just_john1

Anyone in Seattle need a new set of tires? If I'm going to dump this thing I would like to help someone out. Michelins.

Ken thanks for the advice. The problem I have is the bus is in Seattle and I'm in Missoula Montana. My wife is in a wheel chair, so travel is very difficult. If it was here I would be able to do things differently. I thinking I should just cut my losses and give it away. The mechanic has a very good reputation so I don't think he is pulling a fast one.

Yea Ken this is my thread you are more than welcome to share it with me. Sorry for your problems, I can identify. I guess misery love company. It looks like I'm going to have to find someone who will take it off my hands. I haven't found an engine and have no place to put it and Seattle is a long way from home. I'm going over next week to get my stuff out of it and hopefully I can find someone worthy.

thanks for telling me about hydrolocked. I thought it had hydro in the word. The mechanic said there was water in the basement (oil pan) and all of the valve guides are stripped. Ken I was wondering where you came from. I knew I didn't answer these replies. Wish I only had a stuck tappet.

I will call the the truck parts places. Someone asked what happened. We were climbing a hill and apparently we lost the turbo charger. It caused the engine to hydraulic or something like that, I don't remember the name of it.

I haven't posted anything because nothing has changed, till now! We have been looking for an engine for this rig, with no luck. Thought I found one in Arizona but the deal fell through and the mechanic has been looking around Seattle and so far nada. Just got off the phone with the mechanic and the property he is located on has been sold and he has to move. Meaning the motor home has to go. Anyone want a 1997 Monaco Dynasty complete with blown engine? I don't know what else to do. The rig is in Seattle and we are in Montana. I'm open to Ideas because I'm at my wits end. Anyone got a spare Cummins 8.3 325 laying around they would like to part with? I do want to thank all of the people who were of assistance during this ordeal. Thank you all. John

75 and still going. When I get my bus out of the shop (I might be looking for a new engine). I will shimmy under and do it myself. Not exactly like I have a date. It helps when you are old that you usually have time. Everyone needs a hobby!

My 97 Manual is posted on this forum. If not I have it available if you would like https://drive.google.com/drive/u/0/folders/0B0qDSBIXOYN1YVJfYllHemp6V2s

Well I heard something. Not great, but somethin. This is an email I received the other day: John, I am not much on emails. send me your phone number when you get a chance. We have been shorthanded because of covid last couple of months and still have two people out. I am pretty sure your motor home will need an engine. As soon as we can we will open it up and get a better idea. Thanks Frank. my cell is 425-508- I have sent the phone number and wait. Nothing we could do ass we are still up to our necks in snow. So we wait. Wish the news could be better. Not sure what we are going to do. John

Bob. Nothing new to report yet. Mechanic said they had to pull the head to take a peek. Would have to anyway to fix the stripped bolt holes for the valve train. If it was finished not much I could do, It being in Seattle and us in Montana. Since the mechanic is a mobile repair guy, I told him he could take his time. I'm trying to be patient and not bug him. At least it is off the street. I will post when there is an update.

I have a 97 and my owners manual is posted in the file section. It's a year newer but should be pretty close. Welcome to the forum.

I got a request for an update. I thought I would share it with the group. David Thanks for the inquiry. There hasn't been much happening on the coach. I talked with the mechanic a couple of weeks ago and he said he was trying to get cough up. He said he looked at it and had to pull the head. That is the last I have heard. In checking around about this guy, he is suppose to be honest and reliable. He has a good reputation. So we wait. I told him my budget and I think he will do his best to stay within it. At least it should be secure. We are back in Montana and we have snow. The DW isn't to keen on going out in it, so we sit and wait. On a brighter note we have replaced her mobility scooter with a used one I found in Helena. It is about 3 time the scooter as the one that got swiped, heavier too. I guy I got it form even threw in a lift. The lift goes into the receiver on our Jeep. It was a heck of a deal (about time). The one down side to this wait is most of our stuff is still in the bus. Shure miss my Instant Pot. But we will make it. I hope this note isn't too winey. Because it isn't meant to be, I ain't wining. Things could be a lot worse and I'm grateful for the support we have received. God willing and the creek don't rise we will hit the road again. I will try and do a better job with updates when I get them. I still need to finish the floor, it's driving me nuts that it isn't done. Thanks again for asking. John Just thought I would throw this in. Lots of tread on the tires, I haven't checked the year date on them yet. Quote

I agree, the one thing that is in my favor is he is hurting for room. He is primarily a mobile mech.

There is some progress, not a lot but some. The Bus was towed to the mobile mechanics shop, a week ago Friday. He called me Thursday and said he was going to look at it (he is extremely busy). Haven't heard from him since. No news is good news, RIGHT? We have moved back to our home base in Montana waiting for a call. Hopefully he can git it fixed in time for us to make it to So. Calif. for thanksgiving. We aren't to keen on returning here in the snow. Update on the theft, the police aren't to optimistic, they said that it was hard to get fingerprints off of a can and DNA would take 2 years (where is Abby when you need her). I'm sending in a report to my insurance company today. On the bright side, yesterday we picked up a used scooter, it even came with a power lift to haul it around. All for about what we paid for the one that was stolen. Heck of a deal. This one is heavier than the other one, maybe it will be harder to swipe. On the Go Fund Me front, I would like to thank those who contributed. I have already been trolled. The only thing I can say is I hope this doesn't happen to you. So as of now I am some what optimistic about the outcome. I will keep you informed. Thanks again.

I looked and so did the mechanic and found nothing. I went into the Cummins dealer and he said it was a mechanical engine and didn't have one. The OBDII under the dash was useless only has 4 contacts in it. Friday it was taken to the mechanics shop. Should here something on Monday. Keep you posted. John

Same here, I thought it was weird too. But that was what was there.

I ad just the opposite reaction from Coach Net. Had the for 4 years and didn't need them, this trip I used them twice. First a driver steer blew and they misunderstood the tire and when they figured out I needed 2 tires they found me a set from over 100mi. away. Second time I blew my Turbo Charger and valve train (still on going, covered under different thread). They towed me over 125mi. to the Cummins dealer in Everett, WA. Very polite and helpful. John 97 Dynasty

Thanks for the encouragement. I'm glad your on the road again, Safe travels and maybe we will meet again. The bus was towed to the mechanics shop so he could work on it. He is extremely busy so it may take some time. At least it is off the street. Starting to feel a little more optimistic. John

Kind of like my deal. New starter and every thing else is haywire. Glad your getting back on the road. Wish I was there.

I agree with you. He is making arrangement to get it to his shop. I thought I did good getting the valve cover off. I agree with you about the cleanness. Never seen one that clean.

I didn't know about the hazard protection coverage. I could have used it on this trip. Blew driver steer, in the middle of no where. They found use 2 new Michelins and had them hauled and installed from over 100 miles away. Cost $1400 for tires. Seems like a good deal to me. I only had to pay for the tires.

nvrtoofast. No problem. I'll trade you one air problem for a blown engine! I have a Mechanic and hopefully he can get it torqued down and get me a turbocharger and we can be on our merry way. This is one heck of a community. Stuck in a foreign state in a wet town and already I have me 2 nice people.

I'm sorry I didn't point this out before. That is a Helix Coil. I can just un screw it. No lock tight involved. I'm checking the rest of the bolts tomorrow. Never seen a Helix Coil stripped. The engine is a 8.3-325 and it turns over well. All I have right now is Lash. I don't think the valves are being compressed.

Well things just keep getting weirder and weirder. For those who have been following my original post you saw how things went from bad to worse. Still in a hole but more optimistic. I found a Mobile Mechanic who is working with me. He's and old guy whos been at it a while. He's as dumb founded as me. Well I got sick and tired of not doing anything. So I pulled the valve cover. Now I have been under a lot of covers. This one was the cleanest I have ever experienced. No build up, no filings nothing. This is where it gets weird. I garbed the first set of valves and the block was loose. Eureka, Something wrong! I started checking around and damned if all 6 are loose. The bolts I can remove with my fingers. They all seem in about the same position. It's like someone got in there and loosened them up. Told you it was weird. The only thing I can come up with is someone didn't tighten them up and they just vibrated loose. The push rods all look straight and all of the springs are tight and the same height. Boy am I confused. So does anyone have a clue, o heck a hair brain idea? I plan on torqueing them down and see what happens. If it starts then I can get a Turbo and maybe get out of this town. On the police front, the cop doesn't give much hope on finding my wife's scooter or any thing else. Life is grand. John Forgot the pics.

Did that and it does seem to be sticky, but that ain't the problem. It was suggested to start a new thread to up date everyone. It just keeps getting weirder and weirder.