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Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215024] Fri, 19 July 2013 16:33 Go to next message
Otterwan   United States
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Just bought a 1978 Palm Beach that had a minor front end fire. Everything in front of the radiator is toast, and of course, the wiring is shot, the airbags are totally down and the ass end is all but sitting on the ground.

My question is, can the tow company just air up the tires and drag it onto a trailer? It will only be drug about the length of the vehicle. I've looked for ways to manually inflate the airbags but can't find any. Due to the wiring damage I'm hesitant to try anything electrical. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this. Thanks!

PS - I will probably be posting a bunch of stuff in Swap Meet in the coming months ;o)


1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215025 is a reply to message #215024] Fri, 19 July 2013 16:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Francois is currently offline  Francois   United States
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You can get two four by four posts and cut them to (I think) 13 inches, take out the airbags and put the posts in there. I would also maybe get 4 2inch lag screws and screw into the center of the posts through the four holes

It's what some of the towing guys use
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215026 is a reply to message #215024] Fri, 19 July 2013 16:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Otterwan wrote on Fri, 19 July 2013 16:33

Just bought a 1978 Palm Beach that had a minor front end fire. Everything in front of the radiator is toast, and of course, the wiring is shot, the airbags are totally down and the ass end is all but sitting on the ground.

My question is, can the tow company just air up the tires and drag it onto a trailer? It will only be drug about the length of the vehicle. I've looked for ways to manually inflate the airbags but can't find any. Due to the wiring damage I'm hesitant to try anything electrical. Just wondering if anyone has had any experience with this. Thanks!

PS - I will probably be posting a bunch of stuff in Swap Meet in the coming months ;o)
Just remove the fitting that goes into each airbag, screw in a schrader valve, and inflate the bags like a tire (just enough to get it off the ground enough to get on the trailer, don't risk blowing a bag, it can cause serious injury).

You will need two of these and a small tube of pipe joint compound:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/GMC_schrader_valve.jpg
http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/data/500/GMC_schrader_valve.jpg
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215028 is a reply to message #215024] Fri, 19 July 2013 16:40 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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David, if the tow truck has an air compressor, cut or disconnect the air
lines where they enter the bags. Unscrew the air line fitting, and replace
them with schrader valves from ace hardware.. inflate bags to 90 psi and
see how it looks. It should hold up to 125 with no problem. Load it up and
go.
Jim Hupy
On Jul 19, 2013 2:33 PM, "David Orders" <dao@oarsllc.com> wrote:

>
>
> Just bought a 1978 Palm Beach that had a minor front end fire. Everything
> in front of the radiator is toast, and of course, the wiring is shot, the
> airbags are totally down and the ass end is all but sitting on the ground.
>
> My question is, can the tow company just air up the tires and drag it onto
> a trailer? It will only be drug about the length of the vehicle. I've
> looked for ways to manually inflate the airbags but can't find any. Due to
> the wiring damage I'm hesitant to try anything electrical. Just wondering
> if anyone has had any experience with this. Thanks!
>
> PS - I will probably be posting a bunch of stuff in Swap Meet in the
> coming months ;o)
> --
> 1976 Royale "Twinkie II"
>
> "Aspergers syndrome, or something like that. A talent for seeing patterns
> and understanding abstract reasoning where other people perceive only white
> noise." - Mikael Blomkvist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215029 is a reply to message #215026] Fri, 19 July 2013 16:48 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Otterwan   United States
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A Hamilto wrote on Fri, 19 July 2013 14:41

Just remove the fitting that goes into each airbag, screw in a schrader valve, and inflate the bags like a tire (just enough to get it off the ground enough to get on the trailer, don't risk blowing a bag, it can cause serious injury).

You will need two of these and a small tube of pipe joint compound


That looks like the perfect (and cheap) solution, and when I'm done I'll toss them in the Twinkie II toolkit! Thanks!


1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215051 is a reply to message #215029] Fri, 19 July 2013 20:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Richard RV   United States
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If the airbags look good, then the Schrader is the way to go. You can also use some 3/4" all-thread and a piece of conduit as a sleeve instead of a 4x4 and lag bolts if you're not confident about the bags. Those are also good things to have in the quiver.

Richard


'77 Birchaven TZE...777; '76 Palm Beach under construction; ‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215052 is a reply to message #215051] Fri, 19 July 2013 20:29 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Robin Hood is currently offline  Robin Hood   United States
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THe shraders are dead easy and cheap. Seriously, it's a piece of cake,


On Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 8:25 PM, Richard <GMC77Birchaven@yahoo.com> wrote:

>
>
> If the airbags look good, then the Schrader is the way to go. You can
> also use some 3/4" all-thread and a piece of conduit as a sleeve instead of
> a 4x4 and lag bolts if you're not confident about the bags. Those are also
> good things to have in the quiver.
>
> Richard
> --
> '77 Birchaven TZE...777
> Rear bath, interior pretty much original,
> Jasper 455, 3.50 final, Howell EFI w/EBL, Springfield, Thorley, 6 disks,
> Alcoas, currently installing a one ton front end
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--
Robin Hood
Jackson, MS
2013 Subaru Outback "Top Flight"
1968 Pontiac Catalina "The Cheshire Cat"
1978 GMC Royale motorhome "Pinto Bean"
1977 GMC Palm Beach motorhome "Barn Queen"
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Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215054 is a reply to message #215024] Fri, 19 July 2013 20:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Otterwan   United States
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Great, other than I can't find them anywhere. Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, O'Reily Auto Parts, nobody has them in stock.

1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215056 is a reply to message #215024] Fri, 19 July 2013 20:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Cadillackeeper is currently offline  Cadillackeeper   United States
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Could'nt one just fill the resivior tank under the buzz box?

77 455 Elaganza II and 67 Animal, Built 500 Powered Eldo
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215062 is a reply to message #215054] Fri, 19 July 2013 21:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Otterwan wrote on Fri, 19 July 2013 21:34

Great, other than I can't find them anywhere. Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, O'Reily Auto Parts, nobody has them in stock.


You need to find better suppliers.
Then order two from Mcmaster-Carr <mcmaster.com> 8063K63 3.97ea, then hang up the phone and run to the door to get them..... (not quite)

Matt - the storm has passed


Matt & Mary Colie - Chaumière -'73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan with OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Near DTW - Twixt A2 and Detroit
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215066 is a reply to message #215054] Fri, 19 July 2013 21:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Emery Stora is currently offline  Emery Stora   United States
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I have seen them in more than one Ace Hardware.

Here is a link from Ace's web site.

http://m.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=20780666

They list both 1/4 " and 1/8".

Ask a knowledgable clerk and ill bet they have them in stock.

Emery Store

On Jul 19, 2013, at 5:34 PM, David Orders <dao@oarsllc.com> wrote:

>
>
> Great, other than I can't find them anywhere. Lowes, Home Depot, Ace, O'Reily Auto Parts, nobody has them in stock.
> --
> 1976 Royale "Twinkie II"
>
> "Aspergers syndrome, or something like that. A talent for seeing patterns and understanding abstract reasoning where other people perceive only white noise." - Mikael Blomkvist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
> _______________________________________________
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Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215082 is a reply to message #215062] Fri, 19 July 2013 23:11 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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All three of my local Ace Hardware stores have had them in stock in the past.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215083 is a reply to message #215056] Fri, 19 July 2013 23:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
A Hamilto is currently offline  A Hamilto   United States
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Cadillackeeper wrote on Fri, 19 July 2013 20:54

Could'nt one just fill the resivior tank under the buzz box?
Does it have a schrader valve?
Re: Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215084 is a reply to message #215024] Sat, 20 July 2013 00:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Francois is currently offline  Francois   United States
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The schraders are fine if you can get the right ones,and if there are no leak issues with the airbags.

Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215086 is a reply to message #215052] Sat, 20 July 2013 00:22 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Richard RV   United States
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Robin Hood wrote on Fri, 19 July 2013 18:29


On Fri, Jul 19, 2013 at 8:25 PM, Richard wrote:
>
> If the airbags look good, then the Schrader is the way to go. You can
> also use some 3/4" all-thread and a piece of conduit as a sleeve instead of
> a 4x4 and lag bolts if you're not confident about the bags. Those are also
> good things to have in the quiver.
>
> Richard


THe shraders are dead easy and cheap. Seriously, it's a piece of cake,



Hey Robin,
Agreed, that's why I said if the airbags look good, then the Schrader is the way to go.

To paraphrase Sancho Panza, "Whether the airbag is flat going on or coming off the flatbed, it's bad for the coach."

Richard


'77 Birchaven TZE...777; '76 Palm Beach under construction; ‘76 Edgemont waiting its turn
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215124 is a reply to message #215086] Sat, 20 July 2013 11:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Otterwan   United States
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Might have found an option. Still can't find a Schrader valve, but a local RV store has push on air valves for 1/4" plastic hose, like they use for the Firestone Ride Rite system. Unfortunately I'm not where the Palm Beach is, so I can't check the hose size, but they all use 1/4 inch, don't they? If so I can just cut the hose, push one these on, and away we go.

Looks like this:

http://www.ridetech.com/store/images/detailed/0/inflation-valve.jpg


1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215127 is a reply to message #215124] Sat, 20 July 2013 11:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
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David, looks like that will work for a temp deal. Be careful and cut the
tubing off squarely. Every Gmc that I have seen that was in original state
had 1/4" air lines so those fittings are what you want.
Jim Hupy
On Jul 20, 2013 9:46 AM, "David Orders" <dao@oarsllc.com> wrote:

>
>
> Might have found an option. Still can't find a Schrader valve, but a local
> RV store has push on air valves for 1/4" plastic hose, like they use for
> the Firestone Ride Rite system. Unfortunately I'm not where the Palm Beach
> is, so I can't check the hose size, but they all use 1/4 inch, don't they?
> If so I can just cut the hose, push one these on, and away we go.
>
> Looks like this:
>
> http://www.ridetech.com/store/images/detailed/0/inflation-valve.jpg
>
> --
> 1976 Royale "Twinkie II"
>
> "Aspergers syndrome, or something like that. A talent for seeing patterns
> and understanding abstract reasoning where other people perceive only white
> noise." - Mikael Blomkvist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
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Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215128 is a reply to message #215127] Sat, 20 July 2013 12:05 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Teets is currently offline  Mike Teets   United States
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I don't know if mine is stock, but my 77 Palm Beach has a Schrader valve
plumbed into the tank by the compressor. All this in the cabinet under the
pull out drawers. You may not need to even open the system, just open the
cabinet and pump up the bags from the closet.

On Sat, Jul 20, 2013 at 12:56 PM, James Hupy <jamesh1296@gmail.com> wrote:

> David, looks like that will work for a temp deal. Be careful and cut the
> tubing off squarely. Every Gmc that I have seen that was in original state
> had 1/4" air lines so those fittings are what you want.
> Jim Hupy
> On Jul 20, 2013 9:46 AM, "David Orders" <dao@oarsllc.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> > Might have found an option. Still can't find a Schrader valve, but a
> local
> > RV store has push on air valves for 1/4" plastic hose, like they use for
> > the Firestone Ride Rite system. Unfortunately I'm not where the Palm
> Beach
> > is, so I can't check the hose size, but they all use 1/4 inch, don't
> they?
> > If so I can just cut the hose, push one these on, and away we go.
> >
> > Looks like this:
> >
> > http://www.ridetech.com/store/images/detailed/0/inflation-valve.jpg
> >
> > --
> > 1976 Royale "Twinkie II"
> >
> > "Aspergers syndrome, or something like that. A talent for seeing patterns
> > and understanding abstract reasoning where other people perceive only
> white
> > noise." - Mikael Blomkvist, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
> >
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Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215129 is a reply to message #215128] Sat, 20 July 2013 12:33 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Otterwan   United States
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Mike Teets wrote on Sat, 20 July 2013 10:05

I don't know if mine is stock, but my 77 Palm Beach has a Schrader valve
plumbed into the tank by the compressor. All this in the cabinet under the
pull out drawers. You may not need to even open the system, just open the
cabinet and pump up the bags from the closet.


Thanks Mike, I did look at the compressor but I'll look again, in the meantime, SUCCESS!!!! I went to the local O'Reillys on a whim, and there they were, just two 1/8" "Tank Valve", on the shelf with the other valves and adapters. They even scrounged up two 1/8" to 1/4" adapters from behind the counter. So armed with the parts, tools, and sound advice, I'm off to get the old girl's butt off the ground. Many thanks to all!


1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
Re: [GMCnet] Pulling dead 1978 Palm Beach onto trailer. [message #215168 is a reply to message #215129] Sat, 20 July 2013 19:28 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
Otterwan   United States
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Schrader valves installed, aired the bags up to about 95 psi, got the old girl back up off the ground

http://www.oarsllc.com/Before1.JPG

http://www.oarsllc.com/After1.jpg


1977 Birchaven, Lynnwood WA - "We may not be able to stop all evil in the world, but I know that how we treat one another is entirely up to us."
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