Help needed - frozen air valve, not building pressure

[Tenor]

I need to take the bus to Detroit tomorrow, so on Wed. I aired up the bus with my air compressor to check for leaks.  Everything aired up fine.  Today, I fired up the bus to get some diesel, and it will not air up.  I have a large air leak/release either above the wet tank, or on top of the brake relay valve.  I have pressure at the dry air tank and I confirmed that by checking the pop valve that has a wire to pull.  I get no pressure to the air gauge, no air to any of the accessories and no air to the engine shutoff system and no air to the rear airbags.  The front airbags have never come down.  Where should I look to clear the blockage?  Thanks!

[zubzub]

I would suggest letting it high idle for awhile, with luck the heat from the engine will warm things up enough to clear whatever.  if there is anyway to cut the supply to the area that is leaking that would help too as the air rushing by will keep thing too cold.  BTW in Canada when I want things to warm up I block of the rad with a piece of plywood or carpet or whatever  between the fan and rad. 

[Tenor]

Some more info - the air leak is the safety valve  on the wet tank.  There seems to be very little air getting into that tank.  Any thoughts?

[niles500]

Did you try a light touch with a hot wrench?

[Tenor]

More update - installed the alcohol mister, and I'm putting air line antifreeze into the system after the dessicant canister, based on the advice of a long time trucker.  Any other ideas? 

I'm not sure where I would put a hot wrench...

[gus]

Do you have an automatic drain valve or dryer, it may be frozen.

[Tenor]

There is an old air dryer, it has a 24v connection, but I have no idea how it works.  This particular one is not in my manual.  It is a welded unit that I have not seen how to open. 

More update, I am getting air to the brakes, but not the parking brake release valve.  No acessories work yet and the airbags are still down in the rear.  The fronts have never come down.

[Sojourner]

Old Post About Frozen Air System (Left Click)

BTW...even if you install the alcohol system now while below 32°F, it will not always get thorough the blocked air line passage until air is flowing to let alcohol work and it will not fully removed water from tank until in warmer melting temperature.

The Bottom-Line is to always manually drain all tanks before stored in freezing climate or stored in a above freezing temperature building.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[Sojourner]

Bendix Air Dyer (left click)

About the 24v connection....that is heater next to the purger valve to keep it from sticking open and frozen shut.
The 24v is connect to engine run switch.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Gerald

[makemineatwostroke]

How much pressure is showing on your gauge, if it is frozen it should read 0 sounds like the air dryer to me remove the 1/4 inch line for a few seconds then reconnect and see if that helps   have a great evening

[Tenor]

Thanks for the tips guys!  The air dryer is not frozen up.  My air dryer is in line between the compressor and the discharge muffler and is plumbed with at least 3/4 inch hose and then 1 inch output.  I am getting air into the service brake system, but the parking brakes do not release. 

I did drain the system this fall, but I believe my garage air compressor pumped condensation into the bus on Wed. when I aired it up.

Makemine, the air gauge is staying at 0, and I think you meant for me to try disconnecting the air gauge line? 

Thanks again!

Glenn

[makemineatwostroke]

No, Tenor disconnect the 1/4 inch line on the dryer from the compressor governor for a few seconds ,have you tried using a large space heater the forced air type   
have a great day

[Tenor]

Makemine, there is no 1/4 inch line on the air dryer.  The only lines are the main input about 3/4 and the output which is about 1 inch.  There is a fitting on the bottom of the dryer that an air line could be attached to, but I assumed it really was there as a drain.  The compressor has 3 lines, one to the alcohol dispenser, one to the air line right above on the ceiling and another heading to the clutch assist.  It seems that all of the items that are not functioning are from the circuit running from the clutch assist.  Gerald, thanks for sending the pictures, but mine is different

[luvrbus]

Tenor, reading here maybe some of the guys could answer a question for me because I have never saw a air dryer that did not have a governor line ran to it how does it work ? do you have a photo because this sounds more like a filter or a ping tank. good luck and I hope you solve your problem

[busshawg]

I'd dump more alchol in, although I've never done this to my bus, therefore I'm not sure where to dump it. I have although taken the main line off of the compressor on big trucks several times and dump in as much as it will take, restart the engine a wait. Has worked for me each time.