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Message |
Cameron Jones (Crazy71)
Registered Member
Username: Crazy71
Post Number: 18
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 75.179.153.89
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 5:45 pm: | |
This is my second problem with air line freeze up.
The first time there was no air anywhere. No brake release, no sound when pumping brake pedal, no air for engine shutdown etc.
I used a a ready heater under the front and in about 20 minutes all was fine.
I took the alcohol can off and cleaned everything up. MC-8 BTW
Now last week when I moved it...all seemed ok...
I was in a parking lot and hit a speed bumb a bit hard. Then the front end started to sink....
It ended up on the rubber stops....What a HARD RIDE.
I got it home and tried some heat under the front and it is up now...but I haven't drove it yet..
Is the leveling valve more likely to freeze up or something else...
I keep bleeding the rear tank.. but the front two are hard to get to. SQUISH.
I am not sure the alcohol tank is working properly.
I have good dry shop air now.. I am thinking about pouring the hose full of alcohol then shooting it into the system at the rear fill point.
Any recommendations? |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 415
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.126.56
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 6:43 pm: | |
An alcohol system is going to take a while to do its job, as it takes very little into the system at a time. Even after you install an air drier, it takes some miles to get rid of all of the moisture. Alcohol doesn't do as much to ice as it does to water. Just like drygas...it doesn't work till the ice changes back into water.You need to bleed all the tanks. Many put a drain valve with a lanyard attached to it for the front or hard to reach tanks, so they are easy to reach. If you plan on having the coach for quite a while, get yourself an air dryer. Ice cubes in a glass of gin don't melt very fast, esp in cold weather. |
larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member
Username: Larryc
Post Number: 31
Registered: 2-2007
Posted From: 207.200.116.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, February 14, 2007 - 10:19 pm: | |
Yes, Pour the hose full of air brake alcohol and put some pressure on it. I usually put the alcohol in right at the compressor so it goes into the wet tank first, start the engine and circulate the alcohol throughout the air system by using everything that uses air. (pump the brakes,turn the wipers on etc). Once you get air flow, try to drain the system well.Repeat as necessary. You have to drain those front tanks. I like to drive with each tank just cracked open for a day, to get each tank dry before the cold sets in. |
Cameron Jones (Crazy71)
Registered Member
Username: Crazy71
Post Number: 19
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 75.179.153.89
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 12:20 am: | |
Thanks for the replies.
I hope the alcohol canister is doing its job. I believe you about taking some time....and since I haven't bled the front enough..
I am going to fill my hose up and put some into the system manually...
Larryc...you said air brake alcohol...I'm sure any truck stop will have it, but can I use auto style gas line antifreeze.
I can get isopropyl or methyl.
I have herd mention of deicing by adding at the compressor like you said.
HOW do I do this? The fitting I hook my air hose to is at the right rear engine side door. A ball valve has been added and a male 1/4" air chuck to hook shop air hose to...or to have air when on the road.
Thank to you both, again. |
Mark R. Obtinario (Cowlitzcoach)
Registered Member
Username: Cowlitzcoach
Post Number: 134
Registered: 4-2001
Posted From: 204.245.250.168
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 11:41 am: | |
Alcohol injectors and air dryers are okay as far as they go but neither one is very effective in dealing with the moisture that is already in your air system.
Before you spend a lot of time and $$$ you need to get under the bus and drain all of the air tanks. Adding a few ounces of alcohol to several pints of water will not help you when the temp goes way down. You need to eliminate the moisture first.
The further from the compressor the air device is the more prone to freezing that component will be. The more the component is exposed to the elements, particularly to air flow, the more that componenent is likely to freeze. While driving with air bags deflated causes a hard ride you are still able to move the bus. Having your service brakes not release or not work at all is something you really don't want to experience.
Once you know your system is free of moisture, an air dryer and/or an alcohol injector makes for a nice addition. But even with those additions, you will still need to drain your air tanks on a regular basis.
I worked on one of our churh's buses yesterday. We park the bus with the wet tank drain opened. I drove the bus around town and had some worked done on it. I drove less than 20 miles. When I parked the bus I opened the air drain. At least a 1/4 cup of moisture came out.
An air dryer would have reduced the amount of moisture. An alcohol injector would have kept that amount of moisture from freezing unless it was really below zero cold. Adding a moisture ejectors that cycle everytime the compressor cycles would reduce the moisture even more.
But none of those add ons work as well as draining the tanks at the end of the day.
Good luck.
Mark O.
Castle Rock, WA |
larry currier (Larryc)
Registered Member
Username: Larryc
Post Number: 33
Registered: 2-2007
Posted From: 207.200.116.13
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, February 15, 2007 - 12:38 pm: | |
Cameron, I have used whiskey once in Cutbank Montana to thaw out the airlines on an old KW. That said, You have a lot of rubber for suspension, brake diaphrams, etc. Air brake alcohol takes those things under consideration. Fuel line additives may have other products in them. If its not an emergency and you use air brake alcohol, you know there won't be any problems down the road. If it is an emergency I don't see why you can't use what you got, just don't pour all the whiskey in until your sure it needs it all! |
Cameron Jones (Crazy71)
Registered Member
Username: Crazy71
Post Number: 21
Registered: 12-2006
Posted From: 75.179.153.89
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 16, 2007 - 3:13 am: | |
I am wondering how to add alcohol closer to the compressor..... |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 476
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.117.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, March 22, 2007 - 6:44 pm: | |
If you check the Bendix website, they no longer recommend alcohol use. |