[Per]

One of the air leaks on the short list is the air adjustable steering column. Pretty common but especially in the winter.

That would sound like it’s under the dash …port side of helm.

[Corey]

Certain vintages also were know for leaks in the small air lines to the pressure gauges. Often overlooked. On that vintage coach I think they were under pressure at all times.

[Archived]

Well the air leak behind the dash disappeared after we hit the warmer weather in Dallas.

Prevost believes it’s one of the three 1/4″ air-line going to the gauges. They said they experience many more air leaks in cold weather. Besides that, since it’s a Marathon dash, so it would be a Marathon issue to change out the air-lines.

The downside is that there is no compression fitting going into the dash, unless you go with new gauges which doesn’t seem too wise at this stage of the game.

Also, the R-14 & R-12 valves, at least on my coach, required “a lot” of moving various items to get to the valves. For example, to get to the R-14, they had to remove the automatic electric cord mechanism. Not an easy task and definitely more time consuming than a “normal” R-14 replacement.

With other H-3s here in my vintage, I’m noticing that the converters switch up putting all their stuff in various locations from coach to coach.

[Michael]

Tim , on other coaches I have replaced the fittings on the gauges with comp fittings so they never will leak again , but don’t know what type of gauges you have , a pic of the front of the gauges might help

[Archived]

Tim,

Peter offers one option. A second option is to go to the origin of those air lines and add a solenoid valve that is only open when the key is on. I’m not sure why Marathon would have anything to do with air gauges unless the gauges are dedicated to the house air system.

[Archived]

Good suggestions. The air leak was audible this a.m. Will mention isolating those 3 lines. I looking at the pneumatic schematic with the tech. Wow, Incan see why Jon isolated his individual lines to track down an air leak since there seems to be dozens & dozens of possible points for air leaks.

[Archived]

So far I have the air lines to 21 devices or systems isolated on a manifold each with a shut off valve. And I am not done. I still have to somehow separate the front and rear slide air lines and isolate the various air functions for the slides. The, and only then will I begin chasing the less obvious leaks.

I would rather eat bees than chase air leaks. None of what I have done so far has anything to do with the braking systems, both of which are tight and will hold air for months, but are about to get new components such as relay valves, etc.

Did I ever tell you how I would rather eat bees????

[glen]

The only way to change the fitting is to either pull the dash (Marathon) or wait till my front window cracks and then get to the gauges that way. We did isolate it to the F brakes gauge that is leaking. But I need to have the tech see if we can find the origin to put a solenoid on them. The tech told me that newer Prevosts have built in solenoids that once you turn the key off it shuts off the air to avoid air leaking down. Still not done though…tomorrow is another day after replacing check valves to isolate the leaks. Here’s a pic of the three gauges behind the dash looking thru my windshield. If this 1/4″ leaks, is that sufficient for the F/R brakes to leaks down overnight? Plus the aux.. Also, beside check valves are there pressure protection valves or are they the same thing?

[Archived]

That leak in the gauge will definitely cause a leak down of the air in that system.

[Dan]

That picture is a pic of my Freon accumulator tank????? Don’t know how it got on this post? Definitely not an air line going to guages.

[Greg]

Tim,

C’mon, fess up and tell us how you did that. If we can’t blame you we have to find out if the site is having a problem.

BTW, we are going to be at FQRV tomorrow afternoon. Want to hook up?

[Greg]

Ok … Someone sabotaged my photo! I had the right one there before. I tried uploading the right photo but for some reason that same photo comes up and it’s not one that I’ve ever taken. Anyway, Prevost was actually able to fix it without pulling the dash or removing the window. And Jon you were right, that little 1/4″ line was the grief of my brakes going down so rapidly going down the road and overnight. All is good now… Just a quick suggestion on new parts. Prevost put in a new R-14, 1 new R-double 12 valve and 2 new R-12 valves. The second shift did two of the valves and failed to test after they put in the 2 R-12. During the test drive, the brand new valve leaked like a funnel. Moral of the story is new parts do fail and, when having someone do work on your coach, make sure it’s tested before pulling out, especially with those valves which are concealed behind your batteries or other hardware. Prevost had to take out the house batteries twice. Glad the second time was on their tab. Jon, Cindy & I arrive tomorrow at Thousand Oaks in NO, about 5 miles east from your location. We leave Sunday. Would love to get together with you & your bride … And any other PC members. Let me know what works for you guys … We’ll be down in the FQ since we’ve never been there so we can easily swing by.

[Archived]

“NO” close by, in “FQ” is this code for secret meetings? Is the NSA on to us? Us west coaster are clueless with the code.

[Larry & Diane]

FQ…French Quarter RV Park.

[Archived]

Tim, as soon as we get to FQRV we will call. Not sure of exactly when, thinking 3:00

Dinner? We have no toad this trip.