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Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » Airbag Shutoff Valve (Reducing Parts Count And Potential For Leaks)
Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192616] Sun, 09 December 2012 15:07 Go to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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My '73 Sequioa currently doesn't have Schrader valves or shutoff valves. As usual, there are several ways to do it. I think I want a steel nipple between the airbag and the (to be installed) FFF tee, and a Male Schrader plus a Male shutoff valve on the tee. Of course the other end of the shutoff valve connects to the 1/4" OD air tube.
I tried a google search and it would take forever to scroll through the thousands of useless hits looking for the one useful nugget, so here is my question:
Does anyone have a known source of a DOT approved version of a 1/4" Tube x 1/4" NPT Valve like this?
http://www.isopurewater.com/assets/images/default/VV-TKB14.jpg
http://www.isopurewater.com/assets/images/default/VV-TKB14.jpg

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192620 is a reply to message #192616] Sun, 09 December 2012 16:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jim Galbavy is currently offline  Jim Galbavy   United States
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Won't steel nipples rust and be a potential problem? Why not brass?

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, Fl

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192621 is a reply to message #192620] Sun, 09 December 2012 16:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Jim Galbavy wrote on Sun, 09 December 2012 16:35

Won't steel nipples rust and be a potential problem? Why not brass?

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, Fl
Per http://www.gmcmotorhome.info/rear.html#BAGS :
QUOTE
SHUTOFF VALVES DANGER
I know of 3 separate failures this year, of the short nipple that goes between the cutoff valve and the air bag. The nipple used by most of these assemblies is brass. This would seem to be the quality thing to use here since it will not rust or corrode. However the combination of assembly weight, lots of motion and thin material in the nipple leads to the cracking of this nipple.
UNQUOTE

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192628 is a reply to message #192620] Sun, 09 December 2012 17:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Jim Galbavy wrote on Sun, 09 December 2012 16:35

Won't steel nipples rust and be a potential problem? Why not brass?

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, Fl


Put a spot of anti-seize on the threads and rusting of the threads will not be a problem.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192629 is a reply to message #192621] Sun, 09 December 2012 17:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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A Hamilto wrote on Sun, 09 December 2012 16:40

Jim Galbavy wrote on Sun, 09 December 2012 16:35

Won't steel nipples rust and be a potential problem? Why not brass?

jim galbavy
'73 x-CL ANNIE
Lake Mary, Fl
Per http://www.gmcmotorhome.info/rear.html#BAGS :
QUOTE
SHUTOFF VALVES DANGER
I know of 3 separate failures this year, of the short nipple that goes between the cutoff valve and the air bag. The nipple used by most of these assemblies is brass. This would seem to be the quality thing to use here since it will not rust or corrode. However the combination of assembly weight, lots of motion and thin material in the nipple leads to the cracking of this nipple.
UNQUOTE
Omitted the important part:
QUOTE
The answer to this problem is to replace the nipple with a steel (stainless for Manny) nipple. It appears prudent to replace the nipple NOW before it breaks at an inopportune time and location. One of the stricken owners was looking for an air leak, when the nipple broke and the assembly shot into the wheel well, leaving a very short piece for extraction in the Air Bag. He was very glad his head was not in the wheel well when this exploded.....
UNQUOTE

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192631 is a reply to message #192616] Sun, 09 December 2012 17:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Why would the shut off valve need to be DOT approved. The ones people are using today are not DOT approved. They are hardware store items.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192634 is a reply to message #192631] Sun, 09 December 2012 18:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Ken Burton wrote on Sun, 09 December 2012 17:55

Why would the shut off valve need to be DOT approved. The ones people are using today are not DOT approved. They are hardware store items.
I expect they would hold up to vibration better, or something.
Not gonna hold out for long before I break down and buy hardware store fittings anyway. The hardware store stuff is generally for water. Not sure what dust and stuff in the lines will do to them.

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Re: Airbag Shutoff Valve [message #192636 is a reply to message #192629] Sun, 09 December 2012 18:13 Go to previous message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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The one case I saw of this, the same exact thing happened. I had fun getting the broken piece out. That is the main reason I would never use shutoff valves to cover up an air suspension problem. I would just fix what is broken in the air system and be done with it. I do carry two spare schrader valves for an emergency. I have never needed to use them.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

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