Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 11, 2025 ...

Replacing step air cylinders

July 19, 2013, 04:29:17 pm

James at Extreme came to my rescue and sent me 2 replacement air cylinders to replace the ones I messed up.

Can someone tell me how the fittings work?  The cylinders have the elbows on them and the exposed ends look similar to push-in connectors they use for water fittings. 

I have never changed out air items like this, so I am not sure what I need to do to change the fittings.  The coach is sitting in the garage and air pressure is pretty much at zero.  Do I need to do anything else as far as the air system goes?  The mechanics of the mounting are clear, but messing with the air system is a new education for me.

Thanks in advance...

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #1 – July 19, 2013, 05:55:17 pm

I am stretching here to help, hopefully. 

But if the connections are like "shark bite" connections, you can take the special tool, or the correct size open end wrench that just fits the hose and push the collar towards the end fitting.  Pushing the collar releases water hoses and let you reuse the fitting, or change the hose.  Maybe your air lines fittings work the same way.

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #2 – July 19, 2013, 06:10:31 pm

If you have the plastic 1/4" air lines still attatched to valves all you have to do is push the lines into the fittings. If the valves did not come with the brass fitting you can do one of 2 things. Get new ones from a truck shop or just swap over the fittings from old. They do screw out of cylinder.
Hope this is what you are asking ,if not just email me as I have done this a few times
John H

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #3 – July 19, 2013, 07:35:33 pm

Thanks John.  Yes, they gave me the fittings, so it looks like I will be able to just swap the lines.  I just wanted to make sure they were what they looked like, simple push-on connections.  I think they left this coach sit with hurriane winds and rain coming into the step area.  Just another good reason to make some sort of switch to close it up when parked/stored.  All the pieces that weren't aluminum or stainless were good and rusty and I have cleaned them up. I had to take the 4 bolts/washers/nuts and plate off of one side in order to get the rusty mounting pin off, then I remounted it.   

I am to the point of swapping the lines now, then re-mounting the replacements.  Will I trigger the compressor to come on when I open the line?  (I can switch it off) Is there likely to be much pressure in this part of the system?  That is my last concern.

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #4 – July 20, 2013, 12:28:00 am

Brad, turn the switch off but I think the air for step comes off the engine compressor and if any comes out just hold the line till it stops. The compressor is on the levelling side so should be fine as when I took mine apart it blew air for a minute then stopped, no big deal.
You will be fine, but make sure you push the line in hard as it is easy to get a false feeling of it seating, or when it activates it will blow off. If that happens just push it back in hard
John H

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #5 – July 20, 2013, 12:59:50 am

Thanks for the help, John.  I'll put it all back together tomorrow. 

The more I think about it, the engine air does need to develop pressure before the step pops up, so I'm sure the level system is a separate circuit.  I'll just check the dash air gauge and step on the brake if there is any risidual pressure there.  Then after I reconnect it, I'll press the tank switch to hopefully fill it and bring the step in with the ignition on.

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #6 – July 20, 2013, 09:27:12 am

Double check the air.  I turned off the pump and opened the air purge drains.

Quote Selected

Re: Replacing step air cylinders

Reply #7 – July 20, 2013, 04:42:49 pm

All done and it works great.  Thanks for sharing the knowledge, John. 

Quote Selected