Air cans, crimping and a problem with the Kenworth.

This Last week I have spent a lot of time online reading and watching videos about air brakes and air brake systems. I also spent some time in the shop taking apart air cans and working on an assingment that had to do with exactly what I had been studying.

New air can for both park and service brakes that I took apart to see what was inside.

  I have to say I jumped right on trying to figure out why the parking side of the air brake system on the Kenworth was getting air when the parking brakes were released. From my research and many of you tube videos previous to this assignment, I knew that the problem would have to be in the air cans. After a class discussion on the problem and how if the diaphragms in the air cans had been compromised then air would be leaking from the can itself. That not being the case I was however still drawn to the air cans for the simple fact that it was the only place I though the systems could be mixed.

The problem was air exhausting at a constant rate from both the Relay valve(above) and the ABS modulator valve(below) exhaust ports.

 With air in the system I was able to pinch off a few air lines to locate the the air can I believed to be malfunctioning. As you can see I did locate it and it was at the rear front right air can. After taking apart the air can I found that there was a small hole drilled in the wall separating the service and parking chambers, simulating a bad seal on the push rod. Problem identified.

I was also given the opportunity this week to crimp some air hose fittings as seen below.

 I think the main thing I learned this week was that it really pays off to do the research and understand the system to be able to find the problem and create a solution. Oh and also if you don't tighten the nut all the way when crimping, the insert will stay in the fitting. Learned that one the hard way. :-)

Week 6
Hours 150ish