Still looking for air leak (1974 Eleganza SE)

T

tom winslow

New member
Jun 28, 1998
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We took the coach out tonight to the local K-Mart. Once the air system was
pressurized, I noticed that the compressor came on about every 15 - 20
seconds for a short 1 - 3 second burst. On several occasions, the compressor
came on for 20 - 30 seconds.

I have not found a leak in the air system yet. Since the wife wants to go to
Myrtle Beach this weekend, I am going to give it a try anyway. What are my
possibilities of a serious failure?

BYW, we will be staying at Ocean Lakes Family Campground. I believe that is
where GMCMI will be holding the March Convention.

No front clearance lights and an air leak - I guess it could be worse.

Any suggestions?

TW

- --
Thomas P. Winslow
1977 GMC Coca-Cola TZE167V101893
1974/75 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
Web Page: http://www.iredell.com http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html
 
Clearance lights=suggest running an external ground wire to the lights to test
that theory, if that fails try connecting a 12 volt test light to your external
ground and touch the hot lead under the amber cover
Air system= the compressor was used as the check valve in early GMC (bad idea)
we installed a check valve just aft of the compressor in the system.
Stephen

> We took the coach out tonight to the local K-Mart. Once the air system was
> pressurized, I noticed that the compressor came on about every 15 - 20
> seconds for a short 1 - 3 second burst. On several occasions, the compressor
> came on for 20 - 30 seconds.
>
> I have not found a leak in the air system yet.

> No front clearance lights and an air leak - I guess it could be worse.
>
> Any suggestions?
>
> TW
>
> --
> Thomas P. Winslow
> 1977 GMC Coca-Cola TZE167V101893
> 1974/75 GMC Eleganza SE TZE064V101146
> 189 Hicks Creek Road, Troutman, NC 28166
> h704-528-5868 * f704-528-5868 * p704-878-1157
> E-Mail: winslow * tom_winslow
> Web Page: http://www.iredell.com http://www.iredell.com/gmc4sale.html
 
Go to GMCer Byron Maxwell in Boerne TX, 210-816-3004 for your Schraeder
valves. He has a kit which also includes compact ball valves for the
air bags.

Paul Bartz

From: CHill113 [mailto:CHill113]
Sent: Thursday, October 22, 1998 8:54 AM
To: gmcmotorhome
Subject: Re: GMC: Still looking for air leak (1974 Eleganza SE)

As a temporary fix, you can disconnect the air lines into the air bags
and put in schraeder valves and air them up. If you have trouble
finding them locally, I bet Camping World where your wife wants to shop
will have them.
Justin
 
Stephen
Do you have a source for the check valve?

Air system = the compressor was used as the check valve
in early GMC (bad idea)
we installed a check valve just aft of the compressor in
the system.
Eric Tipton
etipton
 
Get the kit with stainless steel check valve from Cinnabar. It is well
worth the cost. Yoiu can also get stainless steel check valves from Grainger.

> Stephen
> Do you have a source for the check valve?
>
> Air system = the compressor was used as the check valve
>in early GMC (bad idea)
> we installed a check valve just aft of the compressor in
>the system.
>Eric Tipton
>etipton
>
>
>
>
>
 
Wonderful idea to keep at least one for an emergency repair on the road. Never
can tell when something will let go. Chuck

> Be sure to check the ends of the air lines. The factory air line fittings are
> crimped onto the lines. These are a source of leakage. For those of you
> looking for a fix of leaking air lines to the bags and to the solenoid valves,
> I used some brass fittings that had pipe thread on one end and with "wedding
> band" fittings on the other. You can get right angle fittings as well as
> straight fittings. DO NOT USE the brass bands that come with the fittings but
> purchase some nylon bands (commonly used for the plastic tubes used for
> refrigerator ice makers). I replaced all of the factory plastic fittings
> about 5 years ago with brass fittings and I no longer have air line leaks.
>
> Cinnibar has a kit to update the system which includes a micro pore filter and
> water separator.
 
Arch,
I've had the same problems w/ the rotary valves. I used some RTV gasket
maker to replace that leaky cork gasket. It worked great. I also found
that the castings were porous in a couple of spots (using kids soap
bubbles). A couple drops of epoxy fixed that. Teflon pipe sealer on th=
e
threaded fittings helps too.
Steve
'74 Glacier
Phoenix

Tom

Do you have a gauge on your air tank. What is the cycle on and cycle off
pressure settings? Check the inside of the pressure switch-----mine leake=
d
there and there was only set at about a 4lb spread------got a new one. =

Does your tank have a drain? Check it lots leak there. Mine did not have =

a drain so it was about 1/4 to 1/3 full of some really nasty black goo. O=
f
course this cut down on the volume of air the tank could hold. Will your
rig stay up it you set the controls in hold? If it will stay up your leak=

is
between the valves and the compressor. If it falls down you are back to =

square one. My valves are so bad (rotary ones) they hiss at you when
you touch them. Oh well I will get to that someday.

Take Care
Arch 76GB IL
> =

> No front clearance lights and an air leak - I guess it could be worse.=

> =

> Any suggestions?
> =
 
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