Driving with no air in front air bags?

Jerry32 · January 24, 2015, 01:00:35 PM

I developed a leak on the way to Yuma and find it is the front air bags., My plan is to put a solinoid valve in line to the front and be able to air up the bus to get started and then while rolling turn on the air as with the engine at higher RPM the compressor will keep up with the leak. I will try to get home this way or if there is an increase in the amount of leak I can shut of the air and flat! Is this an acceptabel Idea?Jerry

bevans6 · January 24, 2015, 01:25:11 PM

If the leak is greater than the allowable DOT leakage (3 psi per minute I recall) then driving with the leak is illegal, which is up to you if you do it or not. If you drive with the bus on the bump stops at the front, you stand a great chance of breaking the frame or torquing the chassis. The old wives tale is popping the windshields out, no idea if that is true. The bus is not designed to be supported on both bump stops at the front, it is designed to pivot side to side freely. A lot depends on how far you have to go and the roads you have to drive on. If I was a mile from home, I'd try it. If I was 50 miles from home I'd hole up and fix it. 10 miles? Good question. If you have to drive flat, air the tires down to maybe 40 psi?

Just my thoughts. Sorry it happened to you!

Brian

eagle19952 · January 24, 2015, 02:54:51 PM

i would NOT even consider dropping the air pressure to 40 psi....

not a good idea.

Geoff · January 24, 2015, 03:21:08 PM

A few years back a bus owner had great success using "Slime" flat tire repair. The size they sell for passenger tires is 2-3 times as much as you need for an air bag , so install accordingly.

--Geoff

bobofthenorth · January 24, 2015, 03:30:20 PM

Years ago I was on a tour bus that blew a front bag and limped into Bozeman on the bump stops. It was a SLOW rough trip and noisy. You won't go very far on flat bags before you start looking for a new plan.

moosemanusa · January 24, 2015, 03:36:54 PM

Where is the leak? the fill valve, the lines or both bags?

Jerry32 · January 24, 2015, 03:41:52 PM

Well I don't believe the bag will fail but just incase I want to be able to remove myself from a location ie freeway etc; and didn't think about driving 1200 miles on the stops.
goo seems to be a good idea but finding a way to get it in the air bag is a challenge. Jerry

Jerry32 · January 24, 2015, 03:47:12 PM

I don't know whwere the leak is as I isolated it by blocking the fill line to the righjt side and then was able to air ok.

bevans6 · January 24, 2015, 03:52:09 PM

I forgot to add "at 20 miles per hour" to the 40 psi thought. I'd have to think it through, but even airing up one side would be better than no air at all in the front, I would think? I think I would drive it, slowly, with one side up and feel OK about it.

Brian

Lin · January 24, 2015, 04:02:13 PM

I am a little confused as to what the problem is. Is the leak in one of the bags or elsewhere? It seems unlikely, although not impossible, that both front bags would develop a leak at the same time. Are both sides supported by one height control valve as is usually the case? If a bag is leaking, the tire goo could be a way to deal with it temporarily. If it is elsewhere, you could possibly isolate the bags and air them up. They should not need a constant air supply, just like your tires don't. In short, to determine what your best course of action is, you will need to determine where the leak is.

moosemanusa · January 24, 2015, 04:31:41 PM

Usually its a single line going to a "T" piece that then fills the bags. 1 leveler only (rear has the two).

Could be a problem at the "T"

Again, I don't know this unit and agree with Lin

Jerry32 · January 24, 2015, 05:14:59 PM

Yes and as there is a single line to each bag , blocking the right side shows the leak to be in the bag... Jerry

bevans6 · January 24, 2015, 05:26:58 PM

If those are the rolling lobe bags, I think they are a lot easier to change than the old style convoluted springs. That might be a light of sunshine, at least... When I sit down to change a convoluted spring I don't plan on getting up for four hours, and then just to stretch... I changed all of mine since I got her.

Brian

eagle19952 · January 24, 2015, 09:42:16 PM

Quote from: bevans6 on January 24, 2015, 03:52:09 PM
I forgot to add "at 20 miles per hour" to the 40 psi thought. I'd have to think it through, but even airing up one side would be better than no air at all in the front, I would think? I think I would drive it, slowly, with one side up and feel OK about it.

Brian

you really need to rethink the whole idea....at any speed. or are you not talking about the tires ?
i hope not.

Ed Hackenbruch · January 25, 2015, 07:02:32 AM

Jerry, where are you at in Yuma? I have a couple of spare used air bags, maybe one of them will fit if you need it? Gonna be tied up all day today, won't be back online until later tonight.