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Old 10-30-2019, 04:36 PM   #141
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Holy wow, that's crazy right there. We started heading south from the Sawtooth range when we heard the forecast.....luckily, Idaho missed that dumping of snow (though they did get the cold). We're not experienced enough with bus dwelling to want to deal with snowfall like that. We're doing alright in the cold, but boy I'd hate to be stuck in snow.
Enjoy your Texas time, sounds like you've earned it!

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Old 10-30-2019, 08:33 PM   #142
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbloem1974 View Post
Howdy folks! long time, no post - been lurking around, though.....

we were sent off with a crazy 3 FOOT dumping of snow on the last weekend of SEPTEMBER! (might have heard about it on the news....)

after day 1 of storm:


later the next day:


Was quite the sendoff from Montana - we were able to dig out a couple days later, but it was quite the challenge!

John
Beautiful. I like big snow.

One of my bucket list items was to spend a winter in Buffalo, but I'd rather be somewhere more 'scenic'.

Glad you made it home okay.
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Old 02-18-2020, 11:53 PM   #143
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Back in Business!!!

Howdy Skoolie Family! Welp, Its been a rough past month-and-a-half, but things are looking up!

We missed both Skooliepalooza and the Florida Skoolie Swarm due to mechanical issues, but was finally able to get things back up and running!

A little background: On the way back from Montana in October, I was getting some DTC's (Warn Engine light). It was a 333 code (ICP above or below desire pressure). I was able to reset the code underway using the Scanguage and it would run fine for a bit, then show up again under load. We were ablr to make it back to Texas without any problems, just had to clear the codes quite a bit, but other than that, the bus was running OK.

Made it back to Texas and started to troubleshoot. Decided to replace the ICP sensor and the IPR (Injection Pressure Regulator) Valve since they were the cheapest things to start with. Replaced those and figured we would be good to go! WRONG!! started rough and never smoothed out. Crap. Still throwing 333 Code. Going through the troubleshooting, figured the next logical thing has to be the HPOP (High Pressure Oil Pump). Ordered it and swapped it out. Started her up and STILL not running right. Crap. OK, next step would be to check the injectors. Maybe have a leaking O-ring that is not letting the pressure build up. OK. Pull the injectors, clean them up and put in new O-rings.

Well, since I have the engine all tore apart, might as well rebuild the air compressor since I noticed a slight oil leak from the head. OK. Wait for parts. Get the compressor head rebuilt.

Since I was rebuilding the compressor head, also figured it would be a good idea to get a new dessicant filter for the air dryer and a new purge valve which was also sounding like it was on its last leg... great! Air system with lots of new parts!

To get the compressor head rebuilt, had to remove the HPOP again. OK, really learning a lot about the DT466E . As frustrating as it has been, really been learning a bunch about the engine. As I was removing the HPOP, I had another look at the IPR valve (removed it as it was easier to get the HPOP off with it off). Something did not look right. I compared it with the original IPR Valve that was removed. The "new" IPR Valve was not the same size. It was about 1/8" longer than the original. What the hell? I went back and looked at the order history... looks like I went cheap and ordered the cheapest one I could find online. MISTAKE! I went and ordered another one from a more reputable business. When it arrived, I compared it with the original one and it was the same size. OK! PROGRESS!

Now to put everything back together and hope to hell I don't have any extra parts laying around.

Allrighty - got everything re-connected, re-wired, and re-torqued.... Needed to turn the crankshaft a few times to make sure and squeeze any oil/diesel (that I didn't get when I sucked out the cylinders with a vacuum pump) to prevent any damage due to hydro-lock.

With a VERY nervous wife, finally ready to attempt to start it back up. Since the oil lines and fuel lines were removed, it took quite a bit of priming and cranking before we got any action.

Moment of truth.....SHE'S ALIVE!!!! There was much smoke and fanfare, but the engine finally settled down and seemed to be running OK. Hooked up the laptop to check the numbers.... SWEET!! They seemed to be looking OK... revved it up, pressure numbers looked good! Time for a test drive - Took it out for a bit and ran great! A few little sputters at idle, but the longer its ran, the smoother it got - just needed to work out all the air bubbles in the oil and fuel lines...

So - lessons learned - DO NOT cheap out on certain parts. Had I not went cheap the first time with the IPR Valve, I probably would not have had to get a new HPOP. Since my bus is a 1998, I figured "what the hell" it is over 20 years old - couldn't hurt, right?

Either way, I got her running again and we couldn't be happier.

All is right in bus world again.

Cheers!!! Now on to more adventures!

John and Beeks
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Old 02-19-2020, 12:38 AM   #144
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Heres some pics from the work...Click image for larger version

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Old 02-19-2020, 12:41 AM   #145
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Also have been working on the bathroom re-do...heres some progress pics: Click image for larger version

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Old 02-19-2020, 04:34 AM   #146
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well you sure don't mess around! Way to go man.

Maybe next year we'll see ya at the swarm?
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Old 02-20-2020, 11:29 PM   #147
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Hope so, Charlie!! Keep them fingers crossed!

Made some more progress on the bathroom yesterday. Really happy with how it is coming together! Just need to finish the back wall, then can caulk/seal all the corners and edges. After that, put the plumbing back together!

Cheers!

John

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Old 02-21-2020, 06:07 AM   #148
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Your bathroom looks great.
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Old 02-21-2020, 08:47 AM   #149
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Your bathroom looks great.
Thanks! Definitely will be an improvement from before.

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Old 03-31-2020, 08:18 AM   #150
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OK!! Well, the world certainly has thrown us all quite the arsenal of curveballs since my last post....

....but, work has continued on the bathroom re-do, and it is pretty much complete!

Really happy with how the walls turned out! The vinyl tile we used is SUPER easy to work with and looks great. Was able to easily re-mount everything, and we even added a cool collapsible towel rack that we originally saw from someone's Wanderlodge build...

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All the plumbing was easily reattached and leak-checked.

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The floor was another story. We decided to put some epoxy over the tiles. We wanted to do a cool glittery effect like we did with our countertops. We got a really cool blue glitter mix from the same company we got the epoxy from. (Countertopepoxy.com - HIGHLY recommended, btw. Their customer service is top notch!!)
Anyway, we went a little crazy when we were adding the glitter mix in and added way too much, and made the mix a bit more cloudy than we wanted... Oh, well. So now the floor looks a bit milky. It still looks neat, just a different effect than we originally wanted. The good thing is that floor is completely sealed and watertight, which was the main goal!

So now, thanks to COVID-19, we wait. We would normally be getting ready to leave Texas to start heading towards Montana for our summer jobs at Glacier National Park. Our start dates have been delayed and we're not sure when or if we will be able to work or even be able to head up there. As of right now, we are in "wait and see mode".

I got the bus all washed up and ready a few days ago, and I am running out of **** to do! Hopefully we won't be stuck in Texas all summer. We'd *MUCH* rather be back up in Montana.

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Cross your fingers and heres hoping!!

John
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Old 03-31-2020, 09:20 AM   #151
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That bidet is a particularly good addition these days.
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Old 03-31-2020, 10:17 AM   #152
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That bidet is a particularly good addition these days.
Hahaha! Never though of using it in that manner! We always use it to make sure the bowl was clean! ROFL
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Old 03-31-2020, 01:20 PM   #153
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Quote:
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That bidet is a particularly good addition these days.
Quote:
Originally Posted by johnbloem1974 View Post
Hahaha! Never though of using it in that manner! We always use it to make sure the bowl was clean! ROFL
Love that!
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Old 06-03-2020, 10:54 PM   #154
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Welp, howdy folks from just under the 49th parallel! So after a long stressful wait, we are attempting to have a summer season still. My wife, who works for NPS, started last Monday. I just got the word today that I will start on Monday the 8th. I manage Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier, MT. We have a tentative opening date of July 1st, subject to change.

We got out of Texas on May 1st and decided to head to Montana and hole up in an RV park and self-quarantine for a month. Found a great place in Deer Lodge, which is about 40 miles North of Butte. Great Place!
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The cat was definitely OK with it.Click image for larger version

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This place was teeming with wildlife. We saw multiple bald eagles everytime we went out to explore!!
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So, were really happy to be able to be back in our happy place. Not sure what the "Summer Of COVID-19" Will look like, but we'll be prepared, as my company had a great safety plan and we'll do do everything we can to stay safe...

Hope everyone else does the same!!
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Love and light!

John & Beeks
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Old 06-03-2020, 11:22 PM   #155
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Since Covid has folks somehow way more active than normal I'd expect a busy, packed summer of folks hugging and high fiving as much as possible. lol

Glad to see a yall are doing well and staying healthy! Place looks beautiful.
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Old 06-03-2020, 11:28 PM   #156
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Glad you made it back to the top of the country! Looks like a good place to hide out. Do you know when the Going to the Sun road is predicted to open? I wonder if they will allow cyclists up before the snow is cleared as they have in "normal" years. We rode it several years ago and that was the best way to see the sights.
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Old 06-04-2020, 12:33 AM   #157
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Glad you made it back to the top of the country! Looks like a good place to hide out. Do you know when the Going to the Sun road is predicted to open? I wonder if they will allow cyclists up before the snow is cleared as they have in "normal" years. We rode it several years ago and that was the best way to see the sights.
So, Going to the Sun should open "as normally" which means anywhere from end of June to Early July... just depends on the weather. The big key will be what will be available along the road. I've heard everything from not being able to stop anywhere to all trails open. We'll see...
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Old 06-04-2020, 12:36 AM   #158
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Since Covid has folks somehow way more active than normal I'd expect a busy, packed summer of folks hugging and high fiving as much as possible. lol

Glad to see a yall are doing well and staying healthy! Place looks beautiful.
Good lord! I'll be making sure all my employees take all the precautions. No hugging and high fives on my watch!


.......which will be *really* hard, cause I'm a hugger.......
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Old 06-04-2020, 01:22 PM   #159
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Great job on the bathroom. Can you tell us more about the "collapsible towel rack"? Where did you get it and does it fold down against the wall?
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Old 06-04-2020, 02:30 PM   #160
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towel rack

Quote:
Originally Posted by JA Savage View Post
Great job on the bathroom. Can you tell us more about the "collapsible towel rack"? Where did you get it and does it fold down against the wall?
Thanks!!

So, the towel rack I saw on someones Wanderlodge pics. Its awesome. It collapses against the wall and only takes up a small amount of space when stowed. The brand is Leifheit and I got it on Amazon. They also have them online at Target, Wally-World, etc.

Google "Leifheit Teleflex 100 wall mount dryer" to see multiple listings...

John
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