Air Leveling

[George Lowry]

Yep, these quality coaches have many parts that are common failure
items. On our GM coach, The height control valves were over forty years
old and still worked flawlessly. I would have thought that BB would
have copied one of the most successful manufacturers in the business
when they started.

George Lowry
'95 WBDA 4203
Spearfish, SD

Jay Darst wrote:

>Scott,
>
>When checking the ride height control valves for function, you will
>find that when the valve arm is moved (after disconnecting it from
>the axle)that it doesn't respond immediately. It is supposed to do
>that. It allows for some movement in the suspension without
>releasing or adding air to the bags.
>
>Thought you might assume that since they didn't react right away,
>they may be defective, when in fact, they are supposed to be slow to
>respond.
>
>I have replaced all of the ride height control valves on my Bird as
>they quit working properly. Kinda annoying, so disected one of the
>valves and found that there is a silicone like grease that helps
>reduce the speed of the actual valve.
>
>Pretty common replacement, many Bird owners carry a spare aboard.
>They take the abuse of bumps as they are directly tied to the axle.
>
>Jay Darst
>85PT40
>Springfield, IL
>
>--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, George Lowry
>wrote:
>
>
>>Hi Scott,
>>
>>A more proper term is "height control valves" since they control
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>height of the body above the axle. Most systems use a three valve
>>system; The rear having two valves, one on each side and the front
>>having one valve in the center, tied to both sides. As you have
>>
>>
>stated,
>
>
>>the rear valves have lateral or side to side control while the
>>
>>
>front
>
>
>>valve controls both sides, therefore only effecting the front to
>>
>>
>rear
>
>
>>height position.
>>
>>What I have discovered is that the valve used by Bluebird has a
>>
>>
>lot of
>
>
>>plastic parts which tend to break. I would crawl under and check
>>
>>
>the
>
>
>>valves in the rear for broken parts first. You might disconnect
>>
>>
>the arm
>
>
>>from the valve to the axle and manually move the valve and see
>>
>>
>what
>
>
>>reaction you get. You may find that the valve is defective or
>>whatever.....
>>Be sure to block the body so that it does not fall on you. You may
>>
>>
>have
>
>
>>to drove the coach up on blocks to get clearance to crawl under.
>>
>>
>If you
>
>
>>personally replaced the other valves, this should be simple for
>>
>>
>you.
>
>
>>George Lowry
>>'95 WBDA 4203
>>Spearfish, SD Currently at the WMHA rally in Indio, CA
>>
>>
>Wonderful
>
>
>>weather and a great crowd gathering. y'all come!!
>>
>>Scott Forman wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>Hello all,
>>>
>>>Last year, I had a problem with my coach leaning to the right
>>>
>>>
>(curb)
>
>
>>>side. After consulting Blue Bird, they suggested I replace the
>>>
>>>
>right-
>
>
>>>side leveling valve on the rear axle, so I did. The problem
>>>persisted, so I also replaced the left side valve. That fixed
>>>
>>>
>it,
>
>
>>>and the air suspension has worked perfectly ever since.
>>>
>>>Until today. I took the bus for a drive this afternoon after a
>>>couple of months of siting. Now the right side is riding high,
>>>
>>>
>the
>
>
>>>opposite of the problem I fixed last year. I dumped and re-
>>>
>>>
>filled
>
>
>>>the air a few times, same problem.
>>>
>>>Since both valves are less than a year old, anyone have any other
>>>suggestions on a cause? The front valve has not been replaced,
>>>
>>>
>but
>
>
>>>it was explained to me that it controls front-to-back leveling
>>>
>>>
>and
>
>
>>>should really have no bearing on side-to-side. If this is
>>>
>>>
>incorrect,
>
>
>>>please let me know.
>>>
>>>Scott Forman
>>>'Tiger Pride'
>>>82 FC35RB
>>>Memphis
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>Yahoo! Groups Links
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>
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>
>Yahoo! Groups Links
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