Firestone Airbags

[RLVoumard]

How long will airbags hold pressure ? My Firestone AB now need filling every day ??. Also any suggestions on finding where the air leak may be coming from ?

Merry Christmas !!

[Illini Trekker]

Try airing them up to max pressure 100psi, then use a leak detection liquid. Glenn has a secret formula, 2 tablespoons dish washing liquid to 16 oz of water. This stuff will show bubbles at the leak. Also don't set the trailer on the bag with 100psi in them because the pressure will rise past maximum aloud, and you may hear a loud noise LOL!

http://www.firestoneindustrial.com/r...s/rrinfo.shtml

[Glenn and Lorraine]

Also check the valve core and the airline itself.

[RLVoumard]

Thanks guys for the help. I have the remote kit w/pressure value in the CAB---so there are air lines going all over under the truck.

I take it that the bags should hold air pressure for quite some time

[LonnieB]

RLVoumard,
My air bags hold air at a constant psi, but it hasn't always been that way. The elbows that the air line attaches to on top of the bags were the culprits. On mine, they are not compression type fittings, they just slip in and have a spring loaded locking mecahnism to hold them in place. I had to push the airline in a few times, over a period of about 2 weeks, before they finally seated well enough to stop the leaks.
As Glenn said, check the valve cores, and air lines also. 100 psi may be a bit much on an unloaded bag, I would use 50 psi.

[RLVoumard]

Thanks Lonnie.

I'll give this a try...

Rodney

[sreigle]

I fill ours at the beginning and don't release the pressure until we unhitch. The longest that has been is either four or five days. And they lose no pressure. Others already gave good suggesions on what to check.

[Crossthread]

Mine never leaked down. I ran 3 lbs. of air in them when not towing.15 to 20,depending on the roads.Make sure that the air lines are cut as square as possible that go into the slip fittings. You can buy a cutter for that at an auto store.Napa may be the first to go to.(no sales here, they tend to have truck supplies)Bill

[bob]

Do you fill bags after hooking up also how much air pressure thank you happy holiday to all

[LonnieB]

Bob, I adjust the air in mine after I'm hooked up, so I can tell when the TV and trailer are setting right. Your pin weight will determine the psi. in the airbags. Just use caution so as to not overinflate them. They reach high pressure very quickly. Mine usually requires about 52 psi.

[ols1932]

At first I pressured mine i[ after I was hooked up. I found that about 50 psi was about normal so now I just check the pressure periodically. I can tell when they begin to drop down in pressure by the mark on my hitch. Normally it sets at a certain position. When it drops below that, then I know it's time to pressure up. Oh yes, my hitch also has two air bags which accounts for some of the drop. But it makes me check the air in the hitch bags as well as those on the truck body.

Orv

[sreigle]

If you don't find the leak at any of the connections, follow the lines and look for where they may be rubbing against metal or are being pinched and do the leak test at those points, too. I also have the incab switch with compressor and gauge and you are right. There are a lot of potential locations for the leak.

With 2860 lbs pinweight mine requires 35 psi unhitched, which goes to about 48 psi when hitched to keep the truck perfectly level.

[mtheo]

I have used air bags for years and both sets held the air for days with out leaking down. Once had one line come loose and leak down in short order. Was a quick fix, just pushed it back in and reset it. I run about 30-40 lbs. just enough to leave the rig.