1982 PT40 Air Compression

[mbulriss]

Hi Jerry,

First off, I guess congrats on selling the bus in this market. I have been
watching this thread with interest. Just out of curiosity, did your buyer,
Herman, used to have a BB here in Texas several years ago?

Although you have gotten some good inputs, a few things seem to me that there
may be multiple problems here. Especially after sitting for four years. I
suppose it could be the air pump hose, as several people noted, or the air pump
itself, or the air governor even. Although you stated that when you put an air
compressor on the rear Schrader valve only the rears lifted and not the front.
That implies a separate and different problem altogether in my mind. After four
years of sitting, if the air dryer was not working correctly upon storage, there
could be condensation problems in the entire air system that 'gummed up' some of
the air controlled valves in the system - including the brake system, which does
not seem to have been exercised yet.

You said "The new buyers were baffled and not familiar enough to solve this".
Given that they seem to have limited knowledge and limited time, and probably
aren't able to bring lots of tools, heavy jack stands, etc. with them, I would
be looking for a diesel repair service that does road calls to meet them at the
bus when they arrive. Those road service guys see similar problems all the time,
so they can diagnose and repair faster than someone without knowledge and proper
tools, and importantly, they know where all the local parts houses and repair
facilities are that can make hoses, etc. It seems like on most of my repairs, I
spend more time finding the proper parts than I do on the actual repair. BTW,
since this seems like there are air system problems, I would also want the
service guy present when I tried the brakes for the first time.

I guess where I come down on this is I try to do most of my own maintenance if I
can, but if it was me, given time, distance, unfamiliar locale and the need to
get moving, there is no question in my mind that I would be lining up a local
roadside diesel repair service to meet me when I arrived. The buyers can be
concentrating on checking tires, fluids and provisioning the bus for the trip
while repairs are taking place. Speaking of tires, before setting out cross
country, that's a place I would be concerned with after four years of sitting.
Were they covered or otherwise out of the sun and parked on plastic or wood,
between them and the concrete?

Anyway, good luck to you and your buyer and please let us know the end result so
we can all learn from this.

FWIW,

Mike Bulriss
1991 WB40 "Texas Minivan"
San Antonio, TX


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "legrisjerry" wrote:
>
> Hello Gracious BlueBird Owners,
> I appreciate any help you can give me. Have a 1982 Wanderlodge PT40. It has
been sitting for 4 years. Have a buyer who came form Texas. He installed new
batteries and she fired right up. The problem: the air compression didn't kick
in. It was working perfectly when parked. A portable air compressor was
connected to the rear line and the rears and tag lifted but not the front end.
> The new buyers were baffled and not familiar enought to solve this and time
frames forced them back to Texas and the Bird still sits in Fresno.
> By the way while sitting the batteries had been disconnected but the coach was
used by direct electrical hook up for lights and electric only in the coach.
Maybe a relay or switch or valve has failed. I can't advise these
buyer/mechanics. Please I need your feedback.
> I understand Randy Dupree and Ralph Fullenwider are the main experts and I
would more than welcome any of your feedback for my buyer.
> Anyone else that has good or creative thought please contact me so I can
connect you to Herman the buyer so he can bring his new bird home to Texas.
> I greatly appreciate any help you Wanderlodge wizards have.
> Thank You.
> Jerry LeGris
> 888-441-8751
> jerrylegris@...
>