air tanks will not build up pressue

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Thomas0810, Jan 18, 2008.

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  1. Jan 18, 2008 #1
    Thomas0810

    Thomas0810 Road Train Member

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    trying to go to work this morning and my tanks will not build up pressure put alcohol in the glad hands banged on the governor with a hammer no better any other ideas how to fix the problem
     
    Thomas0810, Jan 18, 2008
    Thomas0810, Jan 18, 2008
    #1
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  3. Jan 18, 2008 #2
    poppy

    poppy "I Love that Cushaw Pie"

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    if you can get to electric maybe lay a trouble light on the pump/gov. to thaw it. may be the air drier is froze open. or maybe some warm water will free it.
     
    poppy, Jan 18, 2008
    poppy, Jan 18, 2008
    #2
  4. Jan 18, 2008 #3
    Thomas0810

    Thomas0810 Road Train Member

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    i am afraid to put water in it and make the problem worse,i drained my tanks last night i dont understand how this happens
     
    Thomas0810, Jan 18, 2008
    Thomas0810, Jan 18, 2008
    #3
  5. Jan 18, 2008 #4
    Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    Air governor quit. They do that. I had mine do it on me one night in UT. I beat and beat on the gov on mine when it went out, didn't help any. I'm thinking about carrying a spare. They aren't that costly.
     
    Brickman, Jan 18, 2008
    Brickman, Jan 18, 2008
    #4
  7. Jan 18, 2008 #5
    Johnny99

    Johnny99 Johnny be Good

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    Definitely the air governor. Is it a Mack? They are famous for that.
     
    Johnny99, Jan 18, 2008
    Johnny99, Jan 18, 2008
    #5
  8. Jan 18, 2008 #6
    OntarioGuy

    OntarioGuy Light Load Member

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    One thing you can try is just before you shut the truck off for the night is to pump the brakes to get the compressor to start building up air,then shut off truck. That way when you startup again it's already in the pressure cycle.
     
    OntarioGuy, Jan 18, 2008
    OntarioGuy, Jan 18, 2008
    #6
  9. Jan 20, 2008 #7
    Thomas0810

    Thomas0810 Road Train Member

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    truck ended up losing air pressure yesterday morning r/a came out and put 3 air governors on it still no pressure they finally decided it was the compressor so they towed it to the international dealer in Tulsa hopefully it wont take to long for them to repair.
     
    Thomas0810, Jan 20, 2008
    Thomas0810, Jan 20, 2008
    #7
  10. Jan 20, 2008 #8
    BigDaddyJollyRob

    BigDaddyJollyRob <strong>"El Oso"</strong>

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    I have a silly question. did you close the petcock on the air tanks?
     
    BigDaddyJollyRob, Jan 20, 2008
    BigDaddyJollyRob, Jan 20, 2008
    #8
  11. Jan 20, 2008 #9
    notarps4me

    notarps4me Road Train Member

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    If you have the type that has the petcock valve if you leave it open in the winter it can freeze up.
     
    notarps4me, Jan 20, 2008
    notarps4me, Jan 20, 2008
    #9
  12. Jan 20, 2008 #10
    25(2)+2

    25(2)+2 Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    So far, I have been lucky enough to not have trouble building up air in the tractors I have driven, the other drivers haven't been as lucky. We drive out and load in the countryside at night in MN and IA and if the wind can cool off anything and freeze it up, it does. My friend had his freeze up pointed into the wind, he got it going by blocking the wind and running the engine faster to make more heat. We could have gotten him turned around by airing up the tanks with my tractor and the glad hand hose but it's cold underneath the tractor pumping up that tank.:biggrin_2555:

    Compressors can go bad and do, air dryers can freeze up, but mostly they aren't working that well to dry the air if they are freezing up.

    Another thing that can happen is the air line on the trailer to the supply tank can freeze and lock up the trailer brakes when the air pressure gets too low. that's what the air line anti-freeze is really for.
     
    25(2)+2, Jan 20, 2008
    25(2)+2, Jan 20, 2008
    #10
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