| Author | Message | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 672 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91  Rating: N/A |
Hey I have this old 4104 and I noticed that when you park it, the passegers rear would drop after a couple of hours and so I got rambungus and pulled the wheels off and started to spray everything down. I found the bottom of the air bag can, where it is welded to the beam on the axle was leaking at the welds. After further inspection I found the cans were,as you guessed, was rotted away and the welder can't find enough metal to fix them. Do they make a bottom air bag plate to fix that?? Gomer | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 1753 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
maybe it would be easier to get a used beam from a dismantled bus. I doubt there would be much demand for them. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 969 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 75.211.30.154 Rating: N/A |
GEE whiz, Gomer....that IS a bummer! Hope...trust...you can get that one figured out! Best wishes!!!!  RCB | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 674 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91 Rating: N/A |
R.C. I think that I will just take the air bag loose and put in block-plates and weld the bottom so it will be strong enough to hold everything. That is my plan for now. I think that I have more than a 1/4 inch slack so I can put in a plate and reuse what is already there. That is the Plan for now as I haven't tore the bag loose yet. That will happen Monday and I will go from there. I believe 1/4 plate will hold up since the can is only about1/8 . My thoughts..LOL gomer | ||
| Patrick levenson (Zubzub)
Registered Member Username: Zubzub Post Number: 120 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 174.91.226.239  Rating: N/A |
I don't know if they would fit but to my mind a rolling lobe set up makes the most sense in terms of longevity. I have not researched the sizes available, but it has always seemed that RLs would better mimc the air beam ride, I know yours are rotted at the bottom...seems to me with a rotted bottom your beams can't be far behind..OTOH piece of 1/4" plate is cheaper and faster and it is important to keep things simple. (Message edited by zubzub on November 15, 2009) | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 677 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91 Rating: N/A |
Well I did it!!! I got the air bag loose on the bottom and I was right, the cup on the bottom had a rust issue. It was for the most part pretty solid and I will try to weld the little holes up and I am having a 1/4 in plate made and I will just put it in and drop the bag back in place and then it will be ok I believe. Oh the bolts came out with little effort WHEW!!. Gomer | ||
| Len Silva (Lsilva)
Registered Member Username: Lsilva Post Number: 313 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 72.187.35.208  Rating: N/A |
If I understand correctly what you are doing, I don't think you need 1/4". 1/8" will probably work just fine. It's only to hold air, right? not structural. My concern is that with 1/4", you will need longer bolts and they might be hard to find. In addition, I wonder if the rust was caused by moisture in the bags rather than from outside. Might be something to look at. Len | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 679 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91 Rating: N/A |
Len thanks for the thought and I talked to my shop and he said the same thing, This will fit on top of the bottom can[?] and the bolts will be long enough to fit. I found the bolts at lukes and a couple of other place so it won't be hard to locate new ones if need be. Gomer | ||
| marvin pack (Gomer)
Registered Member Username: Gomer Post Number: 693 Registered: 3-2007 Posted From: 71.53.153.91 Rating: N/A |
Well after taking a new plate,putting it in the bottom,finding out I still had a leak, pulled the front rear bag out and found block-off plate with lines to the rear bag. Ran leak check on the lines,nothing there, keep looking!! I finally found it!! The rear air bag had of all things,a patch on the inside and a rubber tube patch on the outside. It was located behind from eye sight and would not leak untill it was fully inflated. I will order new bags Monday and will put the plates in and it should be ready to go again. Believe this or not,I got all the bolts out without any damage to them la la la la for me.. P B Blaster and time along with a wire brush on the threads work great. Thanks Guys Gomer |