available are replacement bogie assemblies, front arms, and spindles so we could replace these damaged parts?
Around Mom’s Day, I transported the assembly down to Jim K’s in Newark and am trying to make contact with him - will eventually.
While waiting for this to happen, we are doing or finishing the following renovations: quad bags, reaction arms, bogie pin greasers, parking brake, replacement brake and master cylinders, proportion valve and lines, fuel lines and fuel pump, fire extinguisher in engine compartment, remote air suspension, electric wipers, inverter replacement for buzz box, LED’s replacing ALL lights, RAMCO mirrors, and maybe front windows. Then the fun with ventilation - power vent for front and bath vent, and interior furnishings. But that’s another list. Ha!
I have photos of all these problem areas but am unable to send them with this document - size limitations - but ask and I’ll forward ‘em to you. This is the fourth attempt at getting this out to the GMC group. Such fun!
Virgil
We completed the rear driver side (left) installation and got started on the rear passenger side (right) and discovered the following issues:
The right bogie assembly frame mounting area has 4 shims - only 3 shims on the left.
After installing the reaction arm trunions to the front and rear arms we noticed the front trunion did not pivot as freely as the rear trunion do to the constriction caused by the shims on the spindle.
Upon closer examination, we discovered the following:
There is a crack on/in the leading top segment of the lower part of the bogie assembly in the part forward where the arm pivots. Also the leading spindle has several shims on the bottom position where it is bolted to the front arm and at the 12 o’clock position in the bearing race on the spindle, there’s about a .5 inch long gouge.
It looks like the rig had hit a pot hole or something that caused the crack and gouge to occur on the passenger side.There was no information about the repairs done to the right side - just the presence of the aligning shims.
When removing the brake drums there was no wear in the bearings nor other visible damages. I’ve had new bearings installed in the drums and they’re ready to mount.
Would I be able to ‘limp by’ with this damage? It was working until we discovered this situation. How available are replacement bogie assemblies, front arms, and spindles so we could replace these damaged parts?
Around Mom’s Day, I transported the assembly down to Jim K’s in Newark and am trying to make contact with him - will eventually.
While waiting for this to happen, we are doing or finishing the following renovations: quad bags, reaction arms, bogie pin greasers, parking brake, replacement brake and master cylinders, proportion valve and lines, fuel lines and fuel pump, fire extinguisher in engine compartment, remote air suspension, electric wipers, inverter replacement for buzz box, LED’s replacing ALL lights, RAMCO mirrors, and maybe front windows. Then the fun with ventilation - power vent for front and bath vent, and interior furnishings. But that’s another list. Ha!
I have photos of all these problem areas but am unable to send them with this document - size limitations - but ask and I’ll forward ‘em to you. This is the fourth attempt at getting this out to the GMC group. Such fun!
Virgil
