Frank the Tank

[Frqnt-Flyr]

A/c done for now.

At this point, none of the things on my list are big ticket items. Transmission and a/c were the things I was truely concerned about.

Next, replace tail lights, then replacing the brow window and seal. Then what I think will be the last thing for awhile, replacing the passenger door windows.

[cadillackid]

did you actually find a leak or was the system just at zero pressure when you got it?

dont forget to fix that condensor fan... that could cause you in hot weather to blow a pop-off valve which would result in zero pressure depending on the type of pop-off..
-Christopher

[Frqnt-Flyr]

I did not find a leak. The system had a small amount of pressure in it when I started working on it. I recovered a few ounces of freon before I pulled a vacuum on it.

I also added oil and refrigerant dye to the system. After charging it I let it run for a little while and checked with a UV light.

One last question, you said it has to be warm for the system to come on. Can you explain that a little bit? If its not warm enough to come on, will the little red light come on until the thermostat says it's warm enough for the a/c to kick in/on?

So, on to the next project. I need to replace the 'brow' window and seal.

[cadillackid]

The red light is the low pressure switch, if it is extremely cold out it can trip that light and still have good charge in the system. If it's just too cold for the a/c to run then the indoor fans come on but the compressor stays off and the red led stays dark too..
when you charged it up did you punch it in by weight ? Or was the compressor running when you charged it?
Christopher

[Frqnt-Flyr]

I charged it by weight. Thanks for the help. Again, great information!

[Frqnt-Flyr]

Replaced the overhead window and the doors! Looks great and no more water leaks!

[Frqnt-Flyr]

After a little more work.

[Stewzer55]

Nice work, looks ready to travel!

[Q'willWorks]

Hey there FrqntFlyr.

Looking for advice on seat removal.
I just started removing everything in order to give a deep cleaning and replace the wall paneling. Unfortunately, I ran into a problem with the brackets that are riveted in with huck rivets. I can't seem to get the darned things out. Wondering if you encountered the same things and what you did to remove them.
Any help would be appreciated!
FiFi

[Frqnt-Flyr]

My seats were all bolted in. The only rivets i encountered were holding the track to the bus.

Ill double check tomorrow. My wife, who wasn't thrilled about getting the bus at first, was quick to offer it up for as transportation for 14 kids to go to camp last week. She will be back tomorrow and I will look and post a few pictures. I removed the 'custom' interior and installed all of the original seats for her to load up the kids.

Sorry.

[Frqnt-Flyr]

Our first big trip in the bus. Texas to Key West, Orlando, and Daytona Beach. Just shy of 4000 miles.

When we got to Daytona, the wife called some friends at NASCAR and we were able to drive infield for a tour.

The only trouble we had was an ac compressor that took a dump on us just before we got home. There's a lot of work to do now. Intermittent service engine light. No cruise control, etc etc.

[Frqnt-Flyr]

New remote for swinging passenger doors.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by FrqntFlyer

New remote for swinging passenger doors.

"Hey you kids- qwit playing with that door! You're gonna break it opening it over and over."

Pretty spiffy. I always wanted to get chipped like a dog and use rfid reader to open doors.

[Frqnt-Flyr]

Thats an interesting idea. At Disney this year I had the same thought about the kids. Chip them and have a matching chip, so if they got last only a parent with a matching chip can pick them up

[cadillackid]

oooh!! I want that remote for the door!!!. what do you do if the battery is defunct, can the door be pulled open manually? I had looked on my bus and without pressing the inside lever to release the door motor is near impossible to push them open without breaking something.
-Christopher

[Frqnt-Flyr]

My bus does not have a manual door mechanism.

Sorry, i just added the circuit board to the existing wiring.

[cadillackid]

my door is electric, however if the battery were to die, the electric mechanism holds the door in the closed position rather tightly..

normally when I want to exit my bus at night and lock it up, I pull a lever above the door which disengages the electric motor and allows the doors to be free.. and then I lock it with a key..

my question was if your battery dies how do you enter the bus?
-Christopher

[Frqnt-Flyr]

O I see! Duh.

If the battery dies I go through the front door. LOL!

Its funny because I don't always remember that other buses may not have front doors like mine. Sorry...

[Frqnt-Flyr]

Actually, until now the only way to open the doors has been to get into the drivers seat, turn the key on and use the overhead button. I have been lucky enough to get a bit of help from TurtleTop on the wiring and will have the side key working soon. So I will be able to use a key on the outside of the swinging door.

The key fob idea popped into my head the other day and it was extremely easy to get it working. I'm off work for a week after today, I'll get some pictures taken and uploaded showing where and how I wired it in.

[Frqnt-Flyr]

The door wiring