BCM Community

Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: steve5B on December 04, 2006, 05:22:05 PM

Title: air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: steve5B on December 04, 2006, 05:22:05 PM
Where would this container be located or is there one   1976-MCI 5B? I
have noticed a small silver container on the engine Bulk head area.

Could that be it ? There are what looks like lines to it. I hate to ask questions
that might seem simple to everyone, but I know NOTHING about buses!

Thanks again,

Steve 5B
Title: Re: air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: buswarrior on December 05, 2006, 02:41:55 AM
Got a digital camera?

Time to learn the fine skills of picture posting!

happy coaching!
buswarrior
Title: Re: air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: Stan on December 05, 2006, 05:11:13 AM
The alcohol injector on a 5B should look like a paint sprayer container. It is an aluminum can that screws into the supported top. The top casting should have an air line going in and one going out. It also works like a paint sprayer in that air flow through the unit sucks alcohol out of the container into the discharge line. HTH.
Title: Re: air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: steve5B on December 05, 2006, 05:45:21 AM
Stan, Buswarrior.

Thanks for the info, Stan your right on the money. The container has the shape of a paint sprayer. Hopefully
my air tanks will not freeze now. The one concern was the one between the front wheels. 

I'v drained the tank several times, their's always water in there.   Maybe this will fix the problem!

Thanks alot!

Steve 5B.
Title: Re: air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: buswarrior on December 05, 2006, 09:46:54 AM
Hello Steve 5B.

See my long post on the tag axle thread on tank draining.

If you always get water, you either don't have an air dryer, which means you need to drain frequently, or your air dryer desicant has long ago worn out and is not trapping moisture the way it should. 

If you are operating in freezing temps, you might want to consider an air dryer retrofit. A great improvement to an old coach. Get one from the wrecking yard near you.

Inline to the wet tank, has to be some mileage of pipe away from the compressor, so it doesn't get fed hot air, run an electric wire for the built in heater and you'll be quite happy.

happy coaching!
buswarrior
Title: Re: Air Dyer for air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: TomC on December 07, 2006, 08:16:15 AM
Highly recommend that you install an air dryer.  Bendix AD-IS is the new choice now.  I order all our new trucks (Freightliner) with air dryers.  Not only does it keep the air system from freezing, but extends the life of the components since most of the rubber parts don't like water, and of course the metal parts can rust.  You won't regret it.  Good Luck, TomC
Title: Re: air brake anti-freeze container
Post by: Buffalo SpaceShip on December 07, 2006, 08:30:51 AM
I have a "moisture ejector valve" on my 4108 that gets rid of the wet and dry tank water. It seems to not be an air dryer, AFAIK, since there's no dessicant with it. I don't know if these are better or worse than a dryer. There's also an alcohol container that I keep filled most of the time (I don't worry about it as much in the summer).

My discharge muffler picks up 90% of the liquid... water and oil.  Downstream of the ejector valve, there's never water in my system, but too much oil... so I sense a compressor rebuild or replacement in my very near future. Along with a rear axle oil seal, but that's another story.

Brian B.