Rancho "remote" adjust debug
My "new to me" F-350 Dually came to me with 4 Rancho 9000 shocks and an odd "remote" setup for controlling them.
I say odd, because it was some aftermarket (non-Rancho) digital controller plus a Firestone gauge/toggle switch arrangement.
When I got the truck, I quickly discovered that this system was broken. The shocks are as if they aren't even there (VERY bouncy spring-like ride). I can't get any pressure to come up in the Firestone gauge on either side (seems to have left and right controls and needles).
The "digital" controller was some 2-bit dinky company that I can't even find on the web. The only printing on the whole thing was "Digital". I googled til my fingers were numb and couldn't find anything that looked anything like this one. It didn't do anything but blink on and off when I got the truck. I decided I didn't want to try to figure it out. I took it out a few weeks ago because I kept hitting my knee on it. The "system" worked identically before and after removal of the "digital" POS.
Anyway, after a VERY bouncy maiden voyage with my TC on the truck this past week, I'm wanting to get the system working at least to some degree. My current living arrangement makes it very difficult to get under there and see what's up (busy street, steep/short driveway).
Here's what I can see easily:
1) all 4 rancho's look fine on the outside and they each have an intact small hose going to them.
2) when I run the toggle switches on the firestone gauge controller, I can hear the air pump humming. I don't hear any air coming out anywhere, but maybe the normal flow rate is too low to be able to hear that.
3) the gauge for the drivers side never budges when I hit its toggle. The one for the right side goes up just a tiny bit and no further, then drops back to zero when I let loose of the toggle switch.
So I find myself wondering two distinctly different things that perhaps somebody here can provide some insight on...
1) Is there a common failure mode for this kind of system that the above description fits well?
2) is there some really easy and quick "hack" I can do to get some shock action without getting the real problem solved yet?
On number 2 above, I was thinking maybe putting some sort of a "clamp" on each of the small hoses right near the shock would pressurize the shock in a way similar to what the manual knob would do on a non-remote system? I have no understanding of how this adjustment system works, so maybe this is just wishful thinking?
thanks!
I say odd, because it was some aftermarket (non-Rancho) digital controller plus a Firestone gauge/toggle switch arrangement.
When I got the truck, I quickly discovered that this system was broken. The shocks are as if they aren't even there (VERY bouncy spring-like ride). I can't get any pressure to come up in the Firestone gauge on either side (seems to have left and right controls and needles).
The "digital" controller was some 2-bit dinky company that I can't even find on the web. The only printing on the whole thing was "Digital". I googled til my fingers were numb and couldn't find anything that looked anything like this one. It didn't do anything but blink on and off when I got the truck. I decided I didn't want to try to figure it out. I took it out a few weeks ago because I kept hitting my knee on it. The "system" worked identically before and after removal of the "digital" POS.
Anyway, after a VERY bouncy maiden voyage with my TC on the truck this past week, I'm wanting to get the system working at least to some degree. My current living arrangement makes it very difficult to get under there and see what's up (busy street, steep/short driveway).
Here's what I can see easily:
1) all 4 rancho's look fine on the outside and they each have an intact small hose going to them.
2) when I run the toggle switches on the firestone gauge controller, I can hear the air pump humming. I don't hear any air coming out anywhere, but maybe the normal flow rate is too low to be able to hear that.
3) the gauge for the drivers side never budges when I hit its toggle. The one for the right side goes up just a tiny bit and no further, then drops back to zero when I let loose of the toggle switch.
So I find myself wondering two distinctly different things that perhaps somebody here can provide some insight on...
1) Is there a common failure mode for this kind of system that the above description fits well?
2) is there some really easy and quick "hack" I can do to get some shock action without getting the real problem solved yet?
On number 2 above, I was thinking maybe putting some sort of a "clamp" on each of the small hoses right near the shock would pressurize the shock in a way similar to what the manual knob would do on a non-remote system? I have no understanding of how this adjustment system works, so maybe this is just wishful thinking?
thanks!
