MCI Chassis flex?

[J_E]

Hopefully I mam just making a mountain of a mole hill.  However, early on I realized that the side door for the wheel chair lift was a bit of a pain to open and close when the coach was not running and had time to settle down.  I never really gave it much thought beyond thinking that I need to add adjusting one or both of the hinges to my to do list. This was even when parked on a flat "level" concrete parking spot.  The other day I was trying to figure out the wheel chair lift and what it would take to remove it, when I realized that that side door opened and closed flawlessly when the coach is running and the bags aired up.  I gave it a couple of days before I tried again, and with the coach off and everything settled down again, the door is back to being difficult to open.

Is this just a feature from cutting a giant hole in the side of the coach for the lift, or should I be starting to worry?

[buswarrior]

Is there any air lock or actuator involved, which will work properly when aired up, but drag when deflated?

Depending on whether that giant hole came from the factory, or was carved into it aftermarket... there were LOTS of aftermarket carving going on back when the ADA requirement came into force...

luvrbus has seen a lot of 'em, he knows where the beam needs to be found...

Stop opening the door with the air down???

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

[richard5933]

Maybe it's time to fix the air leaks so the suspension doesn't drop? Mine will sit for weeks without moving a fraction of an inch.

[J_E]

There is no air lock actuator on that door or on the bay doors, as far as I can tell.  It just sticks in the frame.  Swings freely once open, has a chain and d ring to hold it open.  Has a keyed deadbolt to lock it shut.  Luckily, the deadbolt is keyed the same as the main door.

Correcting air leaks and going through the air system is high, higher now, on my list.

Being able to open that big door will be a boon once we really get started.  It's already made removing the seats much easier than it could have been.

In the mean time, I guess I'll just wait until I am running the engine to open the door and move junk in or out.

[richard5933]

...In the mean time, I guess I'll just wait until I am running the engine to open the door and move junk in or out.

Have you thought about just using an electric compressor with a regulator to keep the bus aired up while you're working on it? Should be at least one place in the bus's air system to connect the air line.

[Tom Y]

I though my 5C front door was doing the same. Turned out some silicone grease on the after market door seals solved it. When dry they would grab the door, after parked for a bit.