Help please -air problem - steering reservoir pressurized

Robmk2 · #1 02-17-2008

OK - This one has me beat
Started the bus again - running fine - throttle was a bit sticky - after a few minutes I started to reverse and BANG - the cap of the power steering / fan reservoir blows off and spews oil all over the engine compartment. stop the engine and you can feel and hear compressed air bubbling up through then reservoir - also the suspension won't air up properly right now, and the power steering quit as well.....Is there some kind of valve / solenoid that has failed - allowing the air to leak into the PS reservoir or system.
If I recall it seeded slow to air up bt I have not notied any other problems...
Help Gurus!

Randy Dupree · #2 02-17-2008

Rob.
the 82 pts were the first year of PTs.
the reason i bring that up is because i owned an 84 PT40,and i'm sure that the power steering,radiator fan had no connection to the air system on my 84.
the 82,being the first year may have had some odd connection between the two.
i doubt it though.
i think the coach not airing up and the steering fluid blowing out are not related at all.

what else has happened lately,have you performed some other service that you forgot about?
Randy

Robmk2 · #3 02-17-2008

Thanks Randy,
No, nothing mechanical recently....just the xantrex install.
Definately, when I still have air pressure the reservoir is bubbling and air is coming out of the filler. When the air pressure is gone, the bubbling stops.
Also the ps just quit at the same time - maybe from lack of fluid when the resevoir overpressured and blew out 2-3 quarts........
I'll try to start her again and see what else happens.....

Bill Pape · #4 02-17-2008

Ha, Randy types faster than me.

I agree two different problems. Look for a ruptured power steering hose.
especially high pressure hose. The reservoir may have taken on air, if a connection or hose burst.

Robmk2 · #5 02-17-2008

OK - she started up fine - no bubbles - then when the suspension pressure hit 76 the cap blew again and bubbly bubbly. The tag is airing up fine, but the front suspension is not coming up at all.

HPRCoach · #6 02-17-2008

I had a power steering hose fail just above the PS pump which is located just above the transmission. Fortunately, Bluebird had the foresight to place a connection in that hose about 4' up the hose from the pump.

The hoses that get the abuse are located in the area from the pump to where they are connected at the frame rail. The hoses are subject to trans heat, road hazards, and road weather splash, etc.

Replace the 4' hoses. Best to do this as preventative maint rather than out on the I-State. It is a difficult repair do to its location. You would need to drive over a pit or use a hoist, then you'll need a step ladder to get at the hose connections which you can only feel, not see.

Maybe a collapsed the hose that draws on the oil tank...

My steering/fan hydraulic system is NOT connected to the chassis air system.

There are 3 filters inside that hydraulic tank. They are Reservoir Element WL P/N 2137065 (takes 3). The external filter element Parker 925835 (takes 1).

I use 10W30 motor oil in this system.

Robmk2 · #7 02-17-2008

OK - she started up fine - no bubbles - then when the suspension pressure hit 75 the cap blew again and bubbly bubbly. Until the air pressure fell.

The tag seems to be airing up fine, but the main suspension is not coming up hardly at all. BTW, now the power steering works again.

Tried to dump the tag but not enough air pressure left to allow it ....idea stikes...I pressured the system from the rear schroeder valve using my garage compressor - i.e. with the engine stopped - I get to 75 psi on the suspension - and lo and behold - bubbly bubbly starts again from the reservoir. There is definately an interconnect....maybe a diaphragm in an actuator???? are there any air actuated solenoids on the power steering/ hydraulic fan circuit????? - I don't have that drawing......
Heeeeelp!

HPRCoach · #8 02-17-2008

Dam! THAT is some weird stuff!

Is the manual "ON" for cooling fan air actuated? Do you have an electric switch on the dash? Or is there an air valve like the tag dump?

On my 85PT40, there is an electrically operated valve that brings the fan "ON".

Robmk2 · #9 02-17-2008

Jay, on this one there are no switches for cooling fan either air or electric.......

gcyeaw · #10 02-17-2008

OK, Ignorance speaking here, but the only reason I can come up with is that there must be an air actuated valve used to engage the fan. It may be an electricaly activated but use air pressure to move the valve. A seal failure in the valve would produce the symptoms you are experiencing. Since it happened suddenly I would doubt it is something someone else hooked up by mistake.

Can you follow the fan hydraulic lines back to the pump/resovoir?