| Author |
Message |
cwmci9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 6:17 pm: | |
I have a 79 mci 9 I believe the left rear leveling valve started leaking last week. Then it doesn't want to level with shop air. I have two questions. 1. How do I make sure if the leveling valve is bad and not something else and 2. Is it repairable? or should I order a new one so when I take the wheel and valve off I can replace it right awaythanks in advance
carl mci 9 |
Brian Brown (Blue_velvet)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 7:30 pm: | |
Carl, sometimes leaks are hard to see/hear, even with soap. You might have more success by using a shrader valve and gauge to isolate the various parts of the rear system. You can make up an appopriate flare fitting/ tee/ plug. Then test each bag, each leveling valve, etc. Pump it up to 85psi or so and watch the gauge over time. Whatever component leaks down... leaks.
The process of elimination should iosolate the offender(s). It might be as simple as a one-way valve that no longer works and the actual leak is somewhere upstream of the leveling system.
Do the 9's have air beams? I know that sometimes these rust out and have to be plated.
HTH,
Brian Brown |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 9:02 pm: | |
79 has air beams. And, as Brian says, they will rust out. However, any leak large enough to result in one side of the bus not leveling, will be audible. Air up the bus with shop air, and if no air leaks are noted (there are plenty of leaks, just not loud enough to hear) the leveling valve is likely your problem. They only cost $50 bucks or so. Replace'em.
You could look under the front of the drive axle and verify that both leveling valve arms and links are still attached to the drive axle mounts and the leveling valve. Leveling valves get old, get crud in them and fail. If you replace them, you can forget'em. Unfortunately, this rule applies to every system on a bus!
If you hear air leaking from the non-leveling side, that's bad. Maybe. Could be air line(s) or either air beam, or airbag. Bad airbags are not so bad. Bad air beam and it'll be decision making time. The rear airbeams are best blocked off and rolling lobe airbags installed. Some debate to the ride quality of rolling lobe...however, no debate to the amount of work involved in rewelding rusted out airbeams. This is a good time to look carefully at your suspension components. May have a major rust problem. MCIs have a lot of rustable material in them.
Good luck, JR |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 9:07 pm: | |
Sorry for the multiple posts, but beware articulating leveling valve arms or dinking with any air lines or fittings when working under the bus, or on areas that may impinge on body parts if the suspension suddenly loses air.
Don't disconnect any airlines when the bus is aired up.
Be safe! JR |
cw mci 9
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 10:08 pm: | |
Where is the best place to buy an leveling valve? I am sure this is most likely the problem. Thanks for the warning on the safety issues of being under a bus. I am not brave and always block up the bus after jacking it up some with solid wooden blocks. I had to plate off my rear beams last year..
thanks for the information.
carl mci 9 |
JR
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Sunday, May 21, 2006 - 10:40 pm: | |
Luke at US Coach, Busfixx in Tn, Mohawk.
Use new filters. Be sure that your air system is not full of crap. Check your tanks and verify that your dryer is working correctly. If you're using a lot of wet house air, you may be adding quite a lot of moisture to the system. Dryer won't control that.
Use a moisture separator between the bus and house air supply.
I'll see if I can locate some web addresses for the above..if someone doesn't soon!
Best, JR |
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