Coachmen owners: check your transmission

[Roll]

This is a follow up to the question about plastic bands left on the transmission of Coachmen Motorhomes by the factory. They need to be removed. Owners should check to see if they have the white plastic ties running up and over the case and tied under the transmission pan. These need to be cut off and removed along with a patch of 5in X 5in material that is threaded on to the bands at the top of your transmission.

See the pictures below and for more information see the thread:
Trans seeping around pan gasket plus? - iRV2 Forums




I got a call from Jon at Coachmen yesterday who advised not to remove the bands until he had a chance to check with his engineer. He called back shortly after and advised yes, I should cut the bands and patch off, which I have now done.

Here are three pics, one of the bands and patch I removed, and two more taken blindly from under the coach with the camera held up, the intention of which was to get a shot of the valve that has been the center of this discussion. The valve is not overly impressive but rather simple actually.

With three posts already of folks saying they have the bands, I recommend anyone with a Coachmen/Ford chassis combo look underneath and if you have the bands, cut them off. They are supposed to be removed during the assembly process (coach body) and as we know, are being missed in the assembly process or final check. Jon advises he is reporting this so that Coachmen can take steps to make sure they are removed before their motorhomes leave the plant.

Thanks all,

Roll

[2013leprechaun319dsf]

Just checked my 2013 Leprechaun 319DSF. No bands visible on the tranny.

[go6car]

Thanks as usual for the level of detail and pictures! I will be checking ours now...

[LLVanB]

Thanks for the heads up Roll! I know that our coach has the tie straps still intact. Our rig is at the factory right now. I emailed Bob Jewell and John Vrydaghs to have them removed.

Larry...

[go6car]

We had both the ties and fabric patch as well. Thanks to Roll, they have been removed. Can't thank you enough for the heads up!!

[redneck 92]

Thanks Roll. Removed tie straps from my transmission last week.

[Hugh R]

Gonna go check right now.

[jk510]

Thanks for the heads up, Roll.
I checked my 2013 Mirada and there they were. "Were" being the operative word.
Again thanks and good catch!

[runner]

Thanks Roll for the heads up they were there on my 2011 Mirada 32 DS now they are gone!!!

[Roll]

If there are any signs that fluid has been syphoning out of the valve on top, (which I did have), you might want to check the oil level (only after the transmission is hot (170 degrees I believe it the right temp).

For me, the loss of fluid showed up as pink oil down the curb side of the transmission case. Not a lot but definitely oily and dirty, (I did not have spots on the pavement under the coach). I wiped up the case and after a moderately long drive it remains dry.

When I checked the transmission fluid, it was just a little lower than the halfway point in the crosshatch range on the stick. I didn't add fluid since that is acceptable.

Be sure to use the correct fluid as indicated on the stick.

Roll