mechanic68
Member
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2013
- Posts
- 14
We looked for our Rialta for quite a while. Luck was with us when we found a '98 RC twin close to home with the mileage and price we could handle. The previous owners had done a lot of little things to make it fit their needs. After a couple of trips we could see our requirements were a bit different. Previous owner didn't go for a lot of longer trips and some of his cubby holes, etc. added more weight than we felt necessary. Out came the custom cubbys and shelves! We have since added some things we feel are a bit more practical.
At some time someone installed a very nice Corian counter and sink. There was no gas burner on the new counter. Our solution is the purchase of an electric induction hot plate. It can be put away when not in use and does a great job of cooking when we need to cook.
The shoreline setup was improved by installing an automatic transfer switch and external plug for shoreline power. This eliminates fumbling around all the stuff in the trunk area when the need arises to switch between generator and shoreline power.
I have noticed a lot of the blogs regarding the Rialta are about generators. Mine would start okay but the rpm's hunted back and forth. If I applied the choke a little bit it would run smoothly, indicating a lean mixture, usually varnish or crud of some type restricting a fuel passage in the carburetor. Since the carb was the original (15 years old) I bought a new one from Generac. Problem solved! The cost of the new carb was less than most shops would charge to soak and overhaul the old one.
The latest mod is also mechanical. Rialtas are known to work the Eurovan transmision and overheat the fluid. Ours at least had the transmission dipstick kit installed and the trans had been serviced when we bought it. I replaced the stock transmission cooler with a cooler in front of the radiator and a cold weather thermal bypass which allows the trans oil to recirculate back to the transmission until it is up to operating temperature.
We now have the Rialta changed so we can use it for longer trips without a lot of worries about mechanical problems. The interior is the way we like it, simple and utilitarian. It is our vehicle and we love being able to use it the way we had planned!
At some time someone installed a very nice Corian counter and sink. There was no gas burner on the new counter. Our solution is the purchase of an electric induction hot plate. It can be put away when not in use and does a great job of cooking when we need to cook.
The shoreline setup was improved by installing an automatic transfer switch and external plug for shoreline power. This eliminates fumbling around all the stuff in the trunk area when the need arises to switch between generator and shoreline power.
I have noticed a lot of the blogs regarding the Rialta are about generators. Mine would start okay but the rpm's hunted back and forth. If I applied the choke a little bit it would run smoothly, indicating a lean mixture, usually varnish or crud of some type restricting a fuel passage in the carburetor. Since the carb was the original (15 years old) I bought a new one from Generac. Problem solved! The cost of the new carb was less than most shops would charge to soak and overhaul the old one.
The latest mod is also mechanical. Rialtas are known to work the Eurovan transmision and overheat the fluid. Ours at least had the transmission dipstick kit installed and the trans had been serviced when we bought it. I replaced the stock transmission cooler with a cooler in front of the radiator and a cold weather thermal bypass which allows the trans oil to recirculate back to the transmission until it is up to operating temperature.
We now have the Rialta changed so we can use it for longer trips without a lot of worries about mechanical problems. The interior is the way we like it, simple and utilitarian. It is our vehicle and we love being able to use it the way we had planned!
