Hi Brian
I'm Billy Massey in Central Texas. I'm glad to welcome you to the family of
GMC owners. I've got a '76 Palm Beach so have the same dash air as you.
The reason you get no flow from
the other dash outlets is probably because the ducting is rotted and/or
disconnected from the registers. I've modified mine so that it only cools
recirculated air. That helps a lot but still only blows through the lower
center vents.
Where are you in Oklahoma? I was just up there a couple weeks ago to look
at a 26' in Talahina. It's a wreck but has some great parts.
There should be at least 2 batteries. In a 23', they're usually both up
front together. Should be a large cable running from the front firewall
boost solenoid to the generator. The isolator keeps 'em separate during
discharge.
That Onan starter bracket isn't near heavy enough. I cut one from 3/8 plate
that has been fine for 15 years or so. Jim Kanomata at Applied GMC sells
the cast iron one that Ragusa makes.
If you've got a Facebook acct, join us at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes/
and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm/
Welcome!
Billy (bdub)
www.bdub.net
www.gmcmhphotos.com
www.gmcclassics.com
www.gmcmhmp.com
http://www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com/ForSale/
and a few more ...
-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Brian
Mallett
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2018 12:03 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] New owner - have questions
Ok... I'll try to keep this somewhat concise. I've never owned a motorhome
before but I've always loved the look of the GMCs. My wife found one a
couple of hours away and she really liked it. I had to take advantage of
that aspect.
It's a 1976 Birchaven. VIN # in my sig and here:
Here are the options:
Here are a couple of photos...
We picked her up for $3,000. I felt that was a pretty solid deal for one in
this shape. She needs some love for sure, but she runs well and is fairly
solid.
I've done the basics. I've rebuilt a few old cars in my time and I always go
through the same process when I get one. Filters, plugs, oil, fluids,
brakes, grease points, bulbs, and wipers. I'm still working on that part. We
just got her and drove her home 3 hours this week.
I flushed the a/c lines, ripped off the dryer and expansion valve, flushed
the condenser, replaced the dryer and EV, then loaded her up with fresh
freon. I now have air. That's a must in Oklahoma. I'm glad I did to because
it was nasty. I've never seen this color come out of a condenser. I got it
to flush clear though and had good flow so I kept it.
The two vents under the dash blow fairly strong, but the other main dash
vents and vents by the seats barely have anything coming out. Is this
normal?
If not, what would be something to look for?
My other questions are more related to what all I might be missing or what
all has been changed. There is only one battery in the passenger side
that's bungee strapped to a piece of plywood. I would think that I would
have dual batteries. There is also a wire disconnected from what appears to
be an isolator on that side. Does anyone have pictures of how this should
look?
Shore power seems to function well. But the generator just spun and finally
blew a breaker that shore power was plugged into. Without shore power I
was not able to lock over the onan. I got to looking at it more closely and
it appears the starter is bad. It kicks out but doesn't spin. I manually
cranked the generator with a ratchet and it had good compression and cranked
freely so I think a starter should do the trick. How do I find a
replacement starter? The starter has no numbers. The onan does, but I am new
with generators.
Lastly, for now, there are two bare wires, they look cuthanging down below
the generator. I would assume that the generator would feed one or more
cabin batteries, but I don't see any anywhere. Where would a cabin battery
be located? Also, what size batteries do I need?
Any and all information is appreciated. Thanks guys.
--
She needed love and we want to give it to her.
TZE336V102714 - 1976 23' Birchaven
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I'm Billy Massey in Central Texas. I'm glad to welcome you to the family of
GMC owners. I've got a '76 Palm Beach so have the same dash air as you.
The reason you get no flow from
the other dash outlets is probably because the ducting is rotted and/or
disconnected from the registers. I've modified mine so that it only cools
recirculated air. That helps a lot but still only blows through the lower
center vents.
Where are you in Oklahoma? I was just up there a couple weeks ago to look
at a 26' in Talahina. It's a wreck but has some great parts.
There should be at least 2 batteries. In a 23', they're usually both up
front together. Should be a large cable running from the front firewall
boost solenoid to the generator. The isolator keeps 'em separate during
discharge.
That Onan starter bracket isn't near heavy enough. I cut one from 3/8 plate
that has been fine for 15 years or so. Jim Kanomata at Applied GMC sells
the cast iron one that Ragusa makes.
If you've got a Facebook acct, join us at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/classicgmcmotorhomes/
and
https://www.facebook.com/groups/gmcmm/
Welcome!
Billy (bdub)
www.bdub.net
www.gmcmhphotos.com
www.gmcclassics.com
www.gmcmhmp.com
http://www.gmcmotorhomemarketplace.com/ForSale/
and a few more ...
-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of Brian
Mallett
Sent: Friday, June 22, 2018 12:03 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: [GMCnet] New owner - have questions
Ok... I'll try to keep this somewhat concise. I've never owned a motorhome
before but I've always loved the look of the GMCs. My wife found one a
couple of hours away and she really liked it. I had to take advantage of
that aspect.
It's a 1976 Birchaven. VIN # in my sig and here:
Here are the options:
Here are a couple of photos...
We picked her up for $3,000. I felt that was a pretty solid deal for one in
this shape. She needs some love for sure, but she runs well and is fairly
solid.
I've done the basics. I've rebuilt a few old cars in my time and I always go
through the same process when I get one. Filters, plugs, oil, fluids,
brakes, grease points, bulbs, and wipers. I'm still working on that part. We
just got her and drove her home 3 hours this week.
I flushed the a/c lines, ripped off the dryer and expansion valve, flushed
the condenser, replaced the dryer and EV, then loaded her up with fresh
freon. I now have air. That's a must in Oklahoma. I'm glad I did to because
it was nasty. I've never seen this color come out of a condenser. I got it
to flush clear though and had good flow so I kept it.
The two vents under the dash blow fairly strong, but the other main dash
vents and vents by the seats barely have anything coming out. Is this
normal?
If not, what would be something to look for?
My other questions are more related to what all I might be missing or what
all has been changed. There is only one battery in the passenger side
that's bungee strapped to a piece of plywood. I would think that I would
have dual batteries. There is also a wire disconnected from what appears to
be an isolator on that side. Does anyone have pictures of how this should
look?
Shore power seems to function well. But the generator just spun and finally
blew a breaker that shore power was plugged into. Without shore power I
was not able to lock over the onan. I got to looking at it more closely and
it appears the starter is bad. It kicks out but doesn't spin. I manually
cranked the generator with a ratchet and it had good compression and cranked
freely so I think a starter should do the trick. How do I find a
replacement starter? The starter has no numbers. The onan does, but I am new
with generators.
Lastly, for now, there are two bare wires, they look cuthanging down below
the generator. I would assume that the generator would feed one or more
cabin batteries, but I don't see any anywhere. Where would a cabin battery
be located? Also, what size batteries do I need?
Any and all information is appreciated. Thanks guys.
--
She needed love and we want to give it to her.
TZE336V102714 - 1976 23' Birchaven
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
