I'd like to pull into a garage for a month or so, and the door is 11' - 6". I'm not sure yet of my bus height, but is there an easy practical way to relieve the airbags and gain a few inches?
I don't have rooftop AC units, the only thing on my roof are some Fantastic Vents.
One chart I found online says the 102a3 is 11'-2" high, but I don't know if that is with or without air.
tires too....? may not be necessary...
http://mci102.com/mci_specifications.htm (http://mci102.com/mci_specifications.htm)
MCI 102A3 COACH
MCI 102A3 1985 - 1991
DIMENSIONS
Overall Length:40 ft
Overall Width:102 in
Overall Height:Approximately 11 ft (11' 2")
Wheelbase:285 in
Approximate Vehicle Weight:27,250 lb
Remove bump stops? as long a it did not allow the bags to be damaged...
Quotetires too....? may not be necessary...
MCI 102A3 COACH
MCI 102A3 1985 - 1991
DIMENSIONS
Overall Length:40 ft
Overall Width:102 in
Overall Height:Approximately 11 ft (11' 2")
Wheelbase:285 in
Approximate Vehicle Weight:27,250 lb
Is that measured with or without air in the system?
QuoteRemove bump stops? as long a it did not allow the bags to be damaged...
I don't know what bump stops are.
don't know assume yes...http://mci102.com/mci_specifications.htm (http://mci102.com/mci_specifications.htm)
Quote from: Tikvah on October 28, 2015, 03:29:27 AM
I don't know what bump stops are.
Bump stops are a rubber pad that is bolted to your frame just above your suspension, if the air bags are deflated your frame is sitting on your bump stops, on most vehicles they are a couple of inches tall. If airing down your airbags and airing down your tires ( within the limits of safety ) is not enough, potentially removing your bump stops would give you a few more inches as long as you were not putting your air bags in a pinch.
I'd be happy if I could air down to the bump stops. Not remove them, but let the bus set on them.
How can I air down the bags?
Quote from: Tikvah on October 28, 2015, 04:07:36 AMI'd be happy if I could air down to the bump stops. Not remove them, but let the bus set on them. How can I air down the bags?
I'm not familiar with your system, but with mine, it would only require that I remove the screw fitting for the suspension air supply into the accessory tank and put a 1/4" pipe plug into it. The air in the bags and the rest of the system would escape and the other air components (especially brakes, compressor, etc.) would still perform as normal.
The usual warnings about safely blocking up your coach (or doing this over a pit, etc.) apply -- if you do this, your bus body will suddenly drop.
I'd add that you carefully measure the garage door height and consider any ramp or approach angles to the door. If the drive up to the door and the floor inside are not perfectly level (and most driveways slope downwards a bit for rain drainage), you may find that there would be a mismatch. Also, measure the exact clearance to the bottom edge of the door -- sometimes, some bright spark will install a door so that in the "full open" position, it still hangs down a couple of inches and blocks the full height of the door portal opening (don't ask me how I know ...) If I were doing something like this again, I'd ask a helper to be up on a ladder or a high point at the back of the garage (or right at the side of the top of the garage door) so that they could look right along the clearance space and if something went wrong, then they could stop you before you actually hit anything. Naturally, taking it slow and easy while you're doing this is a must.
You do have to consider the vents on your roof. If you snag one of them, you could do a lot of damage. Some of us have absolutely smooth rooflines and a little oopsie would only result in a little paint scratch before
With a nominal 4" of clearance, you'd probably be OK -- assuming that the approach and garage floor areas are reasonably flat. I think I'd try it (slowly and carefully) before I started defeating my airbag system. But I think that it's smart to take things slow and be
really careful!
We put kneeling systems on all our MC-9's due to drivers running over or leaving behind our boarding steps. Easy to do; 2 way air switch on the dash plumbed through a QR valve to the front leveling valve. You could install on the rear also to dump the whole bus. If you want it to jump back up fast you need a recovery tank but it's not necessary, system air pressure raises it a little slower.
I would not advise letting air out of the tires to lower the coach - you will very likely damage the structure of the tire by flexing the side wall that much.
If the sidewall flexes too much, some of the steel cords will shear away from the rubber - then you will have a time bomb on your coach rim.
Good Luck!
If you remove one of the bolts holding the linkage from the height control valve to the body, the air bags will not fill or release air. However, if you have done this and want to remove the remaining air from the bags, you could just push the valve down with a stick from the side of the bus without endangering yourself.
A long poll positioned across the top of the bus or your roof vents will allow you to get your actual height with or without air in the bags.
Quote from: Lin on October 28, 2015, 08:25:20 AM
A long poll positioned across the top of the bus or your roof vents will allow you to get your actual height with or without air in the bags.
i would add that using a 6+ foot level to your pole to facilitate measurement accuracy...ymmv etc.
Another way may be to use a water level. Get a length 1/4 or 3/8" clear plastic hose and fill it with 50/50 antifreeze. Be sure to remove all air bubbles. Now you can stretch the hose across the bus. Hold one end of the hose a couple feet above the roof on one side and the fluid will equal out on the other side and show a perfect level.
If the frame or belt line is the same height around the bus, you can use this line instead of the bus roof.
Also, use the water level inside the bus.
When you're done, plug both ends of the clear hose and keep it for the next job. Remember to remove the plugs the next time you use your water level.
Works for me. Danny
My 96A3 is 11' 2" with air in the air bags. With my MaxxFan closed my critical vehicle height is 11' 5".
air it up and measure it by putting a board up on the roof make sure its level and measure to the ground. allow a couple inches for safety and make sure door is all the way open. Its easier to measure on the side than the end. You may get away with using a drywall square since the body is really 96 inches wide so it would sit right in the middle and the end may be close the the arch height to the rain gutter. just an idea i got while typing this.
I parked mine on flat ground, took a straight 10 ft long 2x4 & placed it on top of the roof a/c. Then measured the distamce from the ground to the bottom of the stick while a helper did the same on the other side. Tip the stick up or down until the measurements are the same on both sides. That is your height.
The vent covers are easy to remove to give you a couple more inches,it never hurt my low boy tires to let some air out for extra clearance that is a common practice in the trucking world
You probably should define "some" .
I've seen several that were only flat on the bottom - they were only missing 'some' air.
'Some' sidewall flex won't hurt, too much will ruin a tire, BTDT
BTW, re-inflating all of your tires EVERY TIME you want to go somewhere is going to get real old real fast.
We would drop ours down to 45 lbs from 110 psi and could lower it 1.5 inches done it many times getting into warehouses never a problem for a few hundred ft lol he only has 6 tires to deflate and air up we had 32
BTW, re-inflating all of your tires EVERY TIME you want to go somewhere is going to get real old real fast.
I believe this is a one time deal...not like a daily driver....
Tikvah
QuoteHow can I air down the bags?
I not sure if this is true of every MCI, but mine and the others I have looked at have valves you can turn that empty the air bags. Again, on mine, for the rear, the two valves are on the inside fender well, on the curb side in the rear engine compartment, for the front, two air bags, the valves are in the driver side lower compartment below the electric panel.
Simply turn the valve and the bags deflate and sit on the stops.
that will drop my bus 8".
If your bus does have these valves, turn them SLOWLY both to open and to close, 40K lbs moving up or down 8" in a split second could be dangerous.
Good Luck.
SolarDude.
I'd just try it. It will probably go in just fine. The approach to a garage door almost always has a down-slope ramp to it, for water drainage. That means the bus goes in at an angle that keeps the part of the bus behind the front wheels lower, and that is where your vent covers are. If was going to drop the suspension, I would do it by disconnecting the ride height control rods and then I could manually raise or lower the bus by reaching in and moving the lever up or down with a stick.
Brian
QuoteI not sure if this is true of every MCI, but mine and the others I have looked at have valves you can turn that empty the air bags. Again, on mine, for the rear, the two valves are on the inside fender well, on the curb side in the rear engine compartment, for the front, two air bags, the valves are in the driver side lower compartment below the electric panel.
Wow! I wish my bus had those - that's exactly what I need. I have two valves for the tag axles, but not the others.
But, if I go through the work of adding valves, I'll add electronic solenoid valves to control the level when parked.
Thanks guys for all the input. I think I'll just get a running start and hope for the best.
Quote from: Tikvah on October 29, 2015, 02:07:31 AM... I think I'll just get a running start and hope for the best.
That'll work!
The height and weight of my bus is taped to the dash for an easy reminder. Essential info while travelling.
JC
QuoteWe put kneeling systems on all our MC-9's due to drivers running over or leaving behind our boarding steps. Easy to do; 2 way air switch on the dash plumbed through a QR valve to the front leveling valve. You could install on the rear also to dump the whole bus. If you want it to jump back up fast you need a recovery tank but it's not necessary, system air pressure raises it a little slower.
I'd be interested in a little more detail on this subject. What have you folks done. I don't need anything fancy, but I've been wanting to put tag axle air bag switches on my dash anyway. Maybe now is the time to add some more solenoid valves with switches.
Where do you find these? What is suggested?
I am sure Mark has a easy way to install a kneeling system the one on my D is kind of complicated look on the MCI site for a model D kneeling system it shows the system,the thing has
4 relays
4 pressure switches
2 solenoids
2 double check valves
1 R-12 relay valve
I am trying to figure out how I can modify mine into a leveling system dropping one side or the other instead of just both sides kneeling down on the stops.I am thinking about adding another leveling on the front and I don't know for sure if that will work
sounds like its time to put in a 4 corner leveling system .
kind of simple just measure your regular on road height now then remove all lines that go into the bags and replace with 1 line for each corner that goes to a box like pic and add 1 line to add air to the system . push to remove air pull to add air
dave
http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/crane66/media/bus%20sept%2022%202014%20001_zps8djdi1pp.jpg.html (http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/crane66/media/bus%20sept%2022%202014%20001_zps8djdi1pp.jpg.html)
<a href="http://s1280.photobucket.com/user/crane66/media/bus%20sept%2022%202014%20002_zpsns8n6u7k.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1280.photobucket.com/albums/a484/crane66/bus%20sept%2022%202014%20002_zpsns8n6u7k.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo bus sept 22 2014 002_zpsns8n6u7k.jpg"/></a>
That is good but I want to keep the kneeling also I like it, no need for a step just flip a switch down it comes
Would not 4 double acting solenoid valves give you what you want?
Each valve could allow the bag to choose between a vent state and your existing air leveler / kneeling system.
http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Pneumatic_Components/Pneumatic_Valves_-a-_Accessories/General_Purpose_Solenoid_Directional_Control_Air_Valves/3-port_(3-way),_2-pos.,_Body_Ported_(AVS-3_Series)/AVS-3222-24D (http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Pneumatic_Components/Pneumatic_Valves_-a-_Accessories/General_Purpose_Solenoid_Directional_Control_Air_Valves/3-port_(3-way),_2-pos.,_Body_Ported_(AVS-3_Series)/AVS-3222-24D)
http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Pneumatic_Components/Pneumatic_Valves_-a-_Accessories/Exhaust_Silencers/SBC-14N (http://www.automationdirect.com/adc/Shopping/Catalog/Pneumatic_Components/Pneumatic_Valves_-a-_Accessories/Exhaust_Silencers/SBC-14N)
Bag connects to port A
Nice bronze silencer to slow down the vent port and protect the valve from debris.
(https://busconversionmagazine.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.automationdirect.com%2Fimages%2Fproducts%2Flarge%2Fl_avs322224d.jpg&hash=05efa3e655e1a3e5deb783be3662aa97b76408c3)
my system came with 4 24 volt air solenoids 2 use the org. leveling or 4 corner but I never used them
dave
The first time I pulled our new to us coach into our shop, it cleared by a credit card thickness. I had the gravel driveway scraped down for more clearence.
Quote from: chessie4905 on October 30, 2015, 01:47:12 AM
The first time I pulled our new to us coach into our shop, it cleared by a credit card thickness. I had the gravel driveway scraped down for more clearence.
Guts my friend. You have guts.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Quote from: solardude on October 28, 2015, 06:16:55 PM
Tikvah
I not sure if this is true of every MCI, but mine and the others I have looked at have valves you can turn that empty the air bags. Again, on mine, for the rear, the two valves are on the inside fender well, on the curb side in the rear engine compartment, for the front, two air bags, the valves are in the driver side lower compartment below the electric panel.
Simply turn the valve and the bags deflate and sit on the stops.
that will drop my bus 8".
If your bus does have these valves, turn them SLOWLY both to open and to close, 40K lbs moving up or down 8" in a split second could be dangerous.
Good Luck.
SolarDude.
On my unit those are manual valves to dump the air in the tag axle air bags. The electric switch next to the drivers seat will DECREASE (something like 60%) the air in the tag axle bags simply for more traction on the drive axle.
No one has said to just get under an loosen the bolt for the leveling rod :)
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Scott, that's what I posted on 10/28.
Well, it fit! The bus is inside - warm and dry.
Now what we perceive as sunrise is when the guys show up at work and flip on the lights.
It's very dark and very quiet... but we don't mind and it's temporary.
But, while we're inside, this is the perfect time to get some work done on the old girl.