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1/4″ Air Line
I had a little glitch yesterday. I was going south on I-99 approaching the Pilot near Madera, California when I heard an air leak under my feet. In the outside compartment I found a 1/4″ air line with a split. The split was a few inches below the floor of the bus and I believe the line is going to the driver’s seat.
I could see the Pilot mobile repair truck there but no tech. I called the 888 number and he was at the bus before I was off the phone. He confirmed the split hose, grab his tools and said it would be a quick fix. Then I found out that all he had were push fitting couplings. He said their supplier did not sell compression fittings for 1/4″ air line. ????
He cut out a piece of line but I did not think he took enough out.
The split was on the end that was cut so I figured the end that was left was cut too. That was confirmed when it was still leaking a little when we cranked it up. He finally got down to good line and we finished our trip less than 90 minutes later in Riverdale, California.
This line did not appear to be rubbing against anything and it was not pulled tight in the area where it split. Should I be trying to find some one to replace this line this week or at least eliminate my new push fitting?
Thanks
Davy
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4 Replies
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Davy,
If it is leak free I wouldn’t worry about it. As opposed to push in fittings as a lot of are, if they are leak free don’t mess with them either because if it ain’t broke there is no need to fix it.
But something made the hose split so you could have a defective section of hose so when it is convenient it would probably be a good idea to purchase a short section of new DOT hose and a pair of compression fittings so if you do develop a leak you can cut out the bad section and replace it with new hose and compression fittings.
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What was on the line for fittings when the line failed? Compression fittings are better, but not enough to make me want to rip a good push in fitting out just to say I did.
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Mark,
If I am understanding your question, the existing line has compression fittings on each end, IF I and seeing things correctly. The line failed in a wide open place away from the fittings and was not rubbing anything that I could see.
Once I get some where it can be done, I will try to replace the line. It bugs me that it split for no apparent reason. It is the second 1/4 line to do so in 13 months. The other split very close to a valve and was spliced with compression fittings.
Davy
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Davy, a little compassion for you. Mine blew out one of those plastic quarter inch air lines in the steer compartment also. It wasn’t touching anything. Happened just north of Minot at the end of a 12 hour run from Calgary. Caused the left side to drop down. It was a leak that Stevie Wonder could have found. Didn’t carry any spares at that time. Got lucky it blew out at the end of it’s run so I could snip and reuse the fitting. I think air flow through the line eroded the sidewall as it popped at the outside of a turn as it went into the fitting. And later discovered that the height control valve on that side was leaking, thus more air flow.
In comparing the oem line to the new, wall thickness was greater on the new. Amazing how such delicate stuff can mess up our day.
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