1 wing woe

[Airbag]

I looked at my bus this morning and it was leaning all the way to the right. I aired it up and haven't had the nerve to look again yet. Just get the AC dialed in and then this whoopa. If the beams are leaking are the blanking plates OK with the convoluted bags? Seems to me one loses some cushioning affect by blanking the beams off? After all air is compressable right?

[Len Silva]

A little premature to be worrying about the beams.  More likely a bad leveling valve.

[Airbag]

No external leakage, will they leak down internally?

[Chopper Scott]

Mine started leaking between the tag and drive axle. If you take a spray bottle with some soapy water and spray it up  around the top of where the frame and floor meet I think you'll find the area where they seem to corrode first. As far as block off plates and the old style bags I'm sure you will experience a lot rougher ride. From what I have researched if you change to the rolling lobe type bags you don't have to use the block off plates as you eliminate the air supply to the beams and directly supply air to the bags as they have individual air ports supplying them from the side. They are more self cushioning than the bellows type bags. My first air leak was the 65 lb regulator feeding the front beams. After fixing that I got a leak out of the beams in the rear. And those leveling valves seem to leak when they are even new!!! Keep looking and keep us posted. Later

[Airbag]

Mine started leaking between the tag and drive axle. If you take a spray bottle with some soapy water and spray it up  around the top of where the frame and floor meet I think you'll find the area where they seem to corrode first. As far as block off plates and the old style bags I'm sure you will experience a lot rougher ride. From what I have researched if you change to the rolling lobe type bags you don't have to use the block off plates as you eliminate the air supply to the beams and directly supply air to the bags as they have individual air ports supplying them from the side. They are more self cushioning than the bellows type bags. My first air leak was the 65 lb regulator feeding the front beams. After fixing that I got a leak out of the beams in the rear. And those leveling valves seem to leak when they are even new!!! Keep looking and keep us posted. Later

Roger that Scott
I changed the regulator about a year ago it was completly rotted out and whistling air. I used a different type of regulator (adjustable) set it up on the bench and it seems fine so far. I have been soaping things but nothing so far, try some more in the morning.

[RJ]

Rick -

Just to keep things in perspective, I've seen brand new Gillig transits, both Phantoms & Low Floors, with just the 180 miles from the factory to the transit yard on the chassis, sitting all cattywampus the following morning due to leaking leveling valves.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Airbag]

Rick -

Just to keep things in perspective, I've seen brand new Gillig transits, both Phantoms & Low Floors, with just the 180 miles from the factory to the transit yard on the chassis, sitting all cattywampus the following morning due to leaking leveling valves.

FWIW & HTH. . .

Today it's still level. Maybe it had something under the seat of the leveling valve that blew down stream.

[TomC]

I made and installed manual air leveling valves.  I can electrically switch from the automatic leveling valves to the manual ones to both level at the campsite and to compensate for a possible leaking automatic leveling valve.  Works well-can either buy them or make them (three solenoids per valve).  Good Luck, TomC

[Airbag]

I made and installed manual air leveling valves.  I can electrically switch from the automatic leveling valves to the manual ones to both level at the campsite and to compensate for a possible leaking automatic leveling valve.  Works well-can either buy them or make them (three solenoids per valve).  Good Luck, TomC

Hi Tom
Do you have a schematic? Skinner valves?

[JackConrad]

Here is a photo of the solenoids we used.  We purchased them on Ebay. We also left OEM valves for "on the road use and use these when parked. We felt this gave us the "best of both worlds".  Jack

[Len Silva]

Jack,
Nice looking set up.  I had built a similar rig on my 4104.  In hindsight, I would have located the valves close to the airbags rather than all in one location.  It seemed to take forever to drain/fill the bags (and airbeams) with all that tubing.

My routine, when parking was to drain all the bags down to the stops, then raise as necessary to get level.  This had the advantage of making the coach a lot more solid when parked as well as lowering the entrance door.

[Airbag]

That's nice work Jack. You guys are obviously very smart.