Engine air compressor

[Basil Shannon]

Greetings from West Columbia, the first capitol of the COUNTRY of Texas,

We are on the move after a month in Corpus Christi. We put $283 worth of fuel in the coach today at $2.78 a gallon. OUCH!

As part of my coach weight reduction program, I put my air compressor and hose reel in storage. The output of the engine compressor is marginal for the 120 psi in the front tires. It is possible to adjust the pressure output of the engine compressor but DON'T DO IT. The regulator is a small tube looking device on the side of the engine in the rear on the right side of the fan belts. Remove the cover off the end, loosen the stop nut and turn the center screw counterclockwise for raising the pressure and clockwise to lower it. I raised mine a bit and was quite proud of myself. Going down the road this morning we got a God awful noise from the engine compartment that sounded like an elephant with gas. Apparently the pressure was too high and the pressure relief valve on the tank was letting loose. I lowered the pressure and the problem went away.

Basil & Sue
NOTHING DRIVES LIKE AN ALPINE!

[Basil Shannon]

Greetings from West Columbia, the first capitol of the COUNTRY of Texas,

We are on the move after a month in Corpus Christi. We put $283 worth of fuel in the coach today at $2.78 a gallon. OUCH!

As part of my coach weight reduction program, I put my air compressor and hose reel in storage. The output of the engine compressor is marginal for the 120 psi in the front tires. It is possible to adjust the pressure output of the engine compressor but DON'T DO IT. The regulator is a small tube looking device on the side of the engine in the rear on the right side of the fan belts. Remove the cover off the end, loosen the stop nut and turn the center screw counterclockwise for raising the pressure and clockwise to lower it. I raised mine a bit and was quite proud of myself. Going down the road this morning we got a God awful noise from the engine compartment that sounded like an elephant with gas. Apparently the pressure was too high and the pressure relief valve on the tank was letting loose. I lowered the pressure and the problem went away.

Basil & Sue
NOTHING DRIVES LIKE AN ALPINE!

[Rick Coleman]

Hey- you could enjoy the $3.19-$3.29 a gallon we pay for diesel in Southern California.

Regarding the engine air compressor: You may have to search some old threads, but there was one last year about changing out the pressure relief valve for a complete new one that goes to 135#. It seems to me if it is built for higher pressure it should enable you to do what you want with no difficulty. If you can't find it, let us know and someone here will dig out the part # and brand, which is available from WRV.

[Ted III]

Basil, I believe it was my post that indicated the 135# compressor off of the engine. I have a 2005 34' FDDS which calls for 120#'s in the front tires and the original compressor would not get over 112#. I got it from WRV but I am sure if you went to Cummins they could probably help you. I believe from WRV it was about $ 65.00. It works great and I carry no additional air compressor. I have run a 1/2" drive impact wrench from it with no trouble at all as well as a scru-gun.

[dgerstel]

Ted,


I didn't quite understand, was this a modification to the coach air system or an added part?

Dale

[Ted III]

Dale, I replaced the high pressure regulator for the air compressor.I believe it was the same part you were trying to adjust. WRV referred to it as a Bendix check valve to go on the Cummins air compressor 400ISL-115-135 PSI. P/N is 283657-2. I talked to Mike or Dave and I believe they patched me right through to Cummins. Whatever I have no problem with 120# for the tires or anything else for that matter.

[htg3]

I assume that you need to have the engine running in order to use the pump/tank for tires, air tools, beach balls, etc?

[Monkey Wrench]

Basil... If you have an Apex, you allready have the air governor with the 115-135 psi operating range. The air tank has a safety pop off valve set to pop at 150 psi. I would not suggest changing your air pressure setting. Settings over 135 psi are costing fuel mileage and is hard on the air compressor.

[Old Scout]

Morning Basil,

Still stuck in Texas working--pray for me. Always heard the new coaches were set up to the higher pressure to handle the 120# tires--so no "adjustment" needed. Even retrofitting older coaches seems toublesome to me--it can be done but is the rest of the air system capable of handling the higher pressure--I am "sure" WRV knows the answer to that.

Recently, I adopted a new strategy for messing with the coach--"dont let perfect become the enemy of the good!"...dean