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Old 05-04-2017, 12:08 AM   #21
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That's good to hear!

That's the kind of road trip you'll remember for the rest of your life.

My dad still talks about driving cross country when he was in college using a choke cable run through the window instead of the gas pedal because the throttle linkage broke.

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Old 05-04-2017, 12:21 AM   #22
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100 miles closer! Alternator unplugged works like a charm.

Reconnecting now at a truck stop to charge a little before the last 75 miles


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Glad to hear that.
I had an adventure driving home myself including springing an oil leak and losing a muffler in Cincinnati. And I was smiling the whole time

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Old 05-04-2017, 12:55 AM   #23
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Well I drove 40 miles home from the bus barn and had a flat tire! That was a long riveting trip. Whew! I'm waiting to break down when I'm 200 miles from civilization.

It's very cool that the alternator disconnect worked. You're learning how to MacGyver your bus already.
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Old 05-04-2017, 01:36 AM   #24
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Well I drove 40 miles home from the bus barn and had a flat tire! That was a long riveting trip. Whew! I'm waiting to break down when I'm 200 miles from civilization.

It's very cool that the alternator disconnect worked. You're learning how to MacGyver your bus already.


Well... reconnecting the alternator did not work to charge the battery.

As the battery died the throttle cut out, we are stuck about 40 miles out.

Thinking about a road call or somehow getting to walmart to buy a new battery


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Old 05-04-2017, 04:44 AM   #25
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Originally Posted by kalcypher View Post
Well... reconnecting the alternator did not work to charge the battery.

As the battery died the throttle cut out, we are stuck about 40 miles out.

Thinking about a road call or somehow getting to walmart to buy a new battery


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If you are in a decently populated area, Uber is a good choice.
Roadside assistance is expensive.

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Old 05-04-2017, 10:52 AM   #26
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I was afraid of that. Your electronic fuel shut off valve closed when the power got to low in your battery. That's another good reason to have a manual fuel shutoff valve installed. Electric fuel shut of valves are pretty common at failing anyway. I did think of that last night, but my lack of experience with electronic fuel shut off valves is showing. It's difficult to know what voltage is required to keep the electronic fuel shut off valve working properly. I was hoping that as your power levels dropped you might be able to get another battery. The fuel shut off valve should be fine as soon as you have battery power again.

That's a rough start with your new to you bus. I feel bad for all the stress you're going through. I'm sure this experience has been quite expensive, not counting the cost of the bus.

Yesterday we were pretty sure it was the alternator, or regulator, gone bad that destroyed your battery twice. The alternator not working when you plugged it back in is a pretty good clue, but have that alternator tested before you replace it.

We feel your pain because most of us have been there at one time.
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Old 05-04-2017, 12:31 PM   #27
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I was afraid of that. Your electronic fuel shut off valve closed when the power got to low in your battery. That's another good reason to have a manual fuel shutoff valve installed. Electric fuel shut of valves are pretty common at failing anyway. I did think of that last night, but my lack of experience with electronic fuel shut off valves is showing. It's difficult to know what voltage is required to keep the electronic fuel shut off valve working properly. I was hoping that as your power levels dropped you might be able to get another battery. The fuel shut off valve should be fine as soon as you have battery power again.

That's a rough start with your new to you bus. I feel bad for all the stress you're going through. I'm sure this experience has been quite expensive, not counting the cost of the bus.

Yesterday we were pretty sure it was the alternator, or regulator, gone bad that destroyed your battery twice. The alternator not working when you plugged it back in is a pretty good clue, but have that alternator tested before you replace it.

We feel your pain because most of us have been there at one time.





Made it more to update later, alternator is defiantly the culprit.





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Old 05-04-2017, 01:51 PM   #28
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Glad to hear it's put away in the back yard.

Your bus is nearly the spitting image of my bus.
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Old 05-04-2017, 02:34 PM   #29
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Glad you made it! An adventure At the start... Who doesn't like adventure!


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Old 05-04-2017, 05:47 PM   #30
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Back home under its own power... That's a win in my book.

Looking forward to hearing the details.
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Old 05-04-2017, 07:48 PM   #31
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The end of day 1

We arrived on the farm that's hosting my conversion by 8:30 this morning and went right to work on 2 hours of sleep. I could not have been more excited.

Any ideas on what to do with these big heaters?


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Old 05-04-2017, 08:00 PM   #32
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Depends.

Some people toss em.

Some people add a coolant heater and use them for heat both while going down the road and when parked with the engine off.
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Old 05-04-2017, 08:01 PM   #33
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So what'd you end up doing to get it the last 40 miles down the road?
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Old 05-05-2017, 12:56 AM   #34
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Depends.

Some people toss em.

Some people add a coolant heater and use them for heat both while going down the road and when parked with the engine off.
I am going to clean them up and install at least 2 of them. I won't run them off the engine, but if I ever put a wood stove in I figure I could run a heat exchanger from the stove and use the heaters for that.
May not be the best system, but I like to build stuff lol.

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Old 05-08-2017, 11:31 AM   #35
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So what'd you end up doing to get it the last 40 miles down the road?


2nd road service call. He charged up my semi faulty battery and I purchased a fresh one to keep in the bus. It was 6:30am and my only option. We made the last 30 miles without the alternator plugged in on the recharged battery.




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Old 05-08-2017, 12:46 PM   #36
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I am going to clean them up and install at least 2 of them. I won't run them off the engine, but if I ever put a wood stove in I figure I could run a heat exchanger from the stove and use the heaters for that.
May not be the best system, but I like to build stuff lol.

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YEOOW!!! be WARY of backboilers on wood stoves!! you can blow yourself up REAL easy... its MUCH more than just running a water loop somewhere hot and then through the heaters... there's expansion tanks, pressure reliefs, air bleeds, pumps... oh and dont get air caught somewhere because of poor pipe routing.. esp in the firebox... Super-heated pressurized water can and will kill..
-Christopher
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Old 05-08-2017, 12:59 PM   #37
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YEOOW!!! be WARY of backboilers on wood stoves!! you can blow yourself up REAL easy... its MUCH more than just running a water loop somewhere hot and then through the heaters... there's expansion tanks, pressure reliefs, air bleeds, pumps... oh and dont get air caught somewhere because of poor pipe routing.. esp in the firebox... Super-heated pressurized water can and will kill..
-Christopher
The plan is not for a closed system.
Vented system with 12v pumps. Only will be used when shore water is available. Picture a toilet tank type float to keep the system full. Loop of copper around the flu pipe. I don't do high pressure. I never wanted my black seal.
I saw the myth busters blow up a hot water heater... Nope.
And I probably won't ever get around to even playing with that.
I will have propane as a primary heat.

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