Testing an Airpack?

[kennys@wi.rr.com]

I am in the process of rebuilding an air pack for another member. When I opened it up all the seals and cylinders look great. The air cylinder did have about a quart of brake fluid in it and the bottom of the cylinder was tacky like pine pitch. I cleaned everything and am now just waiting on parts so I can put it all back together. My question, is there anyway to test the airpack before I put it back on the truck? I have read in threads where guys have put one of the cups on backwards and now it doesn't work, I don't want to go through the hassle of putting it all in only to find it doesn't work and now I have to take it back out. I did a search for testing an air pack and came up with nothing, so for all I know there is nothing that can be done.

 

[rlwm211]

You could build a test stand for an airpack, but I would think it would be a project in itself.

From the sounds of it, the seal between the air cylinder and the hydraulic slave cylinder was leaking....obvious hiuh???? That seal is a little bugger to change sometimes and also if the end of the piston rod is not chamfered enough, you can tear the new one putting it all together.

When yu put it together it all makes sense and when I rebuild one, I do not remove any seals until the new ones are in my hand and ready to be installed one by one. That way the right way wrong way thing about the cup seal in the slave bore is not an issue.

Make sure to lube everything well and also be sure the cylinder bores are nice and smooth. A few extra minutes with a hone will make for a better job than only honing just enough....

RL

 

[kennys@wi.rr.com]

Do you lube with oil as the TM says or do you use DOT 5 as others have suggested?

 

[rlwm211]

I use airtool oil in the air bores (main air piston and also the compensator bore on the side of the slave cylinder.

I use dot 5 in the hydraulic bore.


The trick is to NOT take all the seals off until you have the new ones. Saves a lot of confusion. Ask me how I know this.

RL