Chuck --
>Thanks for the information. Yes I can use all the help I can get.
OK, we now begin the advance EL troubleshooting class 301, with the
sub-title "what the &^$% is wrong with my 3 way valves?"
Before we start, heed this advice from Prof Arch, who writes with wisdom:
>Chuck
>Check the little arms that go between the bogie and the ride level
>controller. The rubber on each end of mine was shot. Mine would
>jack itself up way to high each and every time my compressor
>was turned on. That much I know.
>I have read that if the fluid level is wrong in the ride height
>controller it causes problems. Something like the height
>will change with bumps instead of waiting for 4 secs before changing.
This is true. Recall that in my previous post, I suggested a simple
troubleshooting technique for the ride height valves. Your valves must be
able to 'break wind' or they are mis-adjusted or bad. You must first solve
this problem if it exists.
EL I height creep can be caused by leaking 3 way valves. We're talking about
the three way valves that are mounted on the common air pressure manifold.
This is easier to understand if you go to
http://www.california.com/~eagle/figs/off.gif and print that schematic.
Thanks to Al Chernoff and Eugene Fisher for a job well done.
Be aware now, before you start, this is going to get involved. You might
want to take a Polaroid of the whole thing so you don't get lost.
I don't remember which side you said was creeping up. If I've picked the
wrong side in this example, refer to this drawing for the correct colors.
I'll detail this using the passenger (right) side of the coach.
Here's the technique:
1). Safely block the rear suspension of the coach prior to using the rocker
switches to fully deflate the bags. I'd suggest a jack on the troubled side
to make this easier.
2). Make sure you've got all the air out. Take the blue line from the air
bag off the two way valve. Take the two way valve itself off the three way
valve, or (if you can) take the second three way valve off the first three
way valve. What ever works for your coach, leave the first three way valve
connected to the pressure manifold. For the moment, leave the yellow air
line attached to the valve.
3). You now have an open port on the three way valve. It's showtime.
4). Take off the wires that feed the driver's side two way valve. (Light
green with a double black stripe). The driver's side two way valve is the
one with the grey air line. We're going to take the driver's side air bag
out of the circuit for a moment while we run some tests.
5). Depending on the pressure that's left in your air tank, it will vent
when you take this next step, so be aware.
6). Turn on the ignition key and set the center EL I rocker to Auto. Air
will start to come out of the open valve port. This assumes that the coach
is below normal ride height, and the ride height control valve is calling
for more air to be put in the bag. (If you jacked up the coach *above* the
correct ride height before you started, this won't not happen.)
For the moment, we'll assume that the coach is below the correct height, and
that air is flowing out of the open three way valve. If you're following
along on the printed schematic, this air is coming from the yellow line.
7). Turn off the key. Go outside the coach and disconnect the connecting
link that goes from the boogies to the height valve. Move the height arm in
the direction that would turn it off (against the internal resistance). Or,
safely raise the coach up with a jack.
8). Turn on the key. Depending on how reactive your ride height valve is,
air will stop coming out of the open three way valve port. If it doesn't,
your ride height valve is shot. (We'll confirm that in a moment, but for
now, we'll assume that the air flow has stopped, and the compressor may even
shut off.) Get your soapy water spray, and soap up the open valve port.
9). Are there bubbles? This comes from only two places: the ride height
valve is leaking through, or the three way valve is leaking through. If
there aren't any bubbles, then you need to check how well the 3 way valve
seals by cycling it.
10). Go to the EL I right rocker switch and push it to raise. Air will come
blasting out of the valve opening. Flip it back to center, then to raise a
couple of times. Back to the center and check for air leaking through the
valve again. If you now have bubbles, its the three way valve that's bad.
If you always had bubbles, then we'll isolate where the problem is.
11). With the activator link on the ride height valve set as if the coach
was at height or the coach jacked up, turn the ignition key on, move the
right switch to raise and let off the air pressure. Turn off the key.
12). Take the yellow line off the 3 way valve. Center switch in Auto, right
switch in the center position. Turn on the key and get some air pressure
building. Is air escaping from the yellow line? Make sure the coach is above
ride height, there should be no air flow. If there's air coming out of the
yellow line, then the height valve is bad. Replace it.
11). If there is no air flow from the yellow line, check the open ports of
the three way valve for leaks. If there is any air leaking through, you've
found your culprit. There should be no airflow through the valve when it is
off. Replace the three way valve, and reassemble everything.
(Note that it only took me three words to cover about 2 hours worth of work
there at the end.)
Remember to always work safely.
Mark Grady
mgrady
'77 Kingsley
N Webster, IN
>Thanks for the information. Yes I can use all the help I can get.
OK, we now begin the advance EL troubleshooting class 301, with the
sub-title "what the &^$% is wrong with my 3 way valves?"
Before we start, heed this advice from Prof Arch, who writes with wisdom:
>Chuck
>Check the little arms that go between the bogie and the ride level
>controller. The rubber on each end of mine was shot. Mine would
>jack itself up way to high each and every time my compressor
>was turned on. That much I know.
>I have read that if the fluid level is wrong in the ride height
>controller it causes problems. Something like the height
>will change with bumps instead of waiting for 4 secs before changing.
This is true. Recall that in my previous post, I suggested a simple
troubleshooting technique for the ride height valves. Your valves must be
able to 'break wind' or they are mis-adjusted or bad. You must first solve
this problem if it exists.
EL I height creep can be caused by leaking 3 way valves. We're talking about
the three way valves that are mounted on the common air pressure manifold.
This is easier to understand if you go to
http://www.california.com/~eagle/figs/off.gif and print that schematic.
Thanks to Al Chernoff and Eugene Fisher for a job well done.
Be aware now, before you start, this is going to get involved. You might
want to take a Polaroid of the whole thing so you don't get lost.
I don't remember which side you said was creeping up. If I've picked the
wrong side in this example, refer to this drawing for the correct colors.
I'll detail this using the passenger (right) side of the coach.
Here's the technique:
1). Safely block the rear suspension of the coach prior to using the rocker
switches to fully deflate the bags. I'd suggest a jack on the troubled side
to make this easier.
2). Make sure you've got all the air out. Take the blue line from the air
bag off the two way valve. Take the two way valve itself off the three way
valve, or (if you can) take the second three way valve off the first three
way valve. What ever works for your coach, leave the first three way valve
connected to the pressure manifold. For the moment, leave the yellow air
line attached to the valve.
3). You now have an open port on the three way valve. It's showtime.
4). Take off the wires that feed the driver's side two way valve. (Light
green with a double black stripe). The driver's side two way valve is the
one with the grey air line. We're going to take the driver's side air bag
out of the circuit for a moment while we run some tests.
5). Depending on the pressure that's left in your air tank, it will vent
when you take this next step, so be aware.
6). Turn on the ignition key and set the center EL I rocker to Auto. Air
will start to come out of the open valve port. This assumes that the coach
is below normal ride height, and the ride height control valve is calling
for more air to be put in the bag. (If you jacked up the coach *above* the
correct ride height before you started, this won't not happen.)
For the moment, we'll assume that the coach is below the correct height, and
that air is flowing out of the open three way valve. If you're following
along on the printed schematic, this air is coming from the yellow line.
7). Turn off the key. Go outside the coach and disconnect the connecting
link that goes from the boogies to the height valve. Move the height arm in
the direction that would turn it off (against the internal resistance). Or,
safely raise the coach up with a jack.
8). Turn on the key. Depending on how reactive your ride height valve is,
air will stop coming out of the open three way valve port. If it doesn't,
your ride height valve is shot. (We'll confirm that in a moment, but for
now, we'll assume that the air flow has stopped, and the compressor may even
shut off.) Get your soapy water spray, and soap up the open valve port.
9). Are there bubbles? This comes from only two places: the ride height
valve is leaking through, or the three way valve is leaking through. If
there aren't any bubbles, then you need to check how well the 3 way valve
seals by cycling it.
10). Go to the EL I right rocker switch and push it to raise. Air will come
blasting out of the valve opening. Flip it back to center, then to raise a
couple of times. Back to the center and check for air leaking through the
valve again. If you now have bubbles, its the three way valve that's bad.
If you always had bubbles, then we'll isolate where the problem is.
11). With the activator link on the ride height valve set as if the coach
was at height or the coach jacked up, turn the ignition key on, move the
right switch to raise and let off the air pressure. Turn off the key.
12). Take the yellow line off the 3 way valve. Center switch in Auto, right
switch in the center position. Turn on the key and get some air pressure
building. Is air escaping from the yellow line? Make sure the coach is above
ride height, there should be no air flow. If there's air coming out of the
yellow line, then the height valve is bad. Replace it.
11). If there is no air flow from the yellow line, check the open ports of
the three way valve for leaks. If there is any air leaking through, you've
found your culprit. There should be no airflow through the valve when it is
off. Replace the three way valve, and reassemble everything.
(Note that it only took me three words to cover about 2 hours worth of work
there at the end.)
Remember to always work safely.
Mark Grady
mgrady
'77 Kingsley
N Webster, IN
