Making improvements June 15, 2017, 10:23:14 pm Started a few projects on our LD MB now that we're home in sunny (NOT) Louisiana. Been raining almost every day so much that I've had a bad sinus infection and strep all week. Saw the doctor today, got a shot and antibiotics so hope to continue next week. I got lucky and found a 22'x42' covered RV spot on the Amite River about 20 minutes from the house. So far I've replaced all the inside lights with LEDs and the outside light by the door. Changed the furnace thermostat to digital. Changed out the window lock in kitchen. Next week I'll install a Victron BMV700 battery monitor, Culligan under counter water filter, add a fuel shut off valve to the Onan. I also have a new escape hatch the PO bought but didn't install. While on the roof I'll inspect and see if resealing is needed yet. Also I'll add a vent cover for the Fantastic fan. Oh yeah try to get the CD changer working. It loads CDs but the stereo won't read them. But before we left Utah I bought a bluetooth/FM adapter so I could listen to Amazon music from my tablet that I use for a gps also.Searching and reading through previous posts has given me some great ideas to do these things and others I'll do later on.Thanks to all the posters who have gone before me. 5 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #1 – June 24, 2017, 09:40:11 pm Finished the water filter today. This little shark bite fitting made it real easy: Amazon.com: Sharkbite 24983A 1/2-Inch X 1/2-Inch x 1/4-Inch Compression...Installed a Flowrite battery watering system on the T105s. Added a fuel shut-off valve to the generator in case I won't be running it at least monthly. Finished the Victron BMV700. Did a little reading and found out how to run the wires through the fridge compartment. Don't know who to thank, but thanks!Added an led strip light under the stove vent. Makes a big difference, my wife wanted more light in the kitchen, I think this will please her. Oh yeah, didn't like the angle on the toilet platform so built a flat plywood platform. So far I like it so next step will be to cover it with vinyl flooring.Sorry didn't think to take pictures. I'll try to remember next week when I'm back there. As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Making improvements Reply #2 – June 24, 2017, 10:35:42 pm Neat stuff! I'd appreciate seeing future pix of the fuel cut-off and the LED strip. Ray S.
Re: Making improvements Reply #3 – June 24, 2017, 11:08:18 pm Here is the fuel cutoff I used, I just cut the rubber fuel hose and added it.Amazon.com : HIPA 494768 698183 Fuel Shut Off Valve with clamp for Briggs &... As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Making improvements Reply #4 – June 24, 2017, 11:19:51 pm Thanks. This seems like a good idea. Thanks for the tip.
Re: Making improvements Reply #5 – June 25, 2017, 12:27:35 am Just a personal opinion but I think one should use brass fittings on an RV fuel line. Plastic will fail with age. 2 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #6 – June 25, 2017, 06:57:28 am Hi. So the plan is to; use this valve to shut off the fuel to the generator, disconnect the line, then run the generator until it runs out of fuel. Then store it with no fuel in the generator's carburetor. There will still be some residual in the float bowl. RonB
Re: Making improvements Reply #7 – June 25, 2017, 10:58:04 am Quote from: hbn7hj - June 25, 2017, 12:27:35 amJust a personal opinion but I think one should use brass fittings on an RV fuel line. Plastic will fail with age.Since this was designed, manufactured, and sold for this particular usage I have no problem using it. Look at any motor whether a lawn mower, pressure washer, and even vehicles and notice all the parts made of some type of plastic.
Re: Making improvements Reply #8 – June 25, 2017, 11:34:18 am Quote from: folivier - June 15, 2017, 10:23:14 pmOh yeah try to get the CD changer working. It loads CDs but the stereo won't read them.Are these commercial CDs, and if not, are they possibly mp3s or some other streaming format? Many older CD players will not read these.Steve
Re: Making improvements Reply #9 – June 25, 2017, 11:38:16 am They're a mix, some CD-Rs and some commercial. Guess I'll have to pull out the CD-Rs and try again.
Re: Making improvements Reply #10 – June 25, 2017, 11:40:44 am Quote from: hbn7hj - June 25, 2017, 12:27:35 amJust a personal opinion but I think one should use brass fittings on an RV fuel line. Plastic will fail with age.The Mothership installed generator fuel supply line is plastic, with short rubber hoses at each end.Recently inspecting the plastic fuel line, in our 2003 LD, showed it to be supple and liquid tight.While brass fittings may ultimately outlast a plastic fuel valve, a well built plastic valve should last many years, as long as it is shielded from the sun.Larry
Re: Making improvements Reply #11 – June 25, 2017, 11:58:09 am Quote from: folivier - June 15, 2017, 10:23:14 pmOh yeah try to get the CD changer working. It loads CDs but the stereo won't read them. But before we left Utah I bought a bluetooth/FM adapter so I could listen to Amazon music from my tablet that I use for a gps also.Many 2003-2004 LDs had the Sony DC changer.Everyone of them that I know of failed within few years, ours included.No one found a cure. I tried. I even tried using the CD player's RCA plugs to deliver music to the receiver and failed.We finally dumped the original receiver for a more modern version.We recorded our CDs to the computer and now use an iPhone to deliver music to a newer, Bluetooth enable receiver.A smart phone is lot smaller than big box full of CDs, eliminating another storage need.Eliminating the changer also opened up another storage area, now occupied by a printer.My best suggestion is to replace the receiver.Getting rid of the original receiver will open up more input possibilities with WiFi, Bluetooth and USB inputs.Larry
Re: Making improvements Reply #12 – June 25, 2017, 04:43:45 pm My 2004 Sony still works!!! I hate that thing! There is no way to tune to a specific frequency as far as I can tell. It only "finds" stations in the area. Trouble is, I use a Bluetooth device attached to my visor that then sends the signal to an empty radio station of your choosing. Grrrr, no empty stations when all you have is the seek function.No USB, no Aux, no nothing. What a crappy radio.
Re: Making improvements Reply #13 – June 25, 2017, 04:59:26 pm Ha! now I know why the darn Sony wouldn't tune. I have a BT device also and found it funny it was so hard to get to the empty station I needed. Guess I'll plan to rip out the changer and replace the stereo.
Re: Making improvements Reply #14 – June 25, 2017, 05:06:30 pm Many times you just hold down the 'Seek" button for 5 seconds or so, and it changes to a ' step each increment' mode of .2 Mhz, just the odd frequencies. I use a "Soundfly" to transmit music on an FM channel of my choosing. (unused channel in the area I'm traveling in) RonB 1 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #15 – June 25, 2017, 05:08:08 pm Quote from: huskerblue - June 25, 2017, 04:43:45 pmMy 2004 Sony still works!!! I hate that thing! There is no way to tune to a specific frequency as far as I can tell. It only "finds" stations in the area. Trouble is, I use a Bluetooth device attached to my visor that then sends the signal to an empty radio station of your choosing. Grrrr, no empty stations when all you have is the seek function.No USB, no Aux, no nothing. What a crappy radio.Our 2003 Sony worked just fine when it was replaced for something with aux inputs. The XM radio previously used a FM transmitter that didn't work well, requiring too much retuning when traveling.Remember, your LD has a 13 year old radio. Back in 2004, Bluetooth wasn't widespread and most radios did not come with USB connections.As suggested, replace your antique radio with a modern one, one that has Bluetooth.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #16 – June 25, 2017, 05:11:13 pm I prefer the red light up face of this soundfly, Soundfly SD WMA/MP3 Player Car Fm Transmitter for SD Card, USB Stick, Mp3... It is easier to read for me at night. I have 4 or so for my older vehicles. RonB
Re: Making improvements Reply #17 – July 10, 2017, 07:58:52 am Here's the platform I added. Just used scrap plywood and plan to cover it with vinyl flooring of some kind. Makes a better platform than the angled drop section. 2 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #18 – July 10, 2017, 09:14:20 am Quote from: folivier - July 10, 2017, 07:58:52 amHere's the platform I added. Just used scrap plywood and plan to cover it with vinyl flooring of some kind. Makes a better platform than the angled drop section.Nice, now all you need is one of Judy's Squatty Potties!
Re: Making improvements Reply #19 – July 10, 2017, 09:42:56 am Whoa! That's nice. Now hold your breath and wait for this to appear in a future Lazy Daze build! 1 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #20 – July 10, 2017, 09:49:14 am If you haven't seen the Squatty Potty video you really need to.
Re: Making improvements Reply #21 – July 10, 2017, 10:53:43 am "If you haven't seen the Squatty Potty video you really need to. "Indeed! Can't recommend it highly enough. It is a riot. On the serious side, this little item makes life A LOT easier. Even if you don't have any difficulty in that department, watching the video will show you how you can put a lot less stress on your "innards", and more fully evacuate your bowels. This can be important from a lot of aspects, but thinking "RV" - well, it makes your day of sitting on the coach's seat(s) a lot more comfortable.DH has had a life-long battle with his bowels (delicately she treads) . . . and I can tell you unequivocally that this change in position has made such an enormous difference for him that I wish I could stop people on the street to tell them. The cancer meds play havoc with his "routine", but this change has made a huge difference in that aspect as well.For those who don't have any complaints in that area, just go ahead and give it a try. Like me, you may be completely blown away by the improvement - even as you were certain none was necessary!As mentioned, the official stool is really not necessary. Any Rubbermaid or other brand stool will do the trick. If you have a stool around, give it a try, and then if you want the added convenience of storage offered by the Squatty Potty, go ahead and get one - they are about $25.00, and for a while, were stacked up in our local grocery store. Apparently either they went fast, or were somehow deemed unsuitable, because they were there for only a couple of weeks. In the (RB) Lazy Daze, we already have a suitable stool that we use around the coach, so it didn't even require any change to transition this method to travel mode.Clearly I don't know how this would fit in any other model of Lazy Daze, so trying it out with a regular stool seems prudent.Below is the URL to an under-three-minute YouTube video, but if you have time, just Google up other offerings on the subject, especially the "Making Of' ones, because they are hilarious and also very interesting how they actually "did" the unicorn. It is not a CGI production. There are several - some of them quite long, but totally worth watching just to hear yourself giggle out loud!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbYWhdLO43QProbably more than anyone wanted to know, but, golly . . . it really is a life changing product! Virtual hugs, Judie 2 Likes
Re: Making improvements Reply #22 – July 10, 2017, 11:47:50 am Quote from: RonB - June 25, 2017, 06:57:28 amHi. So the plan is to; use this valve to shut off the fuel to the generator, disconnect the line, then run the generator until it runs out of fuel. Then store it with no fuel in the generator's carburetor. There will still be some residual in the float bowl. RonBYou plan on not using the generator? Or just not running it during the winter?Monthly generator runs serve two purpose, the first being to get the engine's oil good and hot, boiling out any moisture buildup.The second, and equally as important reason, is to heat the generator's armature windings hot enough to boil out any accumulated moisture, which can cause the insulation to break down.You live in prime moisture county and should not pass up the monthly runs. Replacing a bad armature is a very expensive repair.Onan carburetors are sensitive to the build of varnish, left over from evaporated gasoline. The buildup can be accumulative.If putting the rig in storage, I suggest leaving fuel in the carb and an using gasoline additive stabilizer, such as STA-BILAmazon.com: STA-BIL 22214 Fuel Stabilizer - 32 Fl oz.: Patio, Lawn & Garden And try not to give up on the monthly generator run, even the rig is in storage. The generator will appreciate it. Ex-generator mechanic.Larry As an Amazon Associate Lazy Daze Owners' Group earns from qualifying purchases.
Re: Making improvements Reply #23 – July 10, 2017, 01:39:37 pm Thank you Judy! That was the funniest infomercial I've ever seen. I'm dabbing tears from my eyes! -- Jon
Re: Making improvements Reply #24 – July 10, 2017, 02:03:33 pm Small engine storage for us long term travelers is a topic of interest. Larry recommends Sta-bil, and I endorse that, having used it on those seldom used small engines like chain saws since the 70's. A new product is Marine Sta-bil. Supposed to help with the havoc ethanol can play on outboards and small engines. I don't know if that's technically true, but I find anything I use it in starts like it was last used yesterday, even after a year in storage. Mowers, outboards, trimmers, generators, cars.
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