| Author |
Message |
Luis (Sundancer)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 3:08 pm: | |
A question to you busnuts. I've decided to use the existing air bags for leveling my MCI 102A3 while camping. The question is. Should I bypass the existing auto leveling system? Is it that critical now that its a motorhome and not a people and luggage mover as before. The weight is where the weight is. It will no longer be shifting as in a coach in service where it is constantly being loaded and unloaded. I'll be waiting for your valued opinions. Thanks,
Luis |
Stan
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 3:19 pm: | |
If you mean to not use the automatic leveling valves, then you can do it. However, be aware that the proper ride height is imortant for correct steering geometry and for quality of ride. |
Luis (Sundancer)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 4:20 pm: | |
Yes, I have noted what the proper ride height is at all four corners at present and will maintain the same after I bypass the auto levelers.
Luis |
Geoff (Geoff)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 6:04 pm: | |
Luis--
It is a good idea to retain the automatic levelers, and build a manual leveling system that works independently. When parked you deactivate the auto levelers, and just use the manual system. Pete has a nice system that is available that does all this and more...
--Geoff
'82 RTS AZ |
Jon W.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 9:04 pm: | |
Luis,
I'm curious as to what you mean. Our Prevost has a leveling system and when we travel we are in the "road" position, which employs the ride height valves. They don't technically level the coach, but maintain the body height relative to the wheels. In other words if the road tips to the right, the whole bus is tipped the same way.
When I select the levelling feature (it can be done manually or automatically) the ride height valves are over ridden and by decreasing or increasing the height of the various airbags the bus can be levelled. That is a standard feature with all bus conversion motorhomes and it is a very complex system using a large number of Norgren spool valves and solenoid valves. |
Dale L. Waller (Happycampersrus)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 9:33 pm: | |
Jon W.
Is your bus conversion a professional conversion or did you do the conversion??
If you did the conversrion can you tell us how you built your leveling system??
Dale |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, December 12, 2005 - 10:24 pm: | |
Unless your coach is unusually air-tight, you'll have to isolate the air bags from the leveling valves. I did that and have the option of turning off the LH and RH rear leveling valves, and dumping air from either for leveling. This makes significant side-to-side leveling I cannot add air beyond what the regulator is set at which lessens the effect. This could be easily modified. I return control to the rear leveling valves when underway. The front leveling valve has been removed and a regulater with a pressure guage allows for correct ride height...and some leveling when parked. My front airbags are new and hold air for weeks. Rears will leak down given time. They will be replaced this winter. The front only has one leveling valve, and IMHO the front should be kept off the bumpers to avoid twisting the coach body. This may not be a concern on some coaches, but on mine twisting to level will cause the door to drag on the frame. I always keep enough air to prevent that door thingy in check. I've found that about 57 lbs gives me the correct ride height and the bus does drive much better at the correct ride height. Noticably. Your bus, I believe, levels at three points LH and RH (lateral level) is managed by the rear axle, and front ride height is controlled by only one leveling valve that "T's" into both front airbags. JR |
Luis (Sundancer)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 2:34 am: | |
JR, you are correct. I have an 1988 MCI 102A3. In this coach there is one leveling valve on the front axle which T's into both left and right side air bags. This helps level the front axle to rear axle. It adds or releases air from both front air bags at the same time. Then there are two levelers in the rear. Each one controls one side of the coach independent of the other. This levels the coach side to side. But if the road tilts, the coach tilts. The way I see it, the levelers help keep the coach level with different weight distribution. It keeps the coach frame level with the axles. If the axles are on level ground than so be it. If not, than the coach will not either. Am I correct, or am I missing something? I don't know what my underway air pressure will be, but I've been told 50 - 70 lbs is about what it will be.
Luis |
Jon W.
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 7:59 am: | |
Dale,
Mine is a Liberty conversion. Since I do all my own work I can say with out fear of contradiction that there are simpler ways to do it, but as both my coaches have been set up they tie into the Prevost "Level Low" system the automatic feature is impressive.
If the coach air bags are used for leveling I would urge that a warning light be used to let you know anytime the coach is running that the normal ride height system is not functioning and is over ridden by the leveling system.
The leveling system has to shut off air to the ride height valves, and divert air to the valves being used to inflate or deflate the individual airbags. That type of a system would be fairly simple, but if an automatic leveling feature is used the complexity increases substantially. |
Kyle Brandt (Kyle4501)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, December 13, 2005 - 8:01 am: | |
Scroll down about 50+ messages to Pete's leveling system. Pete did a nice job explaining what he did.
kyle4501 |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 - 8:47 pm: | |
Luis,
You are correct on all points. The levelers orient to the axle. Tilt the drive axle and the bus body will follow. To level the bus you have to take control of the front and rear airbags at some point between the leveling valves and the airbags. It's right surprising what 5" of suspension travel will do side to side...not so remarkable front to rear. Still better than nothing. I always pick as flat a place to park as possible. Saves a lot of grief for those of us whose air system leaks.
I'd keep the rear leveling valves. They are cheap to replace and work without issues. However, unless you install some mongo tanks on one side of the coach, weight shift is not problematic on a motorcoach. Front leveling valve can be done away with without penalty as long as you monitor the air. Bus drives bad with lower than normal ride height, and rides like a buckboard with too much air.
Check out "Pete RTS/Daytona" for some electrical over air controls. 3 of them would make a nice leveling system. At least they will within the parameters of what's possible using the OEM air suspension. Beats the crap out of running DOT lines to the drivers area. I'd plan to try to keep just enough (or more for more height) air in the front airbags to allow the "tripod" effect keep the front off the stoppers. The rear can be dropped on the stopper on either side without problems as long as the coach isn't moved. I've heard that moving a coach on flat bags will damage them...don't know. I pull mine out of the barn flat...on a smooth surface.. just the little 1" ledge at the edge of the barn is quite noticable with no air in the suspension.
Take pix of what you end up with. Like to copy your ideas! You probably know this but you can run wiring (and hose) thru a tunnel that originates beneath the floor in the LH upper front bay into the drivers area. It exits in a cover behind the drivers seat. Makes plumbing or wiring things from the rear of the coach easy on some MCIs. Best, JR |
Christopher Goodwin (Cgoodwin)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, December 16, 2005 - 9:57 pm: | |
I installed the Pete Papas leveling system and would never go back! He is my new idol, simple, easy to use, easy to install. I may just send him a christmass gift! |