Super mods and super maintenance

[Bryce C]

Dwain-o, I was really struck by what you shared in another thread about some van modifications you made to your direct drive setup to reduce wear from the high heat environment the van engine and components operate in while the truckmount is running.

I want my truckmount to run forever without a breakdown, well atleast until I purchase a second truckmount, so I never need to revert to a portable again. I want to do all the mods you mentioned when the weather breaks this spring:

1) hi temp spark plug wires
2) insulating all electrical wires exposed to high heat
3) extra transmission cooler
4) extra power steering cooler.

I don't know what has been replaced in this van prior to my owning it. I was wondering if it would make sense to go ahead and install a few new parts to reduce possibilities of a breakdown on the road. Things like a new alternator, new starter, new fuel pump and fuel filter, and more. I remember you mentioning to replace the entire engine coolant system every so many miles to prevent an overheat while the tm is running, and heaven forbid we are wanding away in a home and don't notice til the engine is smoked.

Anyways, I'd love to hear about super maintenance and super mods to keep my van running forever. An old wizard just told me to get K&N oil filters to prevent engine wear from dry starts, somehow they help keep oil from draining out of the engine while sitting parked. Seems like there is a treasure trove of good ideas like this out there...

 

[Dwain Ray]

Dwain-o, I was really struck by what you shared in another thread about some van modifications you made to your direct drive setup to reduce wear from the high heat environment the van engine and components operate in while the truckmount is running.

I want my truckmount to run forever without a breakdown, well atleast until I purchase a second truckmount, so I never need to revert to a portable again. I want to do all the mods you mentioned when the weather breaks this spring:

1) hi temp spark plug wires
2) insulating all electrical wires exposed to high heat
3) extra transmission cooler
4) extra power steering cooler.

I don't know what has been replaced in this van prior to my owning it. I was wondering if it would make sense to go ahead and install a few new parts to reduce possibilities of a breakdown on the road. Things like a new alternator, new starter, new fuel pump and fuel filter, and more. I remember you mentioning to replace the entire engine coolant system every so many miles to prevent an overheat while the tm is running, and heaven forbid we are wanding away in a home and don't notice til the engine is smoked.

Anyways, I'd love to hear about super maintenance and super mods to keep my van running forever. An old wizard just told me to get K&N oil filters to prevent engine wear from dry starts, somehow they help keep oil from draining out of the engine while sitting parked. Seems like there is a treasure trove of good ideas like this out there...

As far as replacing things, i would go maybe not as far as you're talking. Till i built frankinstien i ran old steamgenis that i bought from a company that didn't take very good care of them there was usually something wrong with the machine or van that rendered it unreliable. I generally didnt and don't change parts to change parts. When i got a different rig what id do is completely remove everything from the back. Machine,hose reels etc. Id pull up the floor and pressure wash out the van. I would then install a new carpeted plywood floor and add crash screens. I would install and rewire the machine.replace all the brass and hoses,and valves and belts next i would service and paint the blower generally install new pump,heat exchangers and larger blower silencer and a wastepump. As far as the van went i would change all cooling hoses, change all fluids coolant, oil,transmission,rearend, power steering, brake.and filters engine transmission ,fueland air. Brake check front end inspection & alignment. Complete engine tuneup , plugs,wires,cap,rotor and belts Add ignition wire insulation transmission cooler as far as fuel pump and alternator i would wait for that stuff to break alot of the vans i got had powersteering leaks some i replaced the effected parts, on my spare van i replaced the entire system pump hoses rebuilt hydro boost and gearbox. From that point on i replaced systems as something went bad for instance on my spare van when it needed ball joints i bought an entire front end kit complete control arms in&out tie rod ends idlers bushings etc etc but that was when i needed front end work last time i rebuilt the driveshaft i replaced the clutch,Serpentine belt tensioner and idler pulleys but that was when i rebuilt the driveshaft and i couldn't remember when that all was changed (old parts were put on used but good shelf)when the water pump starts leaking i replace it ,thermostat, at least upoer and lower radiator hoses but i don't replace the waterpump till it leaks. Every morning before starting the van all fluids are checked that way im constantly monitoring that sorta stuff. In short i did indepth service buti didnt toss major components unless they showed wear. With Frankenstein i was starting new or almost new van was 1½years old with 22k so i went a bit farther especially with the powersteering 2 coolers and an inline filter only because all the vans i purchased in the past had had heat related problems and leaks and i wanted to prevent it from the start. I hope this helps and im not rambling on too much. But in short theres things you can do preventative and thing you can do that is a waste of time and money. Your fuel pump can last another week or another decade same with alternator, o2 sensors brake master cylinder and allkinds of parts like that. With the exception of adding parts for additional cooling i would stick with parts that are considered maintenance and get all maintenance current and on a schedule and go from there . Frankinstien's machine is on a 100 hour maintenance program. Evevy 100 hours all belts hoses and fitting are checked for wear and leaks fluids checked in pump,blower,wastepump,rx20 & blower greased ,wastetank and filter & cleaned and bag filter replaced. Vacuum relief lubricated. Comet pt33 Wastepump check valves pulled out and cleaned and reinstalled and water softner is recharged. Every 500 hrs all above plus oil changed in blower,pump,wastepump. Van service are oil change as determined by computer, includes filter airfilter check map sensor cleaned tires rotated brake check. Transmission oil&filter 25k. Brake, rearend and powersteering fluid changed every 2 years as far as brand names go i use mobil1 extended life oil and filters, royal purple rearend oil mobil 1 LV ATF HP full synthetic transmission fluid. Prestone full synthetic powersteering oil . Wix Air and transmission filters. Machine; cat pump oil for pump & wastepump aeon pd xd blower oil royal purple ultra performance synthetic grease hope this helps. Dwain

 

[Bryce C]

This is awesome Dwain-o. Thank you so much. I'll read this a few times and come up with a plan of what I am going to approach first.

It's a long story but I am moving to the Boston area soon, maybe in about 8 months or so. Not sure how I am going to make it work yet but right now part of the plan is to rent a climate controlled commercial space I can drive my van in to, and I want to have a second used tm when I go there, so I'll have 2 machines with climate controlled parking and a place to work on them year round. A base of operations. And excluding the Boston metro area, my new service area will have somewhere around 5 million people compared to the 300,000 or so now that are spread across northeastern Connecticut. Exciting times...

This year I am going to work night and day learning, growing, and dialing in my business. A big part of that is staying ahead with my machine, soon to be machines...