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Puzzling Air Leak . . .

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by sniper_101, Mar 23, 2012.

Page 1 of 2
  1. Mar 23, 2012 #1
    sniper_101

    sniper_101 Bobtail Member

    12
    8
    Mar 8, 2010
    Sask, Canada
    0
    Hope this is in the right spot. Truck is a 05' International 9900i. These trucks have a primary and secondary tank, no supply or aux. like I'm used to.

    Here's the issue: the truck when idling, or turned off, with load on or not, parking brake on or off, will sit and hold air just fine, no issues there. As soon as I start driving down the road, greater than 10mph the air in the secondary tank will start to drop. At 10mph, you can hear it hit peak 120(ish)PSI every minute or less. At 50mph+ it is draining, refilling and cutting back out every 30-35seconds, with the secondary tank dropping from say 118PSI, to 105PSI in about 20-25 seconds. Primary tank holds just fine.

    More details: The park brake and suspension both run off the primary tank, not the one draining . . .

    No audible air leaks when parked, range is in High or Low, splitter on or off. I have reefed on all the air lines looking for a leaking fitting with no luck. I'm lost.

    Any suggestions? Something to do with the trans? Governor? Dryer?

    Only 21 years old (driving for 3), and we've only had this truck on the farm for a year, so please bare with me if I have overlooked something too obvious. :biggrin_25523:
     
    sniper_101, Mar 23, 2012
    sniper_101, Mar 23, 2012
    #1
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  3. Mar 23, 2012 #2
    SmokeyCowboy009

    SmokeyCowboy009 Heavy Load Member

    715
    315
    Mar 4, 2009
    Watertown, WI
    0
    Inter's do that. not sure why it does it just does.
     
    SmokeyCowboy009, Mar 23, 2012
    SmokeyCowboy009, Mar 23, 2012
    #2
  4. Mar 23, 2012 #3
    fortycalglock

    fortycalglock Road Train Member

    6,160
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    Jun 25, 2011
    Tourist Town, FL
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    Sounds like cab airbags and/or the leveler valve need replacing. Might as well replace the cab shocks under there while you're at it. Should be well under $300 to do everything yourself.
     
    fortycalglock, Mar 23, 2012
    fortycalglock, Mar 23, 2012
    #3
    keepntruckin Thanks this.
  5. Mar 23, 2012 #4
    sniper_101

    sniper_101 Bobtail Member

    12
    8
    Mar 8, 2010
    Sask, Canada
    0

    It didn't a couple days prior, in fact it was holding surprisingly well considering how old our trailers are. It's a recent issue.

    I'll double check that, but when I shake the cab from the grab handle, the valve seems to exhaust and fill the bags normally.

    Any other suggestions? Found no useful info from any local truck shops.
     
    sniper_101, Mar 23, 2012
    sniper_101, Mar 23, 2012
    #4
  7. Mar 23, 2012 #5
    Ruges

    Ruges Light Load Member

    190
    70
    Feb 6, 2010
    InMyTruck, USA
    0
    I am sure you have already looked at this but worth a mention. Have you drained your tanks? Excess water would cause low air volume which would cause your tanks to cycle quickly.
     
    Ruges, Mar 23, 2012
    Ruges, Mar 23, 2012
    #5
    keepntruckin Thanks this.
  8. Mar 23, 2012 #6
    Hardlyevr

    Hardlyevr Road Train Member

    3,270
    2,540
    Jul 30, 2009
    Mapleton Depot,PA
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    You could have an air dryer that needs to have the cartridge service/replaced, or the spitter valve serviced. My Cummins also acted this way when the controller for the turbo went bad.
     
    Hardlyevr, Mar 23, 2012
    Hardlyevr, Mar 23, 2012
    #6
    keepntruckin Thanks this.
  9. Mar 23, 2012 #7
    windsmith

    windsmith Road Train Member

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    NEPA
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    Are you sure that the suspension is using the primary air? I thought that the primary tank was for brakes only, with the secondary feeding everything else. It sounds like you may have a crack in an air bag that gets uncovered and only leaks as you bounce down the road. Try fully inflating the air bags by disconnecting the leveling valve linkage and manipulating it; that may make it show up. Jacking up the frame will tell you for sure.
     
    windsmith, Mar 23, 2012
    windsmith, Mar 23, 2012
    #7
    keepntruckin Thanks this.
  10. Mar 23, 2012 #8
    southtx

    southtx Light Load Member

    55
    27
    May 22, 2011
    hondo, tx
    0
    I agree with hardlyevr, I would try training the air tanks first, then I would try changing the dryer cartridge, then the purge valve, and if none of that fixes it maybe the governor... I had a 9200i doing the same thing, turned out to be the dryer cartridge
     
    southtx, Mar 23, 2012
    southtx, Mar 23, 2012
    #8
  11. Mar 23, 2012 #9
    Sequoia

    Sequoia Road Train Member

    2,692
    1,794
    Dec 4, 2010
    Tampa Bay, FL
    0
    Do what the mechanics do. Spray the air bags and all the air lines in the truck with windex (I think that's what they use?) and watch for bubbles.
     
    Sequoia, Mar 23, 2012
    Sequoia, Mar 23, 2012
    #9
  12. Mar 23, 2012 #10
    6Shooter

    6Shooter Light Load Member

    81
    453
    Feb 10, 2012
    Omaha, NE
    0
    dishsoap and water...it's great for finding that darn hole in a flat tire. Can use it on tanks and airbags too i supose.
     
    6Shooter, Mar 23, 2012
    6Shooter, Mar 23, 2012
    #10
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