New window operators

This past week we spent time in Bend, OR.  It was cold and windy and we found out that some of the windows do not close as good as they should.  We could feel some cold air blowing in.  I contacted who I thought made the windows and they said they would send out the new window operators (the gear box) that opens the bottom parts of the larger windows.  So thinking free was good I said send me 9 of them.  But today when they arrived they were not even close to working.
 My local RV parts place had what I needed.  Then it was hard to find new rivets the size I needed.  I tried Lowes and Ace hardware and even the fastenal co. but they didn't exist.  So plan B was to use screws and remove the inside window trim.  That sure didn't look good and then plan C came up with using roll pins to hold the operator in place and that was what I did.

The new one in place.

This is an old one before replacing it.

This is the bearing block on the opposite end of the operator.
I used a self drilling screw and one roll pin in the bottom left hole.

New one sent to me on the left.  If you need 9 of these let me know.

Only 2 roll pins hold this in place.

Roof AC filters

With all the things on this newer RV I have to keep finding things to work on.  Like the roof AC filters.  I read several articles on RV forums and then came up with my own fix.  The filters on one of my AC's were in good shape, other than being really dirty.  And the other one had filters that were falling apart before I even got them out.  One AC has been replaced and I think the other one is original.
So here is what I came up with.

I found these at Home Depoe.

One of mine only had 2 of the wires to hold the filters in.
I used a couple of  paper clips to hold them up.

This one has the three wire clips.  Just trim the ends of the filters and clip them in place.

The exhaust manifold update

I changed all the bolts and studs on the right side exhaust manifold and took it for a drive.  Sounds like no more ticking when cold and accelerating.  After looking all around the auto parts stores for the two studs I bought new bolts and studs at the local Ace hardware store. It cost me $11.36 for all the parts.  I did reuse a couple of  flat washers.  All the bolts and washers are grade 8.   The area around the bolt holes was pretty large so I used larger hardened flat washers except for two places.  After doing the manifolds on Wilbur (the '73 Winnebago) I was very careful and took this job slowly.
So here are the pictures.

Here the two studs that hold the heat shield on are removed.
You can see the holes in the manifold are over size.

This is the only broken part.

New bolts and the studs with nuts are from the Ace hardware store.

This is the only small hole in the manifold.  It is the 4th from the rear on the right side.
I was told it was there to locate the manifold then install the rest of the bolts.

Copper anti seize was used on everything.

I don't know if you can see it or not but a couple of the flat washers are old ones.
The area for flat washers didn't have room for the larger washers.

I drove around and then rechecked the bolts.  A couple of them needed turning and then I put the heat shield back on.  Lets hope this is the last time I replace anything here.  I do that the paperwork from the heads being replaced around 36,000 miles.  It was done under a warranty at a real shop so I hope they did a good job.

This is the left side (drivers side)

This is the left side (drivers side)

The exhaust leak

You would think that for what I paid for Smokey I wouldn't have anything to work on,  but no.  I have heard a ticking when taking off but thought it was a lifter or something else.  Then after going over the Cascade Mountain Range this past week I think it got a little louder.  So yesterday I thought I would check the exhaust manifold bolts.  And after all the broken bolts when I changed the exhaust manifolds on Wilbur I was very careful.  So far I only broke part of one bolt/stud.

And here is how the manifolds look on the passenger side.

The broken bolt just held one of the two holes for the tin cover.  It provides warm air for the engine intake.  Nothing to important but I want to keep it all there.
And the only hole that I needed to run a tap in to clean up the threads in was the one that I broke.  Now all I have to do is find a new bolt.  Since it has the stud part on top I might have to get it from the dealer.  Or I just use a stud with two nuts on it.

100,000 miles on the Superchief (Smokey)

On the last outing the odometer turned over 100,000 miles.  I took a video.

Now that we have put a few miles on this RV I think we are starting to enjoy the extra room.

We had some rain last night

It's dry here in Bend

So this is the view out my front window this morning.  It is windy and cold but not wet.