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Topic: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches (Read 816 times) previous topic - next topic

Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

The Tattle Tail, a plastic cylinder showing a green stripe for good and a red stripe for bad attached to the chassis above the priming pump, for my Air Filter had not been working for some time. I would reset it and it would soon show red again. I replaced the air filter and it still returned to red very quickly. I decided to replace the Tattle Tail but after removal realized that the screen at the bottom of the Tattle Tail was completely covered by greasy gunk. All that was necessary was to thoroughly clean the exterior of the TT with alcohol and an old tooth brush exposing the screen. The Tattle Tail is now working perfectly and has been for several months. The whole project took 10 minutes.
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #1 –
Thanks, good to know, mine has exhibited the same symptoms.  On a related note, well, at least in the same area, I discovered most of the pop rivets that held on the vents on the swing-up engine door had poped, was a rivet or two from losing the whole thing.
1996 U270
Build #4846

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #2 –
The folks at http://www.filterminder.com/index.asp are great to deal with.  Excellent customer service.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #3 –
I noticed a big difference in performance from a dirty air cleaner to a new one. An option might be to install a tell-tale like several offered on the ebay page below. Rather than just red or green, they indicate the level of restriction as the air cleaner begins to clog. See at: air restriction gauge | eBay

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #4 –
Just remember that they are spec'ed for different applications.  Not a one work on all engine deal.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #5 –
Pat,

Good point and you are quite correct that all three engines manufacturers that our Foretravels use, have different requirements. Detroits are 20" of water or 5 kPa, Cummins uses a 25" or 6.2 kPa figure and finally CATs specs are 30" or 7.5 kPa. These are the requirements for turbocharged engines only.

Detroit 2 cycles use more air than the rest so the restriction limit is lower (numerically).

Using these numbers, you can buy an inexpensive generic gauge on the ebay page I posted above and by reading the number on the gauge where the tell-tale line is, plan for replacement as the restriction gradually increases.

If you wanted to buy a specific gauge (and pay more money) for your engine, you could order a Donaldson X002278 for a Detroit 2 cycle, X002277 for a Cummins and a X002275 for a CAT.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #6 –
Kent,

Pierce and I were discussing this very subject last week and looking at mine it appears to be missing.  I need to replace it to see if the old filter is still good.

PatC,
Thanks for the link to filterminder.com

Pierce,
Thanks for the part number for the specific gauge for the Detroit 2 cycle. Have you noticed any increase in mpg since the new filter?

Jerry
The selected media item is not currently available.
Jerry and Cindy Maddux
1993 U300/36WTBI DD6v92TA
build 4271  "Miss Lou"
1995 suzuki sidekick 4x4 toad
Gulfport, Ms

"Pride of Ownership"

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #7 –
Jerry,

That's when I got 12.1 mpg. I'm usually in the mountains and only see 5 mpg but at about 62 mph, that mileage was sure welcome even if it was on mostly level ground.

Very noticeable increase in power. A little ways east of Sac, I-80 does a fairly quick 1000 foot climb. I passed about a half dozen big rigs where it was no contest. We were almost empty of liquids but had a full tank of propane. Shifted to 3rd once for a few seconds but 4th the rest of the time.

Is your gauge missing with the thin, black plastic line still there or is everything gone? You could install a gauge right at the end of the air cleaner but would loose the quick look when you check the oil. I like the gauges with the lines at different levels of restriction. Just have to keep 20" in mind as the recommended limit for the Detroit. Since they are "tell-tale" gauges, they remain at the highest level of restriction unless you push the end to reset them.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #8 –
Mine never moves since I put my air deflector over the intake (2 yrs ago). I peeked at the filter a yr ago and it was just a bit grey but no crap in there, which I know most of you cannot say that. This simple design is paying back many times over and the engine is NOT starved for air as it runs beautifully AND gives me over 9.5mpg average. The last oil analasys also was fantastic, so engine is good.

John H
Coachless, now use aircraft. 2003 Ford Travelair TC280 class C. Super shape. Just for 1 yr .
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #9 –
Pierce,

The line is still there along with mounting bracket.  I don't know if the old one fell off or the PO removed it.  Either way it needs to be replaced.  The air filter itself looks good and there was very little trash in there.

Jerry
The selected media item is not currently available.
Jerry and Cindy Maddux
1993 U300/36WTBI DD6v92TA
build 4271  "Miss Lou"
1995 suzuki sidekick 4x4 toad
Gulfport, Ms

"Pride of Ownership"

Re: Repairing Tattle Tail (Air Filter Indicator) on 93, 6V92 Powered Coaches

Reply #10 –
Quote from: coastprt –
Pierce,

The line is still there along with mounting bracket.  I don't know if the old one fell off or the PO removed it.  Either way it needs to be replaced.  The air filter itself looks good and there was very little trash in there.

Jerry

Good photo from the side Jerry. Even on a big screen, I can't tell if it broke off or there is a plug installed.  Almost looks as if a 1/4" square drive would fit. Would think most any gauge would work with a couple of adapters needed at most. Since the topic has come up, I think I will replace mine with a model with all the numbers on the side so I can watch the condition.

Pierce
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)