Air line froze ?

[Eagle Andy]

Ok all  you cold weather guys that use your bus in the winter, I was getting the bus ready to leave on the 23rd for our trip south for a few days and I seem to have a reacurring problem. I have a aux compressor for airing up the bus before I have to start it and hit the trail. I have this Alcohol anti freeze injector that I got off one of the trucks at work , But I ran out of time to put it on.

So I drained all my air tanks when I blew out the water system before it got real cold and it has been anywhere between -10F to 10 above for the last couple of weeks . I had no problem starting the bus as I have a block heater . I must not have got all the water out of the system or my air dryer is not working very well because I can't get passed 20lbs air in the system .

I put a check valve in where the compressor fills the main air system , Is it possible that that check valve is holding water and sticking closed. If the sysem is froze up Iam done it's not supposed to warm up for some time. Ihave the bus on ramps  at the rear of the bus so I can get under it easy but the front of the bus is rather low . Can i remove the air line from the dryer and force feed some deicer in and then pump air in the system and maybe work something loose .  Thanks for any thoughts  Andy

[eddiepotts]

Just a thought but I would skirt the bottom with tarps and put some hallogen lights under the bus or use a space heater until it thawed.

[bobofthenorth]

This is nothing more than a WAG from a long ways away but it sounds to me more like the governor is froze in the unload position.  I'd put some heat directly on the top of the compressor and see what happens.  The only time I ever added alcohol to an air brake system it was a trailer and I just poured it in the red glad hand so that won't really help you much.

FWIW my Proheat keeps my engine compartment above 50 degrees even in -30 weather.  I know this because Jim Shepherd sold me a temperature gauge for the engine and gennie compartments.  Touch wood but I have never had trouble with the bus air freezing up.  I always forget to leave the compressor on a pressure cycle but I'm more than a little paranoid about never setting the brakes while they are still hot.  I always leave it in gear when its cold so that the drums and shoes get time to freeze before the brakes come on.

[Eagle Andy]

Thanks Bob , I will check it out tomorrow , Just a note, when I took the line of my Aux compressor and tryed to blow thur it It seemed plugged , So I not sure where my problem is . thanks Andy

[Joe Camper]

I also would go to the regulator if you can get at it easy either remove it and bring it in and warm it up or replace it for about 15 bucks. While your there remove the main line coming off the compressor and pour in some thaw.

What are you referring to when you mention aux compressor?

So the bus doesn't air up either way with the Bendix on the engine or the aux. compressor??

[Eagle Andy]

Yes Joe that is correct either way that's what is confussing me . I talk to our head Mech today and thought it might have a piece of ice stuck in the Gov so when I get home Iam going to warm it up and pour some thaw in the main line and try to hook up My anti freeze injector and see what happens . Thanks andy

[Van]

Any update?

[Dreamscape]

Yeah, we need to know! Hope you can get it thawed out so you can visit us, it was 85° here today! 

[opus]

I would put some dry gas in the line just where it leaves the compressor.

[Eagle Andy]

Yea the only update is it's -2 f and Iam not going anywhere lol I guess I don't want to go bad enough lol .Iam going to look at it wed when I have a clear mind work has been making me crazy and the weather sucks . If we do anything Iam thinging if I get this thing running Iam heading south on I25 until I fine warm lol ,  at this point Iam not sure where we will end up 

[buswarrior]

If you are getting some rise in pressure from nothing to 20 lbs, where is the leak?

The air is going somewhere...

How is your air drier heater powered? Is it turned on? Some coaches are wired through the coach heater circuits.

Where is the air gauge plumbed in? Check pressures at each tank to determine how far the air is getting into the system before reaching the blockage.

Don't waste time and cold fingers disassembling random things without further diagnosis.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[luvrbus]

Andy, if you still have the auto drains like most Eagle you just have one frozen open


good luck

[Eagle Andy]

Thanks Guys , Iam going to disconnect the main line from the compressor and but some thaw in and put some heat to the governor and maybe it will brake lose I will keep moving forward if it takes all my vacation lol .

[Eagle Andy]

Clifford I have manuels with a cable on each one and while the Bus was full of air I drained each one until I had no pressure and I did this while we still have above freezing temps. I guess Iam not supposed to drive this thing lol I'll get it figured out

[buswarrior]

Don't put stuff in ahead of the air compressor, you will turn the desiccant into mud, which then gets to travel, and plug the purge valve open, you end up with a disabling air leak and get to clean it later.

Your choice, do some diagnosis, or keep getting cold making more work for yourself.

Shield the under side of the bus with cardboard, aim a heater close at the air drier for awhile to rule it out being the problem. Work from there.

happy coaching!
buswarrior