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It could just be the cold but It may be a sign that your compressor is on its way out. It happened to me about a year ago. You could hear the compressor labor and the supply leads were really getting hot, almost melting. I replaced the unit with a 100% duty cycle VIAIR ($220).

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Use the universal bus electric circut tester AKA…. wifes air dryer and gently warm up the check valve area.

I have been caught with Mary Elllen’s bus hair dryer in work locations. The conversation does not go well

On your own with this one.

[Jim/Chris]

Charles,

Your compressor is in a little sound box ahead of the steer axle I think. If it is like my aux compressor in my 97 coach it made some rattling sounds as pressure built, and it would smooth out and make less noise as the aux air system pressure built. I think what you describe might be normal. Having said that however it would not hurt for you to get the coach warmed up when you can so everything is above freezing and drain the entire coach air systems. Unless you know for sure the air system was properly maintained you have to assume otherwise.

BTW, the same goes for cooling system maintenance, and if you lack maintenance records showing that was maintained assume it was not and put it on your to-do list.

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so moved the bus to a place I have access to 50amp electricity. With that move, I brought it to loves (using the new fuel discount card) and filled up the tank.

By the time I got the bus to the new spot, the air compressor was warmed up and works fine now. Feel better with it now being plugged in over night and keeping things warm. This will hopefully be our last summer in the cold.

[Paul]

Have a 1990 liberty

My aux compressor builds pressure but is becoming very noisy until pressure builds. I would like to buffer this compressor noise, sounds like a thrid stage of a high pressure compressor.

The compressor is very large (two pistons / oppossing) and is not in a sound box. It is located behind the cruiseairs behind the front bumper. Is there a rebuid kit or should be replaced (on its way out). I would like to stay with Liberty’s heavy duty compressor. Is there maintence that needs to be conducted. I belive it would be oil less. Located in a not so accessble location to conduct frequent maintenance.

Has anybody rebuit or replace this type of compressor. Model No. ……… the coach is in a snow bank and difficult to access right now.

[Robert]

I’ve never had to rebuild or replace a Liberty furnished compressor. Whatever noise they make may be annoying, but they seem very reliable.

[Dick]

Darrell,

My 94 probably had the same pump as your’s, located behind a removable panel behind the steer axle. It was always very noisy, but worked well.

Liberty went to a Gast Compressor with my 01 and it is very noisey as well. It’s mounted in the center of the bus behind the entertainment center. It gets quieter the closer it gets to the cut out pressure. I have a spare Gast Compressor and when I operated it on the work bench, it was noisy. Just the nature of the beast.

Unless you come up with some kind of hush box, there not much you can do about the noise. By the way, these compressors make a bunch of water, so keep draining that Norgren filter.

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Thank Tom

I don’t know. The older we get, we should be going deaf. It might be just me but it seems louder now that before. Interesting that there is an access panel behind the steers to get at it. I will have to shave off the foam insulation and have a look. Thx

Again I thought maybe liberty upgraded to a quieter one.

Hey Jon. Its warmer now in Alberta than in Tennesse today … Polar votex

Thanks guys

[Darrell]

Darrell,

There was no foam on the compressor panel on my 94 and there were probably 8 or 10 screws holding it.

Maybe Tom R will jump in here, he’s probably had it off since he’s owned it.

[Jim/Chris]

I haven’t been under since October. I don’t recall a panel. Your refering the location of the panel on the bulk head ahead of the axle. That would be awesome if located there to access.

It would be great to have an access panel large enough to get at a few other issues like my floor slide ram.

Thanks Tom

[Peter]

We will be in Galveston tomorrow so for until Sunday we are not worrying about the Knoxville temps.

We are worrying about the Lufkin TX temps right now. It’s cold.

[Jim/Chris]

Darrell,

I’m the guy that Tom C referred to. On my 94′ as Tom mentioned, there is a panel behind the steer axle that can be removed to access the aux compressor. There is no foam on the panel and can be removed by loosening about a dozen screws. If you remove the panel, it will likely have a seal between it and the bulkhead. If there is no seal, I recommend you install one before replacing the panel. As to maintenance, the air filters will require a periodic cleaning or change out and of course frequent draining of the air/water seperator in the steer bay. My compressor is a Gast and is noisy and I have reduced the audible level inside the coach by upgrading the soundproofing and vibration dampening. If you must replace your compressor, you might want to take a look at those manufactured by California Air Tools. They are coming out with a new 1 hp compressor, Model CAT-MP100LF, that is suposedly a continuous duty machine and is very quiet – 60 decibels. This compressor will retail around $240.

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Tom, that CAT compressor looks pretty nice. Are the specs close to the Gast ?

Mine is loud also and I am going to look into isolation pads. Did you use anything special ? Also think I may add a baffle between the compressor and Cruisair with sound dampening material, depending on the amount of access through that panel.

Did you add any sound dampening material to the side of the access panel facing the compressor ?

Robert

[Archived]

You guys all need to get a Jun-Air compressor. http://www.jun-air.com/product_overview_quiet_air.aspx They run so quiet I can’t even tell it is running unless the compartment door is open!

[Bob]

Robert,

I will try and respond to your questions bearing in mind that I have not done a comprehensive study and/or comparison of the Gast and CAT compressors. But assuming the Gast is a Model Series 5HC, on the surface I conclude the following:

Space: It appears the CAT has a smaller foot print than the Gast therefore it could occupy the present designated space without interference.

Acoustics: The Gast is rated at 75 decibels and the CAT at 60. A difference of 15 decibels could be impressive inside the coach since the measurement of sound is a logrimthic function.

Performance: The free air flow (CFM) rating for the Gast is 3.6 @ 40psi and 2.6 @ 90psi whereas the CAT is 40 @ 40 psi amd 30 at 90 psi. The maximum pressure is not stated for the Gast but believed to be 125psi as is the CAT.

When I installed the soundproofing I did include the chamber cover plate. I had a rather large leak in the aux. air system and chased it down to a cracked copper tube on the compressor (fatigue failure). It was at this time that upgrades to the chamber were made. It is important to maintain tha size of the air route to the compressor so that it does not starve for air. On mine, the passage way is in the upper right corner which receives air from across two Cruiseair units from the front.

I can’t argue with the Jun-Air advocates because these compressors have a stellar track record. But the price of these units??? Oh man !!!!!!

Hope these views help.