FAQ's - Vehicle Issues - 2

Various questions about vehicle issues answered here

• I'm confused, I read about FC, PT and SP model 'Birds, but how do I tell the difference?
  Check out the Vintage Birds web site where you will find Highlights of Blue Bird Wanderlodge Model Changes and Terms & Abbreviations for Blue Bird Motor Homes plus photos of the different models that were available in each year of production

• I'm having problems getting my Propane tank filled at some stations, what can I do?
  There seems to be some confusion or misinterpretation of the code concerning onboard propane tanks that do not have an OPD (Overflow Protection Device) installed on them, which gives a cause for some propane filling stations to refuse to fill them. This link will take you to a PDF file that hopefully will help to clear this issue up. You can save it to your hardrive on your computer and also print a copy of it to carry with you and by showing it to the filling station attendant may change their mind about not filling your tank.

• I'm having problems with my levelers, where can I find information about repairs?
  HWH Corporation, look through their web site for links to troubleshoot, call them if you have further questions, they are very helpful and friendly folks and eager to help

• I'm purchasing a Wanderlodge and I haven't driven anything that big, what are some things I need to know about driving it?
  Read this post titled "Steering angles on 2000 Wanderlodge LXI" where you will find information and tips about driving any size and model of Wanderlodge. be sure to scroll down to the bottom and read all of the replies to the first post, for some good tips.

• I'm thinking about purchasing a used 'Bird, is there any guide that will help me check this thing out before I pay for it?
  Here is a link to a CHECKLIST that you can print out and take with you, that is an excellent guide of what to look for on a used 'Bird, it is located on the VINTAGE 'BIRDS web site, I took a copy with me when I flew from South Carolina to Texas to purchase my 'Bird, I also was given some names of forum members to help me check this thing out, as I was not familiar with all of the systems on a 'Bird and the gentleman that helped me was very knowledgeable and he wouldn't take any fee for doing so, other than his meals and he spent an entire day with me. There are also forum member that will for a fee, will go to where your potential 'Bird is located at and do a complete check up and then give you a written inspection report on that 'Bird that you are thinking of buying, just post a question about that on the forum and you should get a reply from one of them.

• I'm told that I may have to go to a wider wheel for bigger tires, how wide are my wheels?
  Here is where to look on your aluminum wheels to determine how wide they are and also what the weight limit is per wheel.

• Is there a way to find out how old my tires are?
  How to figure out the actual manufacturers date on your tires

• Is there a web site that will provide me with the most current fuel prices across the country?
  I have traveled extensively both in my professional over the road career, as well as in my 'Bird after I retired and I have always used this web site. The fuel prices are updated for the most part daily and the web site is the most accurate that I have found, just follow the instructions near the top of the web page, by clicking on the different major truck stop icons, to see their current pricing on diesel fuel, gas and propane.

• My 'Bird has a lot of swaying when I'm driving, I find my self having to constantly correct my steering, what is a fix?
  Different things to check out that can contribute to this problem, be sur to read ALL of the replies too.

• My Perkins/Kohler genset is noisy, is there anything that I can do to make it quieter?
  An upgrade to a newer style down flowing fan found in late model 'Birds is used in place of the old side flowing fan and open grill on the sliding drawer face and more, be sure to click on "NEXT" at the right of each web page to see more information and ideas.

• My engine in my FC model is noisy and I can hardly hear my passengers talking, what can I do?
  Re-insulating the dog house cover really helps

• My side compartment and inside cabinet door gas springs are weak, where can I purchase replacements?
  This link will take you to a posted message on this forum, that has information about those gas springs. Be sure to scroll down and read all of the other replies to this message for more information about these gas springs.

• On my FC model 'Bird I think that my air compressor may be bad, where is it actually located and what are the part numbers?
  This shows the location of the governor, plus for additional information go to http://tinyurl.com/ybxyj8

• One of my air conditioners stopped working all of a sudden, where should I start looking
  At the air conditioners, I always leave the controls in the on position and I know that I have had my air conditioners either stop or start when I hadn't turned them on or off at the air conditioners myself and what I found out was I had inadvertently bumped the wall switch next to the drivers seat that control the air conditioners on my '82 FCRB model 'Bird. You can see the three wall switches in this photo of my drivers seat, they are located just below the window and there are three of them, one for each air conditioner on my 'Bird. I believe that some model 'Birds the switches were moved to somewhere in the overhead panels, which helped elevate this problem, but they still can be bumped with a shoulder or a misplaced hand with the same results.

• What does the Winter/Summer switch do?
  Read this series of WANDERLODGE forum posts explaining what the switch does and how it functions. be sure to scroll down to the bottom to read all of the related posts on this subject. By doing a SEARCH in the MESSAGES section of the forum, of the word SPORLAN VALVE will give you even more related information on the topic.

• What is the proper way to weigh my 'Bird, so I can determine what pressure to carry in my tires?
  This post and the replies to it, from the forum, should answer most of the weighing a 'Bird questions

• What items should I be checking on my 'Bird, on the day I leave on a trip, during my walk-around?
  Here is a PDF copy of the PRE-TRIP CHECKLIST that I have written for my own particular use, you can print it out and use it for yourself, or copy and paste the text into a WORD document and edit it for your particular needs, but it will give you a starting point to use.

• When I went to the Caterpillar dealer to order parts, they said that I would need to have the arrangement numbers
  How to find the arrangement numbers for your particular Caterpillar engine

• Where can I find information about Ultra Low Sulfur and Low Sulfur Diesel fuels and do I need to change anything in my engine
  Check out the Frequently Asked Questions at the Government - Industry - Consumers, Clean Diesel Fuel Alliance Information Center web site, here you will also find links to other web sites that provide more information about the effects of ULSD on you diesel engines.

• Is there a safe in my 'Bird, if so where is it located and how do I open it?
  I found the safe in my 'Bird an '82 FCRB model, under the dinette seat cushion. I had to remove the wooden panel that was covering it and since I had no combination for it, I took the 'Bird to a local locksmith and he opened it for me, then I had the combination reset to a number that I could remember. This link will take you to a post that Curt Springer contributed, describing how to properly use the combination and dial on the safe in order to open it.