wolfe10

I picked up literature at the Continental Tire display at the FMCA Convention in Chandler this week. I am holding in my hand a sheet on the HSR2 SA. It DOES show 295/80R22.5. You are correct, it does not show on the FMCA/Continental website. The guys from Continental said they would do some fine tuning of the website listings when they get back to from the Convention.

From the pictures, looks like the coach will have an engine with an EXHAUST BRAKE.

No idea-- Have been doing seminars all day. Logged in just now. Probably got swallowed up by the dust cloud here before it got to the cell tower.

Sam's Clubs normally stock 3 packs of gallons-- enter a location for a price: https://www.samsclub.com/sams/delo-400le-heavy-duty-sae-15w40-3-1gal/prod741009.ip?xid=plp:product:1:2

MAN, spent the day giving seminars and look what happens. Must be (actually almost is) a FULL MOON!

Yup, you should be able to find all your old favorites in the new API designation.

Boy did this tread take a LEFT TURN!

BTW, just got off the phone with the Service Manager for the large Caterpillar shop in Houston. His recommendation is the same: CK4 15-40.

Gatrtom, Welcome to the FMCA Forum. Please be aware that this post is from July 2011, so may not be a good contact. For more information on the Michelin Advantage Program: https://www.fmca.com/benefits/michelin-advantage.html

FYI, I just visited with Chris Crowel, Cummins Motorhome & Emergency Vehicle Engine Market Leader about the new oil designations here at the Chandler Convention. His/Cummins recommendation is: CK4 15-40. NOT FA4.

Roland, What is your wheelbase? Overall length?

Welllll, Agree, weight is ONE issue when it comes to ride and handling. But there are many other factors that are equally or close to as important. WB/OL (Wheel base/Overall length) is also quite critical. Suspension is also important. What shocks, what air bags/ride height valves? Weight distribution-- a hard job to do correctly with a DP-- moving weights forward is hard but makes a big difference.

Karen, Look at the overall size of the battery box. Height as well as width and length. Then find the best deep cycle batteries that will fit. Consider both 12 VDC (but only true deep cycle, not marine) as well as 6 VDC batteries wired in series (series/parallel if more than two 6 VDC batteries. And, if the battery box is hard to access for checking water, consider AGM batteries.

Forum Meet & Greet – Wednesday, 3/8 4:45 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. Seminar 2

Yes, the alternator turns all the time. BUT (read that a large BUT) the HP demand to run it is directly proportional to the amount of power (amps) it produces. Same goes for your hydraulic fan motors-- they always turn, but if the controller calls for very low PSI, it takes less HP than if the controller calls for high fan speed.

Carl, I am surprised you run your Hydrohot on electric supplied by the inverter. Running it on diesel is a lot more efficient. If powering the Hydrohot off the inverter, you are using diesel to turn the engine, which turn the alternator which powers the inverter. Then the Hydrohot uses the electricity to turn it back into heat. Efficiency is lost in each step. Using the diesel option, you just burn diesel to produce heat.

Jackgray, Welcome to the FMCA Forum. Do you have an absorption refrigerator or residential refrigerator? If absorption refrigerator, why not just run it on propane? If residential refrigerator, indeed, it should be possible to run it on the inverter while driving. Yes, you could run an absorption refrigerator on it, but I don't see working the alternator and inverter harder to produce heat when a small propane flame will do the same thing. You will have to determine which outlets are powered by the inverter. Some coaches have the refrigerator outlet ONLY powered by shore power, some by inverter and some have two outlets-- one powered by shore power only, not by inverter.

Quite likely you will need to get that information from a Caterpillar dealership/ shop manual. And, that assumes that the fan controller is controlled by that sensor. Since the chassis maker installed the hydraulic fan system, they are the ones who generally spec the temperature sensor.

Only reasons for a warmer tire are: 1. In the sun (would also affect the other tire on that side. 2. Dragging brake (lift tire off the ground and rotate to see if excessive brake drag). 3. Motorhome exhaust. Look carefully at the tail pipe. You may be able to rotate it so that the exhaust exits more to the side than down.

Correct, you do NOT want to use anything with petroleum base. 303 is fine.

Wow, 60 HP. That was a later model. 50-53 was standard through the mid 1960's through 1971.

But, a bad vacuum pump or cracked vacuum line means the air will only come out the defrost vents since that is the default position. Carl says it is coming out the selected vents. That means the vacuum system is operational. Again, the water valve could be electrically controlled (as it is on or coach), it could me mechanical (i.e. cable) or it could be vacuum operated. So, yes it is possible there is still a problem in a part of the vacuum system, but not the pump or main plumbing.

Carl, Is the air just coming out the defrost vents, OR is it coming out the selected vents but cold only? Very different issues.

All correct. The dash HVAC systems in diesels do NOT get vacuum from the engine (since there is none). They have a small 12 VDC electric pump up in the dash area. If the vacuum pump, plumbing or control fails, the air will come out the DEFROST. Defrost is the "default" position.

I believe it is on a Mountain Master chassis-- that is from a web search, not any first hand info. Was not able on Spartan's website to get any information on specifics for that chassis. Did find a (relatively minor) recall on rear suspension mounts for the air bags.