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Air leak found
While traveling in the month of April an air leak on the Aux side cycled my Aux compressor every 4-6 hours while sitting. Checked a few locations from suggestions posted by other members, no luck.
Back in KC after a good nights sleep, back to the bus barn to find this leak. I had turned off the Aux compressor when I parked the bus and the tank was empty the next day. Turned every thing back on filling the system. Spent about a hour and returned to tank bay under the drivers seat.
Inside the bus barn with zero noise I heard a “psst” sound coming from the Aux tank. The sound I heard was coming from the green tank drain valve after getting under the bus.
I remembered draining the tank prior to leaving KC. Tightened the drain valve and never gave it another thought.
Opening and closing the drain valve several times the leak continued. Removing the gate valve portion of this valve it seats on a brass rounded end contacti/seated on a oval seat. On closer look the ball end had corroded with a couple of pit marks.
Getting a new drain valve with a better design solved the problem for $10.65.
This old valve has a brass wheel which is about the size of a nickel. I don’t know if this valve is common valve on these air tanks but there are better valves. The old valve is in the Parker catolog. If I had to take a WAG (wild ass guess) using this wheel valve was probably a solution for a tight clearence problem.
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5 Replies
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That has been a pretty common problem and I had one doing the same thing on the wet tank. When I did my air bags, shocks and norgrens, I removed the valve and put in a lanyard for draining, which enables me to drain the tank standing beside the drive wheels.
Aux leaks just never end, except for Hector….
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Tom,
Speaking of Hector….where is the king of finding air leaks ? I attended his talks while at Austin rally and Hector truly understands air systems. Hector, stresses that air leaks are always there and we manage them with patience. .
The last one on our bus was the drivers seat inflate/ dump valve. The only way the valve is available is a entire air kit. I even went out to Arrow Stage Lines here in KC. Every kit he had was missing one part…the inflate/dump valve.
AL
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Al,
I installed a solenoid that blocks in the aux air supply to the seat and step slide when the key is turned off. The ISRI seat is a very comfortable seat, but has been difficult to maintain leak free. For my coach, the solenoid system works great. When the key is turned on the solenoid energizes and supplies air to the seat and step slide, when the key is off, these two “high leakers” are blocked in. This modification has greatly improved the air integrity of my aux air system.
A great comment on “managing” these air systems. I am one that believes our Prevost suspension systems are so complicated, their will always be air leaks. After I returned from my travels last summer, I “attacked” the air system on my coach and was successful at getting the leak free seal of approval. Six months later, my coach is still very tight. So once the suspension system is tighten up, it will last for a while.
Good Luck,
Hector
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Hector,
Iam not leak free but we are still holding air from the 120 lb fill 4 days ago. I don’t know if I qualify for a seal of approval but based on how often the Aux air compressor ran two (2) repairs have had a major impact.
That drain valve must have slow leaked for a long time. After moving the valve around I had unknowly went from minor to major status…..
Has anyone else found this valve leaking ?
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The stock valves are a known major source of leaks and usually checked first and often.
JIm
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