Martin's Argosy Rebuild Thread

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by martin300662

I will check it out Peter, but a better description would be it is like driving on a rubble strip!

As in sound or actually feeling it?

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

As in sound or actually feeling it?

Both Peter, but not just feel through the steering wheel actual vibration through the floor/seats. Not as loud/heavy as a rubble strip and at a higher frequency; then about 35mph it disappears.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Both Peter, but not just feel through the steering wheel actual vibration through the floor/seats. Not as loud/heavy as a rubble strip and at a higher frequency; then about 35mph it disappears.

The sound and transfer through the frame of severely loose pads can easily be mistaken as a more severe issue.
You did not mention that applying pressure to the brake changes it. With loose pads it will go away momentarily.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by PeterH-Airstreamer

The sound and transfer through the frame of severely loose pads can easily be mistaken as a more severe issue.
You did not mention that applying pressure to the brake changes it. With loose pads it will go away momentarily.

Touching the brakes makes no difference to the vibration Peter. Fingers crossed that when I pick up Bella later the issue is resolved as the shop is reporting, and it was just that the tires weren't holding pressure.

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Touching the brakes makes no difference to the vibration Peter. Fingers crossed that when I pick up Bella later the issue is resolved as the shop is reporting, and it was just that the tires weren't holding pressure.

Seems like crossing my fingers made a difference (or I suspect having tires that hold pressure!) because the vibration was not noticeable on the drive back from AS NE this evening. Let's see how it holds up over the weekend.

[bkahler]

Did they find a resolution to the high idle problem?

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

Did they find a resolution to the high idle problem?

Often, I report an issue, drop Bella off, the guys report they tried loads of things but can't find anything wrong, except "hey presto" when I pick Bella up the issue has gone away. Tonight she seemed to start much easier (literally immediately) and to be idling fine - doesn't mean she won't tomorrow but I have just learnt to appreciate when issues just disappear!

[bkahler]

You can't complain about results like that

[Isuzusweet]

Originally Posted by bkahler

You can't complain about results like that

Have you ever heard the saying, "calm before the storm"? When my drive belt started coming apart last summer, while disconcerting, the tick-tick-tick of the belt hitting something was comforting, as I knew it was at least still turning.........when the silence came, I knew what was to follow, wasn't good. I prefer to find out what's causing a noise or condition, before the condition stops, which would tell me the something causing the condition, finally broke off.

Just a thought, and it's just a thought as I have to replace mine.....could a badly worn steering damper cause this condition. If there is no oil at all in the shock and it's just freely allowing steering judder to resonate at lower speeds? Once the tires are at higher speeds the gyroscopic effect takes charge and the any inbalance wouldn't transfer as well through the damper.

Don't be afraid to tell me to take my damper and get stuffed.

Cheers
Tony

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by Isuzusweet

snip....

Just a thought, and it's just a thought as I have to replace mine.....could a badly worn steering damper cause this condition. If there is no oil at all in the shock and it's just freely allowing steering judder to resonate at lower speeds? Once the tires are at higher speeds the gyroscopic effect takes charge and the any inbalance wouldn't transfer as well through the damper.

Don't be afraid to tell me to take my damper and get stuffed.

Cheers
Tony

The damper is new Tony (a HD Bilstein unit), but along the lines of 'something too tight, transmitting normal road vibration somewhere it shouldn't', the steering box was adjusted to take out slack - maybe too much? Or maybe the rag joint is got old and the rubber too rigid?

[Isuzusweet]

Martin

Got me mate, but maybe your mechanic could rig up a suspension sensor net to figure it out. They attach microphones in various points on the suspension, you test drive it to the troubles and the mechanic can listen to each microphone separately to pinpoint the cause, as what usually makes a juddering feeling will also make a corresponding sound; but the engine noise is in-between the sound and your ear.

Cheers
Tony

[SteveSueMac]

Martin - so glad to FINALLY see Bella live!!! What a great great motor home! Best to you and Diane and thanks for sharing the rig tour!!

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by SteveSueMac

Martin - so glad to FINALLY see Bella live!!! What a great great motor home! Best to you and Diane and thanks for sharing the rig tour!!

Likewise to see your 'emergency exit' mod Steve. Hopefully it gets added to the options list by the factory, it is certainly worth everyone considering.

[martin300662]

Another successful shake down trip this weekend; WBCCI NEU 60th anniversary rally, significantly no rush to get home afterwards as Friday was my last day at work and I am now 'retired'.

The reduction in stress levels is enormous and unexpected, and along with that comes a more relaxed attitude to the niggly issues with Bella. For example AS NE had attempted to fix the fuel gauge issue (where the gauge works backwards) by swapping the two wires. Even I could have told them that was never going to work. The current sender indicates approx 120Ω empty and 30Ω full which actually is visualized as, empty = the gauge is nailed to the 'full' end stop, and full= around 1/4 on the gauge. So do I get the new body work removed to allow the tank to be dropped, to fit a new sender? Or do I just accept that the gauge reads backwards but otherwise works? At the moment.....who cares!

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by martin300662

... as Friday was my last day at work and I am now 'retired'.

Well, congratulations, Martin!! You must be thrilled to finally have some peace, since your job seemed to have been rather demanding and stressful with all the traveling.
Now, with all that free time, you should consider a hobby, like owning 2 20' Argosys. That would keep you busy.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Another successful shake down trip this weekend; WBCCI NEU 60th anniversary rally, significantly no rush to get home afterwards as Friday was my last day at work and I am now 'retired'.

The reduction in stress levels is enormous and unexpected, and along with that comes a more relaxed attitude to the niggly issues with Bella. For example AS NE had attempted to fix the fuel gauge issue (where the gauge works backwards) by swapping the two wires. Even I could have told them that was never going to work. The current sender indicates approx 120Ω empty and 30Ω full which actually is visualized as, empty = the gauge is nailed to the 'full' end stop, and full= around 1/4 on the gauge. So do I get the new body work removed to allow the tank to be dropped, to fit a new sender? Or do I just accept that the gauge reads backwards but otherwise works? At the moment.....who cares!

I hope you don't get too bored now that you're retired

I'm going to talk to a few people at work about your gauge issue. The stock 1975 gauges is expecting 0-90 ohms and I think 90 is full.

Is the idle speed holding where it needs to be?

[martin300662]

Originally Posted by bkahler

I hope you don't get too bored now that you're retired

I'm going to talk to a few people at work about your gauge issue. The stock 1975 gauges is expecting 0-90 ohms and I think 90 is full.

Is the idle speed holding where it needs to be?

Apparently post '98 GM went to a 230-30Ω gauge and I suspect the mechanic of the PO who made the tank installed a modern sender, but the level is hitting the bottom of the tank before fully extending.....well that's my theory anyway.

The fast idle has been OK, not good but OK, but I have one issue that has re-appeared. Even with the new gas cap (that supposedly vents both ways), once, when the tank was near empty, on a hot day, the tank massively over pressured - enough that the pressure was sufficient to make me struggle to hold the cap on to vent slowly. Think of containing a cork from a bottle of bubbly as you open it. It literally took 6-8 secs for the pressure to equalize and there is an associated clunk as the the tank. I am starting to think the early tank issues (when it leaked) could have been one of these events causing the tank to split, not bad welds. I can't think of anything that could pressurize the tank like this. As long as the tank is kept above half way there doesn't seem a problem. Short-term there is a small vent hole 'appeared' in the gas cap to stop the issue!

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Apparently post '98 GM went to a 230-30Ω gauge and I suspect the mechanic of the PO who made the tank installed a modern sender, but the level is hitting the bottom of the tank before fully extending.....well that's my theory anyway.

Maybe you could put a Raspberry Pi in between the sending unit and the gauge and use it to invert the signal from the tank.

The fast idle has been OK, not good but OK, but I have one issue that has re-appeared. Even with the new gas cap (that supposedly vents both ways), once, when the tank was near empty, on a hot day, the tank massively over pressured - enough that the pressure was sufficient to make me struggle to hold the cap on to vent slowly. Think of containing a cork from a bottle of bubbly as you open it. It literally took 6-8 secs for the pressure to equalize and there is an associated clunk as the the tank. I am starting to think the early tank issues (when it leaked) could have been one of these events causing the tank to split, not bad welds. I can't think of anything that could pressurize the tank like this. As long as the tank is kept above half way there doesn't seem a problem. Short-term there is a small vent hole 'appeared' in the gas cap to stop the issue!

I can't say that I've ever heard of a gas tank that pressurizes itself!

Is it possible the fuel in use today is having some sort of chemical reaction with the insides of the aluminum tank? As the the tank empties more oxygen by volume is in the tank. Maybe there's something inside the tank that doesn't like oxygen. Didn't you say at one point when the tank was being repaired they were having a hard time figuring out what type of aluminum the tank was made from?

I think I need to learn from this and make sure I have a way to remove my tank without pulling the side panels.

Brad

[mayco]

I had no idea you were so close to retirement Martin, CONGRATULATIONS!!! Heres hoping for many miles of adventure in bella Bella!

Mike n Lynn

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by martin300662

Apparently post '98 GM went to a 230-30Ω gauge and I suspect the mechanic of the PO who made the tank installed a modern sender, but the level is hitting the bottom of the tank before fully extending.....well that's my theory anyway.

A cheap alternative would be to install an aftermarket gauge that hangs under the dash. Not the best but at least it would read the right direction!