Air brakes

mabynack wrote:
Pumping air brakes is NOT recommended because every time you pump them you use up some of the air reserve. Pump them too many times and your brakes will lock up. You should apply them with smooth, steady pressure.

You should have your brakes checked if they aren't working correctly. They may need an adjustment or you may have a weak air line.

you would have to pump your air brakes many times in quick succession to deplete your air supply to the point of brakes locking up/
I have never personally read of or heard of this happening
I have thousands of miles driving air brakes and I will pump/stab mine lots of the time and find its quit effective

I checked the link above and it answered my question!

Pumping air brakes is NOT recommended because every time you pump them you use up some of the air reserve. Pump them too many times and your brakes will lock up. You should apply them with smooth, steady pressure.

You should have your brakes checked if they aren't working correctly. They may need an adjustment or you may have a weak air line.

I was told to never pump air brakes. Just push down hard.

Definitely have the system checked by a competent mechanic.

Good info on air brake systems here

and here

charlie good time wrote:
Air pressure RELEASES brakes.Brakes are applied by strong springs as air pressure is released.That is why you can not move until air pressure is adequate at start up.Slack adjusters might not be working correctly . In any case have them checked.

Charlie,
You are correct about the parking brake operation on air brake equipped coaches. However, he's not having difficulty in moving from a parked position, he's having troubles doing what appears to be a harder stop. The pedal on an air brake equipped coach should definitely not go to the floor, heck, on any coach for that matter.

If it were mine, I'd park in a parking lot some place, or at home, if you have a level spot and, build up air pressure, DO NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, have a partner apply the brakes hard while you maybe kneel down along side the coach at various points to see and or hear, if you can detect an air leak of some sort.

Our coach is very similar to yours . It's an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330HP CAT. It presently has 62,000 miles on the clock and, at present, it has around 90% still left on the brake shoes. Yours SHOULD be even better in what's remaining in brake shoes.

The fact that your pedal is traveling to the floor is not good and, fanning the brakes or pumping the pedal will not help. You've got an issue some place and it needs to be checked out pronto. Good luck.
Scott

Air pressure RELEASES brakes.Brakes are applied by strong springs as air pressure is released.That is why you can not move until air pressure is adequate at start up.Slack adjusters might not be working correctly . In any case have them checked.

Yep...air leak for sure. Never, never pump air brakes.

Ron

Terryallan wrote:
honestly. It sounds like you have a air leak.

...sure sounds that way!

honestly. It sounds like you have a air leak. They should hold firm, and yes pumping them will only use more air, and make it worse.
I suggest you get to a service center and have them checked.