Height Control & TV Antennas

[ragster_ga]

Page,

Thanks for the detailed process description. That is just about what I was
envisioning. Many thanks,

Glenn
1986 PT-40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, Page Britt wrote:
>
> Glenn,
>
> The procedure outlined in the Ridewell documentation the blue box is
> undoubtedly the best way to set it up from scratch or of more than on
> height control valve is changed at a time. Since I only had to change
> one (left rear) and the ride height seemed about right before than
> valve failed I utilized a somewhat abbreviated procedure. I'm not
> fortunate enough to have pit so when I changed the valve (as I do
> whenever I have to get under the bus with it elevated) I raised the
> rear sufficiently with the leveling jacks, dumped the suspension,
> securely blocked the bus under the frame at the crossmember close to
> the oil pan. I have a couple of big sound hardwood blocks cut from a
> 12x12 or perhaps even bigger timber and some smaller ones cut from
> sound cross ties. I then bled the air out of the tanks before
> cracking open the air lines at the valve. Removed, moved fittings
> from old to new, reinstalled. I thought I was being clever by simply
> disconnecting the linkage to the valve control arm at the arm thereby
> preserving the adjustment that was previously set. After I let it
> down and aired it up I discovered that didn't matter due to the fact
> there is an angle adjustment you can make on the control arm at the
> valve of 20 degrees or so (I set mine dead in the middle). The old
> one was apparently set a bit different plus I'm sure there is some
> variation in tolerances between individual valves. Anyway as to how I
> set it - I used the dimensions given in my documentation from ground
> to top of frame, I believe it was 37" front and 38" rear but the
> documentation is out in the coach. The PT-40 (and probably many of
> the rest) have 10" frame rails so in my case as long as I'm sure I'm
> measuring to the bottom of the actual frame I can simply knock 10"
> over the specified measurement. It is possible (at least for me) on a
> PT to skinny in between the drive and tag wheels and bend around /
> scoot forward a little and adjust the valve linkage with the
> suspension dumped without having to raise and block the coach. I
> wouldn't recommend this for anyone that has any claustrophobic
> tendencies but if you have it on level ground, dumped, chocked the
> leveling jack controls in retract position and the level maser system
> safed (off) it strikes me as being not really unduly dangerous. I
> have rather long arms and have worked in some pretty tight places in
> the past so that helps. Anyway I checked the rear heights (make sure
> the tag is dumped) and the right was real close, the left about 1.5"
> low. I dumped it, shut down, scooted under and lengthened the left
> rear linkage between the valve control arm and axle by about 3/4".
> Started the engine, aired it up and checked (which you can do without
> really getting anything but a long arm under held right down at ground
> level with the tape measure going up to the frame bottom) it was about
> 3/4" higher. I therefor conclude that the relationship between change
> in linkage dimension and ride height is roughly linear (make sense
> when you think about it). Repeat process lengthening the linkage
> another 1/2" or so. I check and have another 1/2" of ride height on
> that side. Lengthen another 1/4" to 1/2" and upon airing up and
> checking find it within 1/4" of spec and only 1/4" variation side to
> side. Pulled it up the most level part of our driveway and rechecked
> same result and front is similarly close to spec. Visually looks like
> the same gap between the tire and wheel well as I had before the valve
> failure. I'm happy, Lynda & Lady Bird seem happy.
>
> --Page
>
> Page & Lynda
> 1984 PT-40 "Lady Bird"
> Tallahassee, FL
>
>
> On Oct 6, 2009, at 10:27 PM, ragster_ga wrote:
>
> > Page,
> >
> > I would be interested to hear your process for the height control
> > valve adjustment. I believe mine needs a little tuning, but have not
> > tackled the project yet. What measurement did you use for your
> > settings and where did you measure? Did you deflate all the bags and
> > then inflate one at a time to get the setting? Were yo fortunate
> > enough to have a pit or did you block it up enough to go under but
> > still cycle the valves?
> >
> > Thanks for your insights.
> >
> > Glenn
> >
> >
> >
>