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On th Side of the road
The bracket that connects the mini air bag to the fan assembly broke. I think I can get that welded. Problem is screw that connected bracket to main air bag broke. This was probably cause of problem. The part of airbag that screw fits into is plastic. Anyone have knowledge of size and “type” of screw. I am in safe place happened almost at rest stop on I-80 just into WY traveling east. The screw may have damaged the threads so might have to be re-tapped. My worry is that top of the airbag that connects to bracket may be damaged then would need new part. Could I use apoxy to help hold screw to to of airbag if need more hold due to damage?
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5 Replies
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The mini air bag is held in place both at the top and bottom. At the bottom (the air fitting end) it has a relatively large nut, and the center threaded portion the nut threads onto is where the air fitting threads into the air bag.
The top uses a 3/8-16 hex head bolt, probably 3/4″ long.
I am puzzled about how any forces could have broken that bolt since there does not appear to be any forces acting on it that would break a bolt of that size. On the air bag I looked at the ends were “white metal” probably a zinc alloy casting.
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thanks Jon
Maybe the bracket fractured first. Then the bolt let go when the part of bracket came into contact with belt pulley on fan support area. Never going to know exact order of events. This happened late (1 am) last night Called Prevost. They are going to have welder hear this morning. I will get bolt from home dept or such.
Got really lucky. Have Silverleaf and saw temp just start to rise as sign for rest area 1 mile pasted. Pulled in to see what was going on.
Now what I have to do is figure out how to remove bolts that attach bracket to fan support. They are 3/4 inch and very tight. Have sprayed on some material used to loosen bolts still not moving. May need someone stronger than I am.
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Those bracket bolts are really tight, you may need a breaker bar to get them loose. If you get into trouble and can’t use the bellows you can make do with a block of wood and wedge it in place of the bellow. Sounds crazy, but it will get you somewhere other than the rest area. Unhook the air feed line and then connect it to the small line going to the other bellow under the fan. You could also rig up a long bolt that would use the existing holes in the bellow brackets and sort of create a manual belt tightener.
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use caution putting the top bolt in as you can go too long and damage the minibag…..if you can get one to start in there.
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thanks everyone. this is why Prevost Community is great.
Here is the rest of the story.
Tom from S& M diesel arrived with welder, air compresor to run air tools, and good ability. After some discussion we decided to weld the bracket with extra stock for strength, making sure the extra width did not stop the travel of the air bag. As far as the air bag, no damage to its function. With a combination of JB weld to help hold the bolt in where damage had occured, everything went well. We traveled 450 miles today after the repair, and are now in Steamboat Springs, CO. Bus ran fine without any problems. Temps near normal. 2 degree increase in tranny temp compared to normal, but was running hard, and it was warm. Fan working normally.
Again thanks to everyone
Kim
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