New bags, out of Florida, and now visiting Atlanta

We had a pretty much uneventful trip out of the campground in Florida, although we left early in the morning instead of in the afternoon as we wanted to beat a big rain storm to Orlando.....and we did, not a drop.  We arrived at our very picturesque "camping" spot outside the fence at Josam's where we were scheduled to have all of our air bags replaced the next morning.

Our rain free early arrival

Sure enough at exactly 0700 the next morning we entered a bay to have our repairs done. We were met by Keith who was assigned to us.  We started by helping the process by raising the coach on our jacks, dumping all the air, and then he was able to jack up the axles to take the pressure off the bags for replacement.

Ready to start

Wheels off

Keith about to install a new bag, old one beside him

Monaco didn't make this operation simple, Keith was impressive as he contorted himself to get to almost inaccessible bolts in order to get the bags off.  

One of our shiny new bags!

In all fairness we had added 2 other items to our list, one to replace the desiccant cartridge on our air dryer, and to check and replace if necessary an air fitting for our auxiliary air compressor and leveling system.  The desiccant cartridge helps remove moisture from the coach's air system, for suspension and brakes, and should be replaced every 2-3 years depending on where you operate the coach, humidity plays a big part.  I had mentioned in my last post that I had discovered that for some reason the line from the air compressor to the tank was blocked, and wondered if a check valve that was supposed to be removed had somehow not been removed and had seized up.  With the wheels off the drive axle it made it almost accessible for Keith to get the fitting pulled out so we could inspect it.  

The fitting in question is at the top of the photo

It turned out to not be a check valve, just a straight fitting as it should be, but it was completely blocked!  We think there might have been a screen in the fitting for some reason that corroded and blocked it.  Either way, Keith was able to drill the fitting clear and reinstall it so air flows readily now.

The blocked fitting

Clearing it out

I can now say the fitting works as it should and air flows each way, from the coach and from the air compressor, success!

Keith worked diligently all day and was almost beaten by the rear most bags on the front or steer axle.  Their air fittings were almost impossible to reach, and even when he could get a wrench on them, it was impossible to move it with the tiny amount of space.  He contemplated the situation as he finished the other front bags, and came up with a great solution.  He ended up cutting his wrench in half, and by shortening the wrench was able to break the fittings loose, but out of time we spent the night, this time inside the fence, and now he could say confidently, he would be able to quickly replace the rear air bags in the morning.  It would also give us an evening to make sure there were no leaks.

Our "camp" inside the fence

The air held beautifully all night and right at 0700 we headed back in to get the last 2 bags replaced.  He finished up quickly, and I started it up to bring up the air, and what?!?  The front wouldn't come up!  Keith wiggled under to feel for leaks, couldn't find anything, I juggled the leveling pad back and forth, but no way would the front raise.  We were pretty stumped.  We figured the only thing that could have happened was he must have accidentally bumped the ride height valve for the front with the jack.  The ride height valves control the air suspension as you go down the road, one in the front and 2 in the rear.  So we wanted to get the coach moved over one bay to the alignment pit so they could check it out.  Easier said than done, with the front all the way down, I could only turn the wheel a tiny bit to work our way out of the bay and into the pit, but we did.  After we got in there they thought they heard a leak, told me to shut it down, but then they couldn't hear it anymore.  So off comes the right front wheel, Keith contorts to get to the fitting and tries to tighten it, back on goes the wheel, start the coach back up, won't raise, do they hear a leak?  Turn off the coach, no leak, start back up and have me raise the front manually with the leveling pad, and yes they hear a leak, but only when I put extra air to the bags, back off comes the wheel.  Anyway, they take off the air fitting, clean it up again, retape it, install it again, wheel back on, and yes, it raises right up!  Good to go.  Even with all this we were back on the road by 1030.  

We had a treat waiting for us in Elko, GA at Twin Oaks Campground.  Debbie and Harold were already there and were going to make us dinner, and we would be able to visit and have one last goodbye until July.  We had a fantastic time, and a delicious dinner, maybe drank a little wine before we left early the next morning on our sortie to the Vet's for Bert.

Our wonderful rendezvous!

 So after getting to the Vet on time, having Bert all checked out, he passed with flying colors, we cut across northern Atlanta to Allatoona Landing Campground for our time here.  We have several visits coming up with family and friends, doctor and dentist appointments all before we really start our summer ramblings.

All settled in here in Atlanta

One week and counting.....

Just a quick update before we leave.  The park is churning, lots of people have left already, but a bunch have come in to replace them.  Every year we get a number of people that spend the winter farther south, stop here for a week or so before resuming their journey to the cold country, but this year we have had numerous weekend visitors that seem to be local.  But for us, the time has come, there is a distinctive change to the weather, you can feel the first tendrils of heat and humidity drifting in, and it's so funny, some of our friends, particularly the ones who stay here year round, are welcoming the change, while we begin to think of cooler climes.  But this year with the New England winter so white, several are stuck between a rock and a hard place as they would just as soon head north, but definitely don't want to see any snow.

Our motorhome projects are essentially done, the last job was to replace a friction tape on a slide.  Its function is to turn over the rubber seal, a flap that needs to point out when the slide is out and in when the slide is in.  It's a low tech solution, but one Monaco used to flip the seal.

Installing the new tape

We have been busy with goodbye get-togethers as friends are trickling out and seeing friends that live here before we join the march north.

One of the last get togethers at OSD

The next post will probably be about 2 weeks out, as we will be busy cleaning up our site, putting all our paraphernalia in our storage unit, making our way first to Orlando to have our air bags replaced, then on to see Bert's vet NE of Atlanta, before we get to our campground NW of Atlanta.

Another farewell party

So to those who are staying, have a wonderful and hurricane free summer, and for those who are leaving, safe travels and fair winds.