air brake questions

You should pass gas as well.

 

The air brake system was invented by George Westinghouse. It is the same system that is used on railroad trains. There is a spring which pushes against a level which applies the brakes. When there is no air in the system the spring is released and the brakes apply, that is the emergency side of the system. The application side lets the air out of the chamber at a slow rate and that applies the brakes normally. That is why you lose application ability during an air leak.

As to weight, the amount of air in the system should not be so much as to effect you on the scales. What is happening is that with the brakes released the wheels are free to move around. This motion is what is giving you an effect on the scale. Just like standing on the bathroom scales. If you move around a bit your weight is effected.

 

The gross weight will remain the same. The idea is that if you roll up on a scale (3 separate platforms) and slam on the brakes and hold them, the air bags tend to shoulder excess weight that momentarily shifted forward and was held. (Air bags can take on weight and release weight temporarily more-so than spring ride systems). The steering axle is usually the one to take on and hold extra weight that wouldn't naturally be there. But bottom line is, you can throw your separate axle weights off 100-300 +/- lbs in theory if you rolled up too fast, braked instantly, then didn't release brakes so all points could reach their equilibrium and settle back to their natural weight load configuration. But the gross WILL NEVER change regardless of what you do/don't do with brakes.

 

Air stays in your tanks????? When the buzzer goes off the tanks have filled for you to drive.. When your trailer brakes lock up when you hook up to it thats because it doesn't have air... Air really doesnt weight much...

 

On some of our trailers, setting the tandem brakes dumps the air in the rear suspension which obviously drops the rear of the trailer. Lowering the rear of the trailer will shift weight to the rear.

Weigh the truck/trailer as close as possible to the way it will be rolling over any state/official scale. I set the front brakes only on the cat scale.

Mikeeee

 

kloy, I would strongly suggest you use Google and look up how air brakes work. I've Googled, "How do air brakes work?" and found some useful information.

 

If you fill up your tires with helium the truck will weigh less unless you have super singles and then the truck might just float.

If you believe this, I have a bridge for sale

 

In training, the CAT scale folks came to our class, they said we should never set our brakes on their scale. The did not stay long enough for me to ask why, but that is what they suggest, if this helps at all. It is suppose to be so level that your truck will not roll. If your truck does roll, call CAT and tell them, they will re-calabrate the scale.