Adding auxiliary air

[Ryan Wright]

My '86 PT-40 did not come with an auxiliary air compressor. I'd like
to add one. Any thoughts on how one might go about this? Would be
really nice if I could just buy that "option" from Blue Bird or
elsewhere and add it as if it were factory. If not, I can rig
something up, but could use advice on where to mount the thing and how
to properly tie in with the air system, etc.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

[krminyl@...]

Hi Ryan,

I might be wrong, but I think the aux air compressor was used primarily just
for the air flush toilet, and the air dump valves...Curt??

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38' PT (For Sale)



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[Leroy Eckert]

On mine the aux air compressor provides air to the air dump valves, the brake
system and the aux air tank. There is a separate compressor and tank for the air
toilet.
Leroy

krminyl@... wrote: Hi Ryan,

I might be wrong, but I think the aux air compressor was used primarily just
for the air flush toilet, and the air dump valves...Curt??

Kevin McKeown
Yorba Linda, CA
1986 38' PT (For Sale)

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products.
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Leroy Eckert
1990 WB-40 "Smoke N Mirrors"
Dahlonega, GA

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[Pete Masterson]

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On Nov 21, 2007, at 11:09 PM, krminyl@... wrote:

> Hi Ryan,
>
> I might be wrong, but I think the aux air compressor was used
> primarily just
> for the air flush toilet, and the air dump valves...Curt??
>
> Kevin McKeown
> Yorba Linda, CA
> 1986 38' PT (For Sale)
>
>
>
> **************************************Check out AOL's list of
> 2007's hottest
> products.
> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?
> NCID=aoltop00030000000001)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>

[Tom McCarthy]

Two different systems on my '95. I have the Microphor air tank
dedicated to flush and an auxiliary compressor for dump valves, air
suspension, etc.

Tom McCarthy
95 PT42
Poway CA


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, krminyl@... wrote:
>
> Hi Ryan,
>
> I might be wrong, but I think the aux air compressor was used
primarily just
> for the air flush toilet, and the air dump valves...Curt??
>
> Kevin McKeown
> Yorba Linda, CA
> 1986 38' PT (For Sale)
>
>
>
> **************************************Check out AOL's list of
2007's hottest
> products.
> (http://money.aol.com/special/hot-products-2007?
NCID=aoltop00030000000001)
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[scoggins_jim]

Ryan:
I had an 86 PT40 and the first question that comes to mind is do you
really need it.

Here is why I thought I needed an aux compressor. Did not want to
start engine:
1. To use the water line blow out when winterizing
2. To raise the suspension for an early am departure
3. To re position the driver or pax chair
4. To raise the suspension in order to work under coach

I know a couple of guys that got a 150 PSI pancake compresser from
Sears, threw away the tank, and mounted it in the aft street side bay.
They used some isolation mounts to limit vibration and plumbed into
the input side of the air dryer. One would need a feed back circuit
to turn off the pump once the desired air pressure has been reached
in the air system.

I guess it might be a big deal if there was sometime you wanted air
pressure without starting the engine--if you install an air toilet
for instance.

To make a long story short, I did not do it, mainly because I didn't
want to give up space in that bay.

Regards,
Jim Scoggins

>

[Don Bradner]

I have no need for 1, 3, or 4, but number 2 is a big one for us. I never like to
sit in an RV Park with an engine running longer than necessary, and I very much
hate listening to low-air buzzers!

I start my departure morning (which is almost never early!) with block heater
and air compressor. That combo means that I can release the brake and drive away
as soon as I have oil pressure.

Items that are also important to us where the compressor is handy are: Dump
valves (frequently, due to washer/dryer) and oil top-up (infrequently).

In short, the aux compresson is one of the many things I didn't have in my SOB
that I greatly appreciate in the Bird!

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Eureka, CA

On 11/23/2007 at 11:55 AM scoggins_jim wrote:

>Ryan:
>I had an 86 PT40 and the first question that comes to mind is do you
>really need it.
>
>Here is why I thought I needed an aux compressor. Did not want to
>start engine:
>1. To use the water line blow out when winterizing
>2. To raise the suspension for an early am departure
>3. To re position the driver or pax chair
>4. To raise the suspension in order to work under coach
>
>I know a couple of guys that got a 150 PSI pancake compresser from
>Sears, threw away the tank, and mounted it in the aft street side bay.
>They used some isolation mounts to limit vibration and plumbed into
>the input side of the air dryer. One would need a feed back circuit
>to turn off the pump once the desired air pressure has been reached
>in the air system.
>
>I guess it might be a big deal if there was sometime you wanted air
>pressure without starting the engine--if you install an air toilet
>for instance.
>
>To make a long story short, I did not do it, mainly because I didn't
>want to give up space in that bay.
>
>Regards,
>Jim Scoggins

[erniecarpet@...]

Ryan, on my return to Texas last Dec, temps were close to zero. I found that
at those cold temps, air leaks seem to abound in my coach. One particular
leak was in the air throttle. I finally took a heat gun and warmed that up.
So, don't feel that you are alone in the cold weather driving. My air, also.
took forever to build up.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Weatherford, Tx
---glad to be where things aren't that cold, yet



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[Ryan Wright]

Thanks, folks, for the continued replies on this topic.

Jim: There are a few reasons I want to add the auxiliary air. One you
mentioned - raising the suspension before starting the engine. Don
also mentioned the oil top off, which I check before leaving and would
rather not turn the engine on and wait for air to build, and the
annoying low air buzzer which takes a few minutes after every engine
start to go away. I'd also like the ability to run air tools off the
coach when parked without the engine running.

One of the most important reasons for me, however, came to surface
last weekend: We tried to leave from a family's house and the cold
weather (28 degrees) seemed to have an effect on our air system
because we were unable to build air at a normal rate. Ralph
Fullenwider graciously accepted my emergency phone call for help and
gave me some advice but in the end we wound up running the engine over
2 hours on high idle to build up enough pressure to leave. On the
freeway pressure dropped to 70psi several times after braking and took
quite some time to build back up, which caused me quite a bit of
concern. Once we got into warmer temperatures, pressure jumped to 120
and stayed there.

My assumption is there are leaks in the system and/or there was a
problem with the pop-off valve or it's heater as Ralph suggested. I'm
going to go through the coach and R&R the entire air system before
going out of town again, but had we an aux compressor, we would have
been able to assist the engine compressor enough to build up air and
leave earlier. I like the idea of an emergency supplemental air source
on board.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On Nov 23, 2007 8:17 AM, Don Bradner wrote:
>
> I have no need for 1, 3, or 4, but number 2 is a big one for us. I never
> like to sit in an RV Park with an engine running longer than necessary, and
> I very much hate listening to low-air buzzers!
>
> I start my departure morning (which is almost never early!) with block
> heater and air compressor. That combo means that I can release the brake and
> drive away as soon as I have oil pressure.
>
> Items that are also important to us where the compressor is handy are: Dump
> valves (frequently, due to washer/dryer) and oil top-up (infrequently).
>
> In short, the aux compresson is one of the many things I didn't have in my
> SOB that I greatly appreciate in the Bird!
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Eureka, CA

[brad barton]

Ryan,
On our first Blue Bird..an 84 FC, we had an extra valve installed to raise the
rear air bags b another 8" to permit us to get up a very steep driveway. The
new bags, valve and control switch on the dash were kindof pricey but it came in
handy more than once. Brad Barton 00LXiDFWbbartonwx@...
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