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Service Manual source for vintage 1984 Prevost?
I am trying to locate several problematic issues with my liberty coach Prevost, but I need to have access to a service type of manual to accomplish locating or tracing the lines, accesses, etc. I have a complete parts manual, but it only shows me the parts breakdown, but not where or how they are installed. I am actively trying to locate a soleniod or valve that automatically lifts the front of the coach to ride height. I can manually depress the valve at the driver location and get it to ride height, but it won’t do it automatically like to two rear ones do. It eventually leaks back down over a trip and I have to keep pushing the manual valve from time to time to maintain correct height. I have read alot about the Norgren valves that many of you have, but my coach isn’t designed that way and is why (along with other reasons) I am looking for a service manual.
Thank you in advance for any feedback guiding me toward a service manual, or resolution to my ride height issue.
Richard
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17 Replies
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I’m guessing you have the six-pack of solenoids in the steer compartment like I do. Looks more complicated than the modern setups, but mine works fine. I’m no air system expert but let me know if I can check anything on my end for you. Liberty made modifications to the suspension, but my bus didn’t come with Liberty manuals.
As for the front ride height, there should be a leveling valve near the center of the bus, right behind the steer compartment. It looks like Liberty basically patched into the existing air lines so the leveling valves can be bypassed using the Level Low controls. In the second photo, the ride height valve is on the right, toward the back of the bus. The solenoid that Liberty installed to bypass that valve is on the left, at the back of the steer compartment. As you can see, someone had cut those wires before I bought the bus, leading to some interesting times as I tried to learn my systems.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO-
Hi Chad,
I found the skinner valve that controls the from height control valve and its faulty, it is an original prevost part. I called them and they looked it up, but didn’t have it in stock anywhere in their system and stated it would be a 90 day delay in delivery…… They did give me the brand and part number, and I have done some looking, but can’t seem to find anyone else that doesn’t have the same answer. Do you have a resource I may be able to get a skinner valve that is 24 volts with at least a 125 air pressure rating? Otherwise, it looks like I may have to wait at least 90 days for a replacement.
Thanks for your reply.
Richard
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I buy them on eBay. Remember that you can usually swap the solenoid from one to another, although I have found some that have slightly different diameters that won’t work. Not sure how to tell that up front, so it’s a bit of a gamble.<div>
Good job sorting the issue with the airbag. My thoughts on troubleshooting were along those lines, but I don’t really know enough to give advice working under the bus. Scares me every time I go down there.
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1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO-
Thank you Chad. Just for clarification, do you mean change the guts out on the skinner valve? If so, I don’t mind doing that as an option as it would make available parts I have not yet been able to find. I will also look into your other suggestion of a possible later Norgren as well.
Thanks again.
Richard
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Here is one of my “eBay” valves, assembled and disassembled. The 24vdc rating only applies to the coil (the black part). I’ve taken a 24vdc coil from one and put it on the valve of another (that maybe had a 12vdc coil originally) to better match the port configuration and orifice sizes. It’s just a jamb nut on the top that holds them together. The diameter of that center shaft and the hole in the coil are the things I’ve found to vary. Some won’t swap. I don’t know if that is from changes to the line over the years or because they were simply incompatible.
I guess you would also have to consider the label, since it is only on the coil. If you cobble something together you could end up with a label that doesn’t match the orifice sizes on the valve. The valve/coil in the photos is a newer version of the ones that came on my bus, but the mounting holes on the bottom are the same. Remember, I’m just a hack.
Here’s a newer catalog that will give you an idea of all the configurations that are currently available:
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO-
Thank you Chad, valuable information. I took the non-working valve apart as best I could to understand some of the inners, it actually came apart and exposed the orifice that I guess opens and closes the air flow?? I have attempted to remove the orifice, but it seems to be stuck. I have found another used valve to replace it with for now, then continue to research for future replacement options. I have attached a picture and circled the part I am speaking about. Does it come out, or??
Thanks again, I appreciate your help..
Richard
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Disregard my question, I was studying the operation, and figured out how it operates… it would have bit me LOL…
Richard
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I also think you could probably just use a Norgren valve from a later model coach in its place. It might be easier to just fabricate a new mounting bracket than to hunt for the right Skinner valve. Yours is probably plumbed with copper lines like mine, so that adds a bit to the challenge of swapping for a different style.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO
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Good evening Chad, Now that I have spent several weeks tracking, researching, and talking to Prevost and Liberty, I finally understand the level low and air systems on our vintage coach. I am going to reference the picture on the right you attached for me earlier talking about the ride valve and cut wires on the other valve. Where the wires are cut, that is the original Front leveling valve solenoid the allowed bus air to charge the front airbags to road height with the coach running. The level low valves at the driver position bypasses that solenoid with the level low switch on or with the key off allowing the coach to be manually leveled. This is how my coach is setup, Liberty said during our year models, they only changed the position (location) of the level low valves for convenience of the coach owner if requested. They did not relocate the valves on my coach. It appears for whatever reason, your level low solenoid was bypassed. That very solenoid was everything that kept my auto level from working with the front leveling valve.
With your help on the skinner valves, I was able to get mine operational again. I just wanted to let you know about the picture and it pointed to the solenoid that I couldn’t find…
Richard
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Thank you Chad, valuable information. I am looking for the solenoids you have in your first reference picture, but I haven’t located them yet. Are they located in the the front compartment close to the Air filter housing, or behind the wall nearer to the front ride height mechanism?
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Mine are on the ceiling of the steering compartment, directly under the driver seat. Those Skinner valves are a couple of hundred dollars each new, so I buy them on eBay when I can. You can swap the solenoid, but I try to keep the orifice the same.
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO
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OK thank you Chad. I will make another thorough round at looking for them and let you know what I find.
I appreciate it.
Richard
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Hey Richard,
I attached the link to prevostcar.com which you can input you coach info and search for tech pubs and maintenance manuals. They will be in pdf format.
https://techpub.prevostcar.com/technical-manuals
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Thanks Jerry, I tried the tech section. I even clicked on the “older” archive tab, but I couldn’t pull up my year including using my VIN. I will contact them direct to see if there is any other option.
Richard
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Chad,
I have looked all over the compartment and don’t see the pictured skinner valves. If I am tracing correctly, I think the level low system is intact?? But, I originally installed a level valve to correct the original problem of auto lift, but the new part didnt make a difference, I still have to manually charge the front bags with the “Front” button next to the driver’s seat.
Richard
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You might have to take some photos of your steering compartment for us. Maybe Liberty converted your 1984 different than mine?
1984 96" with 8V92TA
(remodeled Liberty Coach)
Greenwood, MO
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OK, I will get some uploaded. I have attached my air schematic supplying the front air bags through the driver’s level low control valve as well as the supply air to the height control arm. I only see two areas of possibility within that system if it follows the air schematic, both have to be physically located. (1) A pressure safety switch at the secondary air tank, I have one at the filter housing, but I didn’t see a second one in the compartment. (2) The level low solenoid valve that is inline between the height control valve and the air bags. If I can find that solenoid, I think that is the culprit since it is related and I have replaced the height control valve? If I feed air manually while operating (depressing) the front level low control valve, I can fill air in the front air bags and lifting the front of the coach. According to the schematic, that bypasses the solenoid. What do you think?
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