Manual inflation of Freightliner suspension

[Monkeyrun]

Happy new year fellow RVs!

A mechanic friend of mine mentioned that there may be a remote inflation valve for the suspension on my 1999 Allegro pusher. He said these are used to inflate the bags when in a shop so as not to have to start the engines.

If this is indeed so, any idea where I might find said inflation point? Thanks!

[Monkeyrun]

FIRE UP wrote:
Monkeyrun,
It's in a PDF format and, I've got it in my documents but, I can't figure out how to download it to here. When it comes to pictures, that's easy. I keep all mine in Photobucket and just cruise on over to there to grab whatever picture I want to link and post it in my thread. But, it (photobucket) won't let me up load it to them so I can download it to here. If anyone knows how to grab a PDF file from documents and upload it to here, please let me know, thanks.

In the event I can't get it downloaded here, you can always do what I did and that was simply email Freightliner Customer Assistance and ask for an air system diagram for your coach. The one they sent me was a generic one that's close to mine but, I don't think it's the exact system I have.

Brett,
Right after I took that picture of the quick release fitting, air gauge and, valve, I cruised on over to a super hardware store we have here in San Diego called "Marshalls" and picked up a rubber cover that fits nicely over that quick release fitting. So, the baggie idea has been superseded by the rubber cover. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Scott

If it doesn't work out Scott, I'll PM you my email address. Thanks

[FIRE_UP]

Monkeyrun,
It's in a PDF format and, I've got it in my documents but, I can't figure out how to download it to here. When it comes to pictures, that's easy. I keep all mine in Photobucket and just cruise on over to there to grab whatever picture I want to link and post it in my thread. But, it (photobucket) won't let me up load it to them so I can download it to here. If anyone knows how to grab a PDF file from documents and upload it to here, please let me know, thanks.

In the event I can't get it downloaded here, you can always do what I did and that was simply email Freightliner Customer Assistance and ask for an air system diagram for your coach. The one they sent me was a generic one that's close to mine but, I don't think it's the exact system I have.

Brett,
Right after I took that picture of the quick release fitting, air gauge and, valve, I cruised on over to a super hardware store we have here in San Diego called "Marshalls" and picked up a rubber cover that fits nicely over that quick release fitting. So, the baggie idea has been superseded by the rubber cover. Thanks for the suggestion though.
Scott

[wolfe10]

Scott,

Secure a zip lock bag over the air chuck to keep dirt out. If it is ever used, you don't want to force dirt into coach system or air tools (depending on direction of flow).

[Monkeyrun]

Scott, any chance you could post that diagram?

[FIRE_UP]

Gang,
I have (3) Air points on our '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the C-7 330 CAT. One is an outlet, much like many of you described, in the generator access area, to the left of the generator and, has manual valve and, a gauge with it. A second one, is on a small manifold to the right side of generator and is an actual shrader valve. A third one, another shrader valve, is on the bottom of the air dryer.

I've tried to "Back fill" the air system through a specially built, double male fitting inserted in that air outlet. That system will, in ours at least, will not allow the suspension to fill. It simply stops at a certain pressure and, the suspension does not/is not, filling. The gauge goes up to what I'm applying to it but, the suspension does not fill.

Now, if I apply air to the shrader valve on the right side of the generator, it too will not supply air to the system, unless, the system is above a certain pressure, of which, I forgot since it's been a while since I've goofed around with it.

But, in any event, if I apply air to the shrader valve on the bottom of the air dryer, IT WILL FILL THE SYSTEM, regardless the amount of pressure still in the system, low or high.

Since much of this was intriguing to me, I requested and air routing diagram from Freightliner and, received one. It's not as complete as I would have liked to have but, it's something. I'm still figuring this thing out.

Scott

[dougrainer]

jtfcons wrote:

Monkeyrun wrote:

C20 wrote:
The air valve by the generator in the front isn't smart enough to know in from out. Put you compressor on it and it's an intake.

That had crossed my mind, however, I was uncertain whether there were any components downstream in that line which I might harm doing that.

The air valve described above is primarily intended to inflate tires using the onboard compressor or supply other air needs. The down side to reverse flowing air into the system from this valve is that the incoming air is most likely not dry, so systems using this air supply and also needing dry air might be harmed by this un dried air. I have rarely used this valve to supply the air to the motor home suspension, etc. but when I did I used an inline filter/drier to make the incoming air more dry.

I don't know for sure but maybe that is why some have a connection in the air dryer area, so that that air is routed through the filter before use.

That valve is for airing up the system (brakes) for towing. You can use it for airing up tires and such, but it is installed for towing. Using this chuck for airing up the motorhome tires is really useless. If you need over 95 psi for your tires it will take probably 10 to 15 minutes for each tire to air up. Our shop compressor at 175 psi (100 gallon), it takes me 1 minute per 10 lbs to air up tires. Doug

[Monkeyrun]

Good thought, I looked around and did not see that fitting near the air dryer but will take another peek this weekend.

[jtfcons]

Monkeyrun wrote:

C20 wrote:
The air valve by the generator in the front isn't smart enough to know in from out. Put you compressor on it and it's an intake.

That had crossed my mind, however, I was uncertain whether there were any components downstream in that line which I might harm doing that.

The air valve described above is primarily intended to inflate tires using the onboard compressor or supply other air needs. The down side to reverse flowing air into the system from this valve is that the incoming air is most likely not dry, so systems using this air supply and also needing dry air might be harmed by this un dried air. I have rarely used this valve to supply the air to the motor home suspension, etc. but when I did I used an inline filter/drier to make the incoming air more dry.

I don't know for sure but maybe that is why some have a connection in the air dryer area, so that that air is routed through the filter before use.

[Monkeyrun]

C20 wrote:
The air valve by the generator in the front isn't smart enough to know in from out. Put you compressor on it and it's an intake.

That had crossed my mind, however, I was uncertain whether there were any components downstream in that line which I might harm doing that.

[C20]

The air valve by the generator in the front isn't smart enough to know in from out. Put you compressor on it and it's an intake.

[Monkeyrun]

Thank you all for the replies, I have seen the air out valve in the front by the generator so I'll check by the air dryer and the genset both for the air in. Was not certain what it would look like, now I know thanks to you fine folks.

[tmmar]

w4phj wrote:
My manual suspension air in Schrader valve is on the air drier behind the rear axle on the drivers side.

My valve up front by the generator is for air supply out.

X2! Look on the air dryer behind the rear axle. That is where I saw the valve on my coach.

[w4phj]

My manual suspension air in Schrader valve is on the air drier behind the rear axle on the drivers side.

My valve up front by the generator is for air supply out.

[brincker]

Freightliner chassis usually has a Schrader valve (like on your tires) somewhere at the left front corner and typically accessible via a bay door or maybe the generator access panel. It is used primarily by tow truck operators to air up the suspension for towing, but can also be used in a repair shop if they need to inflate the suspension.