My Engine replacement odyssey - 1994 HR
My engine replacement odyssey has begun. I posted questions about the 460 V8 in my 1994 Holiday Rambler some time back and after much engine diagnosis and finally laboratory analysis of my crankcase o...
Forum Discussion
Hi all y’all,
I had a stumble yesterday. While I was lifting the front of my RV to get it at the proper level to pull the engine out the damn thing slide over to the side off the jack stands while I was underneath. I’d left the front wheels on so by flattening myself out as the rig came off the stands I wasn’t hit by anything. It was 5pm, and my RV had just tried to kill me, so with that I called it a day, washed up and had dinner and a margarita.
I’d figured I was doing things properly using an 8 ton bottle jack and lifting each side of the rig sequentially but after analysis of the event I realized that by placing the jackstands under the front jacking points they were only 36” apart. I thought this was good because the legs on the engine lift are 40” apart and the jackstands wouldn’t get in the way. However, if I place the jack stands further apart under the axle for more stability they’ll get in the way of the lift legs. What I’ve decided to do today is jack up the RV and place large concrete paving stones under the front wheels and then lift the rig against the front spring travel with the jack stands under the axle but the paving stones still supporting ample weight to balance the rig against any sideways movement. It’ll be a lot of work setting up but hopefully it’ll be a lot safer.
Also, though my work site is very level I didn’t chock the rear wheels but simply set the emergency brake. I’m not certain if that oversight added to the cause of yesterday’s event but I’ll be chocking the rear wheels today.
Maybe I should rename my RV “Christine” (LOL!).
I had a stumble yesterday. While I was lifting the front of my RV to get it at the proper level to pull the engine out the damn thing slide over to the side off the jack stands while I was underneath. I’d left the front wheels on so by flattening myself out as the rig came off the stands I wasn’t hit by anything. It was 5pm, and my RV had just tried to kill me, so with that I called it a day, washed up and had dinner and a margarita.
I’d figured I was doing things properly using an 8 ton bottle jack and lifting each side of the rig sequentially but after analysis of the event I realized that by placing the jackstands under the front jacking points they were only 36” apart. I thought this was good because the legs on the engine lift are 40” apart and the jackstands wouldn’t get in the way. However, if I place the jack stands further apart under the axle for more stability they’ll get in the way of the lift legs. What I’ve decided to do today is jack up the RV and place large concrete paving stones under the front wheels and then lift the rig against the front spring travel with the jack stands under the axle but the paving stones still supporting ample weight to balance the rig against any sideways movement. It’ll be a lot of work setting up but hopefully it’ll be a lot safer.
Also, though my work site is very level I didn’t chock the rear wheels but simply set the emergency brake. I’m not certain if that oversight added to the cause of yesterday’s event but I’ll be chocking the rear wheels today.
Maybe I should rename my RV “Christine” (LOL!).
