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Bus Discussion => Bus Topics ( click here for quick start! ) => Topic started by: JT4SC on January 03, 2015, 05:22:35 PM

Title: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: JT4SC on January 03, 2015, 05:22:35 PM
Hey everyone,
Long time no post!!  I hope everyone is well and enjoying lower diesel/gas prices!!  I'm trying to figure out how to fix (what I believe is) a pneumatic cylinder door closer (Economair MQ 2829).  Basically the air slams the door shut with little to no resistance from the cylindar.  Anyone with any ideas?  Thanks guys!!
Jimmy
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: lvmci on January 03, 2015, 05:34:45 PM
hi Jimmy, my 1989 C3 does the same thing, lvmci...
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: luvrbus on January 03, 2015, 05:47:41 PM
It has lost the oil or is bypassing because of a bad o-ring seal some can be refilled and repaired and some can not  
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: bs4104 on January 03, 2015, 05:57:03 PM
Look in the Service Manual on bleeding the door ram mine uses air to open & close but there is second 1/2 that has Green antifreeze and valves to stop the door in place. Any air in the antifreeze side will make it slam. Bruce
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: luvrbus on January 03, 2015, 06:04:23 PM
There you go I could not think of antifreeze I knew it a liquid I have a bad one on a Eagle but they used ATF the same cylinder and a real pain in cold weather with the ATF 
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: JT4SC on January 03, 2015, 07:18:29 PM
As always you guys come through.  Any idea where I should try to fill the cylindar with antifreeze?   There are a couple hoses that attach onto the cylindar but they appear to be air hoses, and nothing screams "put antifreeze in me here".
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: B_K on January 03, 2015, 11:05:22 PM
It's been a long time since I have done it since we ain't had MCI's in a long time.
But IIRC there is a plug on the top of the cylinder (as it la ys on it's side the way it's mounted), you take the plug out and screw in appropriate sized hose barb.
I like to use about 18" of 1/4" clear tubing and a clear 20 oz soda pop bottle.
you hook the hose on your barb and drop the other end in the soda pop bottle of a 50/50% mixture of green anti-freeze and water.
Then you work the door back an forth, back an forth until you see it drawing the mix. (sometimes have to work it pretty hard/fast to get it started)
But once you get it going pretty good you'll see the tube is mostly green, with occasional going into the bottle.
Just keep this up until you have no bubbles, remove the barb, replace the plug and enjoy a nice smooth shutting door!
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: lvmci on January 04, 2015, 06:47:05 AM
Thanks BK, tom, lvmci...
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: lostagain on January 04, 2015, 07:36:21 AM
I remember doing that to the D3 of the hockey team's. The procedure is in the service manual.

JC
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: B_K on January 04, 2015, 09:41:57 AM
Quote from: lostagain on January 04, 2015, 07:36:21 AM
I remember doing that to the D3 of the hockey team's. The procedure is in the service manual.

JC

LOL it probably was, but you know me "I don't need no stink'n manual, I can figure this out!"
;D  BK  ;D
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: digesterman on January 04, 2015, 11:39:11 AM
LOL you speak my language B K


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Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: JT4SC on January 06, 2015, 08:56:46 PM
Your the man BK, thanks brother!!   

Is anyone on the board from San Diego?  I'd love to connect with other busnuts who may live close by (I live in Bonita). 

Thanks guys!!
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: luvrbus on January 07, 2015, 06:32:09 AM
LOL as they say BK "a country boy will survive "read when all else fails now how am I going to get the ATF from mine the Eagle book says you can use both but I want the green stuff or maybe the purple stuff oh the decisions one has to make in life
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: Homegrowndiesel on January 07, 2015, 08:07:17 AM
There are two ports, one on each side of cylinder on top, all else as BK says.
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: JT4SC on January 07, 2015, 12:15:31 PM
I tried taking off the bolt that appeared most likely to be a cap for the fluid, but once I took the bolt off I was left with this (see attached picture).  Should I just take whatever that is off and try to fill the cylindar with the BK special sauce or am I at the wrong plug?


 
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: JT4SC on January 07, 2015, 12:19:10 PM
The other type of connection on the top of the cylindar is the picture attached to this post, but this appears to be one of the many air lines that connect to the cylindar.   Thanks in advance for your help holding my hand through this thing!!

Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: JT4SC on January 08, 2015, 05:32:42 PM
Anyone with any ideas?   Thanks in advance!!
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: bs4104 on January 08, 2015, 07:00:52 PM
check your Email hope this helps.
Bleed plug is #33    Bruce
Title: Re:
Post by: BeastMaster on January 10, 2015, 08:15:58 PM
Be careful what you wish for. My hydraulic portion works great and the door closes nice. But when no air, the door is heavy and hard to move manually when pushing against hydraulic piston. My wife would like it to move freely when parked without air.
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: sledhead on January 11, 2015, 04:52:10 AM
Beastmaster

have you tried the pull handle in the electrical door under the driver 's window ( out side ). I know if mine is part way open it does funny things when the door is opened and closed

dave
Title: Re:
Post by: BeastMaster on January 11, 2015, 05:24:41 AM
Mine is not connected, but it's the remote air dump lever inside. When the air is off the door, it is free to swing freely.  But mine is hard and feels like it is pushing against the hydraulic cylinder.
Thanks, Allan
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: harleyman_1000 on January 11, 2015, 08:44:48 AM
You guys should just come over to the GM side. We don't need no darn door closers  ;D
Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: sledhead on January 11, 2015, 03:18:08 PM
on mine I use the air dump valve by your right knee .in to dump air so it will open and close  easy and pull out to lock the door from opening both air lock ,mechanical lock  plus in the electrical door under the drivers window on the outside is a push pull lever to dump air and open the door in a emergency

dave
Title: Re:
Post by: BeastMaster on January 11, 2015, 04:50:49 PM
Dave, when I dump the air, my door is still very hard to open and close. Like pushing the door against the force of hydraulic piston. If this is not normal, maybe I need to take mine apart and clean it up. It's a 1989 102C3.

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Title: Re: Door Closer - MCI 102c3
Post by: lvmci on January 12, 2015, 06:16:26 AM
Hi Allan, mine is a 1989 C3 and when I dump the red air valve knob, it swings easy and I have to lock it with the key dead bolt. You do hear the air escape when you push the red knob down, dont you? How about also releasing the door locks, just below, a black accordian button, maybe yours are tyed together, in a different way, I removed all my airdoor locks and disconnected the airlines to them, tom, lvmci...