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Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 01:37:34 pm

Title: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 01:37:34 pm
my air dryer gave up the ghost and I am currently in the middle of replacing it at an Airbnb. My old one just had a single wire going to a stud and must've grounded to chassis. the AD9 that I'm putting in has a two pin plug (see pic). does it matter which one is hot and which one is ground? It's just heating an element right? So I'm thinking not but want to confirm.
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: turbojack on August 16, 2024, 01:43:47 pm
My guess is it doesn't matter.  Yes just a heater.
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Protech Racing on August 16, 2024, 01:44:31 pm
Ground one wire . There may be a color. That is green, black , white. ? May be intended for ground. May not matter. Use a fused test lead to verify that it's not also grounded to the body.
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 01:49:26 pm
Thanks guys. It didn't come with a wiring harness but I managed to find one for a headlight bulb that fits.  I guess I can get it in there and check for continuity through chassis to confirm it doesn't ground that way and then assume either pin can be hot. Fingers crossed it's not any more complex than that
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 16, 2024, 01:51:35 pm
It didn't come with a wiring harness but I managed to find one for a headlight bulb that fits.
Not surprisingly, this subject has come up before....

How to update Bendix AD4 to AD9 on 91 GV U300 (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=42165)

Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 05:26:25 pm
Hmmm. Got the new one put back in, but I'm not hearing it purge once the coach gets up to full pressure. Everything else is working like expected, with good clean air coming out of my tanks when I drain them. it builds up to 130 psi and then stops, which is the top end of the governors range like expected but no purge sound from the drier. Thoughts?

Edit: The air governor is new. Put it on back in May.
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 16, 2024, 05:57:41 pm
Elliott,

If your air compressor is cutting out at the correct time/pressure, then the D2 governor is working properly.  In that case, the "no purge" problem must be someplace in the control line between the air compressor and the dryer.  See the AD9 tech document linked below.

You could disconnect the control line from the control port on the dryer.  Then start your engine and reduce the pressure in the air system (fan the brake pedal) so the air compressor cuts on.  Go back to the engine bay and hold your finger over the open end of the control line so you can feel what happens when the air compressor cuts out.  At the same time the compressor cuts out you should feel pressure coming out of the control line open end.  This pressure signal is what tells the air dryer to purge.

If you DON'T feel pressure when the compressor cuts out, then the control air line must be blocked or crimped or something ??

If you DO feel pressure when the compressor cuts out, then there may be something obstructing free air flow into the dryer control port, or possibly you got a bad rebuilt dryer.

AD9 Service Data (https://wiki.foreforums.com/_media/technical:air_system:air_dryer:bendix_ad9_service_data.pdf)

Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 06:11:28 pm
Elliott,

If your air compressor is cutting out at the correct time/pressure, then the D2 governor is working properly.  In that case, the "no purge" problem must be someplace in the control line between the air compressor and the dryer.  See the diagram linked below.

You could disconnect the control line from the control port on the dryer.  Then start your engine and reduce the pressure in the air system (fan the brake pedal) so the air compressor cuts on.  Go back to the engine bay and hold your finger over the open end of the control line so you can feel what happens when the air compressor cuts out.  At the same time the compressor cuts out you should feel pressure coming out of the control line open end.  This pressure signal is what tells the air dryer to purge.

If you DON'T feel pressure when the compressor cuts out, then the control air line must be blocked or crimped or something ??

If you DO feel pressure when the compressor cuts out, then there may be something obstructing free air flow into the dryer control port, or possibly you got a bad rebuilt dryer.

https://www.anythingtruck.com/instructions/060-AD9ServiceDataSheet.pdf
Chuck any idea how much pressure should be coming out of the control port on the governor? There's air coming out of it but not much. It'd have to be a pretty weak spring in the drier to be activated by such little pressure
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 16, 2024, 06:15:57 pm
Chuck any idea how much pressure should be coming out of the control port on the governor?
Logically, I would say you should have the same pressure out that port as you have in the wet tank, because that is where the pressure originates.  So, about 130 psi?

Where is your D2 located?  Is it mounted on a frame member, or is it attached directly to the engine air compressor?

Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 06:26:22 pm
Logically, I would say you should have the same pressure out that port as you have in the wet tank, because that is where the pressure originates.  So, about 130 psi?

Where is your D2 located?  Is it mounted on a frame member, or is it attached directly to the engine air compressor?
It's mounted directly to the air compressor and I think I found the problem. I pulled it off and realized there's no gasket on it! So air is leaking out where the governor meets the compressor and that is probably the reason for the low air pressure at the end of the control line. Not sure how I pulled that one off because I've installed a few of these and never made that mistake before. Of course, I figured this out 20 minutes after the Truck part store closes for the weekend and I need to move on Sunday  :-X
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 16, 2024, 06:31:21 pm
Yes, that is most likely the problem.

Back in the day, every mechanic tool box contained a few sheets of "bulk" gasket material.  If you needed a missing gasket, you could simply cut one out of the sheet.  I still have several sheets of that stuff lying around.  Of course, it is probably petrified by now.

Don't suppose you have any more spare D2 governors (including the gasket) in your parts stash....

Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 16, 2024, 06:34:07 pm
Yes, that is most likely the problem.

Back in the day, every mechanic tool box contained a few sheets of "bulk" gasket material.  If you needed a missing gasket, you could simply cut one out of the sheet.  I still have several sheets of that stuff lying around.  Of course, it is probably petrified by now.

Don't suppose you have any more spare D2 governors (including the gasket) in your parts stash....
I do not :-( but the Walmart in town has rtv gasket maker
Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Pamela & Mike on August 16, 2024, 06:35:40 pm
In a pinch you can cut one out of the cardboard (last page) of a legal pad. If you have a can of spray paint handy give the gasket a coat of spray paint and let dry before installing.

Miike

Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Chuck & Jeannie on August 16, 2024, 06:37:28 pm
I do not :-( but the Walmart in town has rtv gasket maker
Just use that stuff sparingly - a VERY thin coat.  Don't want errant little broken-off pieces of RTV circulating through your air system.

Title: Re: AD-9 air dryer, electrical question
Post by: Elliott on August 17, 2024, 02:58:13 pm
The ltv did the trick and it's cycling like i'd expect now  ^.^d thanks for the help guys