air hose leak - field repair

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air hose leak - field repair

October 21, 2020, 06:10:20 pm

We recently took a trip from Philadelphia to North Carolina in our 1997 U270. As we were exiting I-81 at the end of our drive day, I heard a beeping sound and looked down at the dash. The air pressure warning light was on and both air gauges showed around 50 psi. Not super fun. Luckily, we were off the highway and just a mile or so from our camp ground. As the pressure was holding at 50 psi, I thought we might be able to make it to our camp site. With fingers crossed, we made it.

After we got set up (and I calmed down a bit), I started the coach up and walked around listening for the sound of an air leak. There was a hissing sound coming from the right rear of the coach, near the air dryer. I blocked up the back of the coach and crawled under to get a closer look. It sounded like it was coming from a bundle of hoses that go from the air dryer up and forward alongside the passenger side of the engine. I grabbed the bundle, moved it, and the sound of the hissing noticeably changed. Now were getting somewhere - the leak was coming from one of those hoses. I cut two of the zip ties that were holding the bundle together so I could reach between the hoses. I felt the leaking air with my finger and identified the 1/4" plastic hose that was leaking.

By now it was getting late and I figured the repair could wait until morning. We had dinner and afterwards I went on the internet to look for guidance on how to splice an air hose. I found a terrific article in Motorhome Magazine that explained exactly what to do.

Motorhome Magazine - Finding and Fixing Air Leaks

The next morning, I called the local auto parts store to see if they carried the 1/4" air hose unions, which they did. Our friend drove me to the auto parts store and I bought three of the unions: one to fix the leak, one to keep as a spare, and one for my friend. They were $8.00 each. When we got back to the campground, we figured it would be easier to get at the leaking hose from the top, so we propped up the bed with a pole and had easy access to the failed hose. I cut out the section with the hole using side-cutting pliers. I cleaned off the two ends of the hose and pushed them into the union. That's all there was to it. We started up the coach and she came up to full pressure.

I think the leak was caused by the zip tie rubbing against the plastic hose for all of those years. It finally wore through. Thankfully it happened at the end of our drive day, just a mile from our destination. I strongly recommend that everyone carry a couple of these unions in their tool kits. If you have the part with you, it's a simple fix and you're back on the road. The union I used was a Gates 4AB-4AB

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #1 – October 21, 2020, 06:39:15 pm

Excellent job on the repair plus a calm head in the face of adversity.
I will look around for your momento. If I get some light tomorrow
Regards, windwalker

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #2 – October 21, 2020, 07:21:30 pm

It's only parts and pieces. Fixed it has to work...

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #3 – October 21, 2020, 07:37:39 pm

Thanks for sharing!

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #4 – October 21, 2020, 09:53:24 pm

I carry 2 of the unions and 12 ft of hose. Does not take up much space and weighs little. This way if I have to I can replace a full run if it gets ripped out by a road hazard ( think thrown truck recap ).

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #5 – October 21, 2020, 11:57:44 pm

Good thinking and fix. Hoses rubbing against each other or something sharp can wear through and you lose air or even worse, oil for the hydraulic fans or power steering.

We were leaving Elvis's childhood home when a hydraulic hose wore through. These are single jacket hose in Foretravels so it does not take much to wear through the fabric and then weaken the single jacket enough so it blows out. The mess it makes is incredible in the engine compartment as well at the toad. The fittings are not all easy to put a wrench on so I had a 1 inch and also a 1-1/16" crows foot so was able to break them loose. Once you get them to move a little, they spin off with just a couple of fingers.

Lots of different types of hoses and fittings. Some fittings require a shop to swag or crimp them on. Others are field repairable with fittings that thread into the hose. I had some double jacketed hose that was fairly easy to repair yourself. My cousin's JD farm tractor also had field repairable type hose.

Now, before a trip, I take a look at all the hoses and make sure they are not touching. One of our new hoses also takes a 1/16" larger wrench so good to size them all.

Pierce

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #6 – October 22, 2020, 05:43:21 pm

Glad the OP was near their final destination and able to easily source a union union for repair.

What size hose and unions and spare air line should we keep onboard to make the mostly likely field repairs?
1/4, 3/8 and 1/2"?

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #7 – October 22, 2020, 09:57:48 pm

Thanks for the great suggestion. I ordered a variety of connectors from Amazon for delivery tomorrow.

I have found 12 to 15 hoses around the engine compartment that needed rub guards. Every time I'm under there I'm looking for more places that need them.

Rich

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #8 – October 23, 2020, 01:43:46 pm

I found many hoses that needed to be protected while walking around under the coach over the pit I had a few years ago. I posted about it couple of times to warn others about this problem and Don fixed a bunch of his too when they visited us.
This is one of a few issues that I have been mentioning for years to all that you HAVE to keep inspecting a couple of times a year. Another issue is if you have the visible Philip screws for trims and cap joints that need tightening up at least annually or leaks will happen.
Checking the roof and the various fittings up there is possibly the most important issue to do every 6 months as most leaks happen up there and they are responsible for the worst leaks to the inside.
Many owners just do not do these simple things and pay the price
Johnh

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #9 – October 23, 2020, 06:18:55 pm

Quote from: Rich Bowman – October 22, 2020, 09:57:48 pm

Thanks for the great suggestion. I ordered a variety of connectors from Amazon for delivery tomorrow.

I have found 12 to 15 hoses around the engine compartment that needed rub guards. Every time I'm under there I'm looking for more places that need them.

Rich

He Rich, do you have a list of what you ordered?

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #10 – October 23, 2020, 08:38:29 pm

I just finished running the air lines for the Air Force one brake system and I put the split wire loom on all the tubing that comes in contact with anything. I have been doing this for a long time on wiring and airlines-- so far no rub problems
Chris

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #11 – October 24, 2020, 04:19:32 am

Here is what I ordered. May not be DOT but will get me off the side of the road until a permanent fix can be made. There are enough pieces that I made up an emergent stash for a friend who also has an RV.

40 Pieces Straight Push Connectors, 6/8 /10/12 mm Quick Release Pneumatic...

Beduan Pneumatic Push to Connect Fittings Kit Air Line Quick Fittings 2 PL+2...

I plan to use some of the parts to add an air gage to the slideout bladder.

Rich

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air hose leak - field repair

October 21, 2020, 06:10:20 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #1 – October 21, 2020, 06:39:15 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #2 – October 21, 2020, 07:21:30 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #3 – October 21, 2020, 07:37:39 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #4 – October 21, 2020, 09:53:24 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #5 – October 21, 2020, 11:57:44 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #6 – October 22, 2020, 05:43:21 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #7 – October 22, 2020, 09:57:48 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #8 – October 23, 2020, 01:43:46 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #9 – October 23, 2020, 06:18:55 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #10 – October 23, 2020, 08:38:29 pm

Re: air hose leak - field repair

Reply #11 – October 24, 2020, 04:19:32 am

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