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Bendix Air Dryer service

Yahoo Message Number: 13556
After extensive research and many phone calls, I've learned a lot about my coach air dryer system that might be helpful to you. If you like to do your own coach maintenance, read on.

Country Coach states that the air dryer system needs to be serviced every two years. Delaying service past two years could result in a huge service bill to remove exploded air dryer cartridge desicant particles from your braking and suspension system. After receiving several outrageous quotes to service the air dryer system, I decided to do it myself. It was relatively easy and I saved over $300.

First step is to download and print and read the Bendix Air Dryer spec page, handbook and service data. This can be found at: http://www.bendix.com/products/AirDryers.shtml
If you are overwhelmed by reading the downloaded materials, then I suggest you stop here and don't tackle the project.
The air dryer on my coach and on many of the Country Coach models is the Bendix AD-IP System Guard Air Dryer. You can crawl under your coach and compare the pictures on the Bendix web materials to the one installed on your coach. The IP model has an integrated purge valve and is easily recognized by the valve on the bottom of the air dryer. If you can't find it, lay under the coach while the coach is running and watch where the loud psssstttttt comes from when the air brake system hits 125 pounds of pressure. You just found the air dryer purge valve! The IP model has one bolt in the bottom that holds the cartridge in place. Remove that bolt and the cartridge just lifts off.

In the materials that you downloaded you'll find the part numbers of the dryer cartridge and the purge valve maintenance kit as well as detailed instructions on how to change the air dryer cartridge and install the purge valve maintenance kit. I called Country Coach and several Bendix dealers (they are all listed on the Bendix web site) for parts pricing. I found a Bendix dealer who quoted me a price that was just a small fraction of the cost of CC and the RV service centers - a Mack Truck parts/service center. The Mack dealer also told me that he'd give me $50 to return the old air dryer cartridge (called a "core return"). So, that even further reduced the price of the parts!!!

Some RV service places only wanted to change the air dryer and said that the purge valve did not need to be serviced. I guess they were just looking for a quick buck and din't want the hassle of doing the purge valve. I called Bendix and they told me that the purge valve maintenance was critical to the operation of the air dryer and not doing the purge valve maintenance could result in loss of braking on the coach. For an additional $36, I bought the kit and did the maintenance. It was fun and easy.

In all, the parts cost me only $115 plus tax. The work effort was less than 2 hours and was as easily accomplished as an oil change.
So if you do your own oil changes and want to save $300 or more on your air dryer system maintenance, you now have all the information you need to tackle the job easily. The Bendix web site is excellent.

For those who want to know, the air dryer cartridge part number I used is Bendix 109493X and the Bendix purge valve maintenance kit is part number 5003547 for my coach. The cartridge and purge kit come with all the seals, o-rings and lubricants that you need to do the job.

Besides, it is a great feeling to know that the job has been done right! I hope this info is helpful to you.

Regards,
Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13557
Bob,

Excellent post. Not sure I will be able to change that myself but I certainly will look into it, it is always very satisfying to do some of these minor maintenance items on our own without being totally dependent on the service centers. I recently repaired the dryer in our unit, Splendide emailed me troubleshooting instructions which were very easy to follow and then they shipped the part which arrived two days after it was ordered. This one also saved me at least $300 as I was quoted a minimum of 3 hours just to remove and reinstall the W/D unit plus whatever time it would take to troubleshoot and replace the faulty part. Saving the money was nice but the satisfaction of doing it myself was priceless!

Thanks again.

Travman

2000 Intrigue 11040

Quote from: rvrobert2003
>

After extensive research and many phone calls, I've learned a lot > about my coach air dryer system that might be helpful to you. If

you

Quote
like to do your own coach maintenance, read on.

Country Coach states that the air dryer system needs to be

serviced

Quote
every two years. Delaying service past two years could result in a > huge service bill to remove exploded air dryer cartridge desicant > particles from your braking and suspension system. After

receiving

Quote
several outrageous quotes to service the air dryer system, I

decided

Quote
to do it myself. It was relatively easy and I saved over $300.

First step is to download and print and read the Bendix Air Dryer > spec page, handbook and service data. This can be found at: >http://www.bendix.com/products/AirDryers.shtml >

If you are overwhelmed by reading the downloaded materials, then I > suggest you stop here and don't tackle the project.

The air dryer on my coach and on many of the Country Coach models

is

Quote
the Bendix AD-IP System Guard Air Dryer. You can crawl under your > coach and compare the pictures on the Bendix web materials to the > one installed on your coach. The IP model has an integrated purge > valve and is easily recognized by the valve on the bottom of the

air

Quote
dryer. If you can't find it, lay under the coach while the coach

is

Quote
running and watch where the loud psssstttttt comes from when the

air

Quote
brake system hits 125 pounds of pressure. You just found the air > dryer purge valve! The IP model has one bolt in the bottom that > holds the cartridge in place. Remove that bolt and the cartridge > just lifts off.

In the materials that you downloaded you'll find the part numbers

of

Quote
the dryer cartridge and the purge valve maintenance kit as well as > detailed instructions on how to change the air dryer cartridge and > install the purge valve maintenance kit. I called Country Coach

and

Quote
several Bendix dealers (they are all listed on the Bendix web

site)

Quote
for parts pricing. I found a Bendix dealer who quoted me a price > that was just a small fraction of the cost of CC and the RV

service

Quote
centers - a Mack Truck parts/service center. The Mack dealer also > told me that he'd give me $50 to return the old air dryer

cartridge

Quote
(called a "core return"). So, that even further reduced the price > of the parts!!!

Some RV service places only wanted to change the air dryer and

said

Quote
that the purge valve did not need to be serviced. I guess they

were

Quote
just looking for a quick buck and din't want the hassle of doing

the

Quote
purge valve. I called Bendix and they told me that the purge valve > maintenance was critical to the operation of the air dryer and not > doing the purge valve maintenance could result in loss of braking

on

Quote
the coach. For an additional $36, I bought the kit and did the > maintenance. It was fun and easy.

In all, the parts cost me only $115 plus tax. The work effort was > less than 2 hours and was as easily accomplished as an oil

change.

Quote
So if you do your own oil changes and want to save $300 or more on > your air dryer system maintenance, you now have all the

information

Quote
you need to tackle the job easily. The Bendix web site is

excellent.

Quote
>

For those who want to know, the air dryer cartridge part number I > used is Bendix 109493X and the Bendix purge valve maintenance kit

is

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13558
Bob,

I just took a look at the site and one thing that interests me is that they say:

PREMIUM DESICCANT

Our premium, high-crush-strength desiccant is produced with a composition that is more efficient and longer lasting than other desiccants. And it provides outstanding protection against contamination for up to five years in typical line haul service.

Do you think that means we can wait that long to change the desiccant filter?

Travman

2000 Intrigue 11040

Quote from: rvrobert2003
>

After extensive research and many phone calls, I've learned a lot > about my coach air dryer system that might be helpful to you. If

you

Quote
like to do your own coach maintenance, read on.

Country Coach states that the air dryer system needs to be

serviced

Quote
every two years. Delaying service past two years could result in a > huge service bill to remove exploded air dryer cartridge desicant > particles from your braking and suspension system. After

receiving

Quote
several outrageous quotes to service the air dryer system, I

decided

Quote
to do it myself. It was relatively easy and I saved over $300.

First step is to download and print and read the Bendix Air Dryer > spec page, handbook and service data. This can be found at: >http://www.bendix.com/products/AirDryers.shtml >

If you are overwhelmed by reading the downloaded materials, then I > suggest you stop here and don't tackle the project.

The air dryer on my coach and on many of the Country Coach models

is

Quote
the Bendix AD-IP System Guard Air Dryer. You can crawl under your > coach and compare the pictures on the Bendix web materials to the > one installed on your coach. The IP model has an integrated purge > valve and is easily recognized by the valve on the bottom of the

air

Quote
dryer. If you can't find it, lay under the coach while the coach

is

Quote
running and watch where the loud psssstttttt comes from when the

air

Quote
brake system hits 125 pounds of pressure. You just found the air > dryer purge valve! The IP model has one bolt in the bottom that > holds the cartridge in place. Remove that bolt and the cartridge > just lifts off.

In the materials that you downloaded you'll find the part numbers

of

Quote
the dryer cartridge and the purge valve maintenance kit as well as > detailed instructions on how to change the air dryer cartridge and > install the purge valve maintenance kit. I called Country Coach

and

Quote
several Bendix dealers (they are all listed on the Bendix web

site)

Quote
for parts pricing. I found a Bendix dealer who quoted me a price > that was just a small fraction of the cost of CC and the RV

service

Quote
centers - a Mack Truck parts/service center. The Mack dealer also > told me that he'd give me $50 to return the old air dryer

cartridge

Quote
(called a "core return"). So, that even further reduced the price > of the parts!!!

Some RV service places only wanted to change the air dryer and

said

Quote
that the purge valve did not need to be serviced. I guess they

were

Quote
just looking for a quick buck and din't want the hassle of doing

the

Quote
purge valve. I called Bendix and they told me that the purge valve > maintenance was critical to the operation of the air dryer and not > doing the purge valve maintenance could result in loss of braking

on

Quote
the coach. For an additional $36, I bought the kit and did the > maintenance. It was fun and easy.

In all, the parts cost me only $115 plus tax. The work effort was > less than 2 hours and was as easily accomplished as an oil

change.

Quote
So if you do your own oil changes and want to save $300 or more on > your air dryer system maintenance, you now have all the

information

Quote
you need to tackle the job easily. The Bendix web site is

excellent.

Quote
>

For those who want to know, the air dryer cartridge part number I > used is Bendix 109493X and the Bendix purge valve maintenance kit

is

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13559
Bob,

Great post & link. This is the type of info that I look for at this site. My air dryer is different than yours, but was covered on the Bendix site.

Thanks.................
Steve

Intrigue #10673

Quote from: rvrobert2003

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13560
Bob, can you tell me where on your Intrigue that the dryer purge was located? thanx...

Jim Haas

Intrigue #10996

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13561
Every 2 years!!!??? I had my coach in at a local heavy truck service guy to have the brakes checked and some work done on my Howard Center Steer and he said he'd do the dryer since I asked, but normally he would have waited for 80K miles (I was at 70K at the time). He also had a good chuckle when I asked him to check the brake pads (told me to come back and ask that when I hit 150K), but then chastised me for not greasing the cams.

So much to learn...
Dave

'98 Allure 36 #30187

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13562
Bob,

Glad you had fun with the Air Dryer, it's pretty easy to service. I think you could have saved your money though, the service interval is about 4 years or 350,000 miles in line-haul applications. We have never had one come apart internally on the big trucks and usually don't do anything with the filter prior to 3 years unless the driver complains of water in the manual drain process.

Don't get me wrong, early maintenance is great, but I would hate to see folks who can't do their own maintenace shell out 300.00 for something that may not be necessary. On the other hand, CC doesn't use a large enough Aux tank (IMO) to handle the air suspension while driving and in return works the compressor/dryer excessively, so maybe early maintenance is a good thing. On my 02 Allure, I hooked an external air gauge to the Aux tank to monitor the air usage while driving and within less than a minute, the tank had to have more air because of the quick response air valves. My 04 doesn't seem to have to purge as often, so maybe the tank is larger or they changed to a slower response valve.

At least you know yours is OK, now that you did it yourself! Tom

04 Allure 30979

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13567
FYI,

I think you will find that different year CC coaches use different Bendix air dryers which each have different service intervals. I'm sure there must be some adjustment also if you are not using your coach in a "line-haul" manner.

Hopefully to clarify the issue
Steve

Intrigue #10673

Quote from: truk4u2003

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13568
My air dryer sits directly in front of the "pumpkin ball" (ie differential) on the main drive axle. The air dryer filter looks like a gigantic oil filter that is about 8 inches in diameter and about 10 inches tall.

I read the info on the Bendix web site that states that "the preminum desiccant provides outstanding protection against contamination for up to five years in typical line haul service".

That got me thinking...

First, the statement says UP TO 5 years (emphasis on UP TO).
Second, CC recommends servicing the unit every 2 years. Third, I spend lots of time in very humid climates where the dryer works overtime. Fourth, no one on this forum or at CC could make me feel comfortable about the white powder that so mysteriously appeared in my Parker filter glass bowl in the bay under the driver's seat after 2 years - now I know for sure it is not from the air dryer desiccant. Fifth, I found out that the repair bill for cleaning out exploded desiccant particles from the braking and suspension system is over $5000 and it is not covered by the warranty or any extended warranty. Sixth, I'm a fanatic on coach maintenance.

Gee whiz, $115 was a real cheap way to be 100% sure that my coach braking air dryer system is in perfect condition for the next 2 years and give me the peace of mind that I know the white powder is not coming from an air dryer cartridge that has exceeded it's useful life.

Besides, I'm sleeping much better at night now. q;o)

Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

Air tanks

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13569
Hey Tom; Now that you bring up the subject of AIR TANKS... While rolling around under my coach doing the air dryer service, I noticed that I have 5 air tanks!!! That surprises me. I always thought I had 3 - one brake tank for each needle on my air pressure gauge on the dash and one aux tank. Now I see that I have 5 - two in the front over the front axle, one in the middle by the air dryer, and one in front of each drive axle dual tire. I also noticed that I have 5 bleeder cock valves - 3 in the front and 2 in the rear engine compartment.

Can anyone explain why so many air tanks? Are the extra tanks for braking or do they enhance the aux tank capacity?

Regards,
Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

Quote from: truk4u2003
Bob,

Glad you had fun with the Air Dryer, it's pretty easy to service. I > think you could have saved your money though, the service interval

is

Quote
about 4 years or 350,000 miles in line-haul applications. We have > never had one come apart internally on the big trucks and usually > don't do anything with the filter prior to 3 years unless the

driver

Quote
complains of water in the manual drain process.

Don't get me wrong, early maintenance is great, but I would hate

to

Quote
see folks who can't do their own maintenace shell out 300.00 for > something that may not be necessary. On the other hand, CC doesn't > use a large enough Aux tank (IMO) to handle the air suspension

while

Quote
driving and in return works the compressor/dryer excessively, so > maybe early maintenance is a good thing. On my 02 Allure, I hooked > an external air gauge to the Aux tank to monitor the air usage

while

Quote
driving and within less than a minute, the tank had to have more

air

Quote
because of the quick response air valves. My 04 doesn't seem to

have

Quote
to purge as often, so maybe the tank is larger or they changed to

a

Re: Air tanks

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13570
Hi Bob,

In the 2000 Allures - the two front tanks are actually partitioned to provide four tanks and are cross coupled with check valves. Look at your pneumatic plumbling foldout diagram to see how yours was mechanized.
Fred Kovol
,

Quote from: rvrobert2003
>

Hey Tom; Now that you bring up the subject of AIR TANKS... While > rolling around under my coach doing the air dryer service, I noticed > that I have 5 air tanks!!! That surprises me. I always thought I > had 3 - one brake tank for each needle on my air pressure gauge on > the dash and one aux tank. Now I see that I have 5 - two in the > front over the front axle, one in the middle by the air dryer, and > one in front of each drive axle dual tire. I also noticed that I > have 5 bleeder cock valves - 3 in the front and 2 in the rear engine > compartment.

Can anyone explain why so many air tanks? Are the extra tanks for > braking or do they enhance the aux tank capacity? >

Regards,
Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

[quote author=truk4u2003"

>

> Bob,

> Glad you had fun with the Air Dryer, it's pretty easy to service.

I

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #11 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13571
Hi Bob,

There appears to be several versions out there - some are easy to replace and some are very hard to replace. Mine requires removal of a band which requires great controtions and at least one 6 pack.
Fred Kovol

2000 Allure 30593

[quote author=rvrobert2003" \.\.\>] [/quote]

Re: Air tanks

Reply #12 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13572
Yea Bob me too, 5 tanks and one must be partitioned as the book says
6. Must have more capacity vs the older Coaches, but I haven't spend
enough time yet under it to look it over. Looks like they may have gone to a wet tank in addition to aux. I had a Foretravel and the Aux tank was huge. On my 02 Allure, I added a second tank to the aux and that solved the dryer cycling every minute or less.

I'm with Fred, some of the cartridges are a B%&%# to get off and 6 cold ones is about right!!
Tom

04 Allure 30979

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #13 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13574
Hi Fred; Funny you mentioned having to remove the band!!! I thought I had to remove my band too. So I went through all the extra work to take it off, then I realized that the band is BELOW the ring that forms the bottom of the desiccant filter and I didn't have to take the band off afterall! So next time, I can do this job in half the time. I just have to remove the bottom bolt in the center of the air dryer and lift off the cartridge! I learn new stuff about this coach every day. Sharing it with you folks makes it twice as much fun.

Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

Quote from: fredkovol
Hi Bob,

There appears to be several versions out there - some are easy to > replace and some are very hard to replace. Mine requires removal

of a

Quote
band which requires great controtions and at least one 6 pack.
Fred Kovol

2000 Allure 30593

Quote from: rvrobert2003"[/quote
Quote
..>]
>

> After extensive research and many phone calls, I've learned a

lot

Quote
about my coach air dryer system that might be helpful to you. If

you

Quote
like to do your own coach maintenance, read on.
>

> Country Coach states that the air dryer system needs to be

serviced

Quote
every two years. Delaying service past two years could result in

a

Quote
huge service bill to remove exploded air dryer cartridge

desicant

Quote
particles from your braking and suspension system. After

receiving

Quote
several outrageous quotes to service the air dryer system, I

decided

Quote
to do it myself. It was relatively easy and I saved over $300.
>

> First step is to download and print and read the Bendix Air

Dryer

Quote
spec page, handbook and service data. This can be found at: > >http://www.bendix.com/products/AirDryers.shtml > >

> If you are overwhelmed by reading the downloaded materials, then

I

Quote
suggest you stop here and don't tackle the project.
>

> The air dryer on my coach and on many of the Country Coach

models is

Quote
the Bendix AD-IP System Guard Air Dryer. You can crawl under

your

Quote
coach and compare the pictures on the Bendix web materials to

the

Quote
one installed on your coach. The IP model has an integrated

purge

Quote
valve and is easily recognized by the valve on the bottom of the

air

Quote
dryer. If you can't find it, lay under the coach while the

coach is

Quote
running and watch where the loud psssstttttt comes from when the

air

Quote
brake system hits 125 pounds of pressure. You just found the

air

Quote
dryer purge valve! The IP model has one bolt in the bottom that > > holds the cartridge in place. Remove that bolt and the

cartridge

Quote
just lifts off.
>

> In the materials that you downloaded you'll find the part

numbers of

Quote
the dryer cartridge and the purge valve maintenance kit as well

as

Quote
detailed instructions on how to change the air dryer cartridge

and

Quote
install the purge valve maintenance kit. I called Country Coach

and

Quote
several Bendix dealers (they are all listed on the Bendix web

site)

Quote
for parts pricing. I found a Bendix dealer who quoted me a

price

Quote
that was just a small fraction of the cost of CC and the RV

service

Quote
centers - a Mack Truck parts/service center. The Mack dealer

also

Quote
told me that he'd give me $50 to return the old air dryer

cartridge

Quote
(called a "core return"). So, that even further reduced the

price

Quote
of the parts!!!
>

> Some RV service places only wanted to change the air dryer and

said

Quote
that the purge valve did not need to be serviced. I guess they

were

Quote
just looking for a quick buck and din't want the hassle of doing

the

Quote
purge valve. I called Bendix and they told me that the purge

valve

Quote
maintenance was critical to the operation of the air dryer and

not

Quote
doing the purge valve maintenance could result in loss of

braking on

Quote
the coach. For an additional $36, I bought the kit and did the > > maintenance. It was fun and easy.
>

> In all, the parts cost me only $115 plus tax. The work effort

was

Quote
less than 2 hours and was as easily accomplished as an oil

change.

Quote
So if you do your own oil changes and want to save $300 or more

on

Quote
your air dryer system maintenance, you now have all the

information

Quote
you need to tackle the job easily. The Bendix web site is

excellent.

Quote

> For those who want to know, the air dryer cartridge part number

I

Quote
used is Bendix 109493X and the Bendix purge valve maintenance

kit is

Quote
part number 5003547 for my coach. The cartridge and purge kit

come

Quote
with all the seals, o-rings and lubricants that you need to do

the

Quote
job.
>

> Besides, it is a great feeling to know that the job has been

done

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #14 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13575
-Hi Bob,

OK-you got me. But where is the bottom bolt in the center of the air dryer? Can I see it by looking straight up at its bottom? What size socket do I use?

I looked at that thing several times and got the info from the web site. I'm slow on this one!
Fred Kovol

Re: Air tanks

Reply #15 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13580
Assuming from your question that you are looking at a tag axle Intrigue. The two tanks up front are the wet tank (first tank to receive air from the air dryer) and the "front brake tank". Calling it strictly the front tank is not really proper. The rear tank over the air dryer is the rear brake tank ( for both the drive axle and the tag axle) and the ones tucked up into the rear fender wells are the suspension tanks.

Quote from: rvrobert2003
>

Hey Tom; Now that you bring up the subject of AIR TANKS... While > rolling around under my coach doing the air dryer service, I

noticed

Quote
that I have 5 air tanks!!! That surprises me. I always thought I > had 3 - one brake tank for each needle on my air pressure gauge on > the dash and one aux tank. Now I see that I have 5 - two in the > front over the front axle, one in the middle by the air dryer, and > one in front of each drive axle dual tire. I also noticed that I > have 5 bleeder cock valves - 3 in the front and 2 in the rear

engine

Quote
compartment.

Can anyone explain why so many air tanks? Are the extra tanks for > braking or do they enhance the aux tank capacity? >

Regards,
Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

[quote author=truk4u2003"

>

> Bob,

> Glad you had fun with the Air Dryer, it's pretty easy to service.

I

Quote
think you could have saved your money though, the service

interval

Quote
is

> about 4 years or 350,000 miles in line-haul applications. We have > > never had one come apart internally on the big trucks and usually > > don't do anything with the filter prior to 3 years unless the > driver

> complains of water in the manual drain process.
>

> Don't get me wrong, early maintenance is great, but I would hate > to

> see folks who can't do their own maintenace shell out 300.00 for > > something that may not be necessary. On the other hand, CC

doesn't

Quote
use a large enough Aux tank (IMO) to handle the air suspension > while

> driving and in return works the compressor/dryer excessively, so > > maybe early maintenance is a good thing. On my 02 Allure, I

hooked

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #16 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13591
This subject is very interesting. I recently had a air deyer relief valve fail and would not 'pop off'. I took it to a so called Cummins "Coach Care" facility here in Jacksonville. Boy what a mistake. They know nothing about the coach and very little about the chassis apparently. They put a rebuild kit in the relief valve and for some reason adjusted the pressure down to 120psi instead of the 125psi it was originally set at.

When I picked up the coach, I ask if the air dryer cartridge had been changed, they said it did not need it. Apparently they are trying to service coaches based on their practices used on fleet truck chassis.

As far as I am concerned the partnerships from various coach makers and Cummins service centers for Coach Care does not work and the only time I will use them is for pure engine related problems that I cannot fix myself. There is no training provided to these technicians. I recently noticed that the one here in Jacksonville had been dropped from the list in the Destinations magazine.

So, I am faced with trying to tackle the air dryer cartridge myself. I do not know when the last time it was changed since I am the second owner and have to assume it is still the original cartridge.

I assume that when you service the dryer and replace the cartidge, all the air is drained from the air systems and the coach has to be jacked up and shored (at least for my 6'2" 230lb frame)? Are there any other special techniques being used that is not clear or included in the previously mentioned Bendix reference? I have the AD-IP model.
Jim

2000 Allure #30511

Quote from: fredkovol
-Hi Bob,

OK-you got me. But where is the bottom bolt in the center of the

air

Quote
dryer? Can I see it by looking straight up at its bottom? What

size

Quote
socket do I use?

I looked at that thing several times and got the info from the web > site. I'm slow on this one!
Fred Kovol
>

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #17 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13603
Hello Jim; I'm 6'2" and 210 and I had no problem sliding under the coach. Yes, you do need to drain all the air from the tanks before starting the job (just like it says in the instructions on the web site). My current campsite even has a slight hump under the middle of the coach, and I was still able to slide under and do the work.
If you have the AD-IP, the work is very simple. In my coach, I removed the electrical connector and union fitting that holds the supply line to make room to drop the filter cartridge down to ground level -- very easy to do.

Fred; the center bolt in the AD-IP model is a big one smack-dab in the middle of the bottom of the air dryer. Look at the explosion diagrams on the bendix web site. The bolt is huge -- about 6 or 8 inches long and about 1" in diameter or more. As you look from the bottom of the air dryer, you'll see what appears to be a big brass washer with a large bolt head -- in fact, the washer and bolt head are machined out of one piece of metal. If you have the AD-IP model, just remove this bolt and lift off the filter. It is easy.
All these questions are answered in the Bendix instructions found on the Bendix web site. It is an excellent reference source for those who enjoy the feeling of accomplishment in doing their own maintenance. Here is the web site link again:
http://www.bendix.com/products/AirDryers.shtml
Do-it-yourself TIP: Maintaining the purge valve does require a large good strong pair of pin plyers to remove the retaining ring that holds the purge valve in place. The C ring that holds the purge valve is about 2" in diameter and very strong. Having a good pair of plyers to remove the retaining C ring makes the job simple and easy.

Bob Kumza

2003 Intrigue #11581

Quote from: Jim Hughes
This subject is very interesting. I recently had a air deyer

relief

Quote
valve fail and would not 'pop off'. I took it to a so called > Cummins "Coach Care" facility here in Jacksonville. Boy what a > mistake. They know nothing about the coach and very little about > the chassis apparently. They put a rebuild kit in the relief

valve

Quote
and for some reason adjusted the pressure down to 120psi instead

of

Quote
the 125psi it was originally set at.

When I picked up the coach, I ask if the air dryer cartridge had > been changed, they said it did not need it. Apparently they are > trying to service coaches based on their practices used on fleet > truck chassis.

As far as I am concerned the partnerships from various coach

makers

Quote
and Cummins service centers for Coach Care does not work and the > only time I will use them is for pure engine related problems that

I

Quote
cannot fix myself. There is no training provided to these > technicians. I recently noticed that the one here in Jacksonville > had been dropped from the list in the Destinations magazine.

So, I am faced with trying to tackle the air dryer cartridge > myself. I do not know when the last time it was changed since I

am

Quote
the second owner and have to assume it is still the original > cartridge.

I assume that when you service the dryer and replace the cartidge, > all the air is drained from the air systems and the coach has to

be

Quote
jacked up and shored (at least for my 6'2" 230lb frame)? Are

there

Quote
any other special techniques being used that is not clear or > included in the previously mentioned Bendix reference? I have the > AD-IP model.

Jim

2000 Allure #30511

[quote author=fredkovol"

>

> -Hi Bob,

> OK-you got me. But where is the bottom bolt in the center of the > air

> dryer? Can I see it by looking straight up at its bottom? What > size

> socket do I use?

> I looked at that thing several times and got the info from the

web

Re: Bendix Air Dryer service

Reply #18 –
Yahoo Message Number: 13617
Jim....and Bob....

The 'bolt' that holds the cartridge may be tough to remove. I had to put a cheater bar on a 15mm combination wrench and was on the verge of giving up, when I gave it one more try and finally broke it loose. Every size socket I tried was a tad off. I found it necessary to tap the box end of the wrench onto the nut, as there was nothing that fit any better, standard or metric. With the pressure needed to break it loose, I sure didn't want to slip or round it off. It was well beyond the 70 foot pounds recommended for the installation.
As for the Snap Ring Pliers (C Ring, in this case) the ring is 2 3/4" in diameter and removal part was not too bad. Replacement without the correct tools could be difficult. It is a heavy duty ring requiring quite a bit of pressure to install. K-D makes a tool that works perfectly. #2012 Snap Ring Pliers with three sets of removable pins. A little pricey, but worth it when you consider how simple it makes a job that could be difficult without the right tools.
I didn't have to move or take anything else apart to get the old filter off. The only tedious part was keeping the o-rings in place during installation, and making sure that they seated properly on the new filter. Since the view was obstructed, I couldn't really see what I was doing very well. The grease that is supplied held the o-rings in place so that when I turned it over to install it, they did not move.
So that's my two cents worth. I agree with Bob that it is, for me at least, very satisfying and even fun to do this sort of thing. You sure learn about the coach, and save quite a bit of money to boot. The best part is that the job gets done correctly and carefully.

Bob Fuzak

'02 Magna #6148