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Topic: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?  (Read 417 times) previous topic - next topic

Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

We were readying to leave this morning (Huntsville, AL to home in Virginia) and couldn't get the air pressure up. One of the regulators or lines to the flip-down step seems to be leaking air and there's a hissing noise from under the bus. James said he can hear and feel that there is definitely air leaking out around the flip down step regulator(s). Can it be isolated to see if it's the only leak? We seem to be having a system-wide issue with pressures, but don't know how to diagnose. Halp?

Thanks!
1998 Foretravel U320 4200/tag RCFE no slides
James and Susan
Alex (14) and Elizabeth (13)
Gigi (mew) and Torty (mew)

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #1
Removed air supply line to the leak and cap off.  Now that the step cylinder has no air pressure, manually lift step into travel position.

You are ready to go with a tall step up to coach till leak is fixed.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #2
Rudy,

So we'll send the Jeep down the mountain to get some parts. Any idea what size line we need?  Can we just close the regulator?
Not having worked with pneumatics much, we just get a tiny brass barbed fitting and a hose clamp? Or just some gorilla tape? :-)
1998 Foretravel U320 4200/tag RCFE no slides
James and Susan
Alex (14) and Elizabeth (13)
Gigi (mew) and Torty (mew)

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #3
Ok, well...some help, we isolated it to the regulator and are headed out. We'll have to check for another leak, but pressures are holding at 110 with the valve closed. Thanks!

Susan
1998 Foretravel U320 4200/tag RCFE no slides
James and Susan
Alex (14) and Elizabeth (13)
Gigi (mew) and Torty (mew)

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #4
I think these 1/8 inch lines.
Rudy Legett
2003 U320 4010 ISM 450 hp
2001 U320 4220 ISM 450 hp
1995 U320 M11 400 hp
1990 Granvilla 300 hp 3208T
Aqua Hot Service Houston and Southeast Texas

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #5
Check for other leaks if you are only making 110 psi, you don't want the air compressor running full time.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #6
James, borrowing Susan's laptop:

Understood. For now we're on the road, but clearly I need to pickup a new set of tools and supplies for doing pneumatic fixes like this on the road. :-) Anyone know any good starter kits? :p I'm thinking a spool of the air hose and various brass barbed fittings and tiny hose camps?

In about ten hours travel we'll be back at the S&B where I can do a full coach leak check and fix process. Front tank is hovering around 110-115-120 depending on conditions. Back is sitting at 130 like it's nailed there. At least I learned how to isolate these regulators. 

James
1998 Foretravel U320 4200/tag RCFE no slides
James and Susan
Alex (14) and Elizabeth (13)
Gigi (mew) and Torty (mew)

Re: Isolate air leak to flip-down step?

Reply #7
James, borrowing Susan's laptop:

Understood. For now we're on the road, but clearly I need to pickup a new set of tools and supplies for doing pneumatic fixes like this on the road. :-) Anyone know any good starter kits? :p I'm thinking a spool of the air hose and various brass barbed fittings and tiny hose camps?

In about ten hours travel we'll be back at the S&B where I can do a full coach leak check and fix process. Front tank is hovering around 110-115-120 depending on conditions. Back is sitting at 130 like it's nailed there. At least I learned how to isolate these regulators. 

James
You can buy push connectors for the hard plastic air lines that don't require any tools. I keep 4 of each size and 2 feet of each size of the plastic lines. Trying to have all parts for air problems on the coach might be over kill. An air governor is a good thing to have though, simple to change. They can go out either no pressure or way too much pressure. Also you can bend the plastic line back to itself and tape or zip tie it to stop a leak on something you can drive without.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean