| Author | Message | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 2124 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.173.155  Rating: |
Well, how many winters do we see the unprepared typing in anguish as their air system returns the favour of poor maintenance by refusing to let the coach leave when the busnut wants it to? So, I throw down the glove. Those of you who practice good air system maintenance 365 days a year, enjoy your winter functionality. The rest of you, get your coaches ready for freezing temperatures, starting now. You have been warned! happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Dal Farnworth (Dallas)
Registered Member Username: Dallas Post Number: 712 Registered: 7-2004 Posted From: 75.91.195.105  Rating: N/A |
Dontcha love the smell of airline antifreeze early in the morning? | ||
| Dan Clishe (Cody)
Registered Member Username: Cody Post Number: 247 Registered: 1-2008 Posted From: 206.51.117.126 Rating: N/A |
We don't have any airports near us closest one is about 90 miles away and by the time those planes go over I can't sniff quick enough to tell. Gezzz, dallas, that one was too early for christmas and too late for my birthday lol. | ||
| Kevin Baxter (Bus_boy)
Registered Member Username: Bus_boy Post Number: 32 Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 173.55.131.34  Rating: N/A |
Buswarrior, Thank you for the heads-up! In addition to expelling water from the tanks prior to each run - and annual brake lining check/adjustment, what other checks/adjustments should be made? Thanks, Kevin | ||
| Paul Lawry (Dreamscape)
Registered Member Username: Dreamscape Post Number: 746 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 24.22.108.172  Rating: N/A |
Head south to warmer weather! ;) | ||
| Andy Wright (Wrightwy)
Registered Member Username: Wrightwy Post Number: 71 Registered: 6-2007 Posted From: 75.220.72.235  Rating: N/A |
Not me this year I installed a air line anti freeze injector this summer and moved my check valve for my 110 compressor. I'am ready lol | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 2125 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.89.176.254 Rating: N/A |
Drain the accumulated moisture AFTER the drive. Don't leave it in there. This is yet another faulty driver trainers and license testers topic, teaching/testing draining the tanks as part of a pre-trip, instead of post-trip. Your goal is getting the inside of the air system is as dry as possible, and when it gets wet, get it dry again soon. Busnuts, When was the last time your air drier was serviced? Do you have one, or not? Do you have a brake alcohol system of some sort, evaporator or injector or manually introduced? Is it functional and filled? Antifreeze works best when it is already mixed with the moisture... How are you resolving the Bendix concern for rinsing the lube out of your brake system valves with the use of brake alcohol? Everyone with a discharge muffler, or ping tank, do you know you have one, and do you drain it regularly? One of the most popular freeze up points in a coach so equipped, and then misdiagnosed as a governor or compressor problem. Do you really want to be using tools, for no good reason, on perfectly good parts, in the cold? When was the last time you checked all of your tanks for moisture? And in finding moisture deep inside the air system, what are you going to do about the damp inside there as winter approaches? Those with auxiliary compressors, or hook to a shop compressor... particularly troublesome if the shop compressor is inside a warm wet garage in cooler weather... What are you doing to prevent/catch/manage the transfer of moisture from those sources into your coach air system? And if you still need motivation, let's remember which parts of the continental US didn't get a freeze and some extended cold last winter... Safety from the freeze will require either some air system maintenance or some Spanish? happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Kevin Baxter (Bus_boy)
Registered Member Username: Bus_boy Post Number: 33 Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 159.83.252.233 Rating: N/A |
Good to know, Buswarrior. Thanks for the information and advice! Kevin | ||
| Sam Summers (Greyghost)
Registered Member Username: Greyghost Post Number: 103 Registered: 4-2011 Posted From: 166.235.201.76  Rating: N/A |
Kevin did So.Cal get some frost last year? We have already started with the nights getting into the 30's, now with all of Buswarrior's info I had better get busy or just bring it down to your place. Dido on all the great info, now I need to check all the tanks, still have the one that blows alittle oilish out one side and dry out the other, what the heck is that tank for? Passenger side compartment behind fuel tank where blowers are. Sam | ||
| Kevin Baxter (Bus_boy)
Registered Member Username: Bus_boy Post Number: 34 Registered: 10-2009 Posted From: 159.83.252.233 Rating: N/A |
Hey Sam, We had a nice little snow up here in the High Desert this past winter. It nevers lasts more than two or three days... Not sure about the tank you describe. My '04 has two in the back (only one of which ever seems to collect any moisture) and two up front, one of which is under the driver's compartment. Rarely get any moisture from either of these. Then there is the "ping" tank adjacent compressor. It usually blows a tiny bit of mung out when I clear it. Kevin | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 144 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 184.36.50.95  Rating: N/A |
Sam, That's the main air tank. On the Buffalos, a divided tank is used, one side is the "wet" tank and other side is the "dry" tank. Sounds like it's working as designed. Bob | ||
| Sam Summers (Greyghost)
Registered Member Username: Greyghost Post Number: 104 Registered: 4-2011 Posted From: 166.235.201.76 Rating: N/A |
Hi Bob Brought out the maintence manual last night and looked at all the photos, forget the articles! Understanding about 98% more now than before, any easy way to clean out the wet side of the tank? Sam | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 145 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 184.36.50.95 Rating: N/A |
Sam, I don't know of any easy way to clean the wet tank, other than to regularly drain it. I suppose you could remove the tank and clean it but that sounds like a lot of trouble for a small return. Also be sure to regularly drain the ping tank. Since it's between the compressor and the wet tank, that often neglected task can help keep moisture out of the wet tank. Bob |
