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Message |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Registered Member
Username: Tdh37514151
Post Number: 231
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 4.224.204.201
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 9:19 pm: | |
I called good old US Coach and they sent me two new aluminum blocking plates new rings and long bolts. They came on time just as promised and as always with US Coach I got everthing I ordered. Man its nice to deal with people that just plain do what they say they are going to do! I ran the line between the level control and the bags through the rear bulkhead into the rear bay and installed a small release valve for letting that side down when desired.Eveything works great and the bus has been sitting on its wheels now for two days with no difference in height. Now maybe I won't be rolled out of bed in the morning. We are going to a antique equipment show in Brownsville Penn. this week end so I will see if the ride has changed any. Just thought I would let all know how the air frame leak problem turned out thanks to all who offered help. Tim |
Jim Rink (Fakeguy)
Registered Member
Username: Fakeguy
Post Number: 53
Registered: 1-2005
Posted From: 24.33.84.95
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 9:59 pm: | |
Tim...I missed the original post...what was the problem? I have a listing problem on my 4106...maybe your problem and solution can shed more light...please see my post of 7/24 "62 4106 LISTING TO THE RIGHT" |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 425
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.55
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 08, 2007 - 10:34 pm: | |
Tim,
Won't letting one side down make the original leveler try to replace that air?
Or do you have an isolator valve also?
I'm interested in any change in ride because my 4104 will probably need the same treatment one day. |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Registered Member
Username: Tdh37514151
Post Number: 232
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 4.252.68.124
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 09, 2007 - 8:47 am: | |
Hi Jim I have no experience on the 4106 at all and don't know if the suspesion is the same. On my 4104 the air beam that the air bags compress air into above each bag had started to leak allowing the bus to lean to the drivers side. The leak was very difficult to locate as it ended up being in the top of the beam against the under side of the floor where I could not hear it or bubble test for it. So I ended up installing the block off plates that many have used to separate the bags from the beam and this stoped the leak. Gus yes as long as the main system still has air that will occur how ever once you have let the system air out there is no new supply air to replenish the bag so it then gose down and since you are leveling to stay at least the knight you don't need system air anyway. Besides my bus leaks down in twenty minutes anyway I have to address that at some point. At the inlet on each leveling valve there is a check valve to insure no air travels back to the empty system one of mine was bad and I could not locate one like I had so I made one from a stainless steel check valve taken from a small sterilizer used for sterilizing GI scopes. It works very well.I will let you know what I think of the ride when I get back on Sunday. Tim |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 427
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.48
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, August 09, 2007 - 10:09 pm: | |
Tim,
I know what you mean, the more leaks I fix the faster it seems to leak down!! |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Registered Member
Username: Tdh37514151
Post Number: 233
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 4.252.67.115
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 9:37 am: | |
Hi guys this is the results that I ended up with on the air bag block off plates. Do you feel any difference in the ride? Yes on smaller rougher roads you will notice the bus react to a sharp bump with a bit more stiffness. Should you plate just one side if thats all thats leaking? I cant say for sure if the leak is in the front how that would feel but in the rear it makes only a very slight difference. I personally would like both sides plated as it makes for a slightly stiffer more stable feel. I am not a fan of soft lazy feeling suspesion so I will at some point plate the other side of the rear. However this is just my own preference if you have a leak in one side you need not plate both to use the bus. The bus will ride just fine and you will really have to pay attention to the ride to even notice the difference. In fact if you purchased a bus that was already repaired on one side and you had not ridden in it befor the repair you would likely never know the difference. So the trip went great as always in the old 4104 with the exception of one unrelated problem. This bus has always run at 180 on engine temp. and now I see that when climbing hills the temp. is going up to 195 then gose back down on the down hill side. I wouldn't be to concerned but this bus has not done this in the last four years of running. I look at this as an indicator of a problem that will of course get worse. The first thing that comes to my mind as a possibilty would be a bypass thermostat the has not closed completely reducing cooling capacity. So as a first attempt I will change both thermostats. Well if any one needs any other help with any problem that I have experience with don't hesitate to e mail me. Best of luck . Tim |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 439
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.49
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, August 13, 2007 - 4:27 pm: | |
Tim,
Thanks for the info on the plates, it is the first actual report from a 4104 change that I've read. I'm surprised that you can plate only one side and still have stability, but glad!
I assume you checked for coolant level. It is so much hotter this summer than previous ones that I'm not surprised it is running hotter.
Mine seems to run about 5-8* hotter during summer. It often hits 195* for a short time, I don't worry as long as it goes back down right away. |
James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member
Username: Jimstacy
Post Number: 99
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.40.242.205
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, August 22, 2007 - 1:59 pm: | |
Gus,
I have some plates from my 4104, as I put in rolling lobe kits this year. There is probably a full set (8 plates) that I don't need now. They will need bolt kits and probably a little cleaning up, but they are serviceable and FREE.
If someone wants to pick them up (MI) or pay for shipping they can have them.
BTW Mohawk has kits available also.
Jim Stacy |