Bus Won't Go

[Bob Gil]

sounds like Super Betty does not want to go to a new home.

[bowmaga]

Well, here's what I have found out and what i know.  The weather here right now is 22 degrees.  The bus has been parked since October 5th.  Last night, checking the tranny fluid level, it appeared to low, so i added some until I felt comfortable it was at a good level on the dipstick in the "cold Level" area.  Started the bus....let it air up...but it would as i noticed an slight air leak.  Seems my front pop-off valve is sticking open today.  tapped on it a couple times it shut and aired up the bus....now for the test.  As I was told, foot lightly on the brake, hit the emergency air realease, shove brake pedal to the floor, hold for 5 seconds, release, throw her in reverse and go......The big girl moved.....yippee, stopped, into to drive and we are moving now.......stopped to thank the bus gods, smiled, air pressure builds up, air valve pops open to release.....and sticks open and does not shut....air slowly drains from bus....low air pressure buzzer goes on.  Now what.  so i try the little trick with a little heater underneath to thaw it out.  that eventually works.  so i take her for a 100 yard drive, forward and back, as I'm backing her into her staging area for her new owner, valve pops again and sticks, i lose pressure fast.  I get it parked and get the heater out again.  At this point last night its only 26 degrees and falling.  The heater does the trick again and builds pressure.  I'm at a loss so i shut her down and block her up for the night.  She's ready to go down the road, but what happens if that valve sticks while the new owner is going down the road?  It appears that the little 24 volt heater on the dryer pop-valve is not working.  anything i can do other than replace that in say 18 hours, to get him down the road?  I want him to be safe.  Its supposed to be in the mid 30's tomorrow when he comes to pick it up and i think he should be fine, but i don;t know.  I thought about getting some 12 volt heat tape and wrapping around the sucker to keep it warm?  think that would work?

[grantgoold]

Wouldn't a local truck repair facility have something you could use? Seems like a fairly common item? Could you take the old valve off, clean and inspect and if another replacement isn't available, put the old one back on and get him going.  Obviously sharing this information with the new owner is a done deal!

Good luck!


Grant

[bowmaga]

yea, I've already talked to the trucking company.  they gave me some de-icer to spray on it.  They say they put it on all the trucks before it leaves their shop.  I don't think the valve is bad, i think its the icing of the moisture in the airdryer.  Once its warm, it worked fine, in a 3 hours period it only stuck twice, that's when the trucking company suggested the de-icer.  said it shouldn't be a problem.  The temps will be in the mid 30's tomorrow and mid 40's sunday.  And of course the new owner will know about it, for all i know he's reading these messages!!!!  ha.  We told him about this forum and said its helped us out and most likely will help him out.

[buswarrior]

First check, is there power to the heater in the bottom of the purge valve?

Second, maybe you will be lucky and the purge valve just needs servicing... meaning a clean and lube.

Don't jump to conclusions, it might not be frozen. The cold will make whatever old dried up lube even less likely to let the parts slide.

The purge is supposed to close when the air pressure is down, so you'll have to do a bit of dis assembly to put some spray lube to it to give it a good rinse.

happy coaching!
buswarrior