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Brett, fired the coach about 30 minutes ago no building air pressure. Pump is producing air...only 10 pounds at cockpit gauge Regulator?

Not the typical post or question I know but...After 3.5 years of ownership of my Beaver I am ready to start learning some of the chassis systems. I am not a mechanic. I used to do all my own work on my cars, to include rebuilding a few engines, back in the 70s and 80s so I know I am capable of it. I just stopped when I had enough money to pay someone else regularly. Is there anywhere on line to learn these systems? I've decided to learn the brakes first because I have an air leak that I can hear. Probably something simple when I can get underneath to look. But I would like to learn the systems. I have found the typical diesel mechanic schools on line but no self help type sites. Any ideas? Thanks!!

The left front 2 air bags fail to fully inflate. They do inflate to the point they are tight and support the coach but not full enough to rise up on the hat that additional 1 3/4 or 2 inchesthe others do. As a result it looks like the coach leans left a bit, it does. What am I looking for. I will assume at this point there is a method to adjust this. There is not an audible sign of a leak though it does settle back and there apparently are some I am looking for today. I bought some leak detector at Home Depot yesterday for this search task. The coach in question is the 1999 455 Safari Panther (09/98 production date) Thanks Bill Edwards

In the May 2016 issue a very good article appeared on the use of Air Pressure Boosters, by Mark Quasius. As a pneumatic specialist in fluid power and having worked with this and other industrial components a couple of clarifications: The statement on a booster functioning as a transformer is slightly off. While it does increase the pressure, it does consume compressed air to do so. Typically at this pressure increase ratio 1/2 of the incoming flow will be used in work and exhausted to atmosphere. A transformer changes the voltage at reduced output amperage but the work to do so (efficiency) is expressed as 97%-99% so only 1%-3% of the energy (heat) is used to transform the voltage. In the air booster it is only 50% efficient hence a big difference in energy consumed. On the size rating, the VBA20A is good for filling large amount of tires, small tanks that start at lower pressures, but is overkill for single tires where you are topping off the pressure to 120psi where you have a supply of 100 psi. Looking at his coach's supply of 18.7 SCFM the larger booster will use that and more if the vessels being pressurized are numerous and nearly empty. The smaller booster VBA10A-N02GN will work just as well in this environment at a typical cost of $278.75 net each, prices may vary. Only the amount of time it takes to get from and to a given pressure changes, the smaller booster will take longer but we are talking a few seconds difference more not minutes. An advantage of the smaller booster is the use of 1/4" NPT pipe fittings instead of 3/8", most hose whips you buy locally are of the 1/4" NPT size for filling tires, then you don't need adapters to hook it up. And the VBA10A is half the length of the VBA20A, easier to find a hole to tuck it into. Word of caution with this smaller booster, it has the capability of a true 2X supply pressure so can produce 240psi from a supply of 120psi and this must be avoided. The VBA20A is maximum of 150psi output. Setting the output pressure to 140psi is within the range of most available hoses, components but don't try filling the tires to this at all! The author's recommended hookup is on the mark, but I would add one statement. When you don't need the booster disconnect it using the quick connect from supply, or install a on/off (ball valve) prior to the booster to shut it off when not needed. The booster will always try to generate pressure to the outlet set point and if even a small leak occurs you could be using a lot of coach or compressor air and not even know it! While you can purchase them from SMCPNEUMATICS.com, they are the California distributor of SMC products. See www.smcusa.com for a complete list of local distributors in the USA and Canada. Here is the NE it is www.airlinehyd.com for this product, see; http://www.airlinehyd.com/Webpages/Orderonline/P21Manufacturersearch.aspx?item_number=VBA10A-N02gn-Z for more info. Good Article...... Dave Smith '09 Monaco Monarch with wife and dog. Still working.

Howdy, I have a 1996 Beaver Patriot 40' that has recently decided to give me attitude with the air dump valve for the air bag suspension. It appears that when I press the momentary "air dump" switch, it is grounding out somewhere because I hear the fuse tripping down in the electrical bay compartment. I've tested the switch and wiring at the switch and it all checks out. I haven't been able to locate the actual air dump valve, does anyone know where Magnum placed these on the chassis? Does anyone have tips on what they would be looking for that might be causing this to trip? It appears that there is a relay this air dump switch runs through, along with wires to/from a marker light interruption (ICC) switch... could the relay have given out and is causing the fuse to trip? Any and all thoughts/ideas are appreciated! Thanks, Brandon

Having just upgraded to a tag-axle rig, I happily ordered a set of extra sensors from Daryl and Cheri at Lawrence Electronics Sales. They sell TireTraker TPMS for RVs. I've had great luck with the product; and, when I called to order a new sensor after a catastrophic dolly tire failure launched one into orbit (it faithfully transmitted the loss back to the receiver as it headed off on its one-way doomed flight), Daryl wouldn't hear of me paying. I protested, saying there was no way he in any way was responsible for an arbitrary tire failure, but he held firm (for the tires' manufacturer, Carlisle, it was a different matter). The icing on the cake: after submitting today's order, I held my breath as shipping and handling was calculated. Such is the fashion nowadays, with vendors gouging the dickens out of customers after they've already committed... Are you ready for this? USPS standard delivery, packed and shipped, for $2.95. Now, some two years after my initial purchase, I like my TireTraker system; but I LOVE Lawrence Electronics Sales. Kudos to Daryl and Cheri! Followup: I got a personal note from Daryl, in addition to my emailed receipt. It is SUNDAY. They have a customer for life.