It has been quite a 36 hours. As we pulled into Redgate in Savannah, I felt like the coach ran over something. Then I felt like one of the tires was locked as I rolled forward.

       

Nope, the part that bolts the transmission to the rear of the driveshaft had lost the bolts and slipped off the spline. Meaning the yoke, the flywheel that is part of the assembly, the rear universal, and the rear part of the shaft just simply came out and went under the coach. Yikes. 

Now the good part. That 150 lb chunk of steel described above hit the transmission case on it’s way under the coach. Yep, the tranny is puking all 5 gallons of it’s life’s blood in the driveway. This is not good, I think to myself at the time. Did I mention we are now blocking the driveway to a rather busy park on Friday before Memorial Day? They would like us to move. Other drivers would like us to move. I would like us to move,  but if wishes were fishes..........

Four hours later, and much conversation with the towing insurance company, a proper wrecker arrives. I am EXTREMELY anxious because of other towing horror stories. This guy, Chad (the owner) of Tim’s Towing and Recovery, could not have been more careful, courteous, and professional. Not a scratch, ding, or bent anything on the coach. He pulled me into a grassy field where we spent the night dry camping. 

The part that is cracked on the tranny is an extra port for the cooling system. We don’t utilize it. But a replacement part from Allison is at least a week out, and the parts guy is making NO promises. Hmmmmmm. The exploded view diagram shows an alternative part, a blanking plate. 

       
It took most of the next day to reassemble the driveshaft assembly. Did I say it was heavy? Did I say I was working under the coach in 95 degree temps with the gennie and ACs on high? Did I say I was in a grassy field? And oh yeah, did I say Miss Rhonda was slightly stressed? Did I say I used copious amounts of permanent locktite on the two bolts that backed out? 

Now the challenge is how to keep ATF in the tranny. I bought some 1/4 plate at Lowes, and used a portable milling machine, aka side grinder, to fashion a blanking plate. Drilled some holes, enlarged the holes, and enlarged again till all the bolts would thread in. 
   

Refilled tranny, and drove 100 miles or so today. All is well with trans function, trans temp, and no leaks. 

There was very little indication I had a problem. A ever so slight vibration for the last 200 miles, but so slight I doubt most would have felt it. It would come and go. Even though I had been under there recently, and I always look at the u joints, you could not see this connection because it is actually inside the transmission housing. When I get home from this trip, I will remove the existing two bolts, and use hex head bolts with some sort of “keeper”.

A new video appeared of an aftermarket camera install on a Newell.

Just saw this coach at Monkey Island RV Park 20 miles south of Newell today. I did not feel right peering in the windows to ge the coach number. Anyone on this forum own this coach? We are on the island as well, would be fun to meet. Mike

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in a heavy rain, i would get water that showed itself in the bottom of the window track in the salon and bedroom slides.  

i am happy to say that is totally resolved.   on both slides removed the adhesive where the face of the slide meets the top/and two sides of the slide.  it was severely cracked and came out in hard pieces.  

once all removed....which i did in my shop with my scissors lift, i cleaned it up good then used 3m 5200 quick cure and made sure i got it well into the crevices.  

it is totally watertite now.  

where we have been the last 2 months it has been raining and snowing alot and not a drop of water.

i replaced the silicone beads on the corners of the slide to seal the slide seal crevices as well and no issues

tom

https://www.rvt.com/Newell-1514-2015-Hat...6-UX315355

625 HP Cat, ZF-12 speed transmission, wood laminate flooring salon and bedroom. Granite in kitchen, marble in bath, 56k miles. Located in Lubbock, TX.

https://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.asp?Recnumber=70990

45'0" 470 HP Series 60, Allison 6 speed transmission, 20kw Kohler generator, numerous updates in last 5 years. $89,000.

https://www.rvonline.com/single-ad.asp?Recnumber=71003

45'8", Cummins X15, Allison 6 speed, bath and a half, 2 49" TV's in salon, 75" in bedroom, 43" in bay. Diamond pattern tile floor throughout. Front entry, New Newell Cockpit

https://www.newellcoach.com/default.asp?...dInventory

Private bath 86,000 miles

I have a 1987 coach with 8V92. 

Which Bendix compressor does this engine come with? Mine has been replaced in 2008 with a remanufactured unit and the factory tag is nowhere to be found. 

I suspect it is a Trueflow 700 or 750 but have no reference point or information.

I plan to replace my compressor, dryer, and regulator all in one shot.  I'm upgrading from the CR Brakemaster to the Modern AD9 type.



Thanks