Slow Raising Air Pressure - First Time

[dmason]

In final preps for leaving campground started up coach to bring air back up. After about 10 minutes it reached 65 psi front and rear but had to increase idle speed to get it there. Wife was at the controls and doesn't remember what the RPMs were. Then it climbed to normal 115 psi and maintained pressure during trip home. Normal zero to 65 psi time is about 3-4 minutes. Something to worry about here? Or just a chance happening? Does idle speed need to be increased?

[Twomed]

Inspecting Air Brake Systems

Suggest you read the air brake chapter above and test the brakes accordingly. This is the proper way, and will answer the question..."am I ok"

I'm sure everyone follows this procedure before starting out. Well maybe a few anyway.

[Robi.1014]

Air pressure build-up should not take more than 10 minutes (to get above 100 lbs). Wonder: has this happened again since you wrote this?

With a little luck, you may have had a one-time occurrence of a leaking air-dump valve. If slow air pump-up is still occurring, find your air-dump valve and (with the engine shut off) listen for a leaking hiss. Perhaps use the old plumber's technique of mixing 50/50 mixture of dish washing liquid & water ... and "painting" this on with a paint brush. Observe bubbles (or not). Recognize, of course, that bleed-down in our air-bag suspensions is normal. Raising your RPM in order to pump-them-up in under 10-15 minutes is not normal.

Other leaks can occur (over-pressure valve, etc.). And if the air-pump is beginning to fail, the it's time to call in the professionals.