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01-11-2021, 10:20 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Houston, we have a problem!!!
Gang,
Just got home from fueling up the coach and after I'd backed it into it's cave, I shut the thing down and closed the cave door. As I've heard a time or two before, I heard some *hissing* from under it. Even with my worn out, 68 year old ears, I could hear some hissing. That in itself is quite astounding! Anyway, I decided to at least put some effort into locating this hissing. This coach has had an air leak for quite a few years. I'd done a soap and water spray down of many of the fittings etc. a few years ago but, that attempt at a find, was futile.
And, I also realized that, over time of owning this coach, an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT 330HP, that the air leak, was more prominent when left on the suspension and not the jacks. And of course, it sit's considerably lower on the suspension than it would if I had it on the jacks. Hence, this is why I never really put much effort into a search as, I have a hard time squeezing this fat old body under it when it's that low.
But, hearing this leak this evening, I thought what the heck, let's give it the old college try. I got out my trusty soap and water sprayer and, I carry a flashlight on me since I'm both BLIND and deaf, I worked my way under the front end since that's where the hissing was coming from. Well, even with my old, siren and air horn destroyed ears, I could inch my way towards the noise. I sprayed fittings on everything that was near me. Nothing. More squirting of air lines and more fittings, nothing.
Then, I thought, what the heck, let's spray the air bag. WOW, now THAT'S AN AIR LEAK FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!! As you can see in the video, yep, Houston, we have a problem! So, now, the search begins to find one. I know that their fairly common but, I think I'll cruise on over to DTNA and plug in my coach and see what the exact part number was from the factory. I'm going in folks, cover me!
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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01-11-2021, 10:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Alaska in Summer Snow Birds in Winter
Posts: 2,072
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Wow. That is one heck of an air leak. Glad you found it. Think you may want to tackle that yourself? Let me know if you need a hand, I can be there in minutes. Hahaha
__________________
Tom and Sherry W.
06 Winnebago Adventurer 38J Workhorse W24 Lots of motor and suspension mods in the works
02 Itasca Suncruiser 35U. Workhorse W22 w/Safe-T-Plus, Koni FSDs, UltraTrac, etc, etc.
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01-11-2021, 10:40 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: S. California
Posts: 1,379
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So how far you going in? Just 1 bag or all 4 for a "new" ride?
__________________
2003 Monaco Knight 36ft PST Triple Slide- 315 ISC
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 3.0 Diesel 4x4
2- 2013 Yamaha VXR's 70MPH+. 2019 Sun Tracker 18ft Pontoon w/ 75hp Mercury
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01-12-2021, 03:20 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Greensboro, NC
Posts: 2,729
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I wonder if an external tire tube patch could at least temporarily hold the air?
Looks like it might be splitting at a seam of flex point.
I suppose a patch, if it held, would be temporary as the bags may have reached their useful life expectancy.
__________________
1998 Min Winnie, 2000 Winbago Journey, 2015 ACE 29.3
2016 Thor Miramar 34.2
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01-12-2021, 04:59 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2004
Location: MI
Posts: 2,130
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If you can cross the factory numbers to Firestone or Goodyear numbers you'll probably be able to get a better price.
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01-12-2021, 08:56 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Posts: 297
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Chances are that the air bag is weather checked and there is no way a patch would stick to it. Here is a picture of a cross section of a weather checked air bag. The air bag was 17 years old.
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Country Coach 2000 MAGNA C10
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01-12-2021, 09:11 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Out there, somewhere
Posts: 9,867
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Hey Tom,
Yep, like just about every single item that's needed repair, modification, alteration, rebuild, replace, and more on this coach, Yep, I'm the slave that has to do it. I've tackled some rediculasly pain in the a$$ repairs on this coach and this one looks, I SAY LOOKS to be not too bad. But, I really won't know 'till I dive in. We'll see. I most certainly appreciate the help offer. The work space in and around that air bag, ain't even big enough for my fat body, much less trying to squeeze you in there helping. But, again, thanks so much for the offer.
As for the rest who've replied, at present, I think I'm gonna just do the one. Yes, at 17 years old and 97K miles, it might be wise to replace them all. And, that might just happen, if and when I get done and do a thorough inspection of the other three. We'll see. As for a "Patch", well, naw, ain't gonna happen. First off, it's that old with that many miles. Second, trying to patch an old, weathered air bag that hold what, maybe 80, maybe 90 (I really don't know) psi, ON THE OUTSIDE, I doubt seriously it would hold any psi at all, even way before it began to hold one quarter of the weight of the coach (one corner).
Yes, it almost appears that it could be a form of a seam of some sort. But, it could be and most likely is, just a flex point that get's more stressed than the middle sections of the bag, just a guess.
Scott
__________________
2004 ITASCA HORIZON 36GD, 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Toad '20 Honda NC750X DCT
Retired-29.5 yrs, SDFD, Ham - KI6OND
Me, Karla and the Heidi character, (mini Schnauzer)!
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01-12-2021, 09:18 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Sarasota, FL
Posts: 5,228
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My buddy just replaced all 4 on his rig - said it wasn't too bad but definitely a learning experience. His chassis is a Spartan, if that matters.
I sent him a link to this thread https://www.irv2.com/forums/f25/air-...ml#post3078952
__________________
Rick and Larrie Dee
1997 40' Newmar London Aire DP CTA 8.3 (Mechanical) 325 Spartan MM
Bringing her back to her glory.
'08 Jeep GC Overland.
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01-12-2021, 09:24 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Freightliner Owners Club RV Trip Wizard
Join Date: Nov 2018
Posts: 228
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Dive In
Good thing you dove in and found that. It looks like that seam is about to burst.
Hope this is an easy fix for you.
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05 Itasca Meridian 32'
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01-12-2021, 09:24 AM
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#10
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Moderator Emeritus
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Southern Indiana
Posts: 19,417
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I replaced all 4 on our coach a few years ago. Was not too bad.
https://www.irv2.com/forums/f103/spr...ml#post3531988
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Steve
2002 Newmar Mountain Aire 4095
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01-12-2021, 10:14 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 240
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That was a great write up.
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Questios, questions, questions. Yeah, I’m that guy. But, I’m learnin!
2009 American Tradition 42P. ISL Cummins 425hp, Spartan chassis w/ tag, Allison trans,
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01-12-2021, 10:27 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Alberta
Posts: 1,976
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Great post.
At 17 years that would be its use by date I would think.
Suggest that you change all four as the others must be close. Or at least carry a spare.
__________________
Jeff and Annette Smith. Sparky, lemon Beagle.
2022 Chevy Equinox RS.
2007 Dutch Star
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01-12-2021, 11:00 AM
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#13
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Blairsville, GA & WPB, FL
Posts: 3,993
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Slap some Flex Seal on it...seals everything.
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01-12-2021, 11:05 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,269
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When you get on DTNA Connect , start writing down P/Ns or taking screen shots of the pages of numbers and supplier info .
Freightliner support of older chassis AND access to DTNA Connect is drying up , my access was terminated in March .
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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