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wpapke · 02-11-2008, 08:17 PM

Hope someone has a solution. When I crank the beast (345) it builds up airpressure to the end of the solid green line. When i drive it the pressure goes down to around 60 or 70. When it sits up overnight it loses all pressure. Is it the check valve? I've had new bags installed and will be having the compressor rewired with a 6 gauge wire and relay. HELP! need to get on the road!

Inland RV Center, In · 02-11-2008, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpapke

Hope someone has a solution. When I crank the beast (345) it builds up airpressure to the end of the solid green line. When i drive it the pressure goes down to around 60 or 70. When it sits up overnight it loses all pressure. Is it the check valve? I've had new bags installed and will be having the compressor rewired with a 6 gauge wire and relay. HELP! need to get on the road!

The check valve is gone.

andy

wpapke · 02-13-2008, 06:07 PM

Hey Andy,

Just ordered one from you.

Now if someone can tell me where it is I can replace it when it comes in.

buckwheat · 02-16-2008, 08:58 AM

Mine is screwed directly into an albow fitting at the top of the tank. The main supply tube from the compressor connects to it. I've seen pics of others that are at the compressor discharge tee.

wpapke · 02-16-2008, 03:03 PM

thanks buckwheat. i will look under the mattress first. Any idea which way the free flow arrow should be pointed?

Inland RV Center, In · 02-16-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpapke

thanks buckwheat. i will look under the mattress first. Any idea which way the free flow arrow should be pointed?

The arrow points towards the direction of flow.

Where it's at, depends on the motorhome, but usually near the leveling valves, but noy always.

The original small brass check valve, is not longer available, so Airstream came up with a substitute, that may need an adapter.

Andy

wpapke · 02-17-2008, 12:53 PM

Thanks Andy.
"The arrow points towards the direction of flow." Is that with the direction of flow or toward the direction of flow? i.e., toward the tank or toward the compressor? I received the valve in record time, 2 days.

w

bkahler · 02-17-2008, 04:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpapke

Thanks Andy.
"The arrow points towards the direction of flow." Is that with the direction of flow or toward the direction of flow? i.e., toward the tank or toward the compressor? I received the valve in record time, 2 days.

w

The arrow should point in the direction the air is flowing. In other words point the arrow away from the pump and towards the tank.

You can test which way it works by blowing in one end of the check valve. In one direction you can blow air through in the other direction no air will pass.

Brad

wpapke · 02-23-2008, 05:25 AM

thanks bk. haven't checked the valve location yet. will let the forum know the outcome.

wpapke · 02-26-2008, 09:09 PM

another dumb question. i was thinking that i could install the new check valve in line at the compressor instead of having to crawl under the rig. seems ot me that if the old valve is bad then it is a free flow through and wouldn't interfere withe the operation of the old valve. any thoughts anyone? Andy? Bk?

bkahler · 02-26-2008, 09:21 PM

If I remember right the check valve on my 310 was just on the other side of the compartment wall. It actually screwed into the fitting that penetrated the compartment wall. If you try and splice it into the line by the pump you're going to have to buy various fittings to make it work.

If it was me I'd just grab a sheet of cardboard and lay on it while replacing the fitting. If you fitting is in a harder to reach place you might try your approach.

I've always felt if you install things the way they came from the factory its easier to trouble shoot the next time.

Good luck!

Brad

wpapke · 02-27-2008, 04:01 PM

Someone said it (the check valve) was on the top of the tank. A bear to get to. Which compartment wall?

I have a 345 and it may be in a different place than on a 310. The compressor is curbside under the bed. Thinking of a prophylactic replacement of the compressor as well.

wpapke · 02-27-2008, 04:05 PM

oh yeah, there is a schrader valve on the street side with a hose leading to the streetside of the air tank. I assume that it is a fill valve for the tank as well as the schrader on the bottom of the tank. Does anyone else have one on the side of the RV?

jking · 03-01-2008, 07:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpapke

oh yeah, there is a schrader valve on the street side with a hose leading to the streetside of the air tank. I assume that it is a fill valve for the tank as well as the schrader on the bottom of the tank. Does anyone else have one on the side of the RV?

If that is the case some PO added it ... A/S never put such a hose in. Check both ends for leaks with bubble solution and if it's OK consider yourself lucky.
Jamie

bkahler · 03-02-2008, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wpapke

oh yeah, there is a schrader valve on the street side with a hose leading to the streetside of the air tank. I assume that it is a fill valve for the tank as well as the schrader on the bottom of the tank. Does anyone else have one on the side of the RV?

Someone has added the shrader valve on our 310 as well. I think that was a common fix years ago when the air compressors died. On mine they just attached a hose to the bottom drain valve on the tank and ran a line over to the side of the rv behind the electrical compartment.

Brad

buckwheat · 03-07-2008, 05:24 PM

The curbside Schrader valve is for external pressurization of the air tank (and air bags via the tank) in the event of onboard air compressor failure. The Schrader valve on the bottom of the tank is for routine purging of moisture that accumulates in the tank, particularly during the summer. The tanks are steel and prone to rust so purge often!

When you install the check valve, be sure that you do it downstream of the 'T' to the air relief solenoid valve. That valve is normally open to dump the air between the check valve and the compressor whenever the compressor is shut off (this allows "no-load" compressor startup).

wpapke · 04-04-2008, 05:13 PM

thanks buckwheat. the check valve is definitely not on the tank. will follow your advice. Thanks to everyone. Now maybe I can finally get on the road!

wpapke · 04-23-2008, 08:47 PM

could not find one anywhere including on top of the tank. bought a a viair 450c compressor, 100% duty cycle at 100PSI. $264 vs. $1170 for the Gast replacement, and it came with its own check valve. Now the compressor cuts off at 98.5. before it ran almost constantly. Found a few leaks here and there. Still doesn't stay up for a week but it does stay up over night now.

wpapke · 04-27-2008, 03:48 PM

back to the drawing board. went out yesterday and the pressure was gone. Wouldn't refill past 60 according to the gauge but a physical check showed 95 or so. That went after a few hours. The bags now won't inflate past a couple of inches on level ground and the gauge just stopped working. am thinking I will strip all the auto stuff and fill the tank (and thus the bags) manually until I can replace all the system. Any thoughts out there?