Troubles on Shreveport LA

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kerry pinkerton

New member
Jul 13, 2012
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From Facebook, I learned of a new owner who bought a coach in Fla and had a local shop go through the mechanicals and do some upgrades at considerable
expense. Headed to Key West only to have a wheel come off. Came back to the shop on the hook where the bearings were REPLACED rather than being
repacked and lubed as previous.

This weekend, they departed for home, Dallas and near Shreveport, they lost the mid wheel on the other side. The castle nut and cotter key is still
on the spindle and the keyed washer is bent and deformed enough that the hub came off. 8o

He posted on FB and asked for help because he didn't have a copy of the Black list. I gave him my number and he called and I gave him Billy Massey's
number thinking Billy would know folks in that part of the world. He did get Billy but there isn't a Blacklister nearby.

The shop installed a 4 bag system and the owner aired it up and limped to a motel. He discovered the AAA platinum towing he had purchased a few weeks
ago did not have the RV rider.

Anyone in the area that can help or can suggest someone who can help? Contact me at two 5 six six 79 four four 88 and I'll put you in touch with the
guy. I suspect his frustration level is off the charts
--
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama

77 Eleganza II, 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny, lots of aluminum goodies.

http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/

'03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
 
> From Facebook, I learned of a new owner who bought a coach in Fla and had a local shop go through the mechanicals and do some upgrades at
> considerable expense. Headed to Key West only to have a wheel come off. Came back to the shop on the hook where the bearings were REPLACED rather
> than being repacked and lubed as previous.
>
> This weekend, they departed for home, Dallas and near Shreveport, they lost the mid wheel on the other side. The castle nut and cotter key is
> still on the spindle and the keyed washer is bent and deformed enough that the hub came off. 8o
>
> He posted on FB and asked for help because he didn't have a copy of the Black list. I gave him my number and he called and I gave him Billy
> Massey's number thinking Billy would know folks in that part of the world. He did get Billy but there isn't a Blacklister nearby.
>
> The shop installed a 4 bag system and the owner aired it up and limped to a motel. He discovered the AAA platinum towing he had purchased a few
> weeks ago did not have the RV rider.
>
> Anyone in the area that can help or can suggest someone who can help? Contact me at two 5 six six 79 four four 88 and I'll put you in touch with
> the guy. I suspect his frustration level is off the charts
Talked to the strandee. After the first one came off 70 miles from the shop and he got it flatbedded back, and all four rear wheel bearings replaced,
he headed for home (Dallas). He said he drove 700 miles, checking the temps of the hubs regularly. No anomalies. Last gas stop, everything seemed OK.
200 miles later, the wheel came off.

Still not convinced he doesn't have 4 of the wrong seals installed. Thoughts? How long does it take a bearing to fail if torqued and not backed off to
the next castle nut notch? Less than 700 miles?
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Every day I become more convinced that I am the only person left on the planet that recognizes nonsense for what it is."
 
The seal would be a problem for the inside bearings. The damage to the washer makes me think the problem was the outside bearing.

Regardless, if I was him, I'd have those wheels rechecked by whoever does the repair on this one. Btw, the Alcoa and hub was recovered undamaged but
rolled quite a distance and could have injured some civilians.
--
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama

77 Eleganza II, 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny, lots of aluminum goodies.

http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/

'03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
 
> The seal would be a problem for the inside bearings. The damage to the washer makes me think the problem was the outside bearing. ...
It seems like he was watching the bearings reasonably well after the first failure. I wonder if the bearing came from China?
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Every day I become more convinced that I am the only person left on the planet that recognizes nonsense for what it is."
 
Too many variables. Need to inspect the pieces that are still there to
determine what is wrong. My bet, if everything has been replaced, is on
mismatched cones and cups in the outer bearing sets. Along with improper
torque on the spindles.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> > The seal would be a problem for the inside bearings. The damage to the
> washer makes me think the problem was the outside bearing. ...
> It seems like he was watching the bearings reasonably well after the first
> failure. I wonder if the bearing came from China?
> --
> 73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
> 73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
> Upper Alabama
> "Every day I become more convinced that I am the only person left on the
> planet that recognizes nonsense for what it is."
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
Jim,

$5 will get you %10 it's human error! ;-)

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808


-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of James
Hupy
Sent: Monday, May 1, 2017 1:35 PM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Troubles on Shreveport LA

Too many variables. Need to inspect the pieces that are still there to
determine what is wrong. My bet, if everything has been replaced, is on
mismatched cones and cups in the outer bearing sets. Along with improper
torque on the spindles.
Jim Hupy
Salem, Or
78 GMC ROYALE 403

> > The seal would be a problem for the inside bearings. The damage to the
> washer makes me think the problem was the outside bearing. ...
> It seems like he was watching the bearings reasonably well after the first
> failure. I wonder if the bearing came from China?
> --
> 73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
> 73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
> Upper Alabama
> "Every day I become more convinced that I am the only person left on the
> planet that recognizes nonsense for what it is."
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
> Jim,
>
> $5 will get you %10 it's human error! ;)
>
> Regards,
> Rob M.
> The Pedantic Mechanic
> USAussie - Downunder
> AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
> USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808

I'm with ROB,

Bearings set too tight or they forgot to grease them.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
Gentlemen, while odds are odds and guesses are guesses I would not reject the chance of a bad "NEW" part. I have ran into new bearing assemblies (for
a 91 Olds Tornado) in beautiful Temkin boxes that the bearing assembly's were not marked with any name or number. One was stamped made in Spain.
They did look good and did fit well and drive smooth but were in my mind "suspicious".. Temkin bearings are no longer available locally in E Tenn for
the GMC rears and I had to use National bearings on the last set I installed last month.
The owner did state that brakes and lines and bearings and springs were new but did not mention emergency brake cables. I have seen many old cables
not return completely after use. I even recommend not using the emergency brake unless known good for that reason. He also stated he had been
checking the temps with ir every 200 miles with no abnormal readings for 1000 miles. It is my understanding he had just spent the night in a public
parking lot and no temp issues when he parked.

> > Jim,
> >
> > $5 will get you %10 it's human error! ;)
> >
> > Regards,
> > Rob M.
> > The Pedantic Mechanic
> > USAussie - Downunder
> > AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
> > USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
> > USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808
>
> I'm with ROB,
>
> Bearings set too tight or they forgot to grease them.

--
C. Boyd
76 Crestmont
East Tennessee
 
I've been following this on FB too. I love all the new things you can worry about; like when someone you know gets a weird disease or has some health
event you didn't know was possible (my friend who had a spinal stroke and is now paralyzed at the age of 46, I didn't even know I was supposed to
worry about that!)

Anyway, checking my repair history, my coach was at Cinnabar for 10K worth of work 3 years ago, including bearing work. How often, what do I check,
and what do I replace as far as bearings go? And I have one dumb question. Could the lug nuts have been loose and the tire wobbling? I did recheck
all my lugs before the first trip and could move a handful of them (less than a quarter turn).

I'll continue to follow this guy's "adventures" the very least he can serve as a warning to others.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0535/6917/products/MistakesPrint.jpeg?v=1433960929

Cheers
kelly
--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
Read here for tho poop on hubs and knuckles
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/rear.html

> I've been following this on FB too. I love all the new things you can
> worry about; like when someone you know gets a weird disease or has some
> health
> event you didn't know was possible (my friend who had a spinal stroke and
> is now paralyzed at the age of 46, I didn't even know I was supposed to
> worry about that!)
>
> Anyway, checking my repair history, my coach was at Cinnabar for 10K worth
> of work 3 years ago, including bearing work. How often, what do I check,
> and what do I replace as far as bearings go? And I have one dumb
> question. Could the lug nuts have been loose and the tire wobbling? I did
> recheck
> all my lugs before the first trip and could move a handful of them (less
> than a quarter turn).
>
> I'll continue to follow this guy's "adventures" the very least he can
> serve as a warning to others.
>
>
> https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0535/6917/products/MistakesPrint.jpeg?v=1433960929
>
> Cheers
> kelly
> --
> 1978 Kingsley
> Putney VT
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Gene Fisher -- 74-23,77PB/ore/ca
“Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today --- give him a URL and
-------
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/
Alternator Protection Cable
http://bdub.net/gmcmotorhome.info/APC.html
 
"HOw long does it take..."
From personal experience, about 300 miles.

--johnny
--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
One comment about Chinese vs US bearings. I have no idea what kind of bearings were installed after the original failure. But, just because the box
said Temkin, does not mean that someone at the parts store did not open the box and swap them out. Or some customer bought Chinese bearings at
Autozone, and US bearings at Advance, swaped out the bearings and returned the Chinese bearings in the Temkin/National box. If the other wheels are
lubed and loaded properly, I might think it was the bearing quality but I'm thinking that it will be a human issue.
--
Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama

77 Eleganza II, 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny, lots of aluminum goodies.

http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/

'03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
 
I just talked to Jim Bounds at the Coop and he asked me to report that he is on the way to Shreveport with Timken bearings to replace all the National bearings on that coach that seem to be defective. Needless to say he is highly upset with this situation.

Nelson Wright
78 Royale Rear Bath
Belle Isle Fl

>
> One comment about Chinese vs US bearings. I have no idea what kind of bearings were installed after the original failure. But, just because the box
> said Temkin, does not mean that someone at the parts store did not open the box and swap them out. Or some customer bought Chinese bearings at
> Autozone, and US bearings at Advance, swaped out the bearings and returned the Chinese bearings in the Temkin/National box. If the other wheels are
> lubed and loaded properly, I might think it was the bearing quality but I'm thinking that it will be a human issue.
> --
> Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama
>
> 77 Eleganza II, 403CI, Manny Brakes, 1 ton, tranny, lots of aluminum goodies.
>
> http://www.bdub.net/pinkerton/
>
> '03 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
Kelly,

The maintenace manual shoud be the go-to for scheduled maintenance. I think 25,000 miles, but look it up. As to what cinnebar did, who knows for
sure.

The facebook guy seemed to do everything correct, but still got bit. He was not the one to do the work and because of that,
He may never know what was the true cause of his bearing failure. He paid a gmc experienced shop, but even they can make mistakes, or it could of
been bad parts.

As far as your lugs go, you are running aluminum rims. So the lugs should be re-torqued after about 100-200 miles. So i think that 1/4 turn would
be normal.

--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
 
Thank you, I suppose since mine have been on this long they're likely not defective. I did get myself an infrared thermometer last year when I got
the coach but haven't used it yet. Something to do (so far it's just been something to play with).

Yeah, this is not how to start owning a coach (at least for me it wouldn't be). I specifically looked for a runner, one that has been used regularly;
my coach drove Michigan to Washington state 3-4 times in the last few years. His only issues were the fuel filter near the carb, and some electronics
unit up there (a spare of each came with the coach and a tool he made to remove the electronic thing; I'm feeling dumb not remembering what it was).
He had some issues of vapor lock and had a new fuel pump installed just before selling it to me (and the dash AC recharged, but that didn't last more
than a few months). Super nice guy and I'm happy I got the coach from him. He and his wife went back to towing a trailer- they got an Escape from
Canada).

I'll keep an eye on the lugs, a huge torque wrench came with the coach; another bonus

Cheers
kelly

> Kelly,
>
> The maintenace manual shoud be the go-to for scheduled maintenance. I think 25,000 miles, but look it up. As to what cinnebar did, who knows
> for sure.
>
> The facebook guy seemed to do everything correct, but still got bit. He was not the one to do the work and because of that,
> He may never know what was the true cause of his bearing failure. He had paid a gmc experienced shop, but even they can make mistakes, or it
> could of been bad parts.
>
> Just a tough way to start out owning one if these coaches. It is going to take some time for him to trust the gmc coach again. I have a feeling
> if he looses one more wheel there might be a posting of a nice coach cheap,
> Sitting on side of freeway.
>
>
> As far as your lugs go, you are running aluminum rims. So the lugs should be re-torqued after about 100-200 miles. So i think that 1/4 turn
> would be normal.

--
1978 Kingsley
Putney VT
 
> I just talked to Jim Bounds at the Coop and he asked me to report that he is on the way to Shreveport with Timken bearings to replace all the
> National bearings on that coach that seem to be defective. Needless to say he is highly upset with this situation.
>
> Nelson Wright
> 78 Royale Rear Bath
> Belle Isle Fl

If it was Jim Bounds' shop that did the work, then I'll retract my comments about someone not greasing it or setting the bearings too tight. Jim's
shop knows what they are doing.

Now I'm leaning towards a bad new bearing.

Jim will make it right, unfortunately it will cost him some bucks. The trip, labor, and new parts are not free.

I apologize Jim. I did not know it was your shop.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
 
When I found out the shop that did the bearings, I was doubtful that they were installed dry, or incorrectly. I would not blame the shop. He wouldn't
let it happen twice on the same vehicle within a few days of each other. Something else is going on here. And I suspect a material failure, not an
installation oversight.

When one of the ORIGINAL bearings failed 70 miles from the shop (after being packed with new grease), all four inners and outers were replaced, and
almost certainly done correctly. The owner was thereafter gunshy and was checking their temperature at every stop with nothing to indicate an imminent
failure. That's what makes it such a mystery that things were fine for 900 miles, and then not fine.

If Mr. Bounds is going to repair it, he had better have a spindle and the tool(s) to press the old one out. The outer race has welded itself to the
spindle.
--
73 23' Sequoia 4 Sale
73 23' CanyonLands Parts Unit 4 Sale
Upper Alabama
"Every day I become more convinced that I am the only person left on the planet that recognizes nonsense for what it is."
 
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