Air Operated Step

[Ericbsc]

This is the air operated step I made for my eagle. I am using a 12v air valve to operate it,  but am thing of tying it to the park brake. Has anyone done this?

[luvrbus]

Eric, just about everyone ties into the parking brake on the Eagle I have a drawing somewhere that I will find and Email it to you or check the Eagles International web for instructions    Good luck

[makemineatwostroke]

I can not tell from the photo are you talking about a stair well cover or the actual step outside both of mine are tied into the parking brake    have a great day

[Ericbsc]

Just looked at the pic!! Sorry it dosent show much. I will repost. It is for the entry outside the bus.

[roger dolan]

    I made one for my 4106 it is held down with springs and held up with air. From the park brake of course. Have pics if you want.

                                     Roger 4106

[RJ]

Eric -

The air steps were a forerunner to today's kneeling buses.  MCI's were tied into the front door air lock circuitry, not the parking brake, so the step extended/retracted in concert with the door's movement.

Many an MCI step was customized by a driver who decided to reposition the bus's parking position while keeping the door open. . .

Naturally, if you tie your Eagle's step into the parking brake circuit, this won't create a similar situation.

A caveat, however:

MCI's design used an air cylinder to hold the step both open and closed.  Worked fine, as long as there was air in the system.  But, once the coach's air bled off, putting any weight on the step made it move - often unexpectedly, and often leading to somebody falling.  Not good!

So, however you install a step, make sure that when it's extended, it's solid, without any movement, regardless of the system's air pressure.  Roger's idea is a good one, for example.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[makemineatwostroke]

Eric; my step is tied to the parking brake also i have a dash control  switch for a linear 12v solenoid valve mounted close to the step.I leave the power off till ready to park so when i stop applying the parking brake to check on something without leaving the bus the step doesn't come out, it is also tied to the key switch so the power is off to the valve and not letting the air bleed back into the system  when parked the step will stay solid for months extended out with no springs.           have a great day

[roger dolan]

    One thing I must warn you of when constructing a air step is to profide some sort of orfice to slow the step when it retracts. When I first made mine it came up like a bear trap, unfortualy I caught the Bosses foot (she wasn't quick enough) I ,. how ever have healed nicely with hardly any scars. She
only lost a little skin.           
                                           Roger   4106

[Dallas]

I'm not certain I would ever tie anything into the parking brake system other than the parking brake.

Not saying that it isn't a good idea, but with spring brakes, if the step sprung, (Sprang, Springged, came unglued?), a leak, the brakes could lock up, or if using DD3's it seems like the brakes could lock up with an emergency application of the service brake if there is a leak large enough in the step system.

My choice would be to plumb a separate air line and switch off the aux tank and just learn that it's one more thng you have to do when you come to a stop.

DF

[Ericbsc]

I mounted the step today. I found the spring release and connected it to the air cylinder. Sounded just like a bear trap!!! Is there someplace to hook the down without springs? Will definately need air regulator

[RJ]

I'm not certain I would ever tie anything into the parking brake system other than the parking brake.

Dallas -


I think the folks are saying that their steps are connected electrically to the parking brake circuit. . . 

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Ericbsc]

That make a lot more sense. I have racked my brain trying to figure that uot. I have ordered a 12v 4 way valve with flow control from Grainger. That will allow me to operate the step with the brake on or off. I have a buzzer and light on the dash to alert when the step is down. It is tied to the switch so it will not drain battery when off.

[Dallas]

OK, Thanks RJ,

I sit corrected... mainly 'cause it's too hard to stand and type with a keyboard on my lap. 

DF

I'm not certain I would ever tie anything into the parking brake system other than the parking brake.

Dallas -


I think the folks are saying that their steps are connected electrically to the parking brake circuit. . . 

FWIW & HTH. . .

[belfert]

I don't think my original air step was connected to the parking brake as it was "customized" by a previous owner.  Whoever ripped the step off did a terrible job of sealing all the air lines off.  They just used a bunch of plastic ties to double over the tubing instead of actually sealing off the lines.

I would have to look at the air and electric schematics again to see if the parking brake is involved, but I doubt it.  I have an electric step to install, but I doubt I will reuse any of the original step wiring.

[roger dolan]

    Use a small ball valve that is postioned near the driver seat. If you should  tear off a air line you can shut off the valve. You can also use the valve to restrect the air
flow to the step to slow down the retraction.


                                      Roger 4106