David Pratt
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Posts posted by David Pratt
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Jarred
The control module for the TV LIft is located inside the Lift on the left side. The lift will have to be down to access it. Hopeful you have the manual. There should be a reset button on the module. I believe that TrI-Metal Corp was the manufacturer. You can try Googling them for information The part number for the lift is 62427.
Maybe a member might have a manual and can help you out.
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Chuck Thatcher (TYRON USA) forwarded an email that a Member sent to him. With all the current discussion on this thread about TYRON BANDs, I felt compelled to share this information with our members. It is another Testimonial of a first hand experience with a Steer Tire Failure with the TYRON BANDs installed.
The Email speaks for itself!!
Dave
From: Marc Franken | Frankentek <Marc@frankentek.com>
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2020 3:15:54 PM
To: Chuck Thacther <chuck@tyron-usa.com>
Subject: Motor Home Front Right Blow out - Family saved by Tyron!Dear Sir,
My family, kids and dog were heading north on the PA turnpike just before the Allentown exit, and the front right tire blew up. VERY loud and scary experience!! I was able to control the 46,000LB motorhome and safely brake and steer it to the side of the road. Thank God I had these Tyron’s installed. I would tell anyone that if they didn’t have them they were CRAZY!
In fact just told 2 of my buddies who own pushers.
The tow truck service company sent an emergency tire repair truck with a truck tire the same size and installed it. They strapped the body panels back so they were safe to drive the motorhome. They had to cut the damaged Tyron bolt off, so I need a new complete band. I have the tool kit. My tire size is 295 / 80R22.5.
PLEASE SHIP IT TO MY OFFICE BELOW.
TYRON Agreement number #13531
Purchased from LazyDays
2009 American Coach
Model Allegiance 42G
The wheel is going to be replaced by Progressive RV insurance company and hopefully they will pay for the full amount.
Thank you very much!!
Marc
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Neil
The fuel line coming from the fuel tank to the filter should be a rubber fuel line. Take a pair of Vice Grips or ant type of clamp and use it to clamp the line to stop the fuel flow. The fuel flow is gravity and not under any pressure. Using this method should not damage the fuel line.
Let us know how you make out.
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I would start inspecting the shock absorber bushings and the suspension bushings.
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OK Folks
I posted the information about the Rettroband Issue to inform those members of our group that had purchased them and had them installed would have the information and take appropriate action as necessary.
I did not post this information to start a DEBATE. There has been some very good incites and knowledgeable information posted and should give many an education to help in making a purchase decision in the future.
TYRON BANDS have been on the market for years in the Military and First Responders in the USA, all over Europe and elsewhere in the world. The TYRON BANDS were introduced into the domestic market in 2005. TYRON BANDS have an Excellent track record, no failures to date and have proven themselves in First Hand Experiences including many in this Group.
The Rettroband is new to the RV market place and have no first hand proven track record, hopefully that will change as time allows.
As with any product every one should do the research of all the facts and use caution and due diligence before making a purchase.
What appeals to some may not appeal to others, some have their minds made up for various reasons on what product they will purchase, so debates need to be taken off line.
Unless their is more important information to post about the Rettroband issue or product other than what has been posted. I ask that the DEBATORS take it off line.
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All Members;This information below is for those members of the Group that may have purchased this Product instead of TYRON BANDS.Special Note; I have been involved with TYRON BANDS for over fifteen years and I do not know of any TYRON BAND failures from a Tire Blow Out. TYRON BANDS have performed as stated when a tire has failed."When Poly Carbonite Meets Concrete, Poly Carbonite Loses"IMPORTANT UPDATE FOR ALL RETTROBAND OWNERSDear Rettroband Owner,For those of you whom I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Brett Davis and I am the Founder and CEO of National Indoor RV Centers. I am also Co-Founder of Rettroband. For what it’s worth, I feel you should know I write all my own communications. Not our marketing department, and not our lawyers.I purchased my first coach in 1985. I have nine children and twenty six grandchildren. During those thirty five years, almost without exception, every time I’ve traveled I’ve had what I consider very precious cargo onboard in the form of my children and/or grandchildren. Needless to say, front tire blowouts have always been of paramount concern to me.Five years ago I met Robert Craig, Founder of Craig International Ballistics, when he was taking delivery of his coach from National Indoor RV Centers, and together we formed Rettroband. Craig International Ballistics is the largest supplier of armor to the Australian military, as well as eight other militaries around the world. Craig International Ballistic’s products range from body armor, to armored vehicles, to both fixed wing and rotary aircraft, and to vessels. Robert has thirty five years experience in manufacturing military grade armor and protective products for armored vehicles, including “run flat devices”.Robert’s and my desire was to develop a product, a “run flat device” which would free coach owners from the continual dread in the back of their minds of a front tire blowout. We both recognized the Motorhome market is a very small market, but in dire need of such a product. And, we both really desired to solve this problem.So, why am I writing you? A couple of my pet peeves over my thirty five years of RVing experiences are:
- Regardless of the number of times their products fail, or how widely known those failures are within the RVing community, the manufacturers almost always say “this is the first we’re hearing of this”.
- Whenever failures do occur, manufacturers tend to point up and down the supply chain trying to lay blame on someone else.
These are only two of a myriad of frustrations I have personally experienced over my years of RVing, and which ultimately led to the founding of National Indoor RV Centers.When it comes to business I have always believed “if you have a problem, you put it up on the table so we all have a problem”. At National Indoor RV Centers we don’t hide issues, and we don’t duck from our customers. So, I am writing to inform you we have had several Rettroband failures recently, for a total of five Rettroband failures out of almost one thousand. While 5/1,000 is a very small percentage, in my opinion, one failure is one too many.We at Rettroband experienced our first failure on, none other than, September 11th, 2019. We immediately sent the failed Rettroband to the laboratory to determine the cause of the failure. The cause was found to be over tightening of the Rettroband due to improper installation. The next failure occurred June 21st, 2020, and the last three failures have been in the last three weeks which is prompting this communication. We have not received back the cause of the most recent failure from the lab yet as it just occurred a few days ago. However, it sure appears to have been over tightened as well, and is most distressing to me because we (NIRVC) installed it. I wish I had all the answers for this latest failure before writing this email, but I also didn’t want to delay in communicating what appears to be the issue and what we think the solution is.Immediately after determining the cause of the first failure, Robert started designing and engineering a solution, followed by molds, then production, and finally testing. I will try and paint a picture with words in hopes you’ll be able to visualize the problem, and therefore the solution.In our development of the product, which took 3.5 years to design, engineer, and test, Robert did extensive testing. I’ll share with you just a few of Robert‘s tests:- Compression. Rettroband withstood 32,000 pounds of pressure before the Rettroband failed.
- Strength. On a tire testing machine acquired from Bridgestone by the Big Tyre Company, they took Rettroband up to 75.18mph and then instantly hit it with 10,000 pounds of pressure numerous times.
- Durability. We wanted to be certain a coach owner could safely drive to the next exit following a blowout. Below is a link to a video showing the Rettroband attached directly to the brake drum... no rim! The Rettroband has 6 tons (12,000 pounds) of weight on it, and is traveling at 45mph. FYI, the largest Alcoa aluminum rim is only rated to 10,500 pounds. As you will see, Rettroband is extremely durable, and more than capable of being driven on after a blowout. Remember, in a true blowout Rettroband will have the added benefits of being attached to a rim within a tire as compared to this video. Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/RmGGKxlHix0
- Blowout. As many of you have seen before in the below video, we used a gas coach with a short wheelbase, and a very long overhang behind the drive axle. We also loaded the coach with ballast to the point we couldn’t get its speed above 65mph. While the test driver knew we were going to blow the tire, he didn’t know exactly when the tire would be blown. The drone shot at the 7:15 mark of the video captures the blowout from the exterior. Notice the coach doesn’t even wiggle. Then the interior camera shot at the 7:17 mark of the video captures the test driver’s hand on the steering wheel at the moment of the blowout. Notice again, the steering wheel doesn’t even wiggle. Here is the link to the video: https://youtu.be/ujVVWz-Wxjo
Robert focused in testing on the pressure and compression associated with the centripetal force, and the sudden impact of a blowout. We knew it was critical during the installation of Rettrobands for the gearboxes to be centered, and tightened only until both halves touched. Preferably, we like to be able to slide a sheet of paper between the two halves. What we have found, unfortunately, is that third-party installers were using air wrenches or rattle guns, and over tightening the the gearboxes. Tightening beyond the ability to slide a piece of paper through where the two halves meet is incorrect, and we now know that apparently it may lead to Rettroband failures as the over tightening bows the two halves, and stretches the entire system causing it to work against itself.Now knowing the problem, as we now do, hopefully you’ll be able to visualize my explanation of the solution. Since “a picture is worth a thousand words” I’ll start with a series of pictures and explanations of each. Here is a drawing of the steel band which is inside the new Rettrobands:The steel band is inside each of the halves which make up the complete Rettroband. The large metal pin the gearbox threads into, will now go through the both the hole in the polyurethane composite AND the steel band. The steel band is anchored to both the large metal pins in the same half of the Rettroband. Now as the gearboxes bring the two halves together the steel band will act as a torque brake mitigating the risk of over tightening. The steel band anchors the two other metal pins to each other in the event of over tightening, as opposed to the gearboxes pulling the pins through the polyurethane.Below is a picture of the steel band inside a polyurethane Rettroband. Notice how the large metal pin is no longer going through just the hole in the polyurethane, but it also goes through the steel band.Below is a picture of the steel band inside a rubber Rettroband:And finally, below is a picture showing the beginnings of a crack in the old Rettroband caused by over tightening. Once the crack has started we believe its travel can be accelerated in extreme heat. For example, one of the recent failures occurred during an outside temperature of 115 degrees, with pavement temperature of 150 degrees, and inside tire temperatures of almost 200 degrees. Hence, Robert’s testing of the new Rettrobands with the steel band inside have been performed this time around inside a kiln.I hope I’ve been able to paint a picture for you of both the problem and the solution. The in-house testing of the new Rettroband is nearing completion. Following completion of our in-house testing, once again, actual road testing using explosive charges will be carried out at the Nevada Auto Testing Center (“NATC”). NATC is a certified track and where we test blowing tires at speed on a Motorhome. This testing was scheduled to have been done this past March, but due to the Coronavirus, NATC postponed our testing dates. We are currently scheduled to do our final round of testing at the NATC in the coming weeks.I’m sure the biggest question you are all asking yourselves right now is; what’s National Indoor RV Centers and Rettroband going to do about this? For this I’ll pull back the curtain a little.At National Indoor RV Centers, we’re in the business of making customers for life. To that end, one of our training programs is a mandatory “Book Club” meeting every Monday morning at 7:30am. In this meeting all our employees participate in real life customer service experiences, both inside and outside of our company, as we go through four books on customer service over, and over again. We stress treating a customer the way we would want to be treated if our roles were reversed. We emphasize “always doing what’s right regardless of the cost”.Additionally, Robert and I are concerned about what happens to your original Rettrobands when you need to replace your tires, or you sell your coach and the new owner needs to replace the tires. We will have no knowledge or control over how the new tire shop may reinstall the Rettrobands. Whether or not they will bother to follow the instructions. We are both the kind of men “who would rather sleep well, than eat well”. Rettroband was designed and engineered to keep you and your loved ones safe in the event of a blowout, and we will “practice what we preach” and stand behind the product or service we sell. We will be replacing the bands of all Rettrobands currently on the road at no cost to you our customer, and have ceased installations of the current design. (We won’t be replacing the gearboxes as they are not the problem, and we’ve never had one fail in either testing or in the market.)Also, upon completion of the testing and compliance at the NATC, we will begin mass production of the new redesigned Rettrobands. While around the clock production will be quick, shipping 20 tons will take 47 days at sea, and another 8 days to clear customs and be at our facilities. Once they are aboard the ship, and their arrival date is know, we will begin booking appointments to swap out your bands and rebalance your tires.In the meantime, I’m sure you’re wondering what happens should a Rettroband fail, and should you drive our coach while waiting on the replacement Rettrobands?Since I am not one of the five who experienced a Rettroband failure, I can’t speak to this firsthand. However, I can pass on what I’ve been told the experience felt like, and fortunately, one of the failures was captured on a dash camera. I’ve been told it felt “like a buckboard wagon ride” for about a quarter of a mile until they could get to the side of the road. Three of the failures described it as feeling “like their tire was severely out of balance”. Here again, I believe “a picture is worth a thousand words”, and you can make your own assessment. Here is the link to the dash camera video of one of the Rettroband failures:Now as to the question of whether you should or shouldn’t drive your coach while waiting for your replacement bands? Here, I really can’t offer any advice, because it’s similar to asking “how long is a piece of rope”. However, I can and will offer my opinion. We can start with 1,000 Rettrobands currently on the road, and then make any assumption you’d like to make on the number of miles they’ve been driven on since the first installation sixteen months ago. I’m just “spitballing” here, but let’s say they’ve averaged 5,000 miles apiece, multiplied by 1,000 Rettrobands, would equal 5,000,000 miles, out of which five bands have failed without an accident or a fatality. Personally, I feel much safer driving with the existing Rettrobands than I do driving without them, or with the other competing “run flat” devices currently available on the market today.Please be sure, I will try to keep you updated on timing, as well as answer any questions as they arise.Please feel free to call, email, or text me. It may take a little time in responding, but I will get back to you.
All the best,
Brett DavisNational Indoor RV Centers 498 E State Hwy 121 Lewisville, Texas 75057 United States (800) 250-6354-
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Tom
In the FRB on the bottom left side are four circuit boards that are grouped together that all look the same.The boards are numbered left to right. The top two boards are left board is 14 and the board to the right is 12. The bottom two boards are left board is 15 and the board to the right is 13.
On the bottom of board 13 on the lower right side there is a 10 or 12 Gauge white wire with a push on blade connector that is plugged into the bottom of the board and just above it is the fuse for the HWH Leveling system. That white wire is the power B+ lead that powers up the HWH computers. Check the fuse above it and also remove and reinstall the push on white wire and hopefully it will fix your problem.
Also, when your HWH leveling System fails. When you start your coach and release the park brake and put the coach in gear, the coach will automatically go to ride height. That is the factory default setting for when the HWH Leveling System is inop.
Let us know how it works out.
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Yes, you are correct depending on Coach, Engine, Year and Model, but Once and if you have do the reset the Cruise Control works, it just doesn't have the VORAD functions.
That is why Owners Manuals are a great thing if they ever get read.
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The VORAD system is an Accessory to the Cruise Control and has its own ECM and interfaces with the cruise control to perform its functions. If the VORAD were to fail it will not stop the cruise control from operating, you just lose the VORAD functions. The CC will still operate as a normal CC holding and maintaining the selected speed.
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The following is the sequences that must happen for the engine to idle up with the cruise control.
1 . Start engine
2. Check to make sure that the park brake is set and the transmission is in neutral.
3. Turn the Cruise Control ON and push the resume button. The engine should idle up to about 1000RPM.
If the above procedure fails then your ECM is not seeing that the Park Brake is engaged or the transmission is in neutral..
The only Brake Switches involved are the Park Brake Switch, Brake pedal brake light switch (NO)and the Brake pedal cruise control disconnect switch(NC) .
The engine up idle test does not involve any of the other switches that make up the cruise control system. The cruise control is part of the ECM and will not allow the engine to idle up if the Park brake is not set or the Transmission is not in neutral. The coach does not have to be in travel mode either
You said that the Cruise control light was coming on at the dash when you turned on the CC, then that is telling you the cruise control is working. The CC will not engage unless all the circuits are completed.
You technician said that the diagnosis said the ECM was not seeing the brake sensor, what brake sensor did he check, More than likely the ECM is saying it does not see the brake circuit closed and if that is the case the ECM will not let the CC engage.
Another sequence that has to happen while moving for the CC to engage is Brake light switch open, CC disconnect switch closed and park brake off, coach is in travel mode and depending on the configuration of your engine brake should be off.
I would suggest you take a look at the park brake switch as that may be the culprit if the engine will not idle up.
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When you start the engine an engage the cruise control and then hit resume button does the engine idle up?
The only switch that shows up in the wiring diagram is the brake light switch. Both switches are side by side on the firewall in front of the brake pedal. The switch on the park brake is located on the park brake in the console.
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Frank, you are correct. There are two switches on the firewall. one switched is normally open and the other switch is normally closed. The normally open switch is the brake light switch and the normally closed switch is for the cruise control. when the brake pedal is pressed the normally open switch closes and turns on the brake lights. The normally closed switch opens turning off the cruise control.
There are other switches also in play; the park brake switch also controls the cruise control and when the park brake is released should be closed for the CC to engage. There is also a switch in the leveling system that must be closed and the coach must be at ride height and in travel mode for the cruise control to engage.
Make sure the fuse to for the cruise control is not blown. It is located in the FRB on PCB 3, third fuse down from the top.
To test whether it is the cruise control itself that has failed, start the engine, turn the cruise control on and push the resume button on the smart wheel. If the engine idles up as it is supposed to then the cruise control itself is functioning properly and the issue will either be in the wiring or a faulty switch.
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Herb
You should not have to purchase a new control board so the new unit will work with the Five Button thermostat. If I am not mistaken, I am sure someone will correct me if I am Wrong. You can remove the control board from the old unit and install it the new unit.
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The correct way to properly check the "AMP" usage on your A/C unit is to have the system operating and cooling the coach and remove the cover from the unit and with a Clamp ON Meter on the power wire going to the compressor measure the current. This will tell you what the compressor is drawing which should be around 10 + amps. Then put the Clamp On Meter on the main power wire going into the unit and this will tell you what the total amps that your A/C unit is using. When measuring the amps this way it should be done with in a couple of minutes after the cover is removed as the longer the cover is removed the A/C unit will have to work harder to cool and the amps will get higher.
Using the display in the coach to get the AMP usage with the A/C running will give you a higher reading because of other loads that may be running in the coach at the same time.
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20 amps is way to high. Factory specs say under normal operation with fan in Auto Mode and Compressor running the Amp draw should be from 12 amps lowest to 13.5 amps highest. Amps lower than 12 amps indicates a good possibility that the system is low on freon. Amps higher than 13.5 amps can indicate that the unit needs to be serviced, such as Filters changed or cleaned and the Evaporator or Condenser coils need to be change or maybe a mechanical problem.
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When your A/C is running you should see between 12.0 to 13.5 amps with the compressor running. Low amps is indicative of low Freon. The Dometic Units do not have any service valves installed to service the units, They are basically throw away units when they fail.. You can install Saddle Valves to the lines to service the Unit and get some more life out of it until it gets low on Freon again. The problem doing this is if you have not identified where the leak is in the unit and fix the leak it is only a Band Aid fix..
I know of several members who have installed the Saddle Valves and got a little more time out of the unit only to end up replacing them anyway.
There has been a lot of discussions on the roof top A/C units on this forum in the past. You should go to the files section and do some research on what others have done when these units have failed.
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I am attaching a list of RV Salvage Yards. This should help the members find needed parts that may no longer be available from the manufactures and Orphaned Coaches
https://www.azrvsalvage.com/home.html
https://www.hugedomains.com/domain_profile.cfm?d=ronthebusnut&e=com
http://www.nwrvsupply.com/index.htm
http://www.cherokeervparts.com/
http://www.olywa.net/singletonsrv/parts.html
http://en.visonerv.com/cgi-bin/c/rvsalvagemotorhomes-partingout.pl
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I have used a Dremel tool with good success!
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Any of you folks that are Ham Radio or CB enthusiasts I have an AMCOM Penetrator HB150 HF bi-linear amplifier that needs a home. Has full 80-10 meter amateur band coverage. Modular design with remote plug in control head.
130watts output on am/fm for five watts input. 150 watts output on S.S.B. for 12 watts input. 20db gain,16 amps,efficiency 65%.
Picture attached.
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The Monaco Executive and Signature were the best in class of Luxury coaches built from the ground up on the Roadmaster Chassis which for many years was considered the best MH chassis on the market.
REV introduced a Signature branded coach with no tag in 2019 and it was 38 feet long and the quality was questionable to say the least. Rev had no Monaco brand Coaches on display at the RV Super Shows for 2020.
What they are Marketing now is nothing more than an American Coach re-badged as a Signature and built on a Freightliner Chassis. REV no longer builds the Holiday Rambler, Beaver or any of the other Monaco brands that I am Aware of as they have pretty much killed off the Monaco Brand after Acquiring it from Navistar.
They are hoping that the new Signature will fool buyers into thinking they are purchasing a luxury class A Coach. They are far from getting close and REV Quality has always been suspect.
There are better built coaches on the market for the money, just do your research. You do not get a new Luxury High End Coach for $600K.
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Chris
REV no longer is marketing or selling any Monaco Brand Coach.
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Give me the full Name, address and contact information and I will post it in our vendors section.
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Call Chuck at TYRON USA - 1-507-279-1767. And give him your location and he will be able to tell you where the distributors are in your area or go to TYRON USA website and it should have a list of approved vendors.
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The fresh water plastic spring check valve that Monaco installed in the coaches are prone to fail and have been a problem for a long time, It is a piece of "CRAP.".
The solution and the permanent fix is Simple. Go to Lowes or Home Depot and purchase an "American Valve P/N Item #369235Model #G3112" half inch swing brass check valve". American valve is the Manufacturer.
I replaced that plastic piece of junk in my Exec the second time it failed and never had a problem after with the brass valve.
Steer Tire Blow Outs
in Tires & Wheels
Posted
Chuck Thatcher (TYRON USA) forwarded an email that a Member sent to him. With all the current discussion on this thread about TYRON BANDs, I felt compelled to share this information with our members. It is another Testimonial of a first hand experience with a Steer Tire Failure with the TYRON BANDs installed.
The Email speaks for itself!!
Dave
Sent: Wednesday, August 19, 2020 3:15:54 PM
To: Chuck Thacther <chuck@tyron-usa.com>
Subject: Motor Home Front Right Blow out - Family saved by Tyron!
Dear Sir,
My family, kids and dog were heading north on the PA turnpike just before the Allentown exit, and the front right tire blew up. VERY loud and scary experience!! I was able to control the 46,000LB motorhome and safely brake and steer it to the side of the road. Thank God I had these Tyron’s installed. I would tell anyone that if they didn’t have them they were CRAZY!
In fact just told 2 of my buddies who own pushers.
The tow truck service company sent an emergency tire repair truck with a truck tire the same size and installed it. They strapped the body panels back so they were safe to drive the motorhome. They had to cut the damaged Tyron bolt off, so I need a new complete band. I have the tool kit. My tire size is 295 / 80R22.5.
PLEASE SHIP IT TO MY OFFICE BELOW.
TYRON Agreement number #13531
Purchased from LazyDays
2009 American Coach
Model Allegiance 42G
The wheel is going to be replaced by Progressive RV insurance company and hopefully they will pay for the full amount.
Thank you very much!!
Marc