Tag Axle air leak

[NMDave MCI 102C3]

Our MCI 102C3 has developed a leak somewhere in the tag axle and is preventing the bus to air up. If I shut the valves to the tag I can air up to full pressure.
My question is we have a gig (Wildlife West Music Festival) we have to be at tomorrow 150mi away (Edgewood, NM) then another 200 to get us home (Bloomfield, NM) where I could work on it in my shop.
Some input on whether it would be OK to travel this distance with the tag retracted and should I reduce my speed at all?
Tires are 75% and in good shape.
Thanks for your help.
NMDave

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Hi Dave,

Last year I drove home from Florida to New Jersey at 75 mph with no air in the tag axle. But, I didn't know I did that until I got home.

Because I didn't know, it makes it ok....lol

You shouldn't have a problem in that short distance. If it's on your mind, just lift the axle and chain it up.

I don't have auto tag lift so I have to dump, then back up to a curb then get the tag chains out of the batt compartment.

Good Luck
Nick-

[Devin & Amy]

NMDave,
We put 16,000 miles on our bus with the tag unloaded. I recieved some bad info on which way the rear valve in the RR engine access panel should be positioned. My mechanic said that if my brakes had'nt been as worn out I would have noticed sooner.

I don't really know, but I don't think you will have a problem. Just watch your tag when you apply the brakes to see if they lock up.

HTH
Devin

[Sojourner]

Caution if you have leaky rolling lobe tag bag.....to avoid burn-out tire tread or common "flat spot" to a point of blow out.....jack-up and chain up tag until you have it repaired. Then after bag or leak repaired...check regulator setting to each tag's air bag so you won't have emergency lock-up to damage tire thread to point of blow-out. It should never lock up until dual wheel does first. However it not always possible to avoid depending on its coach's weight shift point while in turn or hill or spotty wet surfaces while in emergency braking.

Manual will tell you to adjust tag's air bag pressure to their spec...but that is for average passenger load setting. However we have a conversion that only vary from fuel level & water weight in holding tank instead of over 10000# of passengers & baggage. Plus overall conversion it already heaver than empty.

So before our bus conversion is driven on highway find truck scale that is level plane & flat ground with scale's surface. Usually (not always) farm elevators is a good because of larger surrounding area on both side to be able to do one wheel at a time in same (coach) direction. Weight one side of dual on scale with air off in tag's bag & not on scale to record and then move dual off scale so that only one tag wheel in on scale to adjust air regulator till load weight is about half of one dual. Do the same on other side.

After your tag's brake is inspected for condition & adjustment...I would suggest to add a tag air brake regulator inline to reduce lock-up condition whenever emergency stopping arise. Adjust tag's brake regulator so it barely slipping on light wet surface. This can be done in dry parking lot free of loose sand or light gravel on pavement with someone watching your  lock-up while driver rolling about 5 mph & panic stop with lose interior items tied down or removed. Start with inline regulator lower than locking pressure  & repeat test run until it locking tag wheel then back-off air pressure setting about 2 to 5 lbs less. Do this one side at a time. Then again test run a few time to satisfied.

I am sure many have had lock-up including me. I know someone last week had to make a emergency braking to avoid ram into crazy driver's car. He later pull into away from home truck stop to chat & eat lunch while tag went BOOM. We didn't hear it while in restaurant but someone heard the blow-out & left a note to mention "you have a blow-out tire in left rear". It worn a large flat spot down to half of casing left....good thing it blow in safe place to replace tire....not on expressway.

If he see this post....he may respond his experience.

Bottom-line do not drive without proper air pressure in tag's bag. Otherwise if air bag is leaking....jack up to chain up. Normally heavy tag's chains is stored in upper tray box in battery compartment. PS...I didn't know I already had two chains until someone happen to seen it in tray box with flares. Thanks to Jim R.

If you don't have a set of 2 special chain length...you can make your own.
1) 4pc of ½" or larger Long type clevis (regulator clevis length won't work to go over MCI's hooks) with pin. Be sure it can go thru the chain link end you choose.
2) 2 pc of ½" or larger chain about 12" long. PS...you have to purchase by the foot anyway.

About correct chain length, I am 2 states away from where my bus is with chain measurement but you can cut off the extra links after you jack-up tag with tag's air dump valve in exhaust position.

Caution never turn tag's bag air on in this stage until removed chain.

Everyone should have a set of tag's-up chains & small 2 or 4 ton jack plus a footing of 2x6x12 wooden block or 3/8 thick x 6" square steel plate on board at all time.

By the ways if you don't already have a manual....by all mean get one.

You do whatever it suit you. It your money & to have more peace of mind while traveling.

FWIW

Sojourn for Christ, Jerry

[ttomas]

Hi Sojouner, thanks for the detailed info on the tag axle. I saw the chains you spoke of the other day but had no idea what they were for. I sure like this site. ttomas