Air Suspension
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IanH
FreelanderUK
Victor Johnstone
7 posters
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Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:33 am
Warwick Duo. To be honest I've never got to grips with the two black and red control valves and gauges. Particularly what the valves actually do!
Anyhoo, we are currently touring up in nw Scotland. Near Kyle of Lochalsh in Ardelve campsite just now. Lovely.
En route, the gauges showed different and quite low readings. Ok splash out 50p at a service station and top them up. Problem! The black side pressurised, the red side started to - then whoosh. Completely de-pressurised!
What to do? A question - can I extract and replace the Schrader valve just like in a car/bike tyre.
Anyhoo, we are currently touring up in nw Scotland. Near Kyle of Lochalsh in Ardelve campsite just now. Lovely.
En route, the gauges showed different and quite low readings. Ok splash out 50p at a service station and top them up. Problem! The black side pressurised, the red side started to - then whoosh. Completely de-pressurised!
What to do? A question - can I extract and replace the Schrader valve just like in a car/bike tyre.
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Re: Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Thu Aug 24, 2023 2:38 am
Oops accidentally posted twice. Sorry.
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Re: Air Suspension
by FreelanderUK Thu Aug 24, 2023 4:17 pm
Yes the valve can be replaced like car tyre valves , you should be able to buy the valve and extracting tool at Halfords or the like or any bike shop,
Ideally the bags should be inflated to around 2 bar and should not be left empty as this can damage the air bag, when driving the gauges will show different readings this is normal, this is as the bags compress and elongate as the suspension is working
Ideally the bags should be inflated to around 2 bar and should not be left empty as this can damage the air bag, when driving the gauges will show different readings this is normal, this is as the bags compress and elongate as the suspension is working
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Re: Air Suspension
by IanH Thu Aug 24, 2023 5:28 pm
We ran ours on Warwick duo never below 1 bar, the minimum the bags require to be, even the correct shape. As Chris says 2 bar is probably optimum.
By all means change the valve cores, but that WHOOSH would worry me
Really only 3 possibilities, the valve, unlikely imho if it occured whilst inflating as then the valve core is open. The hose between the fill point and the bag, possible, or the bag itself.
Only way to find out is to try and reinflate the zero pressure one and listen where the bag is. By the rear wheel will do. There should be very little noise. If, after removing the air hose, the pressure returns to zero. Either the bag or hose I'd guess.
To get you home, I'd reduce the "good" bag pressure to 1bar to protect it. The van should be ok to drive like that. Just try it out carefully at first.....
By all means change the valve cores, but that WHOOSH would worry me
Really only 3 possibilities, the valve, unlikely imho if it occured whilst inflating as then the valve core is open. The hose between the fill point and the bag, possible, or the bag itself.
Only way to find out is to try and reinflate the zero pressure one and listen where the bag is. By the rear wheel will do. There should be very little noise. If, after removing the air hose, the pressure returns to zero. Either the bag or hose I'd guess.
To get you home, I'd reduce the "good" bag pressure to 1bar to protect it. The van should be ok to drive like that. Just try it out carefully at first.....
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Re: Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:51 pm
Thanks for the info and advice. It's appreciated.
My thoughts are that the bag is (was) probably ok since it was pressurised. When I tried to top up by connecting the airline the existing air came out. Guage reading zero. When I re-attached the airline no air was going in at all nor was there any escaping to the side or whatever. Just nothing. The airline was def ok.
I will lower the "good" side as suggested. Ta.
Not many Halfords or motor factors up this way btw.
My thoughts are that the bag is (was) probably ok since it was pressurised. When I tried to top up by connecting the airline the existing air came out. Guage reading zero. When I re-attached the airline no air was going in at all nor was there any escaping to the side or whatever. Just nothing. The airline was def ok.
I will lower the "good" side as suggested. Ta.
Not many Halfords or motor factors up this way btw.
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Re: Air Suspension
by FreelanderUK Thu Aug 24, 2023 6:58 pm
Should be a push bike shop somewhere as you should be able to buy in there as most mountain type bikes use schrader valves
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Re: Air Suspension
by IanH Thu Aug 24, 2023 7:02 pm
Now, with that extra info, fairly sure to valve core, easily changed and easy to get
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Re: Air Suspension
by IanH Thu Aug 24, 2023 7:02 pm
Now, with that extra info, fairly sure to be valve core, easily changed and easy to get
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Re: Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Thu Aug 24, 2023 7:15 pm
Thanks again and good tip to find a bike shop. :)
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Re: Air Suspension
by Rocky Thu Aug 24, 2023 8:12 pm
Within the first month I had an air suspension problem on one side - would not fill, and pressure dropping to zero over a 1-2 week period.
Replaced valve, but also found a kink in the hose just behind the valve. Have you opened drivers seat underneath and had a good look inside to make sure there is no interference with the hose behind the valve, because it does do a sharp turn to the left under the seat!
Good luck
Replaced valve, but also found a kink in the hose just behind the valve. Have you opened drivers seat underneath and had a good look inside to make sure there is no interference with the hose behind the valve, because it does do a sharp turn to the left under the seat!
Good luck
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Re: Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Fri Aug 25, 2023 3:03 am
Another good tip. I will check.. the gauges and tubes are under the passenger seat on ours but kinked would certainly explain failing to fill yet no noise of escaping air.
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Re: Air Suspension
by mikeelawson Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:02 am
Is this an advisory / modification to the Insurance, resulting in higher premiums?
BOOMEL
BOOMEL
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Re: Air Suspension
by Tinwheeler Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:22 am
Sorry, I’m confused. Where does insurance come into it?mikeelawson wrote:Is this an advisory / modification to the Insurance, resulting in higher premiums?
BOOMEL
Incidentally, it would help us all if you amended your profile so that the model of your van shows in your avatar instead of 'AutoSleeper'. Thanks.
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Re: Air Suspension
by mikeelawson Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:35 am
You need to advise your insurance company of any significant changes to the van (including decals). If you dont it is potentially another get out clause for them. I had to tell them about my Towbar.Tinwheeler wrote:
Sorry, I’m confused. Where does insurance come into it?
Incidentally, it would help us all if you amended your profile so that the model of your van shows in your avatar instead of 'AutoSleeper'. Thanks.
Regards,
BOOMEL
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Re: Air Suspension
by Rocky Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:40 am
There is a misunderstanding here.
Victor is not suggesting making any changes, he is trying to sort out a defect on an existing fitted piece of equipment.
Regards,
Victor is not suggesting making any changes, he is trying to sort out a defect on an existing fitted piece of equipment.
Regards,
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Re: Air Suspension
by Tinwheeler Sun Aug 27, 2023 1:49 am
The air suspension is a standard, and existing, fitting on the type approved motorhome but a towbar is not.mikeelawson wrote:
You need to advise your insurance company of any significant changes to the van (including decals). If you dont it is potentially another get out clause for them. I had to tell them about my Towbar.
Regards,
BOOMEL
In my experience adding a towbar makes no difference to the insurance premium although, as you say, the insurer needs to know about it.
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Re: Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Sun Aug 27, 2023 3:19 am
im not suggesting any modification. :)
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Re: Air Suspension
by Victor Johnstone Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:35 am
update.
got home took schraders out and put same valves back in. attached my electric tyre pump. fiddled (!) with the black/red plastic taps and hey, presto, inflation. the problem may simply have been that i had the rhs plastic control valve closed. to be honest i still have a clue what the actually do!
anyhoo, thanks all and the bags seem fine.
got home took schraders out and put same valves back in. attached my electric tyre pump. fiddled (!) with the black/red plastic taps and hey, presto, inflation. the problem may simply have been that i had the rhs plastic control valve closed. to be honest i still have a clue what the actually do!
anyhoo, thanks all and the bags seem fine.
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Re: Air Suspension
by PLOUGHLIN Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:49 am
Each tap links to a single airbag. Open both to inflate both or one to inflate that side only. Having inflated close the tap. If there is a gauge fitted, opening taps in turn will show pressure in each side, close afterwards. If you open both, the pressures in bags will equalise.
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