And our last grocery run, although this time we had to include a bunch of things that we have a hard time getting in Mexico. So there was a bit of stocking up to be done.
And, we got the insurance for the motorhome. Sherman has Saskatchewan plates now! A basic one month registration and insurance package was $39. Good deal, and we can renew online when we cross out of Mexico next spring. So simple, and a reasonable price too.
Then, I tried to update our new Garmin GPS. We stopped at the library figuring they would have fast internet. But it's a huge file (5GBs!) and it said it would take more than two hours to download. We weren't going to hang around that long, so we'll just bring it with us next week and do it in Ottawa.
Then we did some more grocery shopping and running around. What a day.
On the way back to the park we made a detour and picked up a couple of packages that we had ordered. One was our winter supply of maple syrup and some rice cereal that we like, and the other was a part for Sherman.
When we were coming up north last April, I didn't think our fuel mileage was what it should have been. And the engine running temperature seemed a bit low most of the time. And there was a bit of a howl coming from the engine fan at highway speeds and that's not supposed to be there.
Add these three things up, and the diagnosis would be a bad fan clutch.
New fan clutch.
So I ordered one. I had to buy it from the U.S. because we're so badly ripped off up here in Canada. The best price I could get locally was $110 at Canadian Tire. Plus 10% tax would have been a total of $121.
I shopped around online and found the exact same product at RockAuto.com for $41.60 USD.
Even paying for the shipping and a 36% exchange rate, it was far cheaper to do it this way. The total came to $80.47 CAD.
Normally, it would be a fairly easy job to change a fan clutch. It's only eight bolts. Four that hold the clutch itself to the front of the water pump pulley, and four that hold the fan blade to the clutch.
But with a motorhome, the access to this area is quite restricted. I'm anticipating that it's not going to be an easy job. Good thing I've got long arms and skinny fingers!
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ReplyDeleteHahaha...yup, maybe.
DeleteYou are right it will not likely be and easy job, good luck.
ReplyDeleteIt wasn't a comfortable job but it went a little easier than he thought it would.
DeleteLove Rock Auto. I sure understand tight spaces in a motorhome. You'd think something of that size would be very roomy. Hope you see a good increase in your mpg (mpl?) after the battle you have ahead changing it out. ;c)
ReplyDeleteYou would think that but unfortunately that is not the case, it seems nothing is easy to work on with a motorhome. Kevin is pretty sure that it well increase the mpg. Our mpg was better when the last one was working properly so it just makes sense that it should again, now that it's been replaced. We'll find out once we hit the road.
DeleteGood luck on the fan replacement. You would not like to try it on our "B".
ReplyDeleteThanks soo much for your hospitality when we visited you this August at Cabri. It was a most enjoyable time in a wonderful setting that you guys have made. Our further travels into B.C. were wonderful.
Have a great winter in Columbia and Mexico.
We know you will !!
Barry & Lorrie
Thanks Barry and Lorrie! I was a pleasure having you and chatting all about motorhoming and travelling. Glad to hear that the rest of your trip went well. Take care and enjoy your winter.
DeleteGood luck with that replacement:)
ReplyDeleteThanks Chuck and Anneke, it went a little better than what Kevin had envisioned.
DeleteThere you go again with your mechanic's background. I do believe you could rebuilt Sherman from the ground up. Probably why few other people than you two drive a 20 year old coach although we're gaining on you. Good luck with it. I'll be interested to see how it goes.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Kevin could quite go that far but as long has he has the right tools for the job, he is able to most of the work. This is one of the reasons that it is nice to have an older unit because you still know what everything is. Unfortunately they just don't make working on motorhomes the most comfortable.
DeleteI had trouble with the latest Garmin download. It took two hours and told me it was finished but it did not install properly in the unit. I ended up with only the very basic map with no street details. I formatted my SD card, did the download again and it worked this time.
ReplyDeleteI guess we will see how it goes once we get to Ottawa and have a nice high speed connection but from what you have said and what Allison said the other day in a comment it is still going to take a while to download.
DeleteI love this photo of Ruth. So sweet! Good luck with the fan clutch and download.
ReplyDeleteThank you Grace! Well the fan clutch went a little better than what Kevin was expecting but the download not so much. The download is going to have to wait until we get to Ottawa, next week.
DeleteI don't envy you the job of replacing that fan clutch. Can you get at it from the doghouse, or do you have to remove parts off the front? I guess we'll find out.
ReplyDeleteYes, he was able to get at it from the doghouse but it wasn't very a comfortable position to get at. More about it in today's post as you expected.
DeleteWhy even bother with a Garmin when a cheap Android Smartphone will do the same thing? I'm aware you may have already thought of this. I'm just mentioning it it case you haven't.
ReplyDeleteI'm just one of those who likes having a dedicated GPS unit.
Delete