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Topic: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks (Read 2501 times) previous topic - next topic
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Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Yahoo Message Number: 34863
They do make zirk fittings that appear to be the same as grease able fittings. The clever thing about these is the intake grease end is sealed. Why they are not used in the first place is beyond me. You would think the mfg. would build in the safeguards in to there product. There I go.... wishful thinking again. If anyone is interested I can probably round up some part numbers from NAPA.
AL

00 affinity #5851

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34864
We have been considering buying a CC, but don't want to have anything to do with an expensive "do it yourself kit".
It doesn't sound like a very well engineered product based on all of the e-mails I have seen over the past week or so. Also why do you have to depend on each other (owners) for service assistance? It doesn't sound like CC is providing the support that they should.

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34866
.... most owners enjoy the opportunity to be able to RV. And the bottom line of this group as put by another member...Country Coach owners are Fussy? Opinionated? Impossible to please? That's our owners group...works for me ! AL

00 affinity #5851

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34868
Professor RVing here, Listen, it doesn't matter what motorhome you buy it's going to have problems whether it's new or used. The higher end motor coaches will have just as many problems as the lower end models, it's just that they are more expensive problems :) If you purchase a used motorhome that has been well maintained, you will find that a majority of the problems have already been corrected.
When you buy a new rig you will spend time having warranty work done - just pencil it into your calender. Ask any of the old timers who have owned different brands and they will tell you the same thing. The problem as I see it is that we can't mass produce these machines like the Japanese manufactures do with automobiles. They are able to use precision robots and production controls that are way beyond the capacity of any motorhome manufacturer to duplicate. That's why Toyota passed the Big 3 this year in sales in the USA. They just produce a superior product because of their manufacturing controls model. So, we will have to be content with what we have for now. Thankfully we have groups like this where we can find answers to problems. Good luck, and don't let a few problems slow you down from hitting the RV trail. Jim Twamley Allure 30429

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34869

This not a retort to what Jim said, just some observations and an opinion.
RV stands for Repair Vehicle; get used to it; it comes with the territory. As my daughter-in-law said - owning an RV is like owning a house that goes through a hurricane and an earthquake every day.
Toyota just dropped out of the top spot for quality according to Consumer Reports - anything humans build will have defects although they can de reduced to near zero.
Quality concepts and methods are a big part of my professional work. There is no reason the RV industry cannot develop a quality program - in fact there is an automotive industry quality system. The problem is RV business men/women won't make the commitment to such a system without proof it helps the bottom line. It's a very competitive industry so you won't find too many who are willing to experiment.
It took Toyota et al to convince the big three quality matters to consumers and they are just catching up over well 20 years later. Nearly 50% of Americans will only buy an import.
True quality controlled recreational vehicles (meaning the manufacturing facilities are independently audited and certified to an accepted quality standard) are not likely to happen anytime soon. Maybe if the Germans or Japanese see a market......

Bob Handren

'05 Country Coach Inspire 51178
'00 JGCL

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34871
When I was in JC for service in Aug/Sep one of the service techs at CC put plugs in place of my 4 zerks on the IFS. It seems they have been having a lot of problems with people blowing out he O rings. One of the chassis shop techs was passing out new O rings at the Albany rally to people who needed them.

You would think that these zerks are common knowledge at the major CC warranty stations but I would not count on it. I had a major dispute at Buddy Gregg Knoxville until I showed the service writer and tech the Holland Neway service bulletin.

Also for those that are interested, there is a file in the files section that you can print off and give to your lube specialists that shows the zerks not to grease. It is called:

CC Holland IFS Lubrication XLSB06701.pdf Holland IFS "No Grease" Zerks

Kevin

05 Intrigue
11886

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34876
Bob,

Germany has entered the RV market. Germany held the largest RV show in the world last year.

Joe 2006 Intrigue 12054

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34878
Almost all of the German RVers that we have met traveling around the States bring their own RV with them. No wonder they go to the expense of doing this (ocean freighting, etc) when you look at the poor reliability and expense of keeping US built behemoths running. There is no excuse for poor engineering and lack of accountability to the customer.

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34884
Thanks for the article. Obviously wealthy people want luxury without regard to reliability and cost.

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34885
You wrote your lead in as if they all use American built RVs. I read the story, and I apparently missed the part about quality. It is true about the size restrictions. Hard to get a VW down most streets in the city/towns.

Joe

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34893
If you don't keep things in perspective, you can get paranoid lurking on this site. There are a lot of Country Coaches out there and most of the time most of them give the owner good service. When you do have a problem, this site gives you help on where or how to get a problem corrected. Motor Homes in general do require a lot of maintenance. If you can not afford or do not want to put up with it, maybe motor homes are not for you.

Everett

99 Intrigue 10758

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34897
Everett,

Affordability has nothing to do with poor service, maintenance or substandard quality produced by a manufacture. If we take the position, so stated in you comment, we would all be in a horse and buggy. It's the consumer that forces the manufacture to produce quality products. Had a professor tell me, "for every seat made there is an ass to set in it". The consumer and the manufacture both benefit when a reliable product is produced. If not, just think of the alternative for the manufacture. And I for one don't want that.

PS: Please don't read this as a personal attack!

Joe 2006 Intrigue 12054

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34898
Everett -- you stated it quite well.

we use -- and depend upon -- our rig to travel for both personal & business purposes putting on about 1,000 mi/month. If we didn't think that we coudl rely on it we would get rid of it.

Whenever you share problems & solutions that's all you'll see in terms of forum posts. No one has ever posts their day-by-day no problems list.

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34905
I can actually say we have had no real problems with our coach. That is why we think we will keep this one.

Gary Bender

o4 Intrigue #11701

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34918
Everett,

You assume that I am not a motor home owner. Have had a Born Free for 9 years with very few issues, but looking for something larger to full time in. Rather insulting response as I could buy anything I decide to up to 500K range but why would I want to waste money on what appears to be a poorly designed product from the letters that I am reading on this site. More worrisome is the apparent lack of support by CC to resolve these issues, most of which don't seem to be mileage or time related.

Bob

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34919
Speaking of related, how is this reply related to the subject line?
 
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34929
Couldn't believe that CC would put zerk fittings on non-greasable frt suspension. This gave rise to comment that it doesn't sound like a very well engineered product.

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34931

Bob,

At the possible expense of increasing your ire I can't let your inaccurate description of the situation and probable culprits go without comment.
CC does not manufacture the front suspension, I believe Neway does. In any case the same suspension is used in other brand motor coaches, commercial buses, fire trucks, garbage trucks or any other similar applications. If anyone is to blame it is the designer and manufacturer of the incorporated product, Neway, not Country Coach. Yes, CC could have chosen another manufacturer but as I don't know who else they considered and they know more about suspensions than I ever will, I defer to their judgment. With nearly 30,000 miles on our coach it sure works well enough in our coach.
This highlights a common problem with RV's and that is unlike most automobiles there is frequently no one-stop dealer to go to when something needs warranty work or repair. Each coach has dozens of suppliers and most RV manufacturers leave you to take care of it yourself. In our case CC has been extremely helpful and supportive getting our problems rectified all the way through the various warranty periods and will still spend significant time helping me find answers, sources, supplier part numbers for their suppliers products, etc.; which is a lot more than any other manufacturer's products we have owned.
I am not going to say CC builds perfect designs and coaches but with 32 years of Class A RV ownership and use I can say that, in my experience, the quality and design of CC coaches beats anything I have owned before.
At this point, IMHO, the RV industry is about the same place our domestic auto manufacturers were until the 90's which is they designed cars, manufactured their own components or out sourced them and then assembled the final product; there was no true quality control and it was left to the dealer to work with you to correct their mistakes. Until the RV manufacturers see the benefits of using accepted quality standards (which means $$$$$) such as those developed and published by organizations such as the International Standards Organization (the ISO 9000 series is one example) this won't change.
The first thing I do with every rig I buy is read every d--- piece of paper provided, every one. I then visit each component manufacturer's web stie and download anything that might prove useful; I guarantee you there are some surprises in there. The files section of this group contains lots of useful stuff prepared and uploaded by list members including spread sheets that can warn you when maintenance and required examination intervals have been reached. Based on all the literature I have made up my own plain jane sheet because I am not talented enough to make one as complex and useful as provided by those talented folks. Having read the Neway suspension manuals within days of purchase I was aware very early (4/1004) that the zerks were not to used except under certain specified conditions. I have used Cummins Power, Caterpillar dealers, ABC Bus and other sources for maintenance. To date none has greased the front suspension zerks and to test them I ask why not? So far I may be lucky but the techs are aware they are not to be lubed at normal intervals but only when needed.
If you intend to make your decision on purchasing a half million dollar diesel pusher based on some zerk fittings I don't know how you will ever make a final decision because every RV out there has several weird or unexpected design or maintenance issues.
Please don 't take this as a personal attack but there is that old saying: "When all else fails read the &^%$@ directions". I am as guilty as any red blooded male of failing to do exactly that - with the occasional negative and expensive consequence. There are just too many individual components in a motor coach to mke that mistake - read and understand every document, make notes, a spreadsheet schedule and whatever else works for you to increase the probability that you will do the right thing at the right time.

Bob Handren

'05 Country Coach Inspire 51178
'00 JGCL

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #19 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34937
The 4 zerks in question were blind zerks as delivered on my 2004 Allure. Hercules couldn't have gotten any grease through them. Somehow I don't think that CC is the culprit but rather poorly educated grease monkey's at service shops that simply think they are blocked and put new ones on. That would normally be the thing to do in most cases. I would have done that myself if I had not called CC to make sure that the zerks were a standard size. The CS rep that I spoke with knew that they were non-greasable. Also I believe that the blind zerks were installed by New Holland not CC. Not all of the grease fitting on the front suspension are non-greaseable.
 
One could argue for days on whether or not that was a poor engineering decision on New Holland's part. The zerks are there to allow putting grease in them initially or if the unit is rebuilt. They are supposed to be removed and something put in their place hopefully to prevent what is happening. I could argue equally for plugs or blind zerks.
 
If you don't include a link to what gave rise to 'doesn't sound like a very well engineered product' other than the subject line then your reply simply joins the ranks of the many other post/replies here that make judgments about the overall quality and engineering of CC based on anything but the overall product. Yes I am guilty of that also. Some problems are very frustrating for both the owner and CC. It is better to vent here than with CC as that would not really help your case in most instances. I have owned 3 CC's and all of them were purchased new. I can tell you that I have had my share of problems but overall I still believe that it is as well engineered if not better than most others and I would buy a CC again.
 
Don Seager
2004 Allure 31046

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #20 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34941
If this group is for "current Country Coach owners or those considering purchasing a Country Coach" why is this person here?

Al Colby

2000 Intrigue 10979

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #21 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34946
"this person" as you so impolitely put it, is considering buying a CC. i have every right to be here. you sound like a jerk.

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #22 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34947
Bob,

Thanks for the thoughtful response. You make many good points, but the suspension matter is not my only concern. What about the glass with brken seals and all the other stuff I have read about recently (problems changing air dryer etc)? What the heck is an air dryer anyway?

Bob

Re: Buying from Country Coach

Reply #23 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34951
I have made a few posts in the last month since I was lead to this site.

It seems that there are a few, if not many, that are lurking and asking questions to help them make the decision as to buy or not to buy a Country Coach. My story is pretty short, but here it is.

In September of 2007 (this year), I purchased, with cash, a brand new 2007 Country Coach 260 Tribute 40 footer. This was my first motor coach of any kind and the dream of my wife for the last nearly 40 years of life with me. We saved and saved over the years, what with starting with absolutely nothing (poor folk) and working and saving. We had three boys and spent all of our energy and monies to make sure that they were never left out and had a good education. My oldest is an Alaska State Trooper and a helicopter pilot. The second is a Captain with Alaska Airlines, and the youngest is a First Officer (co-pilot) with Alaska Airlines now. All three are married and into their own homes. I have 183 days left until my second retirement (the first was with the U.S. Army), and we were looking forward to spending some years traveling and relaxing, seeing the USA, as well as other parts of the world.

We purchased this 2007 coach s/n: 81025 (be careful if you see it for sale), and began our vacation with the happiness that you find in children. On day 4 we pulled into the Pacific Coast Motor Coach Resort in Newburg, OR. This was to be the highlight of our trip. I got out and set things up, and then I opened the right main bay door, to find that all of my tools were under water. Water had leaked from somewhere topside (within the coach) and was dripping or running down through the flooring and frame into the bays. The right side was streaked with rust marks indicating that while we were driving it was leaking water. I got on my cell and called the dealer in Fife, WA. The manager said that it was something that I had done, and not his problem or fault. I called Jeff Howe at the factory in Junction City. Jeff and Shawn listened to my description of the water and the signs that we had now found in the carpet and around the tile. He said to get to the factory ASAP. He even called the Motor Coach Resort to get us our money back for the planned stay. We drove to the factory and arrived in about 2 hours. Jeff and Shawn had a team on the coach and located the leak. They stated that the coach had not been properly winterized last winter by the dealer and that the main drain line that drains all waters on the right side of the coach had fractured completely and was now half way displaced, causing all drain water to not reach the holding tank, but to allow at least half of it to drain onto the main floor and then to flow to where ever it went, carpet, tile, woodwork, etc.

I called Western Motor Coach, our dealer, and the manager told me that it was my problem and to deal with the factory, but that it wasn't his problem. That is the long and the short of our conversation. Basically, "up yours" is how I would paraphrase his response. After all, he had been paid in cash.

At Country Coach, everyone from the VP on down jumped in to help. I told them that I hadn't even taken delivery on this yet (the dealer had set up a factory delivery and wanted us to take it down for delivery in one week). Over the next few days they (Country Coach) put us up in a hotel, provided a rental car, even paid for some of our meals. We worked out a deal for them to build us a brand new 2008 model 260 Tribute Motor Coach. It would be built to our standards and we were credited with our total price paid for the old, now not usable (Country Coach said that the top needed to come off and a new floor built with many parts to be replaced due to the long time that water had been exposed to the wood - read: months of this) coach towards our brand new yet to be built coach. We felt such relief that you can't believe unless you had to go through it.

We are to travel down to Junction City on November the 15th for a 16th delivery. I know that there is a bit of hard feelings being expressed by some on this list, but from first had experience, I can say that I am sold on Country Coach. They do genuinely care. As in any business, you have some outstanding employees and some less than desirable. We are seeing the outstanding ones in this case. I will let all know how things go, but I feel much better knowing that there is an outfit like Country Coach out there. Perhaps not perfect, but nonetheless, trying to do what it right.

Jim Hill
260 Tribute
81138

Re: Blown Suspension O-rings-non graseable zerks

Reply #24 –
Yahoo Message Number: 34952
It's interesting that you recognize what a jerk sounds like.

George in Birmingham
'04 Allure 31038
George in Birmingham
2003 Magna 6298