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02-10-2012, 04:08 PM
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#121
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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Steve, life is good......got the solenoid cluster taken apart and reassembled last night and it works great!!! Still holding the same PSI 9 hours later.....would have been flat by now, if not earlier. Here are some pictures....the before picture is a picture of the picture Tom printed out and made notations on so we could be sure to hook everything back up correctly, and the second is the after. Took about 5 hours beginning to end....we sat on his garage floor doing the work....that cold concrete is tough on old joints!
By the way, Tom did the lionshare of the work....I was there for moral support, and to hand him things....I did use a wrench a little bit, but BIG thanks goes to Tom for a couple of late night efforts.....my '82 Newell and I thank you Tom!
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02-10-2012, 04:26 PM
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#122
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: mesa, az
Posts: 1,375
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ok, so you dont think i am soooo incredibly old and slow and creaky.
it only took 4 hours not 5. (i worked till 7pm doing my day job)
i was comfortable sitting on the garage floor (i rather like it to be honest)
it was a lot of fun to work on something with someone. like most of you it is usual to do things by myself and how to hold something by leaning it on something or making a jig etc.
clarke is great company and darlene and elaine are enjoying each other.
i told clarke that he would likely get tired of us wayyy before we do of them.
my neighbors think it is a bus convention at my house. we have two newells, my f350, clarkes tbird, darlenes honda, our sonata, the jeep and car for the young couple that lives with us all in my driveway or in front of my house. i have great neighbors so no one cares.
forest will be coming by in a few weeks. it will be fun to see them.
whos next after forest?
tom
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02-11-2012, 03:22 AM
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#123
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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Converted three more ceiling fixtures to LED today, and installed LED lights in one of the engine bays. What a difference! Tomorrow the fridge.
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02-12-2012, 05:36 AM
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#124
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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Tom and I spent a good portion of the day installing the Dometic Classic Aibsorption refrigerator. This one is around 8 years old, but Tom is not quite sure.....it is several generations newer than my 30 year old refer which was totally manually operated....the newer one switches back and forth between gas and electric automatically, and looks great! Helped Tom pull some wire for the new headlights he is installing in the 2002 coach. Will work on converting more 12 volt fluorescent and automotive lights to LED tomorrow, and Monday....hope I will be done by then. Put in a nice LED light in the engine compartment.....man, it is like daylight in there now....before had ONE of those 4" X 4" lights with one automotive bulb....just enough light to tease you.
Darlene even got into the act today helping Elaine repair the end of the awning pull down. The loop that you hook to pull down the awning was about to come undone, and so Darlene brought several of her sewing machines (Brother, Baby Lock and an industrial grade Juki to do the work outside on the sidewalk in front the coach and did a wonderful repair!
After a hard day of work Tom treated all of us to dinner at Texas Roadhouse.....thanks Tom!
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02-14-2012, 03:43 PM
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#125
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
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Clarke,
Would you post some more pictures of the new Refrigerator? It is encouraging to know that Tom's Coach Works has been able to help you guys get a newer unit in.
__________________
have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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02-14-2012, 04:37 PM
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#126
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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OK Steve, here you go....this newer Dometic is a little wider inside, and a little deeper inside, and a little taller inside. The control panel on the OLD one is inside the fridge below the crisper drawers. The newer one has the panel ("eyebrow") on the outside above the freezer door. The gas line in the picture of the rear of the new fridge is temporary. I'm having a custom line made. The green cover visible is the Dinosaur cover for the Dinosaur board Tom put in a few years ago to replace the old one. Also, a bonus picture of one of the converted fluorescent fixtures. And finally, a picture of the old Dometic sitting in Tom's garage. The new fridge is quite a bit lighter than the old one. I will be removing the faux wood panels from the old one. Elaine ordered black ones from CampingWorld for the new Dometic yesterday that should arrive by tomorrow.
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02-17-2012, 05:34 AM
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#127
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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We were awaiting a FedEx delivery of the fridge door panels today/this afternoon/this evening......apparently it is still residing in the FedEx terminal in North Phoenix until tomorrow.....soooooooooo......the Mesa vortex has not released its grip on us, or our coach. There has been talk that an unnamed person residing on, or near Encanto Street in Mesa, AZ has somehow delayed the delivery of the package....lol. Really, leaving Tom and Darlene's is bittersweet, but our dream is to travel, and change our view out the front window on a regular basis. Another part of the freedom to wander is to decide when to move, and when to sit still. Sitting still here in Mesa has been delightful, and therapeutic. I leave here much more confident in my ability to take care of our coach, and for that I owe Tom a debt of gratitude. Not as much for what he did, which was a lot, but for encouraging me to do things myself. The Thunderbird is loaded in the trailer, and we are ready to head southeast into Texas......
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02-17-2012, 11:43 AM
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#128
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Where ever the coach is.
Posts: 158
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No Senator Wash?
By the way how are your panels fastened to the roof? I hear they are now using 3m tape.
Brad
__________________
Brad & Karen & Mena
Coach Name BIG BLUE
Coach# 204
1988 40 ft 8v92 TA
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser,1990 Jeep Cherokee 4/WD now a desert rat
25 ft Haulmark trailer
730 watt solar panels, Full timing.
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02-17-2012, 01:31 PM
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#129
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Thibodaux, LA
Posts: 1,221
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We made it to Coushatte Recreation Ranch yesterday west of Houston for our first night. Nice place about 8 miles off I-10 way back down a lonely road.
We may hang here a day or two then head for San Antonio.
Only probably was the speedometer is totally out now. The speedo quit working last year but I've just been using vmspc but now the odometer is out so I guess its time to replace it. I might wait until we get to Arizona, I heard theres a great repair shop in Mesa....
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02-17-2012, 06:04 PM
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#130
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: south louisiana
Posts: 654
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I think the vmspc give miles also....But since you are going to the famous shop in Mesa, I would have it replaced......also could you check on body and paint work? The head on the scrub brush broke off and I put about a 8" scratch on the front of my coach....Glad I was paying attention.....
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02-17-2012, 11:03 PM
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#131
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: mesa, az
Posts: 1,375
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clarke and elaine just drove off into the sunset from our house.
they left for the second time today and this time i was able to see them off. i will let clarke explain why.
we will miss having them around.
tom
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02-18-2012, 03:48 AM
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#132
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
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What is that behind that Newell, A Castle? maybe Tom's Coach Works?
__________________
have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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02-18-2012, 04:06 AM
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#133
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Iyopawa Island, Mi. (sometimes)
Posts: 421
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This may not be the exact place to inquire, but, since I continue to see comments about this great repair shop in Mesa, Az., I was wondering if any of you wealthy Newell owners would like to invest in a small LLC to build or purchase a building in the Mesa area so that talented Newell mechanic, Tom, could spend more of his "spare " time restoring our "old" Newells. The club could be called "McClounds Prouds"
__________________
1994 Newell #365 w/Corvette, 2002 streetrod 34 ford golf cart, 2009 Smart Car, 1958 Century Coronado, 1965 Cruisers Inc, CAR & BOAT CRAZY! LOVE OUR NEWELL!
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02-18-2012, 04:07 AM
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#134
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Iyopawa Island, Mi. (sometimes)
Posts: 421
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Sorry, typo.....meant to say "McClouds Prouds"
__________________
1994 Newell #365 w/Corvette, 2002 streetrod 34 ford golf cart, 2009 Smart Car, 1958 Century Coronado, 1965 Cruisers Inc, CAR & BOAT CRAZY! LOVE OUR NEWELL!
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02-18-2012, 05:08 AM
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#135
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Riverside, California
Posts: 1,543
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Brad, I apologize...we ended up staying at Tom and Darlene's so long that we are now under the gun to get to Tyler, TX, and then on to Austin, TX by the 27th. I arrived in Mesa with my tail between my legs....the cruise control had quit working, the docking lights switch melted down as we were parking, and the rear Mak valves were leaking like a sieve. Along with those issues we were going to install Tom's used Dometic Classic. In addition Tom showed me how to convert my fluorescent lights to LED lighting, so that took a few days of labor.
The solar panel brackets are mounted using a heavy duty 3M two sided tape, and then sealed with Dicor (sp?). No holes drilled in the roof for any part of the installation.
We had planned to leave Tom and Darlene's on Wednesday afternoon, but CampingWorld did not ship our item until Wednesday, so we were not able to get it until today, and that took a few phone calls to FedEx to keep it off the truck so we could go and pick it up on our way out of town. We left their home around 10am to head over to Tempe to get the CampingWorld item, and then head southeast on I-10. We only got 2 blocks when I noticed that the air pressure was over 150 psi! Bad news....I pumped the brakes to reduce the pressure as we limped back to Tom's house. I called Tom and he recommended I call his mechanic, Leo, at All Aboard America, and see what he said. Leo immediately diagnosed the problem as a defective pressure regulator. On the way back I stopped by Leo's shop on the way home from FedEx (as it turns out CampingWorld shipped the WRONG ITEM!), and bought the replacement regulator, and headed home. Tom arrived home from work just after we got home and supervised me in his work clothes while I removed and replaced the air pressure regulator....normally it is mounted on the back of the mechanical compressor, but in our case it was mounted remotely on the front wall of the driver side engine bay. We at last departed Encanto Street around 3pm and made it to Benson, AZ where we are staying at Benson I-10 RV Park for the night (Passport America) for $15 for full hookups including 50amp, and cable TV...nice overnight park! Needed fullhookups tonite to dump my gray tank so I could take a shower!
Well that's all for tonite!
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02-18-2012, 11:35 AM
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#136
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Where ever the coach is.
Posts: 158
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Thats ok Clarke, I figured something like that happened. I am glad you got all the stuff done that you were able even the last minute problem. You couldn't have been in a better place.
Just think if that happened on some long stretch in texas in the middle of nowhere. I am sure there will be another time to get together.
Safe travels.
__________________
Brad & Karen & Mena
Coach Name BIG BLUE
Coach# 204
1988 40 ft 8v92 TA
2012 Toyota FJ Cruiser,1990 Jeep Cherokee 4/WD now a desert rat
25 ft Haulmark trailer
730 watt solar panels, Full timing.
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02-18-2012, 03:38 PM
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#137
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Idyllwild, CA
Posts: 1,340
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Clarke, would you post the part number and manufacturer of the regulator you had to replace?
__________________
have Coach will Travel
Steve & Tricia
1982 Newell 38' (built before #1) 6V92 DD, 5 Speed Allison, 12.5 KW Kohler, Couch used to make into a Bed but I fixed it!
https://newellshowcase.com/thumbnails.php?album=214
2007 Yukon, 1981 CJ7 Laredo, 2002 Honda CRV, 1955 Thunderbird, 1952 Pontiac Sedan Delivery, 1952 Ford 8N, 1958 Airstream, 1959 Glasspar 16' Avalon, Cabin in the Woods........what will I work on next
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
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02-19-2012, 04:45 AM
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#138
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Texas
Posts: 1,558
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Clarke, sorry to hear about the pressure regulator but that is certainly one of the best locations for it to happen if it had to happen at all. One of the things I love about Tom is his willingness to share his knowledge with others and his willingness to work on almost anything.
Glad you are on the road any hopefully you will have smooth riding to Tyler.
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02-19-2012, 04:59 AM
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#139
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ncadmin
I'm sitting here pondering and dreaming of full timing in a Newell? Some have done it, some are doing it and others are dreamin' about it.
Either way, it's all good.........
Myself, I'm working on a happy medium. Hum..???
Now, to finish getting rid of a life accumulation of possessions (JUNK) for a simpler life of enjoying a condo on wheels...no more mowing the lawn (acreage) ugh! Actually really burned out on property ownership. I will miss the greenhouse, though. There has to be an alternative for that one?
What-cha thoughts....????
Ken W.
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KEN . YES YOU WILL MISS THE GREEN HOUSE BUT THINK OF WHAT AWAITS YOU .
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02-19-2012, 05:08 AM
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#140
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New Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 4
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I AM NEW TO THE SITE AND STILL TRYING TO FIGURE IT OUT . MY WIFE AND I FIRSTY VISITED THE NEWELL FACTORY IN 1991 AT THE TIME WE OWNED A BB . I WAS ALLWAYS DRAWN TO HOW NEWELL WAS AHEAD OF THE CURVE. I KNOW THAT THRU THIS GROUP ERIKA AND I WILL FULFILL OUR DREAM AND OWN THE BEST MADE COACH IN THE WORLD .
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