Prevost AirLock?

[BusCrazyinFL]

I am a locksmith by trade and have a customer that has a 1995 XL and is living in his bus full time. I have made keys for all the locks because he has lost them more than once. He called me the other day because he was locked in his bus. When I got there, I pulled the handle from the outside and the door opened. I didn't see anything wrong with the door mechanism. Next day he calls me out again saying the same thing happened. I went back out but by the time I arrived the door again would open. It seems that when he starts his bus in the morning, this lock automatically engages. It's apparently a safety feature while the bus is running to keep the door sealed and air-tight. The problem is the cylinder is not releasing until all the air is out. I'm thinking that the air cylinder is not functioning properly. Has anyone run into this problem? Does he need to take it to Prevost or is there something I can do to correct this problem? Btw, this bus has been sitting for a couple of years without being used.

[bevans6]

MCI's have an air dump valve for the door, located under the dash and with a cable or external push device.  It dumps the air cylinder supply only.  I would look for the inside control for that.

Brian

[Ace]

Manny, mine is the same way and I also have a red switch that I must turn to release the air to oPen the door or once the door is closed I have to turn the switch so it will seal tight!

[robertglines1]

white is the air line color for door lines. look in front bumper/spare tire compartment for electric activated selonoid door release valve. If Liberty or some other pro conversion contact them. They change Prevost controls quiet often. Outside key probably activating Elect /air release selonoid to door close cyl.

[luvrbus]

Manny he has to have a 24v electric supply to work the door lock does he have the master switch off or on then he could have a bad solenoid

good luck

[BusCrazyinFL]

I looked for a switch but could not find one, and the owner didn't know anything about a switch. Where would it be? Funny thing is, he's been living in this bus for more than a year and this is just now becoming a problem.

[BusCrazyinFL]

Cliff, you might be right. That was one thing I was thinking might be wrong. I'll go back and check these things out. Last time I was there I didn't have the time to get into it too deep and wanted to do some research beforehand anyway...Thanks everyone. If I can't fix it I'll send him to Central FL Bus.

[wg4t50]

My MCI7 had the air lock latch, it is controlled by a micro switch that only locks when the master switch is on and the door handle is fully over center.  Just unlocking the door handle opens the micro switch IE door unlocks.
Very Simple

[luvrbus]

Manny check the voltage at solenoid and relay lube all joints and some models have a module to control the door probably the relay went bad

good luck

[Ace]

My guess the  Norgren valve went bad! Mine did and it did the same thing!

[Boomer]

I always wonder why these guys that have problems don't make their first call to the Prevost regional tech rep.  They will answer the question immediately, for free.

[luvrbus]

Mark they get pretty lost sometimes on the conversion shells with converters re locating things I been talking to one for 2 days bless his heart he has no idea what going on with a Marathon neither does Marathon lol

good luck

[artvonne]

he has no idea what going on with a Marathon neither does Marathon lol

good luck

    Good thing NASA didn't work that way during the Apollo 13 deal, eh?

    I plan to remove the air lock on my 5. I just need to find a good door latch mechanism so it clamps shut good and tight.

[Ace]

I agree on calling the reps but another thing is if you understand how the door works you would love it! Mine used to pop open at will and at 70 mph that ain't funny! I took the time to learn it and now I wouldn't have any other!

[artvonne]

What I see on mine is that while the air lock works quite well, it makes the entire stair well 4 inches narrower. If the air lock was gone I could open the stairwell up the entire width. One thought I had was putting the air cylinder on the wall and making it suck the door shut from there. Another thought was to put the cylinder on the door itself. I think it would be simpler to lose it all together and use some decent latching mechanism that doubles as a lock.