11-03-2019, 10:38 PM
Laureen and I have been hearing an air leak forward of the rear tires (single axle) on our 1984 Newell Classic and we are losing air rapidly from the supply (house) system. We can hear it from both sides of the coach, maybe a little louder on the passenger side. When we turn the coach off and the (only) compressor quits the supply air gauge on the dash quickly falls from 120 psi to zero. It takes only 15-20 seconds to lose 10 PSI for the first 60 pounds or so on the house side according to the dash gauge. The brake system psi holds fine and the air bags stay up. The coach's air system is simple, using air for brakes, air tanks, air bags, ride height adjustments, leveling and horn. We have front and rear six packs with MAC air valves. Nothing is automated.
Today we spent some time looking around under the coach by taping a phone camera and a couple of Harbor Freight free lights to a long, narrow strip of wood flooring and taking videos of the underside of the coach. Doing so led to us finally finding our supply (house) air tank or at least one of them (don't know if we have more than one). It is right in front of the rear axle and about the middle of the coach. (The two brake air tanks are in front of the front axle.)
Please take a look at the attached photo of the bottom of the supply air tank. It looks to me that a petcock or some kind of valve is missing off the square device in the center/bottom of the tank. I think this may be a major source of our air loss from the supply system. I did not actually crawl under the coach to check if air is coming out of that hole/area when the pressure is high but will do that probably Monday (tomorrow). Actually, I will figure out a way to check that without me crawling under there.
Does anyone know if a valve is supposed to be in that area? I would think so for draining water out of the tank from time to time. If so, what kind of valve should I put there? I would like to be able to drain it from the side of the coach by running a line over there. Thanks for listening and for any advice.
Today we spent some time looking around under the coach by taping a phone camera and a couple of Harbor Freight free lights to a long, narrow strip of wood flooring and taking videos of the underside of the coach. Doing so led to us finally finding our supply (house) air tank or at least one of them (don't know if we have more than one). It is right in front of the rear axle and about the middle of the coach. (The two brake air tanks are in front of the front axle.)
Please take a look at the attached photo of the bottom of the supply air tank. It looks to me that a petcock or some kind of valve is missing off the square device in the center/bottom of the tank. I think this may be a major source of our air loss from the supply system. I did not actually crawl under the coach to check if air is coming out of that hole/area when the pressure is high but will do that probably Monday (tomorrow). Actually, I will figure out a way to check that without me crawling under there.
Does anyone know if a valve is supposed to be in that area? I would think so for draining water out of the tank from time to time. If so, what kind of valve should I put there? I would like to be able to drain it from the side of the coach by running a line over there. Thanks for listening and for any advice.
Glenn & Laureen Parker
Austin, Texas
1984 Newell 35' (Coach #58? - not confirmed)
6v92 TA Detroit Diesel, MT654 Allison 5 speed trans
2005 Honda Element toad
2007 Honda S2000 fun car