08-19-2012, 10:19 PM
Last year I replaced all three HCVs because two of them were cracked in the same place where the metal fittings screwed into the plastic body. I replaced them with the new blue colored universal Ridewell HCV.
After I did that, I noticed the air compressor cycled excessively, about once every two miles. Before it might cycle once in thirty miles. I suspected the valves, but also suspected that I had missed some set up trick. I could see the supply side needle move downward as I drove. I also noticed that the supply air needle would bounce when I would hit a bump. It wasn't that way before the new HCVs.
After talking with Ridewell, I learned they changed the design of the valve to be fast acting. It adds and dumps air at the slightest change of the arm. The engineer told me I need the Slo Response valve that has the GREY body. Lovely. I didn't find those critters on the internet, so I used another source. http://heightcontrolvalve.com/
I bought the standard deadband delayed response valve. They are different for right and left. The one under my front was a right hand valve. If you use these make sure you tell them you need 1/4 inch quick connect fittings. They normally come with SAE threads.
I am happy to report after an afternoon under the bus that the air use has returned to normal.
After I did that, I noticed the air compressor cycled excessively, about once every two miles. Before it might cycle once in thirty miles. I suspected the valves, but also suspected that I had missed some set up trick. I could see the supply side needle move downward as I drove. I also noticed that the supply air needle would bounce when I would hit a bump. It wasn't that way before the new HCVs.
After talking with Ridewell, I learned they changed the design of the valve to be fast acting. It adds and dumps air at the slightest change of the arm. The engineer told me I need the Slo Response valve that has the GREY body. Lovely. I didn't find those critters on the internet, so I used another source. http://heightcontrolvalve.com/
I bought the standard deadband delayed response valve. They are different for right and left. The one under my front was a right hand valve. If you use these make sure you tell them you need 1/4 inch quick connect fittings. They normally come with SAE threads.
I am happy to report after an afternoon under the bus that the air use has returned to normal.