We did it! (bought a 310)

[dljosephson]

Paul and Lani, looks like you are making progress. That transfer relay puzzles a lot of people. I am guessing you don't have the manual for the Airstream -- I suppose a date at an OfficeMax or something is in order. I'll be at the garage again tomorrow for another session with the mechanic. I have no reports on the place on 17th but was not impressed when I drove through there a few years ago.

The old Onan generator, if it's the same NH model as in mine, is worth some effort to get and keep in good order. They are very simple and reliable, and run at 1800 rpm which is a lot less noisy than the modern ones running at 3600 (unless you have the most modern, soundproofed ones.) They sound very labored when starting because there is no separate starter, just starter windings in the main generator head.

[bugsbunny]

i know this may sound odd, but put some scotch tape over the end of your markers. The glue in the marker tape will disintegrate with heat and all the markers will fall off (from experience). Colored electrical tape and sharpie markers work well also

Congrats on the 310. We had a 345 we enjoyed very much.

Bugs

[Auretrvr]

I was reluctant to pay the cost of a new transfer switch, so I wired a 30 amp outlet into a box in place of the old transfer switch.

It is wired as an outlet for the genset. When you plug the landline in to it you are boon docking.

Like I say it's less convenient but also less costly.

[LaniKai]

Finally took her out. First pic is the water stuff that took us days to figure out. There were mud daubers in the drain pipe.

Then we went to Pillar Point RV park in Half Moon Bay. We saw another 83 motorhome which lives there and a few trailers.

Then we went to Little Basin for a night.

I found the aluminum cat at the flea market and it just got a new coat of paint so it can watch the door for us.
Our hot water heater and the rest of the water system seem to work perfectly after we removed all the wasp nests and mud dauber nests (another kind of wasp).

Now we are trying to figure out the the refrigerator. It seems to work on propane. Not on 110 and I am trying the 12 volt now. Lots of wires were loose in the back. We looked at everything we could find and we thought we had them all together right. We might, but we have more testing to do.

Turning on the fans in the bathroom areas broke the blade parts off the working motors because of the large amounts of wasp nests and mud dauber nests that were in there. I just ordered new blade parts. Seems easy enough.

Our theme is "It could be worse. There could be wasps!"
We only see nests.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by mayco

I dont think the 310 has two transfer switches like the 345. Two circuits from the genny yes, one to the transfer switch and one feeds the rear air. Unless they changed the set up from '82 to '83. The one going to the rear air is a direct feed. Should be a junction box mounted to the side of the genny compartment "inside" the coach. Both circuits enter that junction box. From there, one line goes up to the rear air the other to the transfer switch located in the rear compartment as youve located. I am pretty sure thats the case, at least thats how it is on my '82.

Mike,

I know this is an older post but I just wanted to clarify. Depending on year and options the 310 could have one transfer switch or two. The 84 310 I used to own had two transfer switches but I've talked to a couple of different 310 owners that didn't have the 2nd transfer switch for the rear ac.

Brad

[mayco]

You never know with these beasts do ya! Could be the same year, same model and so on.......but be different in so many ways. I found a sticker on my 310 not too long ago, it apparently was built in California.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

Finally took her out. First pic is the water stuff that took us days to figure out. There were mud daubers in the drain pipe.
......

I would be careful using hose clamps on that old pex tubing. You probably get away with it on the new white water lines, but the pex connection will blow sooner or later.
Love your cat...

[LaniKai]

We figured out how to get water in and could not get it to drain... Ended up pumping it out and parking on our levelers so the rest would not drain inside when we took the drain apart. We thought we needed a new valve, but the tube and valve were just full of mud. Cleaned it up and put it all back together using the same parts. Now you have me a little worried about it, but not as much as I worry about our fuel lines now. This weekend we prep for a wed-mon trip to the High Sierra Music Festival. We are switching from a minivan and tent to this. Feels huge and we will climb under there to make sure all fuel lines got replaced with our other work.

We had no luck with the fridge on 12 volt either, but I sure am glad it works on propane.

I am pretty sure that our 310 only has the one transfer switch, but certainly there are some variations.

Has anyone ever seen the arm hardware that is on the sides of the flip down couch to make it flip down into a bed for sale? We figured out that ours used to have the lounge in back with two couches that both flip down to make one huge bed. We want to switch it back and that looks like the hard part to make/find. We still have the anchor parts on the seat parts. We also have a couch in the front so I guess we can pay someone to fabricate them, but I would rather not if the price is even or better.

The cat is the only thing I allowed myself to buy before the airstream. Makes me laugh.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

We figured out how to get water in and could not get it to drain... Ended up pumping it out and parking on our levelers so the rest would not drain inside when we took the drain apart. We thought we needed a new valve, but the tube and valve were just full of mud. Cleaned it up and put it all back together using the same parts. Now you have me a little worried about it.....

No need to worry, just don't leave it unattended hooked to city water or with the waterpump on. The waterpump will come on if the system fails somewhere, so you will know immediately.

[PeterH-350LE]

Originally Posted by LaniKai

Has anyone ever seen the arm hardware that is on the sides of the flip down couch to make it flip down into a bed for sale? We figured out that ours used to have the lounge in back with two couches that both flip down to make one huge bed. We want to switch it back and that looks like the hard part to make/find. We still have the anchor parts on the seat parts. We also have a couch in the front so I guess we can pay someone to fabricate them, but I would rather not if the price is even or better.
....

Sorry can't help with locating the hardware, but i know they used the flip over couch into the nineties.
Here is my solution, without spending a dime (I don't get paid working on my Airstreams )
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f311...ml#post1641948

[LaniKai]

And we looked at yours and spun it around. Not pretty or perfect but it will work just fine for a festival. We come back to sleep only when very tired. Thanks for the idea and pictures. -Lani

[PeterH-350LE]

rear layout options from a sales brochure :

[LaniKai]

Those pictures are awesome. I had not seen them before. We are at a music festival now and we got parked in the back of the RV lot with this as our view. We had a cricket right outside our window and are loving our rear bedroom. The festival is 24/7 mayhem and we usually tent camp in the middle of it. I miss the action, but I can sleep through it and now Paul can sleep too.

On our way here we had some worries. We spent the night in a rest area and when we were ready to go and I pressed the brake peddle to take it out of park and put it in drive I got a nasty noise. Paul checked brake fluid level in the master cylinder and we made some calls and found a place that could look at it in Sacramento. Paul drove it over and it seemed to be in the steering too. They explained the hydroboost and power starring pump connecting both and we tried not to worry too much and went to breakfast thinking at least it was a weekday, a big city, and we were early. We came back expecting a huge issue and they said the fluid reservoir had fallen down onto a tube and was blocking it causing the pump to have trouble and some fluid to leak out. The reattached it and refilled it and we were on our way.

Then when I was driving we noticed we have no blinkers. Fuses are under the dash in this one and the fuse is blown. Hopefully a new one will fix it and we can get home without too much more worry (like why did it blow?)

So glad we too the advice some of you sent me about going with a 310 instead of a few feet shorter. This bedroom rocks.

[dljosephson]

Lani, are you guys at High Sierra? We just came back from Kate Wolf and lots of our crew are at HSMF.

We have just spent a lot of time and money reworking the hydroboost and master cylinder and the rest of the brakes. It pays to understand that system. Also, if you have the automatic parking brake, it is prone to problems. Also once you get back to Santa Cruz I can report that Marty Schreiber understands these systems well. He is good at electrical stuff too.

[LaniKai]

We were at HSMF. We got our electrical isolated to the left blinker only so we are driving back with extra fuses and trying to only use the right one. When we forget and use the left the fuze blows. I wonder if something got ripped out when the reservoir fell on that side? We will figure it out when we get home. Until then no left turns!

[LaniKai]

And thanks for the recommendation.

[mayco]

Check your trailer hitch wiring. If it's the original plug they can cause all kinds of blinker and flasher problems. I was having the same problem with my blinkers and hazards. I found that the low little rectangle running lights were terribly corroded and removed the trailer lighting plug. Solved the problem immediately. I disconnected those little running lights until I can find replacements. I would start with that trailer plug first though.


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[LaniKai]

Woops. I read your reply and for some reason started with the front side markers and turn signal. Totally corroded and someone had spliced an a new section of wire on one side and attached it to the ground wire on the larger turn light... WTF? Both sides did not match each other and I suspected the new wire with a new nut and electrical tape. Disconnected the suspect wire and cleaned out around the bulbs and the fuse did not blow. Yipee! Cleaned up a little more and I think I need to replace at least one of the side marker lights. At least not blowing the fuse and all but that one work as they should. Going to be searching online for a replacement soon.

Also installed new blower fan blades in both sides of the bathroom. We decided to just go with the blades since the motors seemed to be working fine and all these things will add up price wise.

Here are some pics for people later. Super easy. Waiting for the paint to dry and figuring out how to put the ladder took the longest time.

I found the 1984 service manual, but does anyone know where I can get a 1983 service manual free?
I would like to see how it has the lights wired.

[dljosephson]

Where did you find the replacement blower wheel? I have the same problem with the shower vent and would like to avoid putting in a new cheap motor.

[mayco]

Check with Broan Nutone. They have a replacement wheel