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Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Tue Oct 29, 2019 8:39 pm
by skater
Got some more work done Saturday. The tank is almost out...Just need to disconnect the fuel lines and power connector, and it should come out.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2019 4:41 pm
by skater
Fuel tank is completely out! Got some hose to use for the breather line today. I'm hoping to have time to work on it this weekend, maybe even get it back together. The last thing I need to do before reassembly is remove the stub of old filler hose from the filler neck - I couldn't access the clamp easily and my light was dying, so I decided to cut the hose and focus on the tank instead.

Tip for anyone doing this - the plastic fuel line removal tools don't work well, if at all. I bought a metal one for under $10 from Amazon...I'll test it when I do the rear tank.

Buying it back...

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:40 am
by Sub2RainEN
Hi Skater!

I just drove my 1990 from CA to NYC!

Had some stalling on front tank in AZ, but no one could figure out the cause. No problems on rear tank, so I just used it. But mileage got really bad around Oklahoma, which I thought was just the terrible winds I happened upon there.

Then, in the middle of Missouri, a gas station attendant came out screaming at me that I was leaking gas. Good Sam had me towed to the only repair shop that answered. He diagnosed it as the diverter valve. It was stuck and gas was pouring from the rear tank into the front tank, then out the fill hole of the front tank.

He was apologetic that the only place to get the part was from Ford and that it was $300. But I was relieved it wasn’t 2-3x that and that I wouldn’t be stuck there for days. From calling Good Sam to leaving the shop, it was about 4 hours.

Haven’t stalled since. Anyway, I thought you might want to look at that since you’ve had stalling in the past.


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Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 12:05 pm
by skater
Sub2RainEN wrote:
Sun Nov 17, 2019 5:40 am
Hi Skater!

I just drove my 1990 from CA to NYC!

Had some stalling on front tank in AZ, but no one could figure out the cause. No problems on rear tank, so I just used it. But mileage got really bad around Oklahoma, which I thought was just the terrible winds I happened upon there.

Then, in the middle of Missouri, a gas station attendant came out screaming at me that I was leaking gas. Good Sam had me towed to the only repair shop that answered. He diagnosed it as the diverter valve. It was stuck and gas was pouring from the rear tank into the front tank, then out the fill hole of the front tank.

He was apologetic that the only place to get the part was from Ford and that it was $300. But I was relieved it wasn’t 2-3x that and that I wouldn’t be stuck there for days. From calling Good Sam to leaving the shop, it was about 4 hours.

Haven’t stalled since. Anyway, I thought you might want to look at that since you’ve had stalling in the past.
Wow, what an adventure. Yeah, that's a common failure mode of the diverter valve. I've already replaced mine and am working on the tanks and pumps now.

What brought you to New York City?

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sun Nov 17, 2019 1:19 pm
by Sub2RainEN
Good on ya.

I lived here for about 8 years. Thinking of urban Boondocking here.

A friend is getting married in Long Island today.


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Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Wed Dec 04, 2019 3:51 pm
by skater
Front fuel tank is done. I have to reinstall the propane tank and fix the generator exhaust (it fell while I was working), but the fuel tank is done.

Next up, the rear tank. I think I saw why it spills fuel when it’s full - the air line looked like it was torn (chewed?) open at the top. Fun. But I intend to replace both the fuel fill and the air line anyway.

I haven’t started it, and don’t want to until I get the rear done, because I’m afraid more gunk will get into the new diverter valve.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 5:31 pm
by skater
I drained just over 10 gallons from the rear tank today. I'm guessing there's still ~12 gallons in it, but I need to figure out how I'm going to store the bad gasoline over the winter until I can dispose of it in the spring (our county has hazardous waste drop-off days, but only spring through fall - the fuel from the front tank went to the last one this year). Compared to the front, that one looks like it's going to be much easier, although it does look like the filler and breather hoses are going to be a bigger headache.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 8:52 pm
by Sub2RainEN
Congratulations on more progress. I am enjoying my B so much. My uncles all approve.


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Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 4:02 pm
by skater
Rear tank is out, thanks to some unseasonably warm weather today!

There was only about 11 gallons in it, which makes me think it was often running off the rear tank even when I had the switch set to the front.

I got the straps for the new tank, but they didn't include the threaded portion. Since I had to cut mine, that's a problem. Hopefully I can find them somewhere.

I need to order the generator exhaust parts yet, too.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sun Mar 01, 2020 6:15 pm
by skater
Working on curtains today. Have help. ImageImage

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2020 5:13 pm
by skater
Reinstalled the propane tank today. It's really coming together! I'm getting excited to try it out.

Is the propane tank loose for anyone else? I have the tank tight to the brackets, but the brackets themselves are loose.

I can't figure out why that would be, given they have locknuts on them and the nuts clearly haven't moved. Maybe the bolts stretched over time. I have the impression this has been that way for a long time, there always was a rattle I couldn't identify. Now I realize it's the tank banging against the smooth head of a carriage bolt.

I think the two front bolts are under the furnace, but I'm not sure yet.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2020 12:28 pm
by skater
It's cold and wet out this morning, so I took a few minutes to work on the stove and fix the stiff knobs. Writeup here. Hopefully that helps someone else.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Sun Mar 22, 2020 6:46 pm
by skater
A bunch of things from this weekend:

Fuel tanks: I got new T-bolts from Summit Racing and modified them to fit (cut the "T" to be shorter). I then put a coupler on the end with some threadlocker, then cut some threaded rod to go in the other end to serve as the "bolt". More threadlocker, plus a nut, to help reduce the odds of things coming apart. So those are ready to go on.

Yesterday I pulled the "headbanger" (as I like to call it, in honor of my favorite type of music - the thing you'd hit your head on as you're going out the door) apart. I'll probably reuse the wood piece, and we'll cover it with new foam and fabric. I also need to find new panel clips to hold it in place. I noted to my wife this would be a good time to run a wired camera to the back, if I'm planning to do so.

Today, I worked on the furnace. This hasn't been working in years, and it was always an ongoing headache for me. I've replaced the motor and squirrel cage in the past to fix squealing, only to have it die again for some other reason. I got that repaired, it worked for a while, then died again... another shop did some more work to it, and it worked for a while, then died again... Last I recall, I could hear the gas valve click open, then the igniter clicking but failing to get it lit.

Now, the fan starts running, but it never even tries to light.

Diagnosis: The board is bad. But it took me a while to get to that point.

I found a couple PDFs online that helped with diagnosing the issue. The sail switch was working correctly, as was the temperature sensor. You can check the resistance of the gas valves, mine were at about 40 ohms, which is in spec (I think it said 30-50). I did find a huge mud dauber nest inside the burner, and it looked like it was there when it last lit (oops). I cleaned that up and vacuumed the burner chamber out - overall the furnace looks to be in good condition. But with the fan running, there was no power to the gas valves, which implies to me the board isn't even trying to light it.

I ordered a new board for it from PPL Motorhomes. I really hope this fixes it for good for a long time...With all of the money I've put into this furnace over the years, I could have replaced it, had I known what was coming. I'm just nervous that I'll replace the board and the gas valve will die, or something.

While the furnace was out, I looked for the bolts for the propane tank. Didn't see them. Maybe they're under the floor...ugh.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2020 5:15 pm
by skater
I got the new board for the furnace (fast shipping by PPL Motorhomes) and just installed it...works perfectly! The furnace didn’t smell great as it burned off almost 10 years of dust, but that’s to be expected. Pretty much lit immediately, too.

Re: Buying it back...

Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2020 1:17 am
by txtom
I just bought this camera setup for my B190. Use code SAFER25 to save $25. I chose this one after doing lots of research. I wanted one that was on all the time and took the place of the rearview mirror. You want the "standard" mount for a Ford.
Camera Link

skater wrote:
Sun Mar 22, 2020 6:46 pm
A bunch of things from this weekend:

Fuel tanks: I got new T-bolts from Summit Racing and modified them to fit (cut the "T" to be shorter). I then put a coupler on the end with some threadlocker, then cut some threaded rod to go in the other end to serve as the "bolt". More threadlocker, plus a nut, to help reduce the odds of things coming apart. So those are ready to go on.

Yesterday I pulled the "headbanger" (as I like to call it, in honor of my favorite type of music - the thing you'd hit your head on as you're going out the door) apart. I'll probably reuse the wood piece, and we'll cover it with new foam and fabric. I also need to find new panel clips to hold it in place. I noted to my wife this would be a good time to run a wired camera to the back, if I'm planning to do so.

Today, I worked on the furnace. This hasn't been working in years, and it was always an ongoing headache for me. I've replaced the motor and squirrel cage in the past to fix squealing, only to have it die again for some other reason. I got that repaired, it worked for a while, then died again... another shop did some more work to it, and it worked for a while, then died again... Last I recall, I could hear the gas valve click open, then the igniter clicking but failing to get it lit.

Now, the fan starts running, but it never even tries to light.

Diagnosis: The board is bad. But it took me a while to get to that point.

I found a couple PDFs online that helped with diagnosing the issue. The sail switch was working correctly, as was the temperature sensor. You can check the resistance of the gas valves, mine were at about 40 ohms, which is in spec (I think it said 30-50). I did find a huge mud dauber nest inside the burner, and it looked like it was there when it last lit (oops). I cleaned that up and vacuumed the burner chamber out - overall the furnace looks to be in good condition. But with the fan running, there was no power to the gas valves, which implies to me the board isn't even trying to light it.

I ordered a new board for it from PPL Motorhomes. I really hope this fixes it for good for a long time...With all of the money I've put into this furnace over the years, I could have replaced it, had I known what was coming. I'm just nervous that I'll replace the board and the gas valve will die, or something.

While the furnace was out, I looked for the bolts for the propane tank. Didn't see them. Maybe they're under the floor...ugh.