Air System

Pretty much everything on the bottom side of the coach: Steering, wheels, tires, brakes, suspension
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Safaritoonces
Posts: 215
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 9:51 am
Location: Bowen Island, BC
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Air System

Post by Safaritoonces »

The dash air gauge failed due to water getting into the instrument and that led (as it always does) to further revelations of problems with the air system. This shows how a simple manifold system was added to distribute the air correctly, to the 1/4″ and 3/8″ air lines by using push to connect fittings.

https://safaritoonces.org/project-tree- ... ir-system/

Robert and Bev Lewis
2000 Continental
3126B Cat, 330hp
MD3060 Allison
https://safaritoonces.org
Robert and Bev Lewis
2000 Safari Continental, since 2017
3126B Cat, 330hp
MD3060 Allison
Bowen Island, BC

https://safaritoonces.org/
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BeaverOwner
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:50 am

Re: Air System

Post by BeaverOwner »

I visited your site - very nicely done. You must be a professional in that line of work.

I watched several of your videos - maybe I missed some.

Did you install an Air Dryer on your coach? I know some of the earlier coaches did not come equipped with Dryers, but they are widely available now and not too hard to install (if you can find the space). Of course it is still recommend to drain (check) your air tanks regularity but with a functional Air Dryer you will probably not see any moisture in the tank when you go to drain.
- Mike
2005 Beaver Patriot Thunder 525HP C13
( SMC Magnum D-series chassis)
Safaritoonces
Posts: 215
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 9:51 am
Location: Bowen Island, BC
Contact:

Re: Air System

Post by Safaritoonces »

Yes, I did install a dryer. If you look at the left corner of the engine bay you will see a small air dryer. In the video I explained how and why this was done this way. The only air that needs to be dry is the air to the dash gauge, and air tools if used. The manifold connections I did allowed all that air to be run through the air dryer, the air bag system did not need the air dryer in my estimation. The critical issue is how the lines are connected. The RV specialists had incorrectly plumbed the lines to the wet tank exit putting water into the gauge and so on. This is a static air system, once the tank is at pressure it is not used except for the horn or to hold off the emergency brake, so it is not like a coach with a full air brake system that runs the brakes, this requires a full air dryer and is complex. I did a diagram in the presentation that might help with the explanation. Please contact me if I can answer anything.

All the best.
Robert and Bev Lewis
2000 Safari Continental, since 2017
3126B Cat, 330hp
MD3060 Allison
Bowen Island, BC

https://safaritoonces.org/
Safaritoonces
Posts: 215
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2019 9:51 am
Location: Bowen Island, BC
Contact:

Re: Air System

Post by Safaritoonces »

Thank you for the kind comments, sorry, I didn't mean to disregard your question. I was just leaving and in a rush. These presentations are similar to what I have done for corporations, like Freescale (now NXP) and others. I am an electrical engineer and have done this type of work my whole life (engines, electronics, computer related...). But I didn't realize what I was getting into when I bought this coach. I don't regret it, it's like a family member now and I appreciate the quality of design that went into it. What I did not allow for was the overwhelming incompetence, greed and shoddy workmanship by the RV dealers that worked on the coach. None of the previous owners had the skills to do any of the work themselves, and every single thing the dealers worked on, they made worse. Externally the coach looked perfect, the mechanics were excellent but the wiring, roof and other systems brought the unit to the point of being sold for salvage. I bought it from a 'wholesaler'/RV dealer that had he not gotten the coach it would have been parted out at a salvage yard. There is a point in these coaches lifetime where they are not passed on but have the last sale either to a place like Arizona RV Salvage or a 'dealer that buys it at an auction then resells as "where is as is" ' . That was this coach. Hence the multitude of tasks, about 2.5 years of work to date.
Robert and Bev Lewis
2000 Safari Continental, since 2017
3126B Cat, 330hp
MD3060 Allison
Bowen Island, BC

https://safaritoonces.org/
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