Automatic Drain Valves

DoubleEagle · September 24, 2020, 06:04:02 PM

It's time for me to replace a Bendix DV-2 Automatic Drain Valve for the wet tank. Any recommendations as to whether I should stick with Bendix or try other brands like Haldex, PTP, etc. I also saw mention of an Electronic Drain Valve by Expello, but would it be dependable?

luvrbus · September 24, 2020, 06:30:04 PM

I have the Expello on the Country Coach they are dated 2007 not a problem yet they still work when you push the button,I had the Bendix automatic on the Eagle they are easy to rebuild most of the time all that was needed was a new 25 cent valve like you find inside the valve stem on a tire and you don't need to remove the whole unit to replace it

DoubleEagle · September 24, 2020, 07:22:27 PM

The Expello is used on Peterbuilt's and Kenworth's, but the best price I have found so far is $169.95. Maybe I should try repairing the Bendix since I am so cheap.

buswarrior · September 24, 2020, 07:29:08 PM

Never been a fan of auto drains. Horrible reliability.

A busnut WANTS to know what is coming out of there, and witness its passing, the volume, the consistancy and the content. A bit of water, a lot of water, brown goo, black goo, a stream of oil...

And when does the busnut discover that the "automatic" isn't anymore?

Invented to sell to fleet owners, trying to do something about drivers who wouldn't drain tanks... that typically isn't the busnut crowd, we have a vested interest in the proper care and feeding of the coach...

Just my 2 cents, if you like 'em, replace 'em.

Happy coaching!
Buswarrior

luvrbus · September 24, 2020, 07:46:03 PM

You can buy the aftermarket with a heater for 35 bucks.you really need the heater because they don't work in cold and freezing weather On Eagles those were standard OEM since the 05,they make a pneumatic auto drain that cycles with the compressor but I forgot who makes those my dump trailers used that type and we never had problems with those

DoubleEagle · September 24, 2020, 08:18:25 PM

Quote from: buswarrior on September 24, 2020, 07:29:08 PM

Never been a fan of auto drains. Horrible reliability.

A busnut WANTS to know what is coming out of there, and witness its passing, the volume, the consistancy and the content. A bit of water, a lot of water, brown goo, black goo, a stream of oil...

Buswarrior

Not quite horrible, but they certainly can malfunction. The manual valves with the pull cable can act up as well, and not seal up okay because of the crap coming out. Another plus for automatics is that some old guy has one less thing to stoop down for.

richard5933 · September 25, 2020, 04:11:22 AM

I like the manual as well, but I really wonder how many people actually drain them at the end of every day? If they are not emptied daily, they're definitely less useful than the auto systems. Either system, drained regularly, should not have anything in it but water unless there is a problem.

If we drove regularly in freezing weather I'd consider adding an auto system with a drier, but since we don't I'll stick with the manual for now.

dtcerrato · September 25, 2020, 07:16:40 AM

A good dryer set up makes drain valves almost obsolete...

Ed Hackenbruch · September 25, 2020, 07:29:31 AM

Put the manual drains with pull cables on my bus and i always drained them every time i ran the bus, even if it was only for a few minutes.

richard5933 · September 25, 2020, 08:00:15 AM

Quote from: dtcerrato on September 25, 2020, 07:16:40 AM
A good dryer set up makes drain valves almost obsolete...

Yes and no.

When they work properly, they will remove the moisture. But, it's still a part of a post-trip inspection on commercial vehicles to pull the cables and confirm that there is no water in the tanks.

No way to know if the drier is working if the tanks are not blown daily.

Jim Blackwood · September 25, 2020, 08:06:48 AM

So, now that I have the bus up on stands, how hard should you have to pull those to open them? I don't have any cables so I guess I should add them on. Is there a preferred way to do that?

Jim

Another thing... the drains really aren't at the bottom of the tanks, so how much good are they really if they leave 2" of water below them?

chessie4905 · September 25, 2020, 08:14:46 AM

one of mine with the cable on the 4104 developed a pin hole, causing a small leak. I would have never fount it without my pit. Mine have cables that run to outer edge of wheel well. You may need a loop of some kind in the middle area so the lanyard doesnt rub over parts.Out of sight and away from tire swing on front. Also have Bendix ad 9 air drier on both

luvrbus · September 25, 2020, 10:49:50 AM

Unless it has changed since I stopped doing DOT inspections tank drains and air dryers were not required as part of a DOT inspection. They are getting nasty about a certified tech working on brakes on commercial vehicles they just pulled a friends of mine DOT inspections for no certified person, no more inspections for him, Canada has that rule for years

sledhead · September 25, 2020, 04:06:03 PM

I replaced all my pull drains in the spring and installed new ones and put a small loop cable ( 5 " long ) so I can pull them with the awning thingy ( 4 ' long ) that I use to get at all the window awnings

works for me

dave

richard5933 · September 25, 2020, 05:16:58 PM

Quote from: luvrbus on September 25, 2020, 10:49:50 AM
Unless it has changed since I stopped doing DOT inspections tank drains and air dryers were not required as part of a DOT inspection. They are getting nasty about a certified tech working on brakes on commercial vehicles they just pulled a friends of mine DOT inspections for no certified person, no more inspections for him, Canada has that rule for years

Don't know about the DOT checking them during their inspections, but without a doubt they were a required item on our post-trip inspections. But, I seriously doubt that many drivers actually did complete post-trip inspections judging by what I saw.