Air Line Leak - PLEASE HELP

tipton eric

New member
Jul 20, 1998
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I have discovered a leaking air line in my EL1 System. The red line
from the manifold to the left wheel is pinched between the floor & one
of the frame cross members casing a leak. In looking at the setup I
cannot figure out how to get access to replace the line. The wheel well
has an inter liner and the lines exit the cabinet and go through a hole
in another fiberglass box under the wardrobe. How much do I need to
disassemble? What is the correct routing? Can I purchase the
replacement line at a heavy duty truck store or should I attempt to
repair the existing line?

Eric Tipton
etipton
 
I have successfully repaired my lines with 1/4 inch Nylon tubing found at
most hardware stores. You can use brass Compression fittings with a
special nylon collar and brass insert that you purchase separately from the
brass fittings. I used a 1/4 'Connector' that was a 90 degree elbow in
order to reduce the strain when my problem occurred. The only caution is
to make certain that the end of the hoses are very clean or they will
leak!! HTH

>I have discovered a leaking air line in my EL1 System. The red line
>from the manifold to the left wheel is pinched between the floor & one
>of the frame cross members casing a leak. In looking at the setup I
>cannot figure out how to get access to replace the line. The wheel well
>has an inter liner and the lines exit the cabinet and go through a hole
>in another fiberglass box under the wardrobe. How much do I need to
>disassemble? What is the correct routing? Can I purchase the
>replacement line at a heavy duty truck store or should I attempt to
>repair the existing line?
>
>
>Eric Tipton
>etipton
>
 
How did you get access to string the line?

Eric Tipton
etipton

-----Original Message-----
From: Thom Hole [mailto:THHOLE]
Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 9:02 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Air Line Leak - PLEASE HELP

I have successfully repaired my lines with 1/4 inch
Nylon tubing found at
most hardware stores. You can use brass Compression
fittings with a
special nylon collar and brass insert that you purchase
separately from the
brass fittings. I used a 1/4 'Connector' that was a 90
degree elbow in
order to reduce the strain when my problem occurred.
The only caution is
to make certain that the end of the hoses are very
clean or they will
leak!! HTH

>I have discovered a leaking air line in my EL1 System.
The red line
>from the manifold to the left wheel is pinched between
the floor & one
>of the frame cross members casing a leak. In looking
at the setup I
>cannot figure out how to get access to replace the
line. The wheel well
>has an inter liner and the lines exit the cabinet and
go through a hole
>in another fiberglass box under the wardrobe. How much
do I need to
>disassemble? What is the correct routing? Can I
purchase the
>replacement line at a heavy duty truck store or should
I attempt to
>repair the existing line?
>
>
>Eric Tipton
>etipton
>
 
>.... Can I purchase the
>replacement line at a heavy duty truck store or should I attempt to
>repair the existing line?

The lines and fittings are standard truck air-brake lines. Any place that
carries supplies for trucks should have them.

Dave
73 Sequoia
 
I can't answer all your questions, but I'll give you this simple tip...

To 'fish' new air line, take a large self tapping sheet metal screw (#14 or
so) and cut off the head. Use vise grips and force thread it into the old
air line, then twist the new airline on the back end of the screw. Heat the
line with a lighter to make it swell over the screw shank if you need to.
The whole thing will look like this...

old screw new

=====//////=======

That way, you can use the old line to pull in the new line. I replaced all
my lines like this a few years ago.

I used colored ty-wraps to match the original color coding on the lines
since all I could find was black air line.

The air line, by the way, is 1/4" truck air brake line. You can get it at
NAPA. Have them check their Weatherhead catalog for fittings, splices, etc.
You need to use either the push on fittings or 'ferrules' (sometimes called
inserts) and 'wedding' bands on the compression style fittings to make a
'bubble tight' connection. (that is, you don't see *any* bubbles.)

I'm sure others will add more thoughts...

Mark Grady

| -----Original Message-----
| From: owner-gmcmotorhome
| [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Tipton, Eric
| Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:33 AM
| To: GMC Mailing List (E-mail)
| Subject: GMC: Air Line Leak - PLEASE HELP
|
|
| I have discovered a leaking air line in my EL1 System. The red line
| from the manifold to the left wheel is pinched between the floor & one
| of the frame cross members casing a leak. In looking at the setup I
| cannot figure out how to get access to replace the line. The wheel well
| has an inter liner and the lines exit the cabinet and go through a hole
| in another fiberglass box under the wardrobe. How much do I need to
| disassemble? What is the correct routing? Can I purchase the
| replacement line at a heavy duty truck store or should I attempt to
| repair the existing line?
|
|
| Eric Tipton
| etipton
|
 
Eric, if your air line is caught between the frame and the body, its likely
that your rubber cushions between the frame and the body have deteriorated
or fallen out. You may want to check this and remedy it before replacing
your lines. In fact, if you have to replace the cushions, you will have to
remove the body tie-down bolts and jack up the body. The air hoses should
then slip right in/out.

Scott Shean
78 Royale
Baton Rouge, LA

>| -----Original Message-----
>| From: owner-gmcmotorhome
>| [mailto:owner-gmcmotorhome]On Behalf Of Tipton, Eric
>| Sent: Thursday, August 05, 1999 10:33 AM
>| To: GMC Mailing List (E-mail)
>| Subject: GMC: Air Line Leak - PLEASE HELP
>|
>|
>| I have discovered a leaking air line in my EL1 System. The red line
>| from the manifold to the left wheel is pinched between the floor & one
>| of the frame cross members casing a leak. In looking at the setup I
>| cannot figure out how to get access to replace the line. The wheel well
>| has an inter liner and the lines exit the cabinet and go through a hole
>| in another fiberglass box under the wardrobe. How much do I need to
>| disassemble? What is the correct routing? Can I purchase the
>| replacement line at a heavy duty truck store or should I attempt to
>| repair the existing line?
>|
>|
>| Eric Tipton
>| etipton
>|
>
>