| Author |
Message |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Registered Member
Username: Tdh37514151
Post Number: 228
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 4.253.117.252
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 9:08 pm: | |
Hi Guys I would really like to talk to Luke about this but I know this is not the time to bother him with my silly problems. However I would like to know if there is another bus repair shop I could call and talk to a person who has done alot of repairs to the air ride system on a 4104. I have worked for two days now trying to locate a leak in the rear air beam or air bags of the drivers side. What I thought was going to be fairly strait forward repair has turned into complete frustration. I would be glad to speak with anyone on the board who has a good deal of experience with this but I really don't want to type out everthing I have allready done. I would rather just go over it on the phone with someone. I will however be glad to post what I find if and when I get that far for others to read. Thank you for any help. Tim 740-404-0853
(Message edited by tdh37514151 on July 30, 2007) |
Nick Badame Refrigeration Co. (Dnick85)
Registered Member
Username: Dnick85
Post Number: 163
Registered: 2-2006
Posted From: 75.199.70.18
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 9:37 pm: | |
Hi Tim,
You can still call Luke's, just ask to talk to Bill. Bill is just as good with 04's as Luke is.
Mike the parts guy also knows quite a bit too.
US Coach still needs to go on even though Luke is upon some grim times. The boy's will hold the fort down for Luke.... I'm sure they can't afford to loose any dollars either.
Good Luck
Nick- |
David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member
Username: Dmd
Post Number: 181
Registered: 10-2004
Posted From: 72.80.31.30
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 9:42 pm: | |
Tim give Robert Moore a call at Dean's in NC. 919-383-4780. Great mechanic. |
Dilip & Zoe (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member
Username: Vintagehounds
Post Number: 97
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 67.166.131.55
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 9:52 pm: | |
www.coachmaitenance.com
tim try this guy /west coast |
Dilip & Zoe (Vintagehounds)
Registered Member
Username: Vintagehounds
Post Number: 98
Registered: 10-2006
Posted From: 67.166.131.55
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 9:54 pm: | |
i mean www.coachmaintenance.com |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 408
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.35
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, July 30, 2007 - 11:22 pm: | |
Tim,
Be sure to let us other 4104 owners know what you find.
If the names so far don't work I'll send you another one. |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Registered Member
Username: Tdh37514151
Post Number: 229
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 4.224.234.82
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 9:03 am: | |
Thank you very much for all your responces I will try talking with each one of your of suggested shops. Some of you have emailed me suggesting the method of plating the top of the air bag. I am familiar with this method of repair but would like to attempt to repair the leak as the other three beams at this time are ok. I just don't like not being able to repair something back to the way it was originally. I am thinking if I talked to someone who has repaired this problem multible times they may have seen a pattern as to where the leak occurs repeatedly.I have bubble tested over and over and can not see nor hear a leak yet enough air leaks to allow the bus to settle down two inches in fifteen minutes.I can't bring myself to believe that amount of air can leak and it can't be found. I do know however you can sometimes get your self into more trouble than the repair is worth so I certainly won't rule out the plating method Thanks again Tim |
john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member
Username: Chessie4905
Post Number: 679
Registered: 10-2003
Posted From: 71.58.117.21
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 5:17 pm: | |
Forget trying to fix the leaks in the beam. We went through this years ago on ours. Get the block off plates that go between the air bag and beam. They are round and about 1/4 to 3/8 in thickness with a nipple on the side that you connect the line that origionally went to the beam.It sandwiches between upper end of air bag and beam. If you can't fix this yourself, you could try Crawford Coach in McCoysville, Pa ( near Mifflintown, Pa. ) They have worked on o4's for years, and ran an 04 for their own. Ask for Keith |
Tim Hoskinson (Tdh37514151)
Registered Member
Username: Tdh37514151
Post Number: 230
Registered: 9-2004
Posted From: 4.252.72.68
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 7:25 pm: | |
Well guys after talking with four different people about this problem it seems the reason the leak is so hard to locate and this makes sense is the top of the air beam has rusted between the beam its self and the plywood floor. This of course makes for multable small leaks wich keeps the sound of the leak hidden. It also makes sense that the leak started out much slower and got worse over the course of four years. The thing that threw me was at first the bus did not always air down. I have now concluded that like allot of hard to solve problems this one was a result of two failures. First as I thought I would find the check valve for the leveling valve was intermittently leaking back into a leaky supply system allowing the drivers side to air down. I had assumed at the start of this repair thats all that was wrong and the vavle had gotten worse. However along with the valve I now have the air beam leaking at the top under the floor making the bus air down quite depenably. Ok I give up I ordered the plates from US Coach as they sell them cheap enough its not worth me making them up in my shop. I still would have liked to repaired the beam but I am not tearing out my bed room floor just to keep the air beam. I'm told you really don't loose much cushion of ride anyway. Again thank you all and big thanks to Bruce. Tim |
James Stacy (Jimstacy)
Registered Member
Username: Jimstacy
Post Number: 82
Registered: 1-2001
Posted From: 75.40.245.176
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 9:53 pm: | |
Tim,
If you find the ride firms up too much by eliminating the beam volume, you can purchase a kit from Mohawk (800-323-7652) that has all the parts needed to convert to rolling lobe, the system used in 4106 and newer. This kit does not use the air beam for air. IIRC complete kit is over $100 per bag, (rear a little higher than front). I changed my '04 front axle one year and liked the ride. Changed the rear axle last year. With manual valves for leveling, the coach stays level for many months.
BTW I have several used block off plates I don't need, probably a complete set. Pay for freight only.
Jim Stacy |
Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member
Username: Gusc
Post Number: 409
Registered: 11-2005
Posted From: 63.97.117.41
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 10:28 pm: | |
Tim,
I'll probably go the plate route when my beams start to leak but right now my problem is the rest of the air system-the suspension stays up way longer than the rest. |
joe padberg (Joemc7ab)
Registered Member
Username: Joemc7ab
Post Number: 126
Registered: 6-2004
Posted From: 66.38.159.33
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, July 31, 2007 - 11:00 pm: | |
Tim
I was going to phone you tonite, but kinda late now. I ran into a busnut years ago who had 5A with a similar problem not being able to find the leak. He added some freon or propane, cant remember which, and with a sniffer located a pinhole in a weld.
Joe. |