Air Step problem - will not completely extend without 'help'

[rogerwwebb]

My air step is hanging up during extension (opening) and is not fully
extending without 'help' from my foot, shaking the step a bit. No
problem with retraction (closing).

Lubricating all pivot points did not help.

Air expels during the opening and closing process, as is normal. Once
the step is locked into place, either open or closed, it stops.

However, when the step hangs up (partially open) air continues to expel
from what I believe to be the step solenoid valve. In particular the
escaping air is coming from one of the two 'spark plug shaped' devices
on the bottom of the valve.

Advice appreciated ... and if someone could give me the proper name of
the 'spark plug shaped' devices, that too, would be appreciated.

Roger Webb
91 WL
Cedar Rapids, IA

[smquandt]

Roger



I had a similar problem, except mine would not retract. I talked to Kenny
Rodgers at Coach Craft, was arranging replacement of Primus, he said that
the step valve is the lowest part of the air system and any water that
accumulates will go there. His suggestions, and it worked for me, was to
remove the inbound airline, purge, put some WD-40 in the line, reattach then
operate the step many times to expel any water remaining.



When it WARMS UP I am going to put a small separator on that line to prevent
the problem.



Steve Quandt

Iron Mountain MI

1993-PT40



-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of rogerwwebb
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 4:53 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Air Step problem - will not completely extend
without 'help'



My air step is hanging up during extension (opening) and is not fully
extending without 'help' from my foot, shaking the step a bit. No
problem with retraction (closing).

Lubricating all pivot points did not help.

Air expels during the opening and closing process, as is normal. Once
the step is locked into place, either open or closed, it stops.

However, when the step hangs up (partially open) air continues to expel
from what I believe to be the step solenoid valve. In particular the
escaping air is coming from one of the two 'spark plug shaped' devices
on the bottom of the valve.

Advice appreciated ... and if someone could give me the proper name of
the 'spark plug shaped' devices, that too, would be appreciated.

Roger Webb
91 WL
Cedar Rapids, IA





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Terry Neal]

Roger,
Those are adjustable pressure valves to regulate the air flow in & out.
You can take them out & clean them & reinstall. Sounds like you have
some obstruction in one that is preventing the correct volume of air
flow and shut off or it has moved out of position.

Terry Neal
Bozeman, MT
82PT40
74FC34



rogerwwebb wrote:

> My air step is hanging up during extension (opening) and is not fully
> extending without 'help' from my foot, shaking the step a bit. No
> problem with retraction (closing).
>
> Lubricating all pivot points did not help.
>
> Air expels during the opening and closing process, as is normal. Once
> the step is locked into place, either open or closed, it stops.
>
> However, when the step hangs up (partially open) air continues to expel
> from what I believe to be the step solenoid valve. In particular the
> escaping air is coming from one of the two 'spark plug shaped' devices
> on the bottom of the valve.
>
> Advice appreciated ... and if someone could give me the proper name of
> the 'spark plug shaped' devices, that too, would be appreciated.
>
> Roger Webb
> 91 WL
> Cedar Rapids, IA
>
>

[ernieekberg@...>]

When i have been in freezing temps- seems like the last 2 months~ my step would
operate- but expel air in the retract position. Upon driving in warmer temps,
the step does not expel air.
Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston,Montana
"POO-DOO-EXPRESS"
----- Original Message -----
From: smquandt
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 4:07 PM
Subject: RE: [WanderlodgeForum] Air Step problem - will not completely extend
without 'help'


Roger

I had a similar problem, except mine would not retract. I talked to Kenny
Rodgers at Coach Craft, was arranging replacement of Primus, he said that
the step valve is the lowest part of the air system and any water that
accumulates will go there. His suggestions, and it worked for me, was to
remove the inbound airline, purge, put some WD-40 in the line, reattach then
operate the step many times to expel any water remaining.

When it WARMS UP I am going to put a small separator on that line to prevent
the problem.

Steve Quandt

Iron Mountain MI

1993-PT40

-----Original Message-----
From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of rogerwwebb
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 4:53 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Air Step problem - will not completely extend
without 'help'

My air step is hanging up during extension (opening) and is not fully
extending without 'help' from my foot, shaking the step a bit. No
problem with retraction (closing).

Lubricating all pivot points did not help.

Air expels during the opening and closing process, as is normal. Once
the step is locked into place, either open or closed, it stops.

However, when the step hangs up (partially open) air continues to expel
from what I believe to be the step solenoid valve. In particular the
escaping air is coming from one of the two 'spark plug shaped' devices
on the bottom of the valve.

Advice appreciated ... and if someone could give me the proper name of
the 'spark plug shaped' devices, that too, would be appreciated.

Roger Webb
91 WL
Cedar Rapids, IA

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gregory OConnor]

I had the same prob as a symtom to a bad seal in the ram. When
I would tug the step fully open the air hissing would stop. (My
94pt40 has a non spring ram with two air ports) If you remove the ram
and blow air in, to push the stroke out , the air should stop blowing
out the other port when the stroke bottoms out. if the air continues
to blow out the other port the seal is bad in the ram. You may be
able to remove both airlines to the ram and test it without removing
the ram first. I tried to split the ram open to replace the seal but
the Clippar ram used on my bus could not be serviced.

The step cams open and does not require pressure to hold it open.
The ram is duel acting (pushForce pullForce). To open; one valve
pushes air into the ram thus pushing the stroke out. The other valve
escapes the air as exhaust. The only exhaust on a new ram is the
content of the unopen ram. what you hear is air passing the plundger
seal in the bad ram and adding to the exhaust. The movement of the
step hindge just before the step cams to an open rest require the
most ram force. Your ram may have been wearing out over time and now
it has too much blowby to pass the cam and lock the step out.
Clippard.com has an online store and I think the exact replacement
for my bus was around $200.????? The last two numbers on the Bad ram
were SP or somthing like that which turned out to be special order
and not important. I upgraded the seal within the ram for $35.00???
to a "V" which stands for the name of the rubber compound used to
make the seal.

The fix is easy but take care not to lose a finger in a surprise step
movement. I think moisture in the ram freezeup and cut the plundger
seal and or dirt gets in through the wiper seal at the strope end?????

GregoryO'Connor
94PTRomolandCa


Gregory O'Connor
94PT40 Romoland California
--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "rogerwwebb"
wrote:
>
> My air step is hanging up during extension (opening) and is not
fully
> extending without 'help' from my foot, shaking the step a bit. No
> problem with retraction (closing).
>
> Lubricating all pivot points did not help.
>
> Air expels during the opening and closing process, as is normal.
Once
> the step is locked into place, either open or closed, it stops.
>
> However, when the step hangs up (partially open) air continues to
expel
> from what I believe to be the step solenoid valve. In particular
the
> escaping air is coming from one of the two 'spark plug shaped'
devices
> on the bottom of the valve.
>
> Advice appreciated ... and if someone could give me the proper name
of
> the 'spark plug shaped' devices, that too, would be appreciated.
>
> Roger Webb
> 91 WL
> Cedar Rapids, IA
>

[davidkerryedwards]

Are all Wanderlodge steps supposed to lock in the 'out' position. Mine comes
out when aired
up, but if parked, once the air pressure drops, step becomes limp and flops
around. Where
would I find the mechanism which holds it out? I took a quick look under there
once and
couldn't see any obvious locking mechanism.

Kerry
82 Fc 35
Denver

[rogerwwebb]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "davidkerryedwards"
wrote:
>
> Are all Wanderlodge steps supposed to lock in the 'out' position.
Mine comes out when aired
> up, but if parked, once the air pressure drops, step becomes limp
and flops around. Where
> would I find the mechanism which holds it out? I took a quick look
under there once and
> couldn't see any obvious locking mechanism.
>
> Kerry
> 82 Fc 35
> Denver
>
My step locks when open and once the air pressure drops it will open
automatically and lock in the open position.

Roger Webb
91WL
Cedar Rapids, IA

[Pete Masterson]

When the air pressure drops off, the step comes out and locks in the
extended position. There's a switch on the dash (at least in my
coach) that will also set the step to be extended so long as the
engine is off. If the engine is running, and the door is closed, the
step will retract once air pressure is about about 85 lbs (no matter
where the dash-switch is set).

Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42'
El Sobrante, CA




On Mar 11, 2007, at 6:51 PM, davidkerryedwards wrote:

> Are all Wanderlodge steps supposed to lock in the 'out' position.
> Mine comes out when aired
> up, but if parked, once the air pressure drops, step becomes limp
> and flops around. Where
> would I find the mechanism which holds it out? I took a quick look
> under there once and
> couldn't see any obvious locking mechanism.
>
> Kerry
> 82 Fc 35
> Denver



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Chuck Wheeler]

Look right under the step where the ram connects. It is a simple mechanism,
latches with a spring and unlatches when the ram pulls on it to retract.



- Chuck Wheeler -

82 FC 31 SB

Fort Worth, TX

_____

From: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of davidkerryedwards
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 7:52 PM
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Air Step problem - will not completely
extend without 'help'



Are all Wanderlodge steps supposed to lock in the 'out' position. Mine comes
out when aired
up, but if parked, once the air pressure drops, step becomes limp and flops
around. Where
would I find the mechanism which holds it out? I took a quick look under
there once and
couldn't see any obvious locking mechanism.

Kerry
82 Fc 35
Denver





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Wilhelmus Schreurs]

Kerry:
On an 83, I noticed that it is a mechanical linkage that locks the step in the
open position. It is a spring activated mechanism, and when the cylinder
retracts the step, it unlocks the mechanism first.

On my 84, I have two air cylinders, one that locks the step in place when
extended, and one for extending/retracting

Bill 84 FC 35 SB "$quanderlodge"
Terrace, B.C. Canada


----- Original Message ----
From: davidkerryedwards
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, March 11, 2007 6:51:59 PM
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Air Step problem - will not completely extend
without 'help'













Are all Wanderlodge steps supposed to lock in the 'out' position.
Mine comes out when aired

up, but if parked, once the air pressure drops, step becomes limp and flops
around. Where

would I find the mechanism which holds it out? I took a quick look under there
once and

couldn't see any obvious locking mechanism.



Kerry

82 Fc 35

Denver














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