|
|
Expert
 
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | At the West Coast Mini Rally, those of us that were there agreed that it would be good if we had another "work party" at Eric's house in Gilroy at some point in the future. We have done this in the past as he has a large driveway and it is an opportunity for a couple or few of us to get together and share our knowledge and tools to do light mechanical work and/or trouble shooting in the company of other FMC coach owners. We also get to compare how things were done on the various coaches by FMC and by previous and current owners. The pros and cons are then discussed at length and variable opionions are welcome. I have even debated with myself! Given the holidays coming up this will probably not happen until after the first of the year. I do not anticipate a public posting of the date at this time, but I would greatly encourage any other coach owners that may have an intrest in coming with or without their coaches to privately email me and I can then include you in the scheduling discussion. I think a good rule would be that any projects started must be finished to the point that the coach can be driven home at the end of the work party. He does need his driveway during the week and we want to be a "good neighbor" in his neighborhood. Again, if you have any interest in attending with or without (we can use spare wrench spinners and parts chasers and opinion generators) your coach please email me so you can be included in the planning discusions. Thanks,
|
|
| |
|
Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Well, we had the Northern California Work Day and fun and progress were had by all. I have posted some pictures in the photo Album section. We look forward to doing it again sometime in the future and wish to invite anyone that would like to come. We did AC work, heater work, light fixture work, mystery switch work, etc. We also told stories and just had a generally good, relaxing time.
Since we took a little longer than planned it cost Greg some money as his wife decided to spend that time at the nearby mall rather than just sitting and waiting for us to get done! |
|
| |
|
Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Well, it is time for another Northern California Work Day! It will be held in Gilroy, CA at Eric's house and is limited to 4 coaches. Those spots will be available on a first come basis by reservation. Others can come and help and can ask questions or help diagnose or help spin tools for the projects that are being worked on or go get pizza or get advise to be used when the coach owner gets home and can work on their own coach.
For the particulars as to the exact date, time and reservation, please send an email to Stephen@Heinrichs.com or phone me at 916-425-7996.
This will a great time to take care of last minute details to get your coach ready to travel to the Mega Rally in Nebraska in mid June.
Give me a call or email, |
|
| |
|
Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | The latest Northern California Work Day was a tremendous success as we, e.g. Eric, finished getting the auto AC repaired and working on the fourth of the four coaches attending the workday. Most likely, three of the four coaches will travel 1,600 miles to the Minden Mega Rally. Multiple smaller projects were either completed or diagnoses were made for later repair after parts will be purchased. Other possible upgrades and changes were discussed and evaluated and compared.
A special treat was the initial attendance of Jerry and Tim Jacobsen of Clovis, CA at their first workday. i expect that we will see more of them as they had a great time looking at multiple coaches at once and getting to know a number of other owners.
A few pictures have been posted in the Album section (click on the link at the upper right corner of this page) under Northern California Workday-May 2010.
See you in Minden, NE in June, |
|
| |
|
Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | In the morning I am headed back to Eric's house in Gilroy for another Northern California Workday. It appears that we will have a new attendee if all goes according to plan. That is in addition to the four regulars. How a work day works is that everyone has some things that need to be done to their coaches and we each work on our own coaches, except that we all assist each other as well. We also get to do a lot of comparing of the inner workings of the various coaches. This work day is going to be different in that we will depend less on Eric so that he can work on his own coach and not just the guest's and it will be a two day work day. Instead of working late into the evening and then driving home late as we did last time, Eric is going to fire up his grill for use by anyone and we are going to have a campfire in Stephen's FMC Fire Box and relax and visit. Those that can will spend the night and continue the work day into a second day and then go home during the day time and more rested. Hopefully, we will also get a lot of things done. The only restriction is that the coach has to be able to leave after the second day so Eric gets his driveway back! This is our chance to get a few things off of the "to do" list and also make sure the coach is ready for the West Coast Rally that is going to be held in Buellton, CA Nov 12-14. See the post for that rally for details. I will see you either tomorrow or in Buellton. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | Well, Eric still didn't get anything done on his own coach, but did give a lot of invaluble assistance to the rest of the attendee's. This Workday we did something that we had talked about doing before but never acutally did. We took four of the coaches out for a drive in sequence with 3 or 4 people driving each of the coaches. That gave each driver the opprotunity to compare the brakes, shifting, handling, etc. of each of the coaches to their own coach and discuss why the variances existed. We drove 1046, 708, 509 and 888 in that sequence. 1046 has an Allison transmission and Edelbrock fuel injection, 708 has a newly repaired 727 transmission and a creaking sound in the front end, 509 is stock with some front end issues, and 888 is also an Allison transmission but with the Detroit Diesel 8.2L Turbo Diesel.
It was very interesting and educational for all, especially when Eric decided to practice an evasive manuver in 509 without telling the rest of us!! The drives were followed by using the floor jack to help evaluate the various front ends. All of the owners now have a better understanding of their units.
Saturday afternoon became Saturday evening and it was time to put the tools away and relax. Some wives brought food and beverages and we got a fire going in the Fire Box. We had great asian chicken prepared by Nuntawan Camyre, sausages, steak and beverages. That was followed by toasted marshmellows and 'smores.
The next morning we continued our various projects on the coaches. Two Fantastic vents were installed. Two heaters were dismantled and evaluated. An exhaust system was reworked, an intake air cannister was removed, auto AC wiring was sorted out and corrected, and other projects were done as well.
Go to the photo Album section for some pictures of the event and then plan on joining us for the next Northern California Work Day which will be held next spring. See you then or next month at the Buellton Rally.
|
|
| |
|
Administrator
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado | BigRabbitMan - 2010-10-16 2:38 PM
...when Eric decided to practice an evasive manuver in 509 without telling the rest of us!!
Elaborate, please, for the amusement of those who could not attend? |
|
| |
|
Expert
Location: Cottage Grove, OR | jevans - 2010-10-16 7:23 PM BigRabbitMan - 2010-10-16 2:38 PM ...when Eric decided to practice an evasive manuver in 509 without telling the rest of us!! Elaborate, please, for the amusement of those who could not attend?[/QUOTE] This is my version .... other versions may vary! We were cruising along in the #3 lane at about 55-65 mph when Eric decided to see if he could sort out what was happening in the front end vs the swing of the rear of the coach. Well, to do that he needed to swing the rear of the coach and so he did! All it takes is a quick left/right/left on the steering wheel and you get a good test! The coach did fine and after a few miles, I was able to relax my double handed grip on the dinnette table. |
|
| |
Northern California work party
