Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 08-16-2011, 10:29 AM   #1
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
Question Water Heater Removal

I am in the process of removing my water heater in order to get to the Coach Heater Blower, which is defunct. I have removed the white “wall” to the left side of the WH and most of the black caulking around the front flange of the unit itself. I am just starting to get a little outward movement by pulling on the black front box and the back of the WH. CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHY THEY CAULKED THIS THING SO THOROUGHLY IN PLACE? 20 screws through the front flange should provide an adequate mechanical anchor and modest sealing would prevent air or water migration in or out. When it comes time to re-install, WHAT CAULKING SHOULD I BUY and from where?
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 01:54 PM   #2
Winnie-Wise
 
ernieh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 296
I can't answer your question, but have to agree that that "black stuff" is nasty.

I have had to fight it several times when removing panels for access to holding tanks, plumbing, etc. I have used silicon when replacing the panels and have had no problems with leaks.
__________________
ernieh
2019 Phaeton 37BH
2003 Journey DL
ernieh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 05:14 PM   #3
Winnebago Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 1,037
I like butyl rubber tape for a sealant
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C Handicap Equipped
F53/V10
1999 Jeep Cherokee & 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade
John Hilley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-16-2011, 07:02 PM   #4
Winnebago Camper
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: So Cal
Posts: 35
Furnace Blower

I just pulled the whole furnace out and dis=asembled and replaced the blower motor. I had to do nothing with the water heater. My coach is a 97 Itasca Sunrise.
Dsrtrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2011, 07:46 AM   #5
Winnebago Master
 
DancinCampers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: On the Road Westward
Posts: 711
I removed mine twice and didn't add any extra sealant, just screwed it back in.
__________________
Dan & Sharon & Kasey (Our Yorkie Puppy (12 Yrs Old) On the Road (2012 Journey 36M, 2006 Jeep Liberty)
USN-Ret ('65-'93) Fulltimers, Class of 2012
DancinCampers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2011, 09:16 AM   #6
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
Talking Sealing the Water Heater Flange

Thanks to all for your comments and sealing suggestions. I succeeded yesterday in getting the WH all the way out of the compartment, although it is not completely detached from the coach yet. One engine coolant line from the engine to the WH is detached in the wheel well, but I had a devil of a time separating it from the rubber sealant where it comes through the bulkhead into the compartment. The other coolant line was not similarly stuck, but it comes from (or goes to) the rear heater core and is still attached; I will be separating this next. I wonder why it exits the compartment and immediately loops back through another hole in the bulkhead to connect to the heater core? Probably a space problem or else to facilitate repairs! LOL I will find out by the time I get the coach heater blower out and I will let you know.

Although I’ve not yet decided which caulk, I plan to seal my water heater flange when I reinstall. The coach heater, when activated sucks its air from the WH compartment through its heater core, blowing it into the floor furnace ducting that is shared with the propane furnace at the rear end of the duct. In my rig, the compartment has an opening above the WH that opens into the TV cabinet above, which has an intake opening and grill behind the passenger seat, completing the airflow loop for the Coach Heater. However, I’m not going to overdo the caulking; I’m going to apply a dab at each screw hole, and a small bead over the edge of the flange after screwing it down. The reason is this: when you turn the coach heater on, any air leaks to the outside will draw in cold air (possibly freezing air) and we don’t want any of that air in the compartment with the WH, the water pump, and a bunch of associated water lines, do we? We’d also do better to have the coach heater heating recirculated inside air, rather than having to heat the cold outside air.

I have taken some pictures along the way, so when this is all over, I plan to publish a procedure summary with photos, probably as a Word document.

The sun is out, so I the coach heater unit may see the light of day today!
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-17-2011, 10:48 AM   #7
Winnebago Owner
 
Martind4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Marshfield, WI
Posts: 88
When you reinstall the WH make sure you don't have a kink in the coolant line. After I installed the WH, my cab heater quit working, I had water flow to the heater control valve, but no heat.


It took a call to the Freightliner Help Desk and a lot of head scratching to figure out the cab heater and the motoraid were on the same loop. FL confirmed that the coolant line for the WH was at the end of the loop, when I straightened the coolant line, everything worked great.
__________________
Denny, Connie & Shadow (former barn cat made good)
2000 Itasca Horizon, Cat 3126B, Freightliner Chassis
Martind4 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-18-2011, 09:13 AM   #8
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
Thanks, Denny.

Yesterday I succeeded in removing the Coach Heater box and taking it down to the motor and plastic squirrel cage blower. My thanks to "tderonne"(and possible predecessors) in another thread for the washer on shaft solution. In my case, binding was between the blower and the motor and placing a simple washer on the motor shaft before putting the blower back on seems like a permanent fix to me. The bad news is that the blower runs fine on high, but not on low. I assume that means I have to replace the resistor pack that is mounted in the heater box next to the heater core. Anyone have a source for this other than a Winnebago/Itasca dealer?
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2011, 07:21 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 437
If you go to RV repair place you can buy a roll of that tape; It is best to use it; and Not sub for another type of sealer;; Heres why; That heater With water weight appx 100 lbs I say appx. I know some will point out 6 gallons of water at&^^$##@@! whatever;;; Anyway The heater is supported by the Mounting Feasha plate; If that shacks loose while on the road, you pull in to your site push the heater start button And you have Gas/water/electricity That must be in there prospective places , Or bad things happen;; I have seen Propane lines Fractured From moving around Repaired water damaged floors along with a host of other problems caused by owners skimping or thinking they new better then the Manufacture. Life is good.
bachler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2011, 06:26 AM   #10
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
Smile Coach Heater Blower Success

I had to order the resistor through the usual Win channels, and it arrived two days ago. Once installed, I placed the loosely assembled box on its shelf, plugged in the coach power harness, and voila! High and Low positions of the Coach Heater switch now work as advertised.

So now I have the CH firmly installed and I am making up new heater hoses to supply the CH and the WH. Yesterday I picked up some butyl tape (thanks, bachler) and with a little luck, the WH will be back on board by nightfall today.
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-24-2011, 09:00 AM   #11
Winnebago Owner
 
Lt46's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 169
Before you tuck that H20 heater away, you might consider replacing the one-way check valves on the back of the heater. Just a preventive maint. thing. I would hate to have to undo what you have just done.
__________________
Peter
1997 F53 Adventurer 37rw
IAFF L-792 (Retired)
Lt46 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2011, 01:45 AM   #12
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
Thumbs up Water Heater and Coach Heater Success!

Thanks, Lt46. My OEM plastic check valves appeared to be in fine shape and I had not had any noises or other problems with them, except there seemed to be a bit of leakage from where the hot outlet check valve threaded into the tank. I removed, re-taped, and reinstalled that one. Having left the check valves in place, I likewise did not modify the OEM WH bypass valve arrangement. I did install new heater hoses for the motoraid and added some length so that the WH can come clear out of the compartment while still attached.

As I got the WH all the way back into its compartment, when I was reconnecting the two fresh water connections, I started to wish I had followed one member's suggestion to cut an access panel in the floor of the compartment at the back of the WH. This would greatly improve making (or breaking) those final connections and inspecting for leaks.

However, everything is reinstalled now and everything works! I do have a little bit of sealing and foaming to do yet, but the hot water is flowing and the coach heater is blowing (on both speeds).

As mentioned before, I am going to organize my thoughts and procedures, along with a bunch of pictures into a single document, which I will make available here as soon as it is finished.
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-26-2011, 11:18 AM   #13
Winnie-Wise
 
troth's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: NE Ohio
Posts: 387
Hey Dean, sign me up to be first on the list for a copy of your "How-To" word doc. Can you keep it under 5 meg?

[email protected]

Tom
__________________
Last Brave 2004 34D
troth is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2011, 02:15 PM   #14
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
Water Heater Removal & Coach Heater Repair

Tom, your copy is already on its way!

I’ve been too long from this thread, but I have been busy. For those of you Winnie/Itasca types having issues with your Coach Heater (the rear heater) or needing to remove your Water Heater for some other troubleshooting or repair, I have written a description of my experiences titled, “Water Heater Removal & Coach Heater Repair.” It is a 10-page, 1.9 MB Word (2007) document with about 50 reduced size pictures in the text. Almost all of the pictures are automatically linked to their full-size originals (if you are connected to the internet, which I assume you are, since you are reading this), which I have posted online on my Windows Live SkyDrive. There are also over 70 additional photos there to supply details and possibly clues to your own equipment. If you would like a copy of this document, just drop me a note to dmoxness at ptd.net. It is a .docx file; request a .doc copy if you have an earlier Word version.
Dean
==================================
Coach Heater Blower - Water Heater Removal - Rear Heater Fan - Remove Coach Heater - Back of Water Heater
==================================
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2011, 02:56 PM   #15
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Central FL
Posts: 166
Send me a cc of that good stuff!
Nice work and thx for sharing,
__________________
2012 Phaeton 40 QBH, 2011 Ford Explorer & 2013 Jeep Wrangler Toads via BlueOx, TPMS by TTS, Delta Force toad brake system.
Paul T is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2011, 04:06 PM   #16
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
File Now Online Here!

Hi Paul and All,

I'm happy to report that I finally managed to upload "Water Heater Removal & Coach Heater Repair" to the "Files" area, one of the tabs at the top of this (or any other) thread. It's under the "Heating and Cooling" category and if you "Save" it to your computer, it will probably end up in your personal Download folder. If you want to control where it goes, use the down arrow beside the "Save" button and select "Save as."
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2011, 10:15 PM   #17
Winnebago Owner
 
Dunnpe's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Antioch CA
Posts: 79
Dean, thanks for the file. What a terrific job with the write up and the pictures. I really like all your little notes as to what to watch for. You definitly have stripped away some unknowns as to what is located way back in there. Thanks.
PS, You are going to be getting lots of requests for the file I am sure.
__________________
2003 Itasca Suncruiser 33V
8.1 GMC, Workhorse, Allison, Koni's
2004 Honda Element toad
Dunnpe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-10-2012, 08:49 AM   #18
Winnebago Watcher
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1
Just repaired motoraid blower with the washer and it worked great. Thanks Dean for the post and pics.
Coopco
coopco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-29-2012, 06:55 PM   #19
Winnebago Camper
 
megehrs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Willow, Alaska
Posts: 17
Thanks Dean...I am in the middle of doing my coach heater. Had many of the same problems that you did. Did not have to take my WH completely out. Took down board/wall on he left side of the WH to get access to the back of the WH without removing it...just slid it out a bit. Removed my coach heater. I is completely bound up... will not turn at all. Need to order a new one. Any idea of where to get one. The one I took out is a Evans Tempcon PN RV200863. Will call Winnebago this week if that is the only source. Thanks again, Mark in Palmer, AK 2002 Winnie Adventurer 35U
megehrs is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2012, 06:08 AM   #20
Winnebago Owner
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: The Villages, FL
Posts: 62
To get the exact replacement parts, you will have to order them through your local WI dealer or through an online dealer like Lichtsinn. I'll bet a real enterprising DIYer could put a 3rd party blower (or motor) in there, but I doubt it would be worth the time and effort to do the research and/or modifications.

Coach heater parts are found on page 94 of the WI RV Parts & Accessories catalog, located at:

http://www.winnebagoind.com/resource...go_Catalog.pdf

A postscript to my Coach Heater story: while my repaired CH ran quietly for some time after my repairs, it has started making some whining noises again, as if something is rubbing, but it continues to run and supply two-speed rear heat, as it should. I'm wondering if a little grease on the washer/spacer would be advisable, but I'm sure not going to take the WH out just to lube it!
__________________
Dean (flew west) & Diane - Fulltiming since April '12
2004 Itasca Suncruiser 38R, Workhorse W22, Blue Ox, 2014 Ford Focus Titanium Hatchback (auto trans), 320 watts of portable solar
hdmoxness is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
heater, water


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Journey motor aid water heater removal RKL Winnebago Class A Motorhomes 10 08-17-2014 01:20 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Winnebago Industries or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 05:14 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.