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[GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227198] Sun, 27 October 2013 10:38 Go to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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G'day,

Got to thinkin' about these valves and thought I'd send in a message to see if we could figger out how to do a cursory check before
they are installed.

If there is a machining problem with the brass valves we could thread one line and nut down into the valve finger tight which should
bring the flare in contact with the seat and the line should not move.

If the line moves the problem could be in the valve:

1) the inverted flare in the valve is not "tall" enough
2) the threads are keeping the nut from turning enough to force the line into contact with the inverted flare
3) the double flare on the line has been squashed so badly it won't reach the inverted flare

Anybody got any other ideas?

I would suggest the vendors check these valves before they ship them to customers.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227200 is a reply to message #227198] Sun, 27 October 2013 10:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Robert Mueller wrote on Sun, 27 October 2013 10:38

G'day,

Got to thinkin' about these valves and thought I'd send in a message to see if we could figger out how to do a cursory check before
they are installed.

If there is a machining problem with the brass valves we could thread one line and nut down into the valve finger tight which should
bring the flare in contact with the seat and the line should not move.

If the line moves the problem could be in the valve:

1) the inverted flare in the valve is not "tall" enough
2) the threads are keeping the nut from turning enough to force the line into contact with the inverted flare
3) the double flare on the line has been squashed so badly it won't reach the inverted flare

Anybody got any other ideas?

I would suggest the vendors check these valves before they ship them to customers.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428




I do not understand why you do not just install some of those beveled copper washers into the connection and be done with the problem.


Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227201 is a reply to message #227200] Sun, 27 October 2013 11:03 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Ken,

With all due respect installing copper washers does not fix the root cause of the problem if the valves are machined incorrectly the
manufacturer needs to correct the way they machine the valves.

Having said that I realize I am EXTREMELY optimistic that can be done as the damn things are probably made in China!

Also those washers are made of copper and you're installing it into a brass valve that has a steel (or stainless steel) line going
into it. I wonder if you would run into dissimilar metal corrosion problems down the pike.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic

-----Original Message-----
From: Ken Burton
I do not understand why you do not just install some of those beveled copper washers into the connection and be done with the
problem.

--
Ken

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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227202 is a reply to message #227200] Sun, 27 October 2013 11:09 Go to previous messageGo to next message
roy1 is currently offline  roy1   United States
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The copper gasket would certainly make for a good seal . I haven't seen any that small ,do they come in that size?

Roy Keen Minden,NV 76 X Glenbrook
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227206 is a reply to message #227202] Sun, 27 October 2013 11:34 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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Yes they do come in all sizes. There was a hardware supply in Michigan on the Internet where I ordered a few of each size. So I have a whole collection of all sizes. Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the place. I looked back at my receipts for the name and did not find it.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227214 is a reply to message #227198] Sun, 27 October 2013 12:41 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
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here is where I purchased my "flare saver" or "flare washer"

http://dmpfasteners.com/shop/an-fittings-and-hose-1647/tubing-1003/copper-flare-saver-1005/

I have not used them, they are still in the box on my workbench.

this combo valve problem is a tough one to solve. there might be an issue with the manufacture, but there are so many variables in the installation. we have heard about some leaks, but there has to be plenty of installations that did not leak at all. I would think more of those then leaky installations.

there are so many different variables, condition and material of the brake line. conditions of the flares. I know if I have to make my own flares, I borrow a very expensive flare tool from work, I have not had luck with making my own flares with any other tool.

I would rather have a factory made flare line, and then joint it with fittings, then make my own brake flares. when i replaced the lines up to my master cylinder, I found brake lines that were the right length. when I did my dune buggy, I tried making my own lines, and have had some failures down the road on those flares.

the one thing consistency I see, is it seems to be people pointing down to the lower front connection. That connection in itself is tough, it is a sharp bend to the valve. would not take much to get that one out of line, and not have it seal right.

my own experience it was not the fitting at all, but the metering valve worked loose. or it was both, but I had already replaced the brake line. thinking that was it, before I checked and found that metering valve loose.





Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227250 is a reply to message #227214] Sun, 27 October 2013 17:00 Go to previous messageGo to next message
MichaelP is currently offline  MichaelP   United States
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Our metering valve is leaking whenever pressure is applied to the brake pedal (without the engine running). What I don't understand is why have a metering valve AT ALL. Is there ever a situation you'd want to back off pressure to the front brakes on our coaches?

I torqued up the metering valve nut, but don't want to go any further for fear I'd shear the crappy thing.

But I like the brass washer idea. I'll run it by Zeb Frady tomorrow once we get (if we get) there. Could save me some money on labor if we could just freeze that whole metering valve system.

-Michael

Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227257 is a reply to message #227250] Sun, 27 October 2013 17:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
USAussie is currently offline  USAussie   United States
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Michael,

Read the info under the photo:

http://www.gmcmhphotos.com/photos/showphoto.php?photo=37696

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
USAussie - Downunder
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428


-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Pisano

Our metering valve is leaking whenever pressure is applied to the brake pedal (without the engine running). What I don't understand
is why have a metering valve AT ALL. Is there ever a situation you'd want to back off pressure to the front brakes on our coaches?

I torqued up the metering valve nut, but don't want to go any further for fear I'd shear the crappy thing.

But I like the brass washer idea. I'll run it by Zeb Frady tomorrow once we get (if we get) there. Could save me some money on
labor if we could just freeze that whole metering valve system.

-Michael


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Regards, Rob M. (USAussie) The Pedantic Mechanic Sydney, Australia '75 Avion - AUS - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428 '75 Avion - USA - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227265 is a reply to message #227198] Sun, 27 October 2013 19:12 Go to previous messageGo to next message
bobby5832708 is currently offline  bobby5832708   United States
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I have heard of the metering valve part of the brass Chinese combo valves leaking (not by other GMC'ers, by classic car guys). I don't know who made the brass combo valve you currently have but if I was a betting man I would say it was made by Tongshun, which makes the vast majority of them.

Since I have one of the Chinese brass combo valves on my GMC, in my toolbox I also carry a replacement metering valve as it's much easier and cheaper to replace just the leaky metering valve instead of the entire combo valve assembly. No need to remove brake lines, the metering valve unscrews from the front (as mounted in the GMC) of the combo valve.

Possibly your brake fluid leak is from the metering valve stem and the fluid is dripping down the body of the combo valve and making it appear to be leaking at the brake line that comes out of the bottom of the combo valve? Just a thought.

The replacement metering valve for the Tongshun combo valve is $10.00 from:

http://www.classicperform.com/Store2/Brakes/PVMVK-T.htm

Looking around the internet at GM-style combo valves there are many sellers selling what appear to be two different models of Chinese brass valves, the PV2 for disk/drum systems and the PV4 for disk/disk. Many sellers, the same two valves, both probably made by the same Chinese supplier (Tongshun).

Just thought I would add some more useless information to the list!


Bob Heller
2017 Winnebago 29VE
Winter Springs FL
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227266 is a reply to message #227214] Sun, 27 October 2013 19:19 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Burton is currently offline  Ken Burton   United States
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The place in Michigan I bought those flare seals from had them for only a cents each rather than dollars each. As I remember I ordered a dozen of each size and shared them with another GMCer. If I ever find the location again I'll post it.

Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227268 is a reply to message #227266] Sun, 27 October 2013 19:37 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
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I have found them in my local Autozone store. Not expensive.

Emery Stora

On Oct 27, 2013, at 6:19 PM, Ken Burton wrote:

>
>
> The place in Michigan I bought those flare seals from had them for only a cents each rather than dollars each. As I remember I ordered a dozen of each size and shared them with another GMCer. If I ever find the location again I'll post it.
> --
> Ken Burton - N9KB
> 76 Palm Beach
> Hebron, Indiana
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Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227281 is a reply to message #227206] Sun, 27 October 2013 20:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
GMC Cruse is currently offline  GMC Cruse   United States
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Ken Burton wrote on Sun, 27 October 2013 12:34

Yes they do come in all sizes. There was a hardware supply in Michigan on the Internet where I ordered a few of each size. So I have a whole collection of all sizes. Unfortunately I do not remember the name of the place. I looked back at my receipts for the name and did not find it.



Ken:

One place in Michigan fairly close to Indiana is "Portage Specialty" in Portage. Is that the place?

Here's a link:


http://www.portagespecialty.com/shop/results.html?perPage=5&IC=231&searchWords=&matchAll=1&alpha=&attr_one=&attr_two=


Mike K. '75 PB Southeast Michigan

[Updated on: Sun, 27 October 2013 20:54]

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Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227284 is a reply to message #227250] Sun, 27 October 2013 20:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
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Momo wrote on Sun, 27 October 2013 18:00

<swip>
What I don't understand is why have a metering valve AT ALL. Is there ever a situation you'd want to back off pressure to the front brakes on our coaches?
<snip>
-Michael

Micheal,

The simple answer is yes, but I will go into deeper explanation.

The device has two functions, one is to alert the driver to a loss of pressure in one side of the system as this would indicate a failure.

The purpose and possibly more important as it is required frequently in operation is to hold off the front disk brakes until the rear drum brakes can catch up. Where it not for this, a high load stop (just short of full emergency) could cause the operator to lock the front wheels and have little braking in the rear. This could cause a control issue for an inexperienced operator.

It only hold off for the first 200PSI and then everything is that same, but that is enough to get the shoes on the drums in the rear.

Matt - with a computer with 2 dead cylinders.


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] Brass Combination Valves [message #227310 is a reply to message #227284] Mon, 28 October 2013 00:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jtblank is currently offline  jtblank   United States
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Had to jump in here with a similar experience when changing my rear flex brake hoses. These are the braided ones I got from Jim B, the right side leaked slightly leaving a little puddle on top of the bogie fixture. I tightened as much as I thought the treads would take, I have a good set of Craftsman tubing wrenches so rounding of the shoulders was not of concern. I cleaned the puddle weekly and gave a little snugging weekly as well. Finally it stopped, it has been a couple of years since leaking and I haven't dared to touch it.... leave well enough alone. I have two theories; 1 is the seat of the flare finally formed to the housing or 2 enough microscopic gunk, corrosion or whatever in the brake fluid filled the leak. What ever the cause for it to stop, I'm not touching it...


John Blankenship '76 Palm Beach Tulare, CA
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227437 is a reply to message #227198] Mon, 28 October 2013 18:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Gail   Marks Cruiser is currently offline  Gail Marks Cruiser   Australia
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G'day,
I installed a new brass proportioning valve last year and found I had to use more than usual force to seal the pipes. Then it leaked past the pin in the front, Another O ring fixed it.
>Now I am replacing the rear wheel cylinders and have found the pipes are needing too much effort to seal them. They were all cleaned with a wire brush before being re-installed.
>Checking the new slave cylinders, the threads were slightly longer than the old. A quick run over with a die cleared the threads on the pipe fittings, made them a lot easier to install, but not quite right, reversed the die to clear the thread to full depth, right up to the nut flats, perfect.
>30+ years of corrosion on the exposed portion of the threads. This is probably what made the proportioning valve difficult to install. I can see all new brake lines in the near future.


Mark Bennett Gail & Mark's Cruiser Gold Coast, Australia. Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227542 is a reply to message #227437] Tue, 29 October 2013 07:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jim Bounds is currently offline  Jim Bounds   United States
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Don't forget there are some original flare fittings attached to the new meter valve.  I understand though that the leak is coming from the "bleed button" at the front of the new combo valve.  If this is true, no amount of tighening a fitting or adding seal washers on the valve will stop the leak, the problem is internal.
 
I have seen a few new valves leak but it usually will happen immediatly.  We watched the valve when it was installed for that.  The valve was not leaking when it left and the brakes were pretty good as I remember.  What can anyone say, things happen and new Chinese made parts  (almost everything is anymore) must prove they are even as good as the old worn out parts.  What can you say, it's the world we live in and there it is.  The answer is not to reinvent that wheel but to replace the parts with good ones.  I have already mailed a new meter valve to Zeb for you to replace the bad one, he does not stock these parts which will tell you how hard they are to find new. I will need the bad one back to send it back for replacement.  If that fixes it great but in my experience, the valve may leak but it will usually not take out the entire brake system-- could I guess but I would look around at more pieces/parts of your brake system.  There are
still many original parts in the system. 
 
You have had your saga "cross country" at least partly because you left California with so many old parts holding hands.  The frame was pointed out to be badly rusted but you were told there wasn't much you could do.  Trying to put the coach on out left the frasme colapsed and broke one of our 6 ton stands and almost hit the ground  The reality is you should not even have taken off as bad as the undercarriage of your coach was!  It stinks but you didn;t know what to look for and the previous owner, if he knew, did not point out the fact that your coach was mechanically rusted to the hilt.  You really need to get to a place and have the drive train, chassis and suspension totally reworked.  The "patches" everyone is trying to accommodate you with is not going you yeild in the end a relaible travel machine, you are simply postponing the inevitable.
 
I am sorry to post this tough love comment but brother everyone is trying their best to keep you on the road, you must understand the vehicle you have and what needs to happen to it.  It's not the design of the coach, it's not the competance of the techs that have worked on it and it's not even the less reliable new parts that we would hope them to be-- it's the total volume of the reapirs needed to the coach.  These issues will contiue as you try to turn your coach into a silk purse one stitch at a time.  You were not informed or treated properly when you purchased the coach--- what is the Latin phrase... which is why I am not a dealer and want nothing from the sale of any coach because Brother-- they all have problems after 30+ years!
 
Jim Bounds
-----------------------------



On Monday, October 28, 2013 7:18 PM, Mark Bennett <mark.bennett.58@gmail.com> wrote:



G'day,
I installed a new brass proportioning valve last year and found I had to use more than usual force to seal the pipes. Then it leaked past the pin in the front, Another O ring fixed it.
>Now I am replacing the rear wheel cylinders and have found the pipes are needing too much effort to seal them. They were all cleaned with a wire brush before being re-installed.
>Checking the new slave cylinders, the threads were slightly longer than the old. A quick run over with a die cleared the threads on the pipe fittings, made them a lot easier to install, but not quite right, reversed the die to clear the thread to full depth, right up to the nut flats, perfect.
>30+ years of corrosion on the exposed portion of the threads. This is probably what made the proportioning valve difficult to install. I can see all new brake lines in the near future.
--
Mark Bennett
Gail & Mark's Cruiser
Gold Coast, Australia.
Motorhoming Lifestyle.com
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Re: [GMCnet] Brass Combination Valves [message #227603 is a reply to message #227542] Tue, 29 October 2013 13:41 Go to previous message
MichaelP is currently offline  MichaelP   United States
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Jim, thanks for the "tough love" in your post, and of course I don't fault the competency of the mechanic for a failed part -- and thank you for the replacement; I will of course send you the failed valve when we get it switched out tomorrow.

I think you may have mistaken my criticism of different parts: asked why the metering valve nut on the combo valve was even necessary if it could fail this way, NOT the combination valve itself. If this is what you are calling a bleed button, then I guess that partially answers my question: that it must serve as a bleeding function of some kind.

Regarding all the frame rust comments: not sure why the frame repair has come into this thread, but thanks for the work you did on that as well as all the other work you did on it. But it is a separate issue entirely, and one we hope has been remedied.

Regarding the brakes and the combo valve: One thing I was adamant about when we did all that brake work was to get the entire system solid, and that's why we put the work into it. It's a little frustrating at this point that we've been stranded due to a faulty part. (Since my business is to sell the CNC machinery that makes these parts--machines that need to hold certain tight tolerances so this kind of thing doesn't happen--I do know the difference between the competency of the manufacturer and the competency of the mechanic.) In this case, to be perfectly clear, it seems to be an engineering or machining fail, and having nothing at all to do with frame rust or anything else addressed at the Co-op. We do appreciate everything you've done to keep us on the road, as we do everyone who has worked on our coach.

What I've realized, after this latest issue, is I need to get myself a collection of brake fittings so I can do these repairs on the road myself; there are so few people around who will even look at our coaches, even for a simple fix like this one.

-Michael

[Updated on: Tue, 29 October 2013 14:01]

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