PDDGM,
I rebuilt two of the four on my previous coach, a '99 Fleetwood Bounder 34V with the F-53 chassis and V-10. Rebuilding them was incredibly easy. Getting them off and handling them out from under the coach is the tough part. They are not all that heavy but, they are AWKWARD while in the semi-mounted (almost all the bolts off and out) position. While it can get crowded, two of you under there handling them in the transition from frame to hands and the opposite when done rebuilding them, is way better.
I thought there would be some serious tightness on the gland nut that holds the end and seals all together but, not so. I clamped it in the vice (padded and curved so as to not "crimp" the cylinder)and, had a rather ultra large wrench, (over two feet long) and, that gland nut just popped off with out almost no effort.
Now, when I did it, Power Gear was still sending rebuild kits to us laymen. But, as I understand things now, they only send to authorized repair centers so, you better check out IF you, as an individual, can actually receive the parts or not.
But, in the kit was a totally new gland nut, and a revised set of seals etc. The newer style is seriously less complicated and better. It was very simple. If you have a place to do the work and not get things dirty, once you have it out from under the coach, and have the new parts ready to install, you can do the entire job of disassembling, rebuilding, and reassembling it in about 10 minutes. Then, it's the chore of getting it back under the coach and, holding it in place while bolts are installed. Keep all your fittings free of dirt, dust and debris while the jack is off.
Any questions PM me and I'd be glad to lend a hand.
Scott
I rebuilt two of the four on my previous coach, a '99 Fleetwood Bounder 34V with the F-53 chassis and V-10. Rebuilding them was incredibly easy. Getting them off and handling them out from under the coach is the tough part. They are not all that heavy but, they are AWKWARD while in the semi-mounted (almost all the bolts off and out) position. While it can get crowded, two of you under there handling them in the transition from frame to hands and the opposite when done rebuilding them, is way better.
I thought there would be some serious tightness on the gland nut that holds the end and seals all together but, not so. I clamped it in the vice (padded and curved so as to not "crimp" the cylinder)and, had a rather ultra large wrench, (over two feet long) and, that gland nut just popped off with out almost no effort.
Now, when I did it, Power Gear was still sending rebuild kits to us laymen. But, as I understand things now, they only send to authorized repair centers so, you better check out IF you, as an individual, can actually receive the parts or not.
But, in the kit was a totally new gland nut, and a revised set of seals etc. The newer style is seriously less complicated and better. It was very simple. If you have a place to do the work and not get things dirty, once you have it out from under the coach, and have the new parts ready to install, you can do the entire job of disassembling, rebuilding, and reassembling it in about 10 minutes. Then, it's the chore of getting it back under the coach and, holding it in place while bolts are installed. Keep all your fittings free of dirt, dust and debris while the jack is off.
Any questions PM me and I'd be glad to lend a hand.
Scott
