rear air bags not airing up on one side

skihor · April 24, 2011, 06:02:54 PM

Not sure where to start looking. '69 MC 7. Does the '7 have an "air beam" that I've heard so much bad about ?
If so is there a fix for eliminating it ?

Thanks

Don & Sheila

robertglines1 · April 24, 2011, 06:09:24 PM

Is air pressure available? Does gauge show pressure? if so ck leveling valve on that side.

Chopper Scott · April 24, 2011, 06:16:50 PM

Yes it has a rear air beam. You might have a leveling valve with an issue however. Be careful and get some jacks or blocks under their before you get squished! I'm betting that's probably your problem. Could even be the link from the axle to the valve has wore through or gotten broken.

robertglines1 · April 24, 2011, 06:19:03 PM

Hi Scott it's your back yard here! you have been there doner that. I did with 8 Bob

kyle4501 · April 24, 2011, 07:02:44 PM

I had a bad air bag that would leak it thru the sides as fast as the leveling valve would supply air to it.
I replaced the leveling valve without checking the bags first - - - coulda, woulda, shoulda . . . .

Next time, I'll use some soapy water to look for bag leaks first.

Chopper Scott · April 25, 2011, 05:11:18 AM

I just feel happy when someone asks a question that I can understand Bob!!

Like Kyle stated it could also be a bag. Could be some other issues also but those would be the first to look at anyways.

gus · April 25, 2011, 04:07:36 PM

In addition to the other good advice be sure to check the adjusting linkage to the rear leveling valve arm on the low side. Sometimes the arm can be reached with the bag all the way down.

It takes very little leveling valve arm movement to open the valve. These connections wear out and the arm will no longer move enough to open the valve to air up the bag. If it is loose try moving it up when you have air pressure.

Bags seldom just fail without starting out with slower leaks.

Joe Camper · April 27, 2011, 04:40:21 AM

The linkage kits do not come with the levelers they often wear out first or bad are 15 bucks and need to be replaced whenever you put a new valve.

skihor · May 04, 2011, 06:30:30 PM

Found the issue... Turns out all of the air bags, (front, rear, and tag) are controlled by 6 switches @ my right elbow. They are on/off/on. Not knowing what they did I had them all in the middle position, (off). While running the bus today I put them all in the forward position and got distracted. Lo and Behold all of the air bags filled up... HUH ? I then turned one to the off position, went outside for something and heard an air leak coming from the right front... HUH ? Then it clicked... the three pairs of switches control the three axles air bags, and each pair operates each side of the corrosponding axle... HUH ? So in the on position all bags fill to proper ride height level. If leveling is needed turn off the ones that need to drop and when it gets where you want, I.E. level, turn them to the middle, "off" position and they stay there, bus running or not. I can get 6" plus of leveling capacity.
Have any of you guys ever seen such a setup ? Could this be stock ?

Don & Sheila

P.S. buying a bus @ auction sucks. No P.O. to tell you about the weird stuff

robertglines1 · May 04, 2011, 06:35:22 PM

Not stock but sounds like the system Red Rideout use to sell . Congrats you got leveling system.

gus · May 05, 2011, 03:15:05 PM

Be sure to find out for sure which switch position is highway and which is park so the bags will stay properly inflated when driving.

Chopper Scott · May 05, 2011, 05:50:50 PM

Now that is a surprise I wish I had! Congrats indeed. I don't have such an option but have some spacers I can put under the skillet for the wife to make those sunny and runny eggs I like!