| Author |
Message |
Justin Dortignac (3of14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 4:34 pm: | |
Suspension won’t air-up
I’ve been in the archives for several hours now to no avail.
Brief Background :
I know little to nothing about air suspension
I have no service manual and the manufacturer (El Dorado/National) doesn’t want to talk to me.
The system is a %100 air ride suspension.
The Symptoms:
Air bags are flat and won’t air up with engine or shop air.
Visual inspection seems to indicate the bags are fine.
Brakes and other air systems work fine.
There is another problem that may or may not be related…when the bus is first started, the air system (dash guage) builds up to 150 (or max) and then I hear something that sounds like an emergency release valve on an air tank (air dryer doesn’t blow). When this happens, I usually just have to drain the system a couple times (via the brake pedal) and then the dyer eventually blows and the pressure maintains about 130-140 psi. The whole process takes about 15 min. From what I read, this is probably the governor on the compressor? Anyway, I’m not as concerned about that as I am about the suspension because I have no clue regarding even how the suspension works.
How do I go about troubleshooting the suspension problem? Is it possible to get a hold of some sort of basic diagram/schematic that would help me to understand how the system works?
The suspension system is made by Ridewell
The compressor is a Midland EL-1600
Thanks in advance! |
Cliff (Floridacracker)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 5:38 pm: | |
Justin,
Did a quick on line check and they dont provide much info.
One thing I did notice is they have front and rear kneeling feature. Do you see or have you checked this feature?
Cliff |
Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 6:33 pm: | |
Justin, Our church has 2 similar buses that I try to maintain. I'll be glad to help as much as I can.
My first suggestion is that you replace the air compressor governor. In trouble shooting air systems and components, I think it's best to build a foundation of properly working components that are making the correct pressures.
Once you get that problem remedied (should be ez)
then, re-evaluate the problem as a whole, minus the part you have fixed and see where you stand.
I'll be glad to help off board as well, just click on my name for contact info.
Hope this helps some.....Chuck Lott |
David Hartley (Drdave)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 6:38 pm: | |
You probably have a check valve stuck.
It would be located at or near the aux air tank that is used for the accessories and suspension.
Probably is a pressure type and does not open until 80 psi ( after the brake tank passes 80 psi ), I suspect that this valve which should be about 1" in diameter and may be screwed into the side/end or top of the tank is bad. Probably made of brass also.
Take a good sized hammer, put shop air onto the air system. ( 100 psi ) and let the pressure settle.
Locate each of the air tanks and slap (bang) each tank near the connections and see if it will pop loose with pressure on it.
That's the best info that I can think of. One of the valves is not working, trick is to find it.
Dave... |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 7:01 pm: | |
Chuck is right, replace the governor. Cheap ($20)and simple to do. It can cause all kinds of other problems plus puts a lot of excess pressure on the system.
130-140 psi sounds very high to me, is this normal? |
truthhunter@shaw.ca
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 19, 2006 - 9:55 pm: | |
"high enough to damage a brass check valve maybe" , given enough overpressure |
Justin Dortignac (3of14)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 24, 2006 - 9:53 am: | |
Thanks for the advice, I will be persuing this as time allows... |