| Author | Message | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 50 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196  Rating: N/A |
My air bags were kinda "roached" fronts way more than the rears. Before replacing them my suspension would be deflated in a matter of a couple of hours after turning the bus off. I replaced the fronts a couple of weeks ago and after that the whole left side would be deflated the next morning causing my bus to be listing like if 1000lb guy sat next to you in a rowboat. So the fronts must have had some leaks but then the rears must have some too... or so I thought. Anyway I'm in the process of changing the rears, I put the bus up on blocks with full air... drained the tanks last night and went out to take the air bags off this morning. Since the bus has been listing left with the drivers side totally deflated in the mornings I was shocked when the drives side still had a but load of air pressure this morning. I'm replacing all the air lines and connections to quick connects so when I snipped off the air line it hissed and discharged air for 20 seconds on the left. The right side had no air when I cut those off last night. this is probably confusing... but drivers side would be deflated in the morning and the passengers side 2-3 days before it would go down. What I thought was a leaking air bag on the drivers side but it held pressure for 24 hours. So why is that side deflating? it's got to be the levelers right? Which one? Do they both inflate and deflate? They only control their own side. I have always heard a little "bvvrrrrrtt" vibration noise every once in a while after shut down and I'm guessing it's an auto leveler doing something. Maybe when I get these new bags on it will all be fixed but I guess I'm shocked that when on blocks it held air all night on the side that is always deflated. Are all four levelers independent? What, other then a leaking air bag would cause the left side to be deflated in the morning? Also after disassembling the drivers side rear (front of the two rears) airbag was missing the large shim blocks ontop that all the other bags had. there were thick aluminum blocks about 2" thick that sat between the airbag top plate and the mounting plate. I'm not sure how that could have affected the outcome I'm trying to wrap my brain around that cause of affect that would have and to be honest my brain is fried right now. Maybe they used a taller bag, I don't have the right rear rear off yet. Maybe it will be taller but maybe it's just stretched out... Anyway if started snowing here and with temps in the 20's and no garage I came in to warm up and thaw out so I don't know if I'll go back out and take that one off today or not. I got the bottom bolts out but those inner top plate bolts are real buggers to get to and when you can't feel your fingers it's 10x harder. 5 min warm weather job turns into a 3 hour cuss fest when it's cold. It's going to be 50 here in a could of days so I'm thinking I'll just get all the fittings on the new bags and have them ready to bolt on this weekend when it's warm. when removing the airbags a ratcheting wrench is a good tool to have. otherwise turning a bolt 1/16th of a turn at a time then flipping the wrench and repeating 500 times would suck. | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 616 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38  Rating: N/A |
Scott There is only 3 levelers. One in the front and two in the rear. The front one does the up and down of the front only. The ones in the rear control the side to side movement of the whole bus as well as the rear height. If it still leaks out on the one side after you replace the bags check the rear leveling valve on the low side. It could leak internally. Hold a glass jar of water with the exhaust tube from the valve in it to see if it bubbles. Bubbles in the jar replace the valve. Truck centres use the same valve as a bus. I have never heard of a 2" block on top of the bag. Check your manual. They may have used a shorter bag for some reason. The valves are adjustable for height. Book tells how or if you replace one it will have the instructions in it. Bill | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 53 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
They look like they have always been there... I can see clearly where they used to be mounted on the old spot where they are missing. They are not in the drawing in the book but it does not show the 2nd top/mounting plate either. | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 54 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
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| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 55 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
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| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 56 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
I pulled the levelers off I'm going to bench test them and clean them up a bit. No reason why the spacers were removed on the 1 bag and not the others. but that might be why that side would list... the bag could not get the body as high as the other side? so it kept trying to inflate more until air supply was depleted? I assume the valves one way? but it might lose a touch of air everytime it would try to get more air? IDK but I'll put them back in and make new ones for the missing ones since now all bags will be the same height for sure. I'm probably over thinking it all anyway. | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 57 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Oh and they are 1" x 3" x 10" solid aluminum bars | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 618 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Scott Scrap aluminum prices are good. The only reason I can think of is the original owner thought the top plate was rusted too far to support the weight of the bus so he put in a plate to beef it up. 3" isn't wide enough to support the suspension if I remember right. I put in a plate of 3/8" steel to beef up mine but I think it was 10" x 10". Bill | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 60 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Well I I'm leaving the shims off. Tomorrow I'm putting the air bags all back on. I cleaned out the leveler valves they had a bunch of carbon like substance, dirt and a bit of oil residue in them. I have all the new fittings in and lines ready to run. I cut one of the bags open and they were clean and dry inside. The inside of the bags were in really good shape just the outsides were all cracked and falling apart. Anyway I am hoping to get the levelers and all 4 bags back on in less than an hour. | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 62 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Everything is covered in a layer of snow and ice this morning... I got the first air bag on and then I was cold and wet. I brought my wrenches and ratchet in to warm up before I start bag #2... I should have thought of that earlier... ice cold steel in my hands when it could have been a hand warmer. I was smart enough to bring the bags in last night so they would be more pliable if I had to compress them while coaxing them into place. | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 621 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Scott Todays job here is to get out the snowblower and clean up after old man winter. 4" of the white stuff. Thank goodness my bus is in a heated shop. I remember the days working under it after shovelliing the snow away. Not fun. I guess as you get older you get softer. When you set up the levelers read the book as they are slow to react. I sure hope you have the bus securely blocked and not just crawling around under there. Use solid wood blocks and not cement blocks. They crumble easily. Bill | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 63 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Drivers side is all done.... As I was crawling out from underneath I got a butt crack full of snow. (cold) I made some large wooden blocks that are 6x6's 2 on the bottom and one on top centered. They are very stable. But being under there still freaks me out. | ||
| Buswarrior (Buswarrior)
Registered Member Username: Buswarrior Post Number: 2239 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 174.91.145.99  Rating: |
The busnut who never stops being freaked out by being under the coach lives longest... NEVER take short cuts on safety procedures for being under the coach. Even if you are at the point that it takes everything out of you for the day to prepare the coach safely... tomorrow you get to wake up, as refreshed as the ravages of time allow, and ready to do what you can for another day. No more squished busnuts, please. happy coaching! buswarrior | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 64 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Looking forward to the high of 46 today.... I didn't start it up and air it up yesterday since it was 23 deg I knew today would be a bit easier on it to get it started. I also didn't have the block heater plugged in yesterday so today it should start up like it's 80. | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 622 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Scott Sounds like you have the bus sitting on wooden blocks. Great for clearance. Another safety thing you can do is to put a piece of 4x4 wood between the axle and the frame where the rubber stops are. If an air bag or line blew it comes down FAST. Anything to stop from getting crushed under there. Bill | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 65 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Have any of you ever used this type of fitting? I have been using the other kind that are black plastic and the little tab is like spring loaded, but the parts store was out of that kind and sold me these. I held the tab back and inserted the line, on the black ones that's all you do. I'm thinking I need to snap the exterior ring back out on these, it does not spring out like on the ABS plastic ones. Anyway the fittings are leaking and it never occurred to me that they would be different than all the others.  | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 66 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
This is the kind I've been using and they pop out all by them selves. You just hold back the collar and insert the hose, and to remove hold in the collar and pull out the hose. Very easy.  | ||
| Tom Christman (Tchristman)
Registered Member Username: Tchristman Post Number: 353 Registered: 1-2006 Posted From: 66.218.33.156 Rating: N/A |
Most new trucks have the Phillips type fittings to hasten the assembly time. They work well-just make sure you cut the plastic hose at exactly 90 degrees. Good Luck, TomC | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 67 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Yea the phillips ones are fine it's the other ones that I'm not doing right. I had to come in and get the feeling back into my fingers after picking all the frozen lug nuts up and putting the wheels back on I couldn't feel my fingers to mess with the connections to see if they needed to be snapped back out on those brass ones that are leaking. | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 68 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 166.147.118.172 Rating: N/A |
Well it's not going according to the plan here.. I got the air lines fixed but now the levelers are both discharging air out the exhaust ports. I even disconnected the arms and in the level position they both hiss air. I guess when I cleaned em out maybe I jacked up a seal or something | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1666 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 97.212.12.185  Rating: N/A |
My experience....rebuild leveling valves....or new ones...not that expensive and "quick fix". BTDT. Fleetpride has them. FWIW  RCB (Message edited by chuckllb on January 22, 2012) | ||
| john w. roan (Chessie4905)
Registered Member Username: Chessie4905 Post Number: 2233 Registered: 10-2003 Posted From: 71.58.71.157  Rating: N/A |
As cheap as leveling valves are now, I'll never rebuild any more. | ||
| R.C.Bishop (Chuckllb)
Registered Member Username: Chuckllb Post Number: 1667 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 97.212.12.185 Rating: N/A |
AMEN...and amen....I have a thread up date on that...and other stuff coming up next week....  . ...unnecessary and...who knows>>>?? RCB | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 624 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Scott Check Ebay 350499725936 or 160658796884 New leveling valves. Bill | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 69 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
https://www.mohawkmfg.com/shop/part/12478/ https://www.mohawkmfg.com/shop/part/12477/ mohawk has them in stock and they come next day. only $40 each I had them in my cart already before I read your posts. | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 70 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
I also noticed a slight air leak in the pressure regulating valve between the two tanks. Mohawk didn't have that that in stock. It dumps air into take 2 (suspension tank) after 65psi. Is that a standard part or item to get somewhere else? 2336347 was the original part no it superseded 2 times on mohawks database for different numbers | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 625 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Scott I believe that is called a pressure protection valve. Call Luke. Bill | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 72 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
Mohawk has it backordered for a couple of weeks on the regulator. I tightened the screws connecting the top and bottom of the valve and it's now a very small leak. I sprayed it with soap and just a few bubbles pop up. I ordered the leveler valves and they will be in tomorrow. | ||
| Scott Crosby (Scott_crosby)
Registered Member Username: Scott_crosby Post Number: 138 Registered: 12-2011 Posted From: 99.100.88.196 Rating: N/A |
I finally had a chance to put on the new leveler valves yesterday. My air suspension stayed up all night? Happy | ||
| Bill Gerrie (Bill_gerrie)
Registered Member Username: Bill_gerrie Post Number: 660 Registered: 3-2006 Posted From: 216.198.139.38 Rating: N/A |
Scott Glad to hear one thing finally went right for you. Maybe things are starting to look up. Bill | ||
| Gus Causbie (Gusc)
Registered Member Username: Gusc Post Number: 1473 Registered: 11-2005 Posted From: 173.202.4.93  Rating: N/A |
Scott, On those metal fittings you don't need to pull out on the ring, just push the hose in and it locks. This may be your problem. To remove the hose you push the ring in just like with the plastic. If it has been inserted a long time or is really dirty it may take a bit of twisting. There is also a coupling which I carry in case of leaks, just cut it and insert the two ends, leak fixed! I love those things!! |
