1982 PT40 Air Compression

[legrisjerry]

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@...

[Debbie]

Well, it was the main air line from the compressor to the dryer what busted on
my 1985 PT40. Not amenable to field replacement, since the compressor is on top
of the Detroit and the line runs behind the engine.

So the compressor is now rebuilt, a newly fabricated line is in place and all
other air lines have been chased/tested; she airs up in 5 minutes now. [The
original symptom was variable airing time, until she refused to air up at all.]
Best case scenario, the cruise control will also work now....

Fresno, California - Fresno Texas is 15 miles from me, wish I could refer you to
my shop. Me, I realized all along that I was setting myself up to deal with
27-year-old rubber...

-Debbie Huffman
1985 PT 40 "Festina Lente"

--- 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@...
>

[James Q Riordan Jr]

When I had my air compressor replaced the mechanic stated that many times the air hoses from the compressor go bad and leak.

Thanks,

Jim Riordan

On Oct 22, 2012, at 7:01 PM, "legrisjerry" <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> 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%40gmail.com"

[Jerry LeGris]

Hi Jim,

Thanks so much for your feed back. I will forward it to Herman. He is headed back this weekend to get her going again.

Jerry 

On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 7:04 PM, James Q Riordan Jr <"jqrjr@yahoo.com"> wrote:

 

When I had my air compressor replaced the mechanic stated that many times the air hoses from the compressor go bad and leak. 

Thanks,

Jim Riordan

On Oct 22, 2012, at 7:01 PM, "legrisjerry" <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> 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%40gmail.com"

--

Jerry LeGris, Broker Associate

Commercial & Residential

DRE # 00885785

Prudential Calif Realty

3728 Atlantic Ave.

Long Beach, CA 90807

Cell: 949 510-2370

Office: 562 989-4608

Fax: 562 989-4803

email: "jerrylegris@gmail.com"

 

[Jerry LeGris]

Hi Debbie,

Thanks so much for your feed back. I will pass it on to Herman.

Jerry

On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 7:45 AM, Debbie <"kyradebbie@yahoo.com"> wrote:

 

Well, it was the main air line from the compressor to the dryer what busted on my 1985 PT40. Not amenable to field replacement, since the compressor is on top of the Detroit and the line runs behind the engine.



So the compressor is now rebuilt, a newly fabricated line is in place and all other air lines have been chased/tested; she airs up in 5 minutes now. [The original symptom was variable airing time, until she refused to air up at all.] Best case scenario, the cruise control will also work now....



Fresno, California - Fresno Texas is 15 miles from me, wish I could refer you to my shop. Me, I realized all along that I was setting myself up to deal with 27-year-old rubber...



-Debbie Huffman

1985 PT 40 "Festina Lente"

--- In "WanderlodgeForum%40yahoogroups.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@...

>

--

Jerry LeGris, Broker Associate

Commercial & Residential

DRE # 00885785

Prudential Calif Realty

3728 Atlantic Ave.

Long Beach, CA 90807

Cell: 949 510-2370

Office: 562 989-4608

Fax: 562 989-4803

email: "jerrylegris@gmail.com"

 

[James Q Riordan Jr]

You can get his and fittings that can be made up in the field. You should be able to get to the top hose from the right side of engine. When they replaced my compressor they had to do it from under the coach. The compressor was a smaller one than dd lists as the correct one it is shorter.
Thanks,

Jim Riordan

On Oct 24, 2012, at 8:54 PM, Jerry LeGris <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> wrote:

Hi Jim,

Thanks so much for your feed back. I will forward it to Herman. He is headed back this weekend to get her going again.

Jerry

On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 7:04 PM, James Q Riordan Jr <"jqrjr@yahoo.com"> wrote:

When I had my air compressor replaced the mechanic stated that many times the air hoses from the compressor go bad and leak.

Thanks,

Jim Riordan

On Oct 22, 2012, at 7:01 PM, "legrisjerry" <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> 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%40gmail.com"

--

Jerry LeGris, Broker Associate

Commercial & Residential

DRE # 00885785

Prudential Calif Realty

3728 Atlantic Ave.

Long Beach, CA 90807

Cell: 949 510-2370

Office: 562 989-4608

Fax: 562 989-4803

email: "jerrylegris@gmail.com"

[James Q Riordan Jr]

Hose not his

Thanks,

Jim Riordan

On Oct 24, 2012, at 8:54 PM, Jerry LeGris <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> wrote:

Hi Jim,

Thanks so much for your feed back. I will forward it to Herman. He is headed back this weekend to get her going again.

Jerry

On Tue, Oct 23, 2012 at 7:04 PM, James Q Riordan Jr <"jqrjr@yahoo.com"> wrote:

When I had my air compressor replaced the mechanic stated that many times the air hoses from the compressor go bad and leak.

Thanks,

Jim Riordan

On Oct 22, 2012, at 7:01 PM, "legrisjerry" <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> 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%40gmail.com"

--

Jerry LeGris, Broker Associate

Commercial & Residential

DRE # 00885785

Prudential Calif Realty

3728 Atlantic Ave.

Long Beach, CA 90807

Cell: 949 510-2370

Office: 562 989-4608

Fax: 562 989-4803

email: "jerrylegris@gmail.com"

[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@...
>

[Joe Garner]

HI Jerry,

Hope this works out for you ;}

I had a problem with my '87 PT in Bakersfield one time and used Valley Power Systems. 
http://valleypowersystems.com/


The 'do not shift' light on the trans panel came on and stuck me.  At the shop they had 2 guys work on it for an hour.  Didnt find anything, but didnt charge me either!!

YMMV...

/Joe
'87 PT 40 Alligator

Sedona, AZ.

On Mon, Oct 22, 2012 at 4:01 PM, legrisjerry <"jerrylegris@gmail.com"> 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%40gmail.com"

[waynekotila]

Did you get your problem figured out yet? The rear of the bus airing up and not
the front may be a seperate problem. This sounds like a problem with the level
control valves, there are two in the rear that control the amount of air
distribution pressure to the air bags on left and right side of the bus and
there is one in the front that controls the air distribution pressure between
the front and rear air bags. If one of these valves fails the air bags on one
side or one end of the bus may not inflate.

Wayne Kotila
Buffalo, MN
1996 PT42


--- 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@...
>