Idaho Doug's Sunrader build

[Ctgriffi]

Looks like a satisfying job and worth it, given that lots of the older, low-tech stuff will outlive the new stuff, if maintained. I pulled my Hydroflame a few years back and did similar—turned out well, only I wish I had gone ahead and replaced the blower motor entirely (lubed the bearings which helped but didn't entirely solve the rattle/screech).

[IdahoDoug]

Good point.  I opened the burner up last night and it looks brand new - zero soot or blackening.  Wonder if it was barely used since the vehicle has only 32k on it? I'll look at the fan/bearing very closely.  Even light use would not make up for bearing grease/oil that's hardened with age.  Perhaps I can sneak a lot of oil in there.  I have a device that helps lubricate bearings by pulling the tiny rubber seal back and pressurizing it. Yeah, looking for a quiet motor.....

 

[Andrewups]

You made me curious. Could you please add a photo of the bearing lubrication device? I have a very noisy kitchen fan.🙂

[IdahoDoug]

It may be a while.  Last time I looked for it I could not find it.  I was ordering some bearings from a place back east and was $6 short of free shipping.  Ordered this little syringe with a tiny flattened and stiff plastic nose on it. You can push the rubber weather seal back with the nose, and squeeze oil/grease into the bearing.  Do this in a few spots and a noisy bearing is good to go.  I've used it on engine belt idler pulleys and a few small appliances.  Google the term "Bearing grease syringe" and I now see others have similar products.  It's the stiff tip that lets you momentarily displace a typical bearing's rubber weather/dust seal.  If I can find mine later, I'll post a picture.  If I can't find it, I'll use a syringe modified with the heat of a match to flatten, and perhaps sandpaper to narrow it to accomplish the same thing. HTH.

[MaineJed]

cheap too!
https://a.co/d/06oCeogH

[WME]

I thought the heater blower fan used oilite bearings. 

Last time I "fixed" a heater blower I removed the motor and opened it up and carefully hung it with the bearing submerged in -0w20 oil for a day then did the other end. Just have to be very careful to keep the brushes out of the oil.

[IdahoDoug]

That's a clever idea - gave the oil time to thoroughly migrate into the bearing.  

So, today I got the 90 degree wall next to the bath unit mostly done.  It friction fits in place and is held in by itself.  I need to paint the back side of it, and cut a hole for a 120V wall plug.  I'm putting one in the master closet (this is the forward wall), so we can charge things in the closet like laptops and cell phones out of view.  Everyone seems to want to charge their stuff out on counters, but if I'm away from the vehicle, I'd prefer some concealment. This will have several USB ports as well as house current.  There will be several other outlets around the RV as well, of course.  Looking forward to installing this soon.

[IdahoDoug]

Here are a few update photos.  The structure for the entire left side is complete, and I've test fit the fridge (finally got that behemoth out of my way). Need to clean and lubricate the furnace, and install it and a few more details but it's almost time to switch sides and do the kitchen, or the cabinets above it!

[IdahoDoug]

Installed the aluminum rails my kitchen side overhead storage will hang from, and trial mounted the face plate so I could measure and cut the bottom panel.  The bottom panel is now glued and clamped overnight with a stringer where the two panels will meet for a solid mount.  Just ordered the hinges as I'm switching from swing out doors to overhead flippers.

 

I shrunk the overhead storage by several inches as the original was too bulky for my tastes.  It's still large enough for full size plates, a toaster, a mixer, etc but will open things up significantly: