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Old 08-23-2017, 07:50 PM   #201
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I left one seat in right behind the drivers say, so the GF has a seat with a belt. We have like 14 feet behind it. Another window of length wouldn't hurt but I do like how easy it is to park.

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Old 08-23-2017, 11:22 PM   #202
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Can't pinpoint the reason, but I kinda like the profile of the Vista. I think my lady would prefer a shuttle bus ride better, but we have time to figure that out. Not being much of a mechanic, I don't see any more problems working on the Vista, than a shuttle. I have to think the engine noise is also much the same, and there are some ways to decrease that. I have no idea about the drivers area heat.
Thanks for the info, and keep us updated on you trip, and the fishing spots.
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Old 08-24-2017, 09:17 AM   #203
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1olfart View Post
Can't pinpoint the reason, but I kinda like the profile of the Vista. I think my lady would prefer a shuttle bus ride better, but we have time to figure that out. Not being much of a mechanic, I don't see any more problems working on the Vista, than a shuttle. I have to think the engine noise is also much the same, and there are some ways to decrease that. I have no idea about the drivers area heat.
Thanks for the info, and keep us updated on you trip, and the fishing spots.
shuttle bus will be quieter and cooler engine-wise.. the van front end is typically quieter than a skoolie front end.. wind noise is about the same..

shuttles usually have dual A/C, skoolies its a toss-up. brokedown got really lucky to find dual air in a short bus.. usually thats not the case.

-Christopher
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Old 08-24-2017, 09:23 AM   #204
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I haven't driven a cutaway bus but I did ride with my friend in his E350 box truck. His is louder than mine, but I think most of it is specific to his vehicle.My bus is loud enough that you'd want to wear some hearing protection if you're driving more than a short distance, it's less bad if you open the window. The heat is really only a factor from all the glass, I don't feel engine heat.

Mine does have dual AC, which is nice when it works. I've replaced one compressor already and halfway to oregon it stopped working again. Haven't started to diagnose it yet, hoping its electrical but i don't expect to get off that easy.
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Old 08-26-2017, 10:20 PM   #205
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I spent some time today adding reflectix. All the stuff I had mounted directly to the wall slowed the process down, but I finished one side wall, the back, and one span of ceiling. I also got some parts to build a power panel/battery box but might not get to do that woodwork for a few days as we're hitting the road again tomorrow afternoon. I think the best use of my limited time is to try to get more of the ceiling covered, the remaining wall will be much move involved....
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Old 08-26-2017, 10:21 PM   #206
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Roll it out...

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Old 08-27-2017, 01:26 PM   #207
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Two spans across the ceiling now... Maybe u can get a third done before we got the road? Putting the TV back up will be interesting.

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Old 08-28-2017, 11:58 AM   #208
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Overnight at a rest stop somewhere in Oregon!

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Old 08-28-2017, 03:20 PM   #209
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What's that thang up on the roof?
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Old 08-28-2017, 03:34 PM   #210
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That's our tandem kayak which hasn't been off the roof since Kansas....

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Old 08-28-2017, 03:39 PM   #211
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take it to Houston! maybe tango could use it!
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Old 08-28-2017, 03:45 PM   #212
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Did some diagnostics on my compressor, the clutch is dead... Dang it!

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Old 08-28-2017, 03:57 PM   #213
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did you over-oil the system or possibly over-charge it? with a bus system where the evaporator is higher than the compressor its not uncommon to have liquid settle in the compressor on cool nights.. esp if its a bit over-charged.. that will waste a clutch (or spin the belt for a couple seconds on startup).. if theres too much oil / dye / stop leak. in one too the result will be similar , the compressor gets mechanically slugged on start up.
-Christopher
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Old 08-28-2017, 04:02 PM   #214
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I have a cheap gauge but I kept it in the safe zone and for sure didn't have too much oil. Not sure I have a way to test it more than I already have unfortunately.

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Old 08-28-2017, 04:07 PM   #215
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the safe zone varies with temperature... a huge culprit of over charging is people doing it on somewhat cool days (who wants to fix the A/C in 100 degree heat).. the suction and head pressures vary with temperature.. the correct values pertain to what kind of center temps you see at your condensor.. be sure all your condensor fans are working.. a bad one or slow one or two of those and a 95 degree day on the road stresses things.. though the system should have a high-pressure cut out for that condition...

over-oiling. or over charging can sometimes be "viewed" on the gauge.. if you put your gauges on the suction line near the compressor and notice the needle doing a lot of jiggling.. not slow up and down or vibarating.. (think surging like water mixed with air in a pipe). that can indicate you have liquids going into the compressor.. do your systems have site-glasses on the condensor? I know my Trans / Air does.. viewable from the skirt of the bus.
-Christopher
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Old 08-28-2017, 06:42 PM   #216
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I didn't see a window, but I did discover the fans aren't running on the radiators. I did a little wiring to bypass whatever wasn't turning the rear one on stove that unit works. Of course it's 105 degrees today so that's the best time to working on AC!

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Old 08-28-2017, 07:27 PM   #217
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yeooow!!! thats almost usually "M.A.D." for compressors or clutches if the condensor fans dont spin.... theres usually a relay box and a big fuse or circuit breaker.. when the fan motors themselves start to go bad they will pull more and more current until evemntually they start tripping the breakers.. if those A/C units were originally designed with R-134A they should have a high pressure cutoff, if they were originally R-12 and converted then they very well may not.. nevertheless the way the High pressure cutoff works is that it cycles the compressor out and back in. at much higher pressures than it would nornally run at.. so its hard on the clutch when it kicks back in.. esp if you are at highway speeds.. thgey wont cool very well if at all when those fans dont work.. systemns are also tricky to charge correctly if the fans are going defunct. an example.. the condensor pressure is usually 150-180 maybe 200 PSI o a bus system operating normally. (high pressure side).. if the fans quit that pressure can soar to sometimes 425 before the high pressure switch kicks it off.. and usually kick back on at 250 as the pressure equalizes.. so you can see if left to run like that on a trip its constantly running at a pressure higher than is normal. and can damage things..

-Christopher
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Old 08-28-2017, 07:34 PM   #218
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Ok I good more data. First, my front fan was working, is the rear that wasn't.

If I give a direct 12v lead to the front compressor, the clutch kicks in and it starts spinning, however is dragging more than my 10a load on my cheap meter will go. The wire gets hot quickly and no doubt would start to melt right away.

I replaced some wire fittings, a breaker, and a relay add now I think my condenser fan is doing the right thing. I also decided I can't trust my cheap gauge because it's always reads the same thing no matter what I do.

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Old 08-28-2017, 08:00 PM   #219
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yeah those clutches usually pull more than 10 amps.. I forget the spec on those.. when you manually kicked it in did you notice if the suction pipe got cold?

is there only 1 fan on each of your condensors?

I have a set of gauges I bought at harbor freight that didnt cost a lot but are really nice.

https://www.harborfreight.com/ac-r13...set-60806.html

as far as HVAC tools go thats pretty cheap, I bought them to carry on my bus.. (you know me im an A/C fanatic if my A/C breaks on a trip im gonna fix it). I didnt want to keep my expensive yellow-jacket set on a bus that could get broke into and stolen.. ive put both sets on my busses and both have proven to be pretty equal so I think those HF gauges are perfectly fine. if you lost the freon in that front unit then a low pressure switch will prevent it from starting the compressor.
-Christopher
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Old 08-28-2017, 08:08 PM   #220
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I just bought those gauges. Can you estimate what pressures I should be seeing while it's running?

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