bleeding air breaks

That is the title of his post "bleeding air brakes"

Your air tanks should have valves on them to eject the water. There should be lanyards (cords) to pull them to eject the water. That's all you need to do periodically aside from occasionally changing the desiccant filter on your air system.

mowermech wrote:
Thank you. Now we know that in Ontario we can't adjust our own air brake slack adjusters. IF that rule applies to owner-operated, non-commercial vehicles, and IF that rule also applies to non-residents who may not have to have such a certification.
That may seem like a silly question, but here in the United States quite often the rules for commercial vehicles do not apply to the operators of Recreational Vehicles.
In fact, some states do not require an air brake endorsement on the driver license of the operator of an air brake equipped motorhome.

I've heard of an air brake endorsement. Wonder why that would be necessary.

Thank you. Now we know that in Ontario we can't adjust our own air brake slack adjusters. IF that rule applies to owner-operated, non-commercial vehicles, and IF that rule also applies to non-residents who may not have to have such a certification.
That may seem like a silly question, but here in the United States quite often the rules for commercial vehicles do not apply to the operators of Recreational Vehicles.
In fact, some states do not require an air brake endorsement on the driver license of the operator of an air brake equipped motorhome.

Dutchstar02 wrote:
"If they feel mushy, take a (/16 wrench and a balpeen hammer and get under there and adjust them."

I don't know what jurisdiction your air brake endorsement is certified in but in Ontario, Canada you cannot adjust your air brakes unless you are certified to do so. This means either being an air brake mechanic or MTO certified air brake adjuster. It not only is very dangerous to do so it's also illegal.

mowermech wrote:

Can you provide the statute from any jurisdiction that says it is illegal to adjust your own non-commercial air brake slack adjusters?

Quoted from the MTO site :

"Drivers who have a valid Ontario air-brake adjustment certificate are qualified to re-adjust the brakes on vehicles fitted with manual slack adjusters."

Just having the Z (Ontario air brake) endorsement on the driver's license does not qualify it as an adjustment certificate. They are 2 different things here. The adjustment certificate is another wallet sized card.

Dutchstar02 wrote:
"If they feel mushy, take a (/16 wrench and a balpeen hammer and get under there and adjust them."

I don't know what jurisdiction your air brake endorsement is certified in but in Ontario, Canada you cannot adjust your air brakes unless you are certified to do so. This means either being an air brake mechanic or MTO certified air brake adjuster. It not only is very dangerous to do so it's also illegal.

Can you provide the statute from any jurisdiction that says it is illegal to adjust your own non-commercial air brake slack adjusters?
I once crawled under a semi and adjusted the slack adjusters at a Caloifornia Port Of Entry Weigh Station after it failed the safety inspection. None of the Officers present said a word about "You can't do that!" After the adjustment, it passed the inspection and we were allowed to get on down the road.
At the time, I was a licensed A&P mechanic, but in a previous job I had encountered the same type of slack adjusters.
Actually, the recommended procedure given by Dutchstar is pretty much correct. I used a 9/16 deep socket, and if the lock sleeve is stuck (very common), a shot of PB blaster penetrating oil and a few careful taps with a ball peen hammer on the socket frees it up nicely. The inspectors want the air can rod to move about 3/4 to 1 inch. Backing the adjuster off 1/2 to 3/4 turn from snug will give you that.

TO the OP....PLEASE PLEASE watch the video below. You said you wanted to learn. This video, while dated 1967 will provide you with valuable information about your system. Even though systems have improved over the years, the basic operation has not....Dennis

Air Systems

Passin Thru wrote:
/snip/If they feel mushy, take a (/16 wrench and a balpeen hammer and get under there and adjust them.

If you use a ballpeen hammer to adjust your brakes you just might break something....:B:B...just sayin....Dennis

Are they true "air brakes"? My brother in law's National Sea Breeze diesel bus had air over hydraulic brakes. He had to bleed them.

"If they feel mushy, take a (/16 wrench and a balpeen hammer and get under there and adjust them."

I don't know what jurisdiction your air brake endorsement is certified in but in Ontario, Canada you cannot adjust your air brakes unless you are certified to do so. This means either being an air brake mechanic or MTO certified air brake adjuster. It not only is very dangerous to do so it's also illegal.