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I am shocked! The King has mis-spoken. He led the entire way though Atlanta and for about 1/2 of the entire journey and I have no choice but to attempt to keep his LED tail lights in sight.
I am surprised he hasn't posted a story about what happened when I was in the lead, or at least claimed he has a story (which I intend to deny).
In an early post on this thread Jon posted info on a coolant vacuum replacement tool. Has anyone used one yet?
When returning from our recent Sevierville trip we stopped at Prevost Nashville for an LOF. I made a point of informing the tech that our bus has Texaco Extended Life Coolant (EC-1) installed and that it is not compatible with the normal green coolant. The result was that my information was either ignored or not understood, the system apparently was topped with green coolant, and SCA timed release filters were installed which is a no-no for extended life coolants. Am currently completing a CAT Level 2 (mail in) chemical analysis and anticipate having to evacuate and refill the system. To their credit, the Prevost, Nashville service department is in the loop and has assured me they will help resolve the issue.
The Texaco coolant is manufactured in compliance with Cat ELC specs and complete info on its use is shown on their information sheet. http://www.cat.com/cda/files/87058/7/elcfaq.pdf. The extended life coolant is a good product and is a virtually life-long coolant with a life expectancy of 600,000 miles.
I consider this just another lesson that work done by others on our busses needs to be double-checked. Once again I made an assumption that I was leaving this routine service in the hands of the experts. :confused:
In retrospect I should have checked the filters before we left Nashville
Brian,
What is a LOF?
I thought you were getting a all axle alignment. If you did, could you tell me if your bus was out of specs and if so did you notice a difference?
Dale,
Trucker talk for Lube, Oil, Filter change. Also, while at Prevost Craig their alignment, guy checked the steering and suspension for tightness. He showed me how the king pins/bushings were worn out and that they must be fixed before an alignment could be expected to last. He also verified the alignment numbers I was given when the new tires were installed in Pensacola were probably correct. The Prevost estimate for king pins was over $2500.00 lewbucks :eek:. Consequently I presently have the front wheels off of the bus at home and am about to disassemble the front end to do the job myself. Depending on whether the king pins and another alignment corrects the steer wandering I've been experiencing, I may elect to install the optional longer radius rods which will increase the caster angle. I will post the results as they occur. I will also change to an appropriate thread or start a new one to keep the thread cops happy.
Brian,
I hear that if you bury the old king pins in the yard they are quite the mole deterrent.
JDUB
JDUB,
Seriously I think Brian and Beverly want that whole Mole episode to be behind them. I'm sure these constant reminders aren't necessary.
Attachment 2809
mm
Brian, you should bury those pins upside down, so goes the tale.:cool::D
"I consider this just another lesson that work done by others on our busses needs to be double-checked. Once again I made an assumption that I was leaving this routine service in the hands of the experts.
In retrospect I should have checked the filters before we left Nashville"
Spoken like a true pilot who preflights his aircraft. However when you engage the services of experts, and you pay them a kingly sum there is a level of trust that should negate the need to double check their work. In fact, it is the management of the facility that needs a quality program in which they double check their own work because most of their work is buttoned up and hidden from view. We should not have to possess the same level of expertise that they have. It is just not our job.
We should schedule a high level Prevost representative to attend one of our next rallies for the express purpose of hearing what we are talking about, such as high pricing, poor worksmanship, frequent returns to have work corrected, and insensitivity to the economics of the work performed.
Brian,
Just curious here, what kind of mileage is on your coach would have to allow the king pin bushings to wear like that. Was there an obvious tire wear condition too? How about the other components (tie rod ends and drag link)?