I have a level cement floor shop where I park the FT. It doesn't roll or move. I was wondering if it is easier on the brake system to not set the air brakes while storing and plugged into 110 volts for battery maintenance or if it matters either way?
Thanks
Once the pressure drops, the springs will engage anyhow. The air pressure keeps the springs retracted, so once the tanks leak down, the brakes will engage.
In order to not set the brakes while parked you would need to keep air pressure applied or mechanically release the parking brake chamber by compressing the spring with a wrench and the engaging tool. The spring is very strong and powerful and It would not hurt it to be compressed for an extended period of time but I don't think it would serve to reduce the wear or lifetime of the brake mechanism.
Seems like a safety risk to me.
You could use wheel chocks but put the brakes on.
Just put the park brake on, it was designed to be applied when parked.
Ok. I'll keep it on
The title of this post is setting the air brakes in storage. It would be one thing if you were actually setting the air brakes but the cockpit control actually releases the air allowing the spring to apply force to the caliper just like would happen if the pressure in the air tanks leaked out while in storage. So, it's a mechanical thing, not air doing the job.
Not a big deal but important for new to air brakes members of the forum to understand.
Pierce
Yes Pierce. I had no idea. Thanks
As Pierce pointed out the rear brakes will set themselves by spring action once the air pressure bleeds down. It's a feature not a defect. Someone, somewhere, somehow thought that it might be nice to have the brakes automatically apply after a loss of air incident. The guy was probably dining alfresco sitting opposite a tee intersection watching trucks roll down the hill toward him.
With antique automobiles, some of which may sit for a year or more, we tend to chock the wheels and leave the parking brake in the off position. In 1949 Chrysler Corp used a self energizing disk brake with multiple brake pads, ramps and rolling balls and I can say from experience you want to leave the garage briskly before applying the brakes for the first time. Or have plenty of room to back up and scrape the rotors clean.
But for RV brakes, pull the big yellow button and chock the wheels. Belt and suspenders, always belt and suspenders.