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floor slide air leak
This is probably for Tom.
Auxillary air is cycling too frequently as we sit in Alexandria Va. arriving last Friday from northern Illinois. Shortly after arrival noticed that the aux air compressor was running more than normal. Found air leak noise in the steering compartment. Put on stethoscope, no help. Still have not found it, but it is not the solenoid for the floor, not the brake treadle valve, not any of the suspension valves. Could find no air fittings leaking in there but the sound of air leaking was clear. Next morning could not hear it, but based on compressor cycles it’s still leaking.
I’m going to assume its the cylinder for the floor slide. So I need some guidance on how to get it out to replace some “seals”.
Won’t be home until 10/9, next stop – Denver. Thanks.
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14 Replies
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Dan,
The only coach I really took a hard look at the floor slide was my 97 Liberty.
The chassis end of the cylinder looked difficult to access, but if you pull othe slide open while you are outside and look under the floor you can see the rod and one end of the cylinder. I suspect if it is leaking you might be able to do all the work from that access point, but I am going by memory and that might not be the case. As an alternative until you get an opportunity, you can install a shut off valve in the floor slide air supply at the manifold and move the slide manually.
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Dan,
Where did you find a place to stay in Alexandria? I didn’t realize they had a CG.
You may want to check the electric air pressure switches. A friend’s coach had one leaking. If so, you can feel the leak through the vent hole.
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Jon, before my first post , I did just exactly what you said and did see the rod and the end of the cylinder screwed to the chassis. That limited access sent me posting here hoping for something better. And noticed on another thread that Tom posted a picture of his cylinder laying out on a bench. So I’m hoping to hear some magic from Tom.
Thanks for the idea of isolating the floor with a valve. At this point we can manage it as is. The otr air system doesn’t even know it’s there.
Gil, we are at Pohick Bay Regional Park, actually in Lorton, Va. It is the closest to Alexandria (daughter) we could find.
I am too naive to know “electric air pressure switches”. But did replace the double solenoid valve that controls air pressure to the slide cylinder a couple years ago, and know that it is not leaking now.
I’m not familiar with the “vent hole”. Can you tell me more?
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Dan,
Jon already suggested blocking it off and I assume Gil is referring to the exhaust hole on the floor slide valve in the steering bay.
The slide cylinder is tough to access. I did it on my Royale and had two round access panels on the ceiling behind the front bumper. The Royale had a spare tire in that compartment and once removed, I could lay on my back and reach the cylinder fittings. With the cruisairs in your Liberty, not sure how you can access the cylinder. There has to be a way, “O” rings in those cylinders are a common problem and maybe Troy could give you a tip or two.
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in my Liberty there is a small drawer below the slide that will allow access to the air cylinder.
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Thanks guys. Wish I had that drawer Jack. Will call Troy to figure it out.
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We are having the same problem with our 1990 XL converted by Marathon, we are still trying to figure out how to get the leaking stairwell slide cylinder out to repair or replace it. Meanwhile we have a regulator for the stairwell slide in the steer compartment, all we have to do is turn the regulator down to zero and the air leak is gone and the aux compressor stops cycling when we are in a campground. If you have a regulator this may work for you until you get it fixed. We are going to call Marathon tomorrow to see how to access the stairwell slide cylinder, hopefully they can tell us. If anybody else out there knows how to get this cylinder out of a Marathon conversion we would really like to hear from you!
Thank you!!
Starla
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On my conversion had a problem of step slide not retracting back a month or so ago. Layed bumper down, slid Cruseairs out and still could’nt see cylinder. Pulled passenger foot slide out and could see rod and cylinder from bottom. I guess maybe unpin rod from step and pull out. My fix was spray silicon spray on anything I could see. Worked on my problem. Didn’t have air leaking,, just no slidie / workie.
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There are, in my coach, 3 electric pressure switches. If tge diapham or seal in these begin to leak the air will escape through a vent hole on the same side as the electrical connection.
I wasn’t aware of Pohick having sites large enough for a 45.
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Thanks for that good tip Starla. I will look for the regulator tomorrow as we are intransit somewhere in Kansas, Denver tomorrow.
Glens, good idea. I will try that when we get home. Oh, have not called Troy yet for his take.
Gotcha Gil. I replaced that dual solenoid valve previously because it was leaking, but it’s not now. Don’t know about a third pressure switch – yet.
Pohick Bay Regional Park said they have two spots that can take a 45, they gave me the biggest one and it was easy to back into. Ask for spot number 71.
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Denver now.
Checked for a pressure regulator dedicated for the floor slide – no got. Followed the air line out of the aux compressor box in the steering compartment to a water filter, then the pressure regulator for the compressor itself, then to a manifold with several airlines attached down on the floor of the steering compartment, of which one line goes up to the top of the compartment where that dual solenoid valve that controls the floor’s direction of movemnt is mounted, the two lines out of that device goes to the slide cylinder which is out of sight. So no regulator.
I could hear the air leaking again today in the steering compartment, but amazingly I cannot put my finger on it. As long as it makes noise, I will eventually get it. Going into the aux compressor box when I get home.
Called Troy today, he said they are now wiring that dual solenoid valve to a keyed voltage source so when your sitting it is dormant. Guess that infers it use to have 24 volts all the time and leaks because of it. He never said how to get the slide cylinder out. Going to do what Glens did with the lube procedure as our floor has the same symptoms. I got under the floor with it slid out with the stethoscope and could not hear any air leaking on the end of the cylinder that I could see.
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Got home and went into the auxiliary air compressor box. Soapy water found the leak. It was at a coupling where the copper tubing coming from the air compressor changes to a plastic tube. The plastic tube side of the coupling is the leaker.
Also disconnected the floor push rod to discover that the floor slide itself and not the rod is the resistance. Boeshields T-9 fixed it.
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This is unrelated to the slide cylinder. I ran across this old post and have to thank Dan Darst for turning me on Boeshield T-9. Its by far the best lubricant i have ever used. I have tried everything under the sun to try to quiet squeaking automotive hinges on our new cars and only ended up with black streaks and accumulated dirt with no improvement. It also works great for all of the bay door latches on the bus with no mess. Especially the engine bay door slide pin mechanism. Where has this stuff been all my life? Has anyone else used this?
P.s. Dan has not been around in awhile. I hope he is ok.
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Hi if you need to replace the cylinder you can contact American cylinder they have a web site and probably can order it direct. I replaced mine last year and it was not that big of a deal.
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