WRONG!
I was desperate to escape the intense heat of Texas this summer (2011), so I headed straight for the high country of Taos, New Mexico (closest high country spot on our route). The first morning we woke in Taos, the temperature was 54 degrees. I was in heaven, but in the back ground noise, I could hear the aux air compressor running. I woke early, at 5:00 am, since I had not adjusted to the change in time zone, and heard the humming sound of the aux compressor running. After fixing my first cup of coffee with our new "Keurig" coffee maker, I was listening for the compressor to stop running, but it did not! A leak had developed so severe that my aux compressor could not reach its cut off set point of 115 psi. The cool weather had caused an air leak in my aux air system.
How embarrassing for the "self appointed" suspension leak finding guru. Boy, am I glad no other POG member was nearby to witness this event.
One of the "critical" spare parts I carry is a squirt bottle with a Dawn dish washing detergent and water mixture. I went to the most suspected area, which is the engine compartment since heat is the enemy of rubber components. As I checked all the pneumatic bellows, I found no leaks. Then, I thought I would check the recently replaced air regulator used to maintain air pressure on the two belt adjusting bellows. One squirt on the regulator instantly turned into a 6-inch ball of bubbles.
Remember, on my vintage coach, if the aux air system leaks, the tag axle will release on low aux air pressure.
This is the regulator for maintaining air pressure on best tensioning bellows. It is mounted to the left and above as you open the rear engine compartment doors.
Note one of my high tech expensive tool for finding leaks. A few squirts of my wife's Dawn dish washing detergent and water in a spray bottle.
Lesson learned...
Moving a coach from a warm climate to a cool climate can result in phantom mystery air leaks!
Just because the part is new, it does not mean it will not leak!
I solved the problem by disassembling the regulator and lubricating the rubber components and reassembling.
Since the repair, the aux air system compressor has not run. We are traveling every few days the aux air system is being supplied by the engine air compressor while underway. My aux air pressure in losing 5 psi in 24 hours. I can live with that.
Texasdrifters
Hector
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