Some Success Stories
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Date: 10-19-03
Got a Black List call from Dr. Bruce Fogle and his lovely wife Julie around dusk Sat. PM. They were stranded about 2 miles east of Franklin, thinking maybe they had water in the gas.
Dr. Bruce is a veterinarian and was quick to say "I don't know anything mechanical - not my talent". We discovered the negative cable on the engine battery had pulled loose at the battery, and had intermittent contact at best.
A quick trip to Walmart for a $1.80 bolt on cable end fixed that, but the real problem was the negative cable was the main thing holding the battery in the coach, and the battery was dead. We tried the boost to no avail, and then jumped, got running, and drove to our place.
Dr. Bruce was born in Ontario, lives in London, and has completed about 12.000 miles through the States composing a book about traveling with Macy, a Golden Retriever. His wife, an actress turned antique dealer, had just joined up with them in Houston earlier that day.
He started the journey in NC after purchasing the GMC from Bethune, and will end up back in NC before returning to London. He has limited GMC knowledge, no knowledge of rear batteries, etc, etc. I don't think we will find any good batteries in the coach, but we shall find out. He has had zero problems to this point and has been through the Rockies, down CA 1 to San Francisco, Sequoia, Mojave, Sante Fe, and all points in between. His goal is to follow John Steinbeck's route.
You meet the most delightful and interesting people when you own a GMC! More to follow when we get them back on the road.
Al & Carol Scott
75 PB
Franklin, LA
"Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes age comes alone"
Date: 10-19-03 18:29
Follow up on Dr. Bruce & Julia Fogle. Got them back on the John Steinbeck trail on Sunday PM. Required new coach battery, new alternator belt (old belt missing), new negative battery cable, bolt down plastic marine type battery box. Onan took 1.5 qts oil.
Advised him to look at things occasionally. He had seen the alternator belt on the ground way back, but thought it was from someone else’s car. The lord looks out for..................
Great people, great dog, great conversations, left us 2 of his books. Raved about the Black List (kudos to Roger) and said it would have cost him 3 days and probably $1000.00. I feel good.
Al & Carol Scott
75 PB
Franklin, LA
From: "Terry Skinner"
Subject: [gmclist] Black List/short story
Date: Tue, 8 Mar 2005 08:47
Quite frequently I use the "Black List" to find out where people that are on this net live. Or if I want to call them directly by phone. In fact I think I will go ahead and put my e-mail address on there too. Just in case.
A short story: We were down at Cannon Beach for the Christmas rally. It was 7PM and we had just rolled into town. Stopped in town to get some groceries and the GMC would not restart. While I was under the coach removing the starter the cell phone rings. It is Heinz broken down in Olympia with one of his alternator brackets broken. I call my son in Graham to go to my hangar and find out if I have a bracket and be ready to take it to Heinz. In the mean time I am back under the GMC installing the starter (loose solenoid bolts) and Heinz is driving in a piece of 2x4 to wedge the alternator out far enough to hold the belt tight. Well, my kid didn't get to make the midnight run to help Heinz because he made it home on his own. And I didn't need any parts to repair the starter. Just some loose bolts. But all in all it was really neat to know that help was so accessable even if it was only someone to commiserate with. Thanks for the "Black List".
Terry in Tacoma
Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2006 23:19
From: Mike Frothinger
Subject: [gmclist] Help from the Blacklist - Propane Leak
Had occasion to use the Blacklist last month in Oregon, When I had the propane tank filled it started leaking back out the fill valve. At my wife's suggestion, I looked for help on the list. Rev, Ron Meyer, Springfield, Oregon saved the day. He said the problem was probably an ice crystal in the check valve and suggested I set a dowel rod against the valve and gently tap the dowel with a wooden mallet. I did and it cleared the problem. It was a great feeling to talk to someone who not only knew what a GMC motorhome was, but also knew a fix for my problem. Ron, Thanks Again. -- Mike, The General's driver, Santa Rosa, Ca ---
Date: Mon, 16 Oct 2006 09:16
From: Mike Frothinger
Subject: [gmclist] White on Black -- White(knight) on Black(list)
On a 4,700 mile journey through the Midwest last month, we had serious need of the Black list. Leaving Rock Springs Wy, headed east, I detected a nasty growl coming from somewhere under the co-pilot's seat. By the time I reached Rapid City, SD, I knew we were in serious trouble and I was still unsure of the cause (denial!!).
Jim White was listed in Wakonda SD, only another 400 miles ahead. Jim cautioned me that it might be further than I should go with that noise, but graciously agreed to help if I wanted to drive that far. My wife wanted to attend a conference near Jim's home so it seemed like a great compromise. (She was ready to grab alternate transportation and head back to California.)
By the time we arrived, a second problem had developed. The air bags were airless, not a good thing !! I asked Jim to help with my problems (actually, he fixed, I helped). After fixing the suspension, Jim, a retired airline captain and super technician/mechanic, diagnosed and fixed a destroyed wheel bearing. We spent two days with the Whites, left with great new friends and a roadworthy GMC.
We are back in Santa Rosa, looking forward to a visit from the Whites and any other GMCer passing our way.
PS: Thank You, Roger Black, your list has 'saved my bacon' twice in the short year and a half we've had the General.
--
Mike, The General's driver, Santa Rosa, Ca --
GMCnet
6/2/2010
What conviced us to become more involved in the GMC Community was a breakdown on the road on our first trip with our 1978 Royale.
Southbound on I-5 at Federal Way, WA, we attempted to stop for fuel and when I put on the brakes, not much happened. I pumped the brakes and pulled off the Interstate into the back of a Large Chevron Station. What do we do now?
I had a copy of the Black List that we had downloaded from the GMC Motorhome website. I called a fellow GMCer in Kent, WA, explained our problem and in 20 minutes Bill Guise appeared, tools, jacks, brake fluid and all. He helped me work on the coach, chased parts with his personal car and stayed until we finally arranged for a tow to Tacoma. He also came back the following morning at 8:00 AM to check on us.
I assure you that this was NOT a unique experience. No matter where you travel in this country and Canada, there is a network of similar people, now including me, who will help fellow GMCers with a place to stop, hot or cold beverages and meals, tools, parts, and similar stories to relate. That is what makes the GMC different than SOB (some other brand), and many of these people rank right up there with the most brilliant and inventive individuals that put America on the moon first.
You will not go astray by associating yourselves with this community. Just my personal opinion.
Jim and Mary Hupy
GMCnet
Sat 7/17/2010
I think the Black List is a sacred institution at this point. It was a major part of our decision to buy a 33 year old motorhome and a foundation example of the extraordinary GMC community.
Desmond Crisis
Richard and Phillipa's The Magic Bus Blog
8/05/2010
...snip... were about forty minutes away from the campsite when That Wobble started up again. Rats. I pulled off the highway onto a spur to the Provincial Park which has a large tarmac rest area next to it. The wobble stopped, but as I turned there was an ominous crunching noise. Not good. I stopped and got out to find five large ball bearings on the road. I looked underneath and saw that a CV joint had broken. We were here for the night.
This is where being a GMC owner has some advantages. There is a network of owners offering tools and mechanical assistance called the Black List, which I have with me, so after a quick call to the invaluable Leigh Harrison back in Woodbridge for some mechanical and parts advice, I called the nearest GMC owners in Antigonish, about forty miles away, and Halifax which is twice as far. ...snip... Link ... Read the whole story
9/1/2010
We were so happy to find a friendly face. In less than 10 minutes of my call for help, Terry Boyd came to our rescue just north of Portland, Oregon. After we determined the presence of fuel and spark, the engine finally cranked and cleared flooded fuel.. AAA could take a lesson. A big THANK YOU and many hapy trails.
John & Coral Tripp, Michigan
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