Hiya all

Can anyone help with some info on the above buses please.

On these air suspension buses there are two air tanks mid-way along the near side connected together with a pipe, which had a valve in it which causes the gearbox to fill with air first and then allows the suspension to fill after the gearbox has reached the required pressure.

Now the question

Does anyone know of a modern equivalent/replacement for this valve please. It doesn't have to be an exact replica as there is more than enough room to fit a larger/smaller replacement.

On the extreme outside chance that there is someone out there with one of these valves sitting gathering dust on a shelf or a scrap bus I would be very grateful to hear from them.

Regards, Claire

I've mentioned this before, but it would be far safer if this system was to be plumbed in the opposite manner and the existing arrangement should be considered as unsuitable.

It should not be possible to move the vehicle until the air suspension is fully inflated, otherwise a deflated airbag can foul moving components. The red air pressure warning light is only connected to gearbox part of the circuit, leaving the driver to think that it is safe to move away- when it is not. Insufficient pressure has been built up at that point to inflate the airbags properly.

Hi Claire

Any chance of a piccy of said valve or the numbers off of the valve body casting? Assume that the valve is an in line one as opposed to being bolted direct to one of the air tanks?
I don't know the exact air valve you are having problems with ( not being familiar with the undersides of RMC/RCL) but am very familiar with a lot of the older proprietry (eg Westinghouse/Clayton) air valves fitted to air systems on buses from the early fifties through to the eighties.
If it has a fat round body and the two halves have square flanges where they bolt together with 4 bolts then I have had the main seals made for the piston as it is a common application Westinghouse charging valve.

Any further info so that we can help you appreciated.

Regards

Mark

Can I have one too...

Ive got problems with mine and its a real pain!!!

Andy

Hiya Mark

You've just described it and it's an in-line valve, Westinghouse part number is 272 and the body casting number is 874024

Because all the RM buses fitted with Air suspension were changed back to steel only the coaches were left and they are now few and far between so failing getting an original part that's working a later replacement part seems the only alternative.

To find an original would be a bonus indeed because if it just needed seals it would be repairable me thinks, but there again I could be very wrong.

Thank you for your help Mark, I really appreciate it.

Regards

Claire

Hi Claire

Will check tomorrow against the numbers you have given, pretty sure that I can help.
I assume that the valve has ceased to function and is just passing air through the small vent hole in one side near the square flange on the bottom half?
If this is the case the piston is stuck due to gunge and the main seal around the piston body is worn and passing air.
Will come back to you as indicated

Cheers for now

Mark

Mark,

Your description is perfect to what is happening on my RMC. If you have any spare seals could you let me know.

Andy

Claire

My Bendix/Westinghouse book draws a blank on those numbers but has a good diagram of it that could be faxed if you have access to one. We need to be 100% that the valve I have in mind is the same as fitted to yours and Andy's vehicles. The in line valve I have has no numbers on the casting body just a number cast in the end cap. Can you confirm that the valve body has two holes through it to bolt the valve to the frame or a bracket or is it just supported by the pipework?

Andy...
Any thing you can expand on with the above?
If I can sort seal for Claire then obviously will sort you out as well with one

Mark
(Piccy would still be really usefull)

PS Same Bendix/Westinghouse book has diagramm and parts list for 'Solenoid operated low pressure indicator' which is the flag unit with 2 lights as fitted to RM family in cab - is a copy of any use technical or otherwise to anyone?

Hi Mark

I'd already replied to your email before I saw your post on here.

Yep it does have the two mounting holes and I was a bit surprised when I found that LT had used the valve as an in-line fitting by using a longer union on one end and half nut to secure it through a body panel, not what I expected from that era of LT

Flag unit details would be brilliant, I have to get and fit one to BL55 which has had it's one removed and a silly red plastic low-air buzzer put in it's place.

Claire

Hi Mark ,

Your post is helpful as usual .

I'd like copy of the Westinghouse Flag book please , any costs repatriated no probs .

Hi Mark,

Cant expand any further than you have described.

Andy

Claire

Hopefully email image gets through but if not and for benefit of others image of valve should appear below



Claire/Andy can you confirm this is the one?

Have found the seals for it finally!

Mark

Sorry

Got too giddy with this afternoons technical advancements!....should have added top valve (section and end elevation) is a tank mount
Bottom one is the in line one and has the same internals, the seal that goes is number 8 on the diagram

Mark

Hi Mark

Yep B 76408 is the valve and I’ve been calling this the chassis mounting one and the top one in the diagram the in-line one, sorry about that but B76408 is the one that’s missing the bits and also the same as the one that I borrowed off the other RMC to show the engineering company what’s missing. Naturally I have to return the borrowed one back to the RMC when the Eng. Co. have finished with it.

I’ve also emailed you as well.

Regards

Claire

Will have a look today

Andy

If your valve is same as Claires and you want a seal pls email me off group

Mark