Country Coach suspension, steering, handling, and cooling issues. Lots of hard work needed
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Leaking radiator, clunky suspension, steering play, old airbags, bad kingpin and more. Getting new tires set to the correct pressures will really make a big handling improvement.
First time on your channel. A must watch for current or future owners of these magnificent conveyances. One can't be exposed to too much knowledge.
The physical location of your shop amazes me and amuses me a bit. Bringing a 40ft MH to you for the first, and perhaps every subsequent visit, for safety's sake requires that the arriving MH owner phones that "we just arrived, and are waiting for a pilot". Then someone(s) from the shop comes down to help pilot the MH to the actual shop. Just like many cruise ship destination harbors where the ship waits for a pilot to come out to help navigate the ship into the harbor.
To wit: you ought to offer driving courses to current/prospective owners and the final exam is negotiating to your shop. What a hidden gem.
Scott, it's just amazing to me just how beat down these coaches are. It's like "No Maintenance" at all. People like driving them but the hell with working on them. I've been in the trucking industry all my life, and the motoring public should be glad that trucks don't go down the road in this shape.
This one’s like new 2005
"People like driving them but the hell with working on them." People don't work on pickup trucks or cars these days. What makes you think they would work on a Class A ?
@@SomeTechGuy666 That would change if States began implementing yearly inspections of Class A motorhomes, big bus conversions, and big 5th wheel RV trailers.
To keep it legit, the State should only inspect at State facilities and then give the owner 7-10 business days to correct the problems. Or at least show it's in the shop awaiting parts to complete repairs. When it's fixed, it gets an inspection to verify the work and gets a new sticker. State inspections are compromised when the inspecting garage is also the same garage that will fix the alleged problems. A serious conflict of interest.
Maybe cost is an issue for some? I was forced to buy my Class A out of necessity (homeless) live off SS, lower back nerve damage, can't afford gas for travel, sit at cheap RV park. All batteries dead, can't afford to fix. ✌️
@@TimothyMichaels Being permanently parked at a cheap RV park isn't a problem. It's when an unsafe RV is out on the road, that's the problem.
Do you have electric and water hookup? If so, you're in good shape.
Love that handheld crimping tool. Looks like a real handy item to have in the tool chest!
Once again, Scott and company... you've probably saved someone's life or kept them from serious injury! Thanks heavens you and your team are in business and have such a wonderful and thoughtful work ethic. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Stay well, stay safe!
Refreshing to watch real mechanics at work fixing real issues with these coaches. You guys do it right.
I truly admire your brilliant and inspiring work on the buses. I have a strong love for this being an old time mechanic and adore motorhomes. Keep up the great videos. Love to you all from Down Under.
This mechanic is worth every dollar spent. You might spend more but you get a job well done. They go the extra mile. God bless you and your crew.
another fine job you and your crew did. your vids remind me of my younger days doing heavy equipment repairs. keep on keeping on !!! at the rate your going now your going to have one hell of a customer base!!!!👍
Actually, All it takes is money and the right people working on it🤙
I'm working on my 2004 fleetwood Discovery. we owned it about 3 month's. so far it's just small stuff. Fridge, stove, had to rebuild the condensor motor on both AC, now working on Furnace rebuild (looks like a bad thermostat). That axle and airbag stuff is pretty intimidating, but I'm watching!
Man, I wish I lived closer to you guys. Would love my Country Coach serviced by y'all! Be like going to the spa! Great video!
Just love watching you guys working on those buses. Good Job.
That sway bar repair is excellent!!!!
We don't really have this concept of privately owned buses in Europe so I find these videos an interesting insight to a very different culture. In Europe it would be a nightmare to find parking spaces for something that size.
I’ve had 2 country coaches! Absolutely love them!
ABSOLUTELY ------> OUTSTANDING!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
Love it when a job gets done like that
All it takes is money 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Country Coach was a high end manufacturer , sadly they shut down in 2008 during the downturn. Founded by three brothers, I think, The Lee family. Was based in Oregon. Who built the chassis for the RV, Roadmaster? I don't think that was a bus conversion. Great job as usual Scott and crew.
Country Coach built their own chassis for that Coach. Dynamax it was called. Probably one of the best designed chassis out there. To bad they couldn’t survive.
some of these buses.......the horror. This one is better than most, but it still features things which have not been greased etc. Thats a good tip on tyre pressures......only run as much pressure as you need, it makes a big difference to ride quality.
Now that's a scary sight! Great to get to it and get it all repaired.
Sway bar bushings is the first thing Togo on my motorhome, new ones are like a front end man in a can.😂
There are kits and professional services that can fix leaky multi pane windows in place. The process is drilling a hole in one pane, washing and drying between them and then closing it up with a one way membrane. My co worker had the process done to some large windows in his house years ago, still good and it was hundreds of dollars rather than thousands.
Sure would like to get my 2002 Beaver Marquis to you guys for R&R
Good job keep up the good work 👍
Nitrogen would allow the tires to maintain a consistent pressure regardless of temperature. That is why aircraft tires are nitrogen filled, without that they could explode on long taxi ways at airports with hot climates.
Great information !!!!👍🏻🏆
@@fernandoscrenci4874Also nitrogen molecules are actually larger than oxygen molecules so it is harder for nitrogen molecules to leak out between the polymer chains in rubber.
Nice mobile home - live it.
24:05 a little fun, it has no issue there.
Great video once again! I'm considering a used Country Coach myself. I think I'll pay for a pre-inspection. That seemed like a lot all at once for a Country Coach, but I guess they're all the same when it comes to wear items. ***SUBSCRIBED***
Another happy customer
Though a little poorer
Oh the bus life 😂😂
I had the same problem with the window left of my driver's seat. Less than a year after getting it repaired, it fogged up again so I replaced it with RV Glass Solutions’ Lifetime Laminated Glass (LAM) and never have to worry about it fogging up again. The R-value difference is very minimal so I don't notice a difference when it is cold out.
I should note that RV Glass Solutions already had a digital template for the window so it was easy to order it. All I had to do is verify it was correct for my coach and find a glass shop to take apart my window and replace the double pane with the LAM but in my case, the glass shop that did the failed repair also did the LAM replacement for free with me paying RV Glass Solutions for the LAM.
I also recommend RV glass solutions I did the driver side and passenger side windows withLAM glass and the glass fit perfectly in the old frames. it was a great improvement.
@@CaptainCornBurner
I don't know anyone who has used LAM in their coach that has ever regretted it.
Nice, smooth test drive (ride) - good job
Country Coach was started by three Lee brothers in Oregon….. I think they started in the Class A arena with chassis’s from Gillig and eventually purchased rights to use a Gillig design to build their own chassis…..they also did Prevost conversions…..The two most active of the three brothers were Bob and Ron……I forget the third brothers name, but a very interesting family……At one point, they had hired Jack Courtemanch to oversee the company…..his family had deep connections with Mack truck, and 13:11 Jack was Nancy Reagan’s chief of staff when the highest level meetings were being held in Iceland……Monaco and Country Coach manufacturing plants shared a fence in Junction City OR when I first encountered the motorhome chassis business……Executive MH at the time was in Anaheim CA and built gas pushers on Gillig chassis with Chevrolet 427 gas engines (it was a version that Chevrolet built for dump trucks…..had a special camshaft, etc…. I retired from a 24 year career with Gillig in early 2005….did service liaison with the motorhome community at FMCA and manufacturers rallies all over the country….. I swear that any and every owner who came into our display had “just one quick question “……met a lot of very interesting people……at 83, my toolbox is retired……and so am I!!!!
Another Happy Customer 😊 ☮️❤️ I think I'll stick wit my short 😝bus 💰
I'll stick with my 26' Airsteam trailer. Buses/motorhomes too rich for my blood.
Another quality job 👍
That is a ton of work. Bus is lik “branew”.
Brothers 💪👍🏻🤓😎 Provo Proust, big Blew Bird. Titusville to Alaska and back 🏴☠️🏁🏴🏳️🇨🇦🇺🇸
The tire thumping was expecting a rendition of Cotton Eye Joe lol
I love the buses everywhere. I know you probably don't like that comment maybe they need to be worked on, but , there is only so much time and money available.
They all run and drive
"They feel a lot better than my checkbook" (tires) LOL! ( Both have been deflated😉)
Nice coach.
I've had two CCs. Both 2000 40'ers with IFS & tight at 95k & 102k miles. Chassis issues never even crossed my mind. Only airbags & tires. For being that new, an owner must've hit something for the torsion bar & kingpin being bad?
I love watching your videos because you put so much information in them I had no idea that the air pressure in the tire went off the weight of the vehicle
I ran max sidewall pressure (125 psi) on my Yokohama's until I could get the coach weighed. It rode like a Flintstone mobile. After weighing I could drop the pressure down to 90 psi on each corner.
Here are some sequential NEW WAVE THEATER FACTS OF LIFE (look up THAT subreference!): 1) ALL , repeat ALL buses that cross his path have, AT THE VERY BEST, not been maintained nominally, according to any schedule whatsoever. 2) MOSTLY thery are severely abused and neglected, causing MORE damage costing WAY MORE than had they just even NOMINALLY maintained them (not all of this is the present owners' fault, as they may have bought the buses KNOWING there were severe problems and purchased it with these repair costs in mind 3) Scott has ethically repaired EVERY SINGLE ONE, and I HOPE he has issued a MANDATORY MAINTENANCE and inspection schedule for these yobbos. That will serve them and him well in the future. As always, great video Scott. Do you remember the New Wave Theater on the USA Network?
Very good. I've been subscribed for years but I had stopped watching your videos for a few years, due to being very sad after a tree fell on our DP motorhome, destroying it. We had decided not to replace it but just now are reconsidering another coach. The work that this coach in the video needed was frightening because it must have been driving in a seriously flawed way. As always, your work is impressive. Do people put Toyo tires on their coach for the same reason as their car? A softer ride?
That mount for the sway bar bushing looks really under-engineered, pretty much all of the ones I've ever seen were built from heavy guage angle sections and gusseted to the rest of the frame to avoid damage like that.
Scott, I have a question about the 1" Milwaukee battery impact. How heavy is it, compared to the air counterpart? That thing, is a beast!
Around the same. Different manufacturers and models are different but 25lbs + battery 2-3.5 lbs 5ah-12ah
keep the clips coming
Good job
Seems like every bus coming in to BGM has clapped out kingpins, rotten airbags, and leaking seals. And that's before the engine gets looked at!
"Straight around the square", isn't a more contradictory statement! LOL
Straight then around the square
@@BusGreaseMonkey P-r2 no P are round lol
Scott sir….wanting to clarify you said drive axle tires were set to 80psi…tag would be 75psi…owner wanted 80psi….did you mean steer tires were at 90psi?….I think you said drive but meant steer. Thank you guys.
To me there must be some real dangerous stuff over there, considering how many vehicles there are on the roads. However once they visit you everything is cool.
How many miles was on the coach
How was the smell on the toyo tires,I've heard they have a weird oder for a few months after being put on. Nice motorhome.
I’m pretty sure that noise in the beginning is Jumanji
Do you use cribbing as well?
:58 Sounds like the bass track on a Bee Gees song.
I have a 3.5t Motorhome, a tiny thing by comparison but on all the forums here in the UK we have so many rattles being commented on from within the vans, the hob, ovens, crockery cutlery etc, like a skellygog having fun in a biscuit tin, the test runs seem to be just Bus noises, is that a mic not picking it up or something?
first part checking front end sound like jumanji ...lol
What's going on with the windscreen wipers? Why are they parked up there and why are they so small? Must be downright dangerous in the rain?
Sounds like a Cummins ISL/ISM with an Allison B5/600?
Cat C15 is my guess
@@1768ify Not in that model. Would be a Cat C9 or Cummins ISL. Allison 3000
@@ggallant1 was the Lexa the only C15?
@@1768ify Lexa and 2004 Magna and Affinity.
I am new to the world of bus repair. Do they ever need to do an emergency brake test?
Didn't know that single piece windshield glass was legal on a motor coach in the US? Its the big reason you can't import European coaches too north America.
It’s all double laminated safety glass. Even the thermo pane is 2 layers of double laminated glass
What were you using to do the toe check?? Thnx
Looks like y'all bought a tool to make hydraulic hoses! Must save time from always having to run to town to make them up.
There was a video when Scott had a mobile hydraulic hose shop come to BGM. The bus being repaired needed a lot of hoses w/fittings made and that mobile shop was a real time saver.
@@BlackPill-pu4vi yep I watched that one.
Think that tool is for AC lines. Owner talked about not being able to clean the charge air cooler after a ac line break. 6:45 mark. Not sure if it would work with hydraulic fitting.
It’s a hydraulic crimper
This may be a stupid question but, I'm asking it anyway. Couldn't one use a shim for the play on the kingpin?
We did. We inspected the kingpin and bushings then cleaned and repacked the bearing and added 2 shims then reassembled. 2 hrs labor and $5 in parts.
Where can I get shims?
Whats a radiator of that caliber cost a fella?
4k-8k is the range we have been seeing for big bus radiators
I bet that new radiator was expensive $$$$.
6k
I remember that around 30 years ago there was a radiator repair shop in my town. Not only would they repair car radiators but also locomotive radiators. But all the radiators were metal at that time.
🤛👍🙏😎🦅🇺🇸
21:53 I can't tell if he's laughing or crying there. lol
Very mice bus. I hate the consider what he just spent on his service,especially with all those new tires.
based on a quick look at least 7K
All parts alone were around 15k probably. Labor around 6k definitely a 20k + maintenance appointment. Radiator alone was 6k tires were 6.5. Then add airbags, shocks, fluids filters thermostats, swaybar etc. yes not a cheap outing. Labor was way less than parts
@@BusGreaseMonkey I’ve been watching your videos for years now and I’ve always been impressed with the thoroughness of your work. You are definitely pros.
@@BusGreaseMonkey The round-a-bout specifics are appreciated as a future shopper is better able to assess what [he/she] [could be/is] facing in procuring such a machine. Maybe spend $5K-$10K more on a unit that has verifiable receipts that such a service was done within the last 2-3 years - - - but keep in mind. items not needing repair/update 2-3 yrs ago may need them now.
Well you got one thing right in the Heading.......Monkey
Maybe put a cone under the driveway rock
The rear tires have to be 2.5’ off the gravel driveway
Sometime in the future, you might consider digging a pit rather than crawling around in a tunnel of limited space for undercarriage repairs.
They were working on creating one in a recent video off to the right of the shop.
As a former driver in my opinion if you want to drive something like this you should be required to have at least a basic knowledge of all it's components and should be subject to the same inspection and determinate of the dot but with that said the places other than grease monkey should be held liable for inspections and repairs that they claimed to do and didn't
Tiny little motorcycle requires a special license…. Giant rv - nope It is absolutely ludicrous but it’s all political.
@@BusGreaseMonkey To drive a 45' Prevost tour bus, you need a cdl. To drive a 45' Prevost bus conversion, ie Marthon or Liberty, for example a regular class C. I bet the cdl would scare off a lot of potential customers.
There isn’t even a practical way for an rv owner to get a cdl. They won’t ket you take the exam in a private rv. That testing system is flawed too by not having it. But also a lot of commercial things wouldn’t apply. They should have an rv endorsement option and education and safety training options like abate had for motorcycles.
BGM thx for qpan informative and entertaining video. re CDL Komifornia DMV requires a Recreational CDL for operating a single vehicle over 26k#GVWR and single vehicle pulling a camper trlr exceeding 10k#s and requires "A" endorsement for camping trlr exceeding 15k#/40' OAL which requires knowledge and skills test with TV and Camper trlr also medical cert same as CDL no logs and is not for hire restricted.
a king pin first up i though it was
You mean it's not supposed to have glitter? Lol.
Why. Do people want to own a big old bus?
Be kind - we'd have nothing to watch if they didn't! The $reality$ of owning old heavy machinery must come as a nasty shock to many, but I'm glad they do it.
It’s a nice place to live when you are on the road.
Mainly because their great. Some good deals on some very high quality coaches. Not many folk anymore have a cool half million to spend. Even with the cost they incurred their still far far ahead with a very quality coach by Country Coach.
Because we can. America baby