FC Air System- info needed

[Robin]

After a long hiatus, I am fooling with the air system on my 1980 FC33.

First- I have the diagram #0988733 with diagrams. Everything is numbered rather
than labeled and I do not have the key. Anyone got a copy they could send?

Second- There is a gray air valve of some sort behind the driver's side bumper
outboard of the frame that has a bunch of hoses and one of the outlets Bottom
passenger's side) has the hose missing off it. Leaks at a pretty good clip. No
nearby homeless hose in evidence. What's this valve? Any idea where that
missing hose is supposed to go?

Third- The suspension dump valve does not seem to work as far as I can tell.
Light does not go on either. How fast is the dump supposed to happen? Any
common/easy things to check?

Fourth- The air cylinder to the generator slide is absent. There is a crimped
air hose but I do not see a bracket or anything else. Any good place to get
parts or an alternative (eg electric) arrangement? Anyone got a picture of the
factory layout? Thanks.

John Churchill
LARGE MARGE
1980 FC 33
Sanibel FL

[Scott Forman]

I can answer two questions....

The "missing hose" behind the bumper is normal, the "leaking" air creates vacuum
for the cruise control. This valve has a proper name, but I can't remember it.
If your cruise doesn't work (as it didn't on my old FC), you can cap that "leak"
if it makes you feel better (I did).

The suspension should dump fully in 20-30 seconds. The valve is electric over
air, it could be as simple as a loose wire.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Robin" wrote:
>
> After a long hiatus, I am fooling with the air system on my 1980 FC33.
>
> First- I have the diagram #0988733 with diagrams. Everything is numbered
rather than labeled and I do not have the key. Anyone got a copy they could
send?
>
> Second- There is a gray air valve of some sort behind the driver's side bumper
outboard of the frame that has a bunch of hoses and one of the outlets Bottom
passenger's side) has the hose missing off it. Leaks at a pretty good clip. No
nearby homeless hose in evidence. What's this valve? Any idea where that
missing hose is supposed to go?
>
> Third- The suspension dump valve does not seem to work as far as I can tell.
Light does not go on either. How fast is the dump supposed to happen? Any
common/easy things to check?
>
> Fourth- The air cylinder to the generator slide is absent. There is a crimped
air hose but I do not see a bracket or anything else. Any good place to get
parts or an alternative (eg electric) arrangement? Anyone got a picture of the
factory layout? Thanks.
>
> John Churchill
> LARGE MARGE
> 1980 FC 33
> Sanibel FL
>

[david edwards]

The thing behind the bumper is called a vacuum generator. If it is 'leaking' all the time, it means it is making vacuum all the time which means there is a vacuum leak in the lines that control your cruise control or the little diaphragm that is supposed to shut off the generator once the vacuum has reached a usable level has failed. There are no replacements for the vacuum generator so once that system fails, your only option is an electric cruise control or rigging up an alternative vacuum generator. I went with the electric version. I would look closely for vacuum leaks in your system. It could be as simple as a disconnected vacuum line. Kerry 82 FC 35 Denver

[Peggy & Ed McStay]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, david edwards
wrote:
>
> The thing behind the bumper is called a vacuum generator.  If it is 'leaking'
all the time, it means it is making vacuum all the time which means there is a
vacuum leak in the lines that control your cruise control or the little
diaphragm that is supposed to shut off the generator once the vacuum has reached
a usable level has failed.  There are no replacements for the vacuum generator
so once that system fails, your only option is an electric cruise control or
rigging up an alternative vacuum generator.  I went with the electric version.
> I would look closely for vacuum leaks in your system.  It could be as simple
as a disconnected vacuum line. 
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
David does the vacuum generator run anything else or can it be removed when you
install an electric cruise control. this is where iam at and was just wondering.
thanks

ed mcstay
83fc 35ft RB
"lonesome dove"

[david edwards]

Vacuum generator provides vacuum for nothing other than the cruise control as far as I know. I disconnected mine and have not noticed anything else not working. Kerry 82 FC 35 Denver

[Stephen Birtles]

you can still buy vacuum generators maybe not in the same style

stephen 77fc35
dupreeproducts.com

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Scott Forman" <scottforman75@...>
wrote:
>
> I can answer two questions....
>
> The "missing hose" behind the bumper is normal, the "leaking" air creates
vacuum for the cruise control. This valve has a proper name, but I can't
remember it. If your cruise doesn't work (as it didn't on my old FC), you can
cap that "leak" if it makes you feel better (I did).
>
> The suspension should dump fully in 20-30 seconds. The valve is electric over
air, it could be as simple as a loose wire.
>
> Scott Forman
> 86 PT38
> Memphis
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Robin" wrote:
> >
> > After a long hiatus, I am fooling with the air system on my 1980 FC33.
> >
> > First- I have the diagram #0988733 with diagrams. Everything is numbered
rather than labeled and I do not have the key. Anyone got a copy they could
send?
> >
> > Second- There is a gray air valve of some sort behind the driver's side
bumper outboard of the frame that has a bunch of hoses and one of the outlets
Bottom passenger's side) has the hose missing off it. Leaks at a pretty good
clip. No nearby homeless hose in evidence. What's this valve? Any idea where
that missing hose is supposed to go?
> >
> > Third- The suspension dump valve does not seem to work as far as I can tell.
Light does not go on either. How fast is the dump supposed to happen? Any
common/easy things to check?
> >
> > Fourth- The air cylinder to the generator slide is absent. There is a
crimped air hose but I do not see a bracket or anything else. Any good place to
get parts or an alternative (eg electric) arrangement? Anyone got a picture of
the factory layout? Thanks.
> >
> > John Churchill
> > LARGE MARGE
> > 1980 FC 33
> > Sanibel FL
> >
>

[david edwards]

When my vacuum generator failed I did buy a couple of vacuum generators which I had planned to use to replace the original. My memory is that I chose not to use them because none of them had the built in shut off diaphragm like the Wanderlodge original. All the ones I could find would have been running constantly whereas the OE shut off when the appropriate vacuum level was reached. The OE was a part used on old Ford trucks as I recall. Perhaps an old Ford truck forum might have info on a suitable replacement. I looked for a long time for a vacuum generator with a built in shut off valve and couldn't find one. I'm sure that someone with the skills of a Cuban mechanic could adapt some kind of generator to work. I concluded an electric cruise control was a better option Kerry 82 FC 35 Denver

[cfsomers@...]

Who makes an electric cruise control? Mine went out 4 years ago. How much
work is there to install?

Chuck

81SBFC
Florida

> When my vacuum generator failed I did buy a couple of vacuum generators
> which I had planned to use to replace the original. My memory is that I
> chose not to use them because none of them had the built in shut off
> diaphragm like the Wanderlodge original. All the ones I could find would
> have been running constantly whereas the OE shut off when the appropriate
> vacuum level was reached. The OE was a part used on old Ford trucks as I
> recall. Perhaps an old Ford truck forum might have info on a suitable
> replacement. I looked for a long time for a vacuum generator with a built
> in shut off valve and couldn't find one. I'm sure that someone with the
> skills of a Cuban mechanic could adapt some kind of generator to work. I
> concluded an electric cruise control was a better option
>
> Kerry
> 82 FC 35
> Denver
>
>
>
>
>

[Jon]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, cfsomers@... wrote:
>
> Who makes an electric cruise control? Mine went out 4 years ago. How
much
> work is there to install?
>
> Chuck
>
> 81SBFC
> Florida
>
> > When my vacuum generator failed I did buy a couple of vacuum
generators
> > which I had planned to use to replace the original. My memory is
that I
> > chose not to use them because none of them had the built in shut off
> > diaphragm like the Wanderlodge original. All the ones I could find
would
> > have been running constantly whereas the OE shut off when the
appropriate
> > vacuum level was reached. The OE was a part used on old Ford trucks
as I
> > recall. Perhaps an old Ford truck forum might have info on a
suitable
> > replacement. I looked for a long time for a vacuum generator with a
built
> > in shut off valve and couldn't find one. I'm sure that someone with
the
> > skills of a Cuban mechanic could adapt some kind of generator to
work. I
> > concluded an electric cruise control was a better option
> >
> > Kerry
> > 82 FC 35
> > Denver





Kerry did you ever get your cruse control to work? I just took mine
apart and cleaned up the internals and now it works perfect. But I
don't think mine has any vacumm censor device that will turn it oft and
on at a certain vacumm pressure. If there is such a device I have
never seen it on my coach.



Jon

Rebel Bird

Bremerton washington
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

[Robin]

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Jon" wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, cfsomers@ wrote:
> >
> > Who makes an electric cruise control? Mine went out 4 years ago. How
> much
> > work is there to install?
> >
> > Chuck
> >
> > 81SBFC
> > Florida
> >
> > > When my vacuum generator failed I did buy a couple of vacuum
> generators
> > > which I had planned to use to replace the original. My memory is
> that I
> > > chose not to use them because none of them had the built in shut off
> > > diaphragm like the Wanderlodge original. All the ones I could find
> would
> > > have been running constantly whereas the OE shut off when the
> appropriate
> > > vacuum level was reached. The OE was a part used on old Ford trucks
> as I
> > > recall. Perhaps an old Ford truck forum might have info on a
> suitable
> > > replacement. I looked for a long time for a vacuum generator with a
> built
> > > in shut off valve and couldn't find one. I'm sure that someone with
> the
> > > skills of a Cuban mechanic could adapt some kind of generator to
> work. I
> > > concluded an electric cruise control was a better option
> > >
> > > Kerry
> > > 82 FC 35
> > > Denver
>
>
>
>
>
> Kerry did you ever get your cruse control to work? I just took mine
> apart and cleaned up the internals and now it works perfect. But I
> don't think mine has any vacumm censor device that will turn it oft and
> on at a certain vacumm pressure. If there is such a device I have
> never seen it on my coach.
>
>
>
> Jon
>
> Rebel Bird
>
> Bremerton washington

JON-

Did you just do your vac generator or did you do the whole cruise mechanism.
Mine does not work either. Mechanic said it was not worth fooling with
(probably true at his rate). I need another project to put on the list.

John Churchill
1980 FC33
LARGE MARGE
Sanibel, FL