MCI 102 Entry Door Cylinder

[Doug1968]

The entry door on my MCI 102 is a little severe when shutting. I assumed that the air cylinder had an internal cushion that had gone bad so i phoned MCI and ordered a rebuild kit for the cylinder. When I received the kit I was amazed at all the parts included. It appears as though there are enough parts to rebuild four cylinders? No instructions were in the box?

last night I went onto the MCI webpage to see if I could find any info on the cylinder. I ran across a service bulletin, didn't state what model MCI it was for, that showed a diagram of a two stage cylinder, one end of the cylinder operated pneumatically, and the other end shown with a closed loop water filled system for cushioning? The bulletin said that when the entry begins to slam that the fluid inside the cylinder may have leaked out. There was no instructions

1) Is anyone familiar with this design?
2) Is this type cylinder common on the MCI bus and will my 102 have this design?
3) Does anyone know how to service this fluid type cylinder?
4) How do you fill the fluid?

If someone has any experience with this I would be very interested in learning.

Thanks,

Doug

[Sammy]

It uses antifreeze (coolant) to act as a cushion - really.
The piston needs to be bled.
I made a container with a small rubber hose coming off the bottom of it to do this.
Fill container 1/4 full with coolant, hook hose to top port on piston,manually open and close door SLOWLY.
You will see air bubbles come out and fluid level will drop as it is drawn into piston.
Don't let coolant level in cup drop too low, then it will allow air into piston again.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Doug,

If you are converting your bus, why have the air cylinder at all?

When not aired up, they are a pita to open and close. I removed my cylinder and installed a gas strut cylinder and when I open

the door, it travels open slowly almost like the air cylinder.. I like it!

Good Luck
Nick-

[Busted Knuckle]

It uses antifreeze (coolant) to act as a cushion - really.
The piston needs to be bled.
I made a container with a small rubber hose coming off the bottom of it to do this.
Fill container 1/4 full with coolant, hook hose to top port on piston,manually open and close door SLOWLY.
You will see air bubbles come out and fluid level will drop as it is drawn into piston.
Don't let coolant level in cup drop too low, then it will allow air into piston again.

Az usual Sammy's on da $ again!

I use a 20 oz or liter pop plastic bottle and poke 2 holes in the top then I run vacuum hose from the bottom of the bottle to the cylinder with barb fittings installed it the plugged holes. Working the door (sometimes fast and hard at first to get the flow started) back & forth slowly to purge the air out of it.
Also I use a 50/50 % (anti freeze/water) mix. FWIW  BK   

And I might be interested in a manual door closure set up swap! LOL!