GMCforum
For enthusiast of the Classic GMC Motorhome built from 1973 to 1978. A web-based mirror of the GMCnet mailing list.

Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking
[GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273401] Mon, 09 March 2015 18:17 Go to next message
Daniel DeLuca is currently offline  Daniel DeLuca   United States
Messages: 120
Registered: June 2014
Karma: 0
Senior Member
So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand. No problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower on the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go ass out towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and without damage.

Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with the bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.

Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it, as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked it?

I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.

Dan
Central Jersey
78 Eleganza
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273404 is a reply to message #273401] Mon, 09 March 2015 18:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Carl S. is currently offline  Carl S.   United States
Messages: 4186
Registered: January 2009
Location: Tucson, AZ.
Karma: 13
Senior Member

Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 16:17
So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand. No problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower on the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go ass out towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and without damage.

Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with the bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.

Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it, as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked it?

I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.

Dan
Central Jersey
78 Eleganza
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



It doesn't seem like you did anything to cause the bag to blow. Unless you grossly overinflated the air bag, it shouldn't have blown out just from jacking up the coach. I'm guessing it was just it's time.


Carl Stouffer '75 ex Palm Beach Tucson, AZ. Chuck Aulgur Reaction Arm Disc Brakes, Quadrabags, 3.70 LSD final drive, Lenzi knuckles/hubs, Dodge Truck 16" X 8" front wheels, Rear American Eagles, Solar battery charging. GMCSJ and GMCMI member
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273406 is a reply to message #273404] Mon, 09 March 2015 18:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
emerystora is currently offline  emerystora   United States
Messages: 4442
Registered: January 2004
Karma: 13
Senior Member
I also don’t see how your jacking it up would have caused the air bag to blow. You said you had jack stands under that side so the load would have been less on the bag.

You are jacking it up exactly as I have for many years.

I suspect that you just had an old bag give up.

Emery Stora
77 Kingsley
Frederick, CO

> On Mar 9, 2015, at 5:50 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:
>
> Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 16:17
>> So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with
>> nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand. No
>> problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower on
>> the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go ass out
>> towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag
>> exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and
>> without damage.
>>
>> Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it
>> possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with the
>> bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.
>>
>> Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it, as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked
>> it?
>>
>> I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.
>>
>> Dan

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273407 is a reply to message #273406] Mon, 09 March 2015 19:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ray Erspamer is currently offline  Ray Erspamer   United States
Messages: 1707
Registered: May 2007
Location: Milwaukee Wisconsin
Karma: -3
Senior Member
I agree, I think the bag was old, lucky it went in the driveway and
not on the road.

On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 6:55 PM, Emery Stora wrote:
> I also don’t see how your jacking it up would have caused the air bag to blow. You said you had jack stands under that side so the load would have been less on the bag.
>
> You are jacking it up exactly as I have for many years.
>
> I suspect that you just had an old bag give up.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick, CO
>
>> On Mar 9, 2015, at 5:50 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:
>>
>> Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 16:17
>>> So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with
>>> nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand. No
>>> problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower on
>>> the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go ass out
>>> towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag
>>> exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and
>>> without damage.
>>>
>>> Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it
>>> possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with the
>>> bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.
>>>
>>> Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it, as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked
>>> it?
>>>
>>> I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.
>>>
>>> Dan
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist



--
Ray Erspamer
78 Royale - "The Great Lakes Eagle"
Center Kitchen TZE368V101144
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226
Email: 78GMCRoyale@gmail.com
414-484-9431
Web Site: http://ray-lisa.page.tl/
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist


Ray Erspamer 78 GMC Royale Center Kitchen 403, 3.70 Final Drive Holley Sniper Quadrajet EFI System, Holley Hyperspark Ignition System 414-484-9431
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273410 is a reply to message #273407] Mon, 09 March 2015 19:31 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Jerry Wheeler is currently offline  Jerry Wheeler   United States
Messages: 246
Registered: January 2013
Karma: 2
Senior Member
Just another reason to never get under your coach depending on the air bags
to keep it up in the air; always block before getting under the coach. I
had a bag blow overnight while parked in my garage back in 2005.
JR Wheeler 78 Royale NC/OR

On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 8:16 PM, Ray Erspamer wrote:

> I agree, I think the bag was old, lucky it went in the driveway and
> not on the road.
>
> On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 6:55 PM, Emery Stora wrote:
>> I also don’t see how your jacking it up would have caused the air bag to
> blow. You said you had jack stands under that side so the load would have
> been less on the bag.
>>
>> You are jacking it up exactly as I have for many years.
>>
>> I suspect that you just had an old bag give up.
>>
>> Emery Stora
>> 77 Kingsley
>> Frederick, CO
>>
>>> On Mar 9, 2015, at 5:50 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:
>>>
>>> Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 16:17
>>>> So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on
> stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with
>>>> nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I
> started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand.
> No
>>>> problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags
> slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower
> on
>>>> the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger
> side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go
> ass out
>>>> towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to
> level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag
>>>> exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with
> the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and
>>>> without damage.
>>>>
>>>> Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that
> bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it
>>>> possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had
> the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with
> the
>>>> bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.
>>>>
>>>> Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it,
> as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked
>>>> it?
>>>>
>>>> I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.
>>>>
>>>> Dan
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
>
> --
> Ray Erspamer
> 78 Royale - "The Great Lakes Eagle"
> Center Kitchen TZE368V101144
> Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226
> Email: 78GMCRoyale@gmail.com
> 414-484-9431
> Web Site: http://ray-lisa.page.tl/
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273411 is a reply to message #273410] Mon, 09 March 2015 19:38 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Daniel DeLuca is currently offline  Daniel DeLuca   United States
Messages: 120
Registered: June 2014
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I was also lucky I was on the opposite side, it blew with some force. All in all just a minor job to swap out the bags, need to pick up the passenger side off the ground now. I really don't want the coach to slide out again.

Dan

> On Mar 9, 2015, at 8:31 PM, Jerry Wheeler wrote:
>
> Just another reason to never get under your coach depending on the air bags
> to keep it up in the air; always block before getting under the coach. I
> had a bag blow overnight while parked in my garage back in 2005.
> JR Wheeler 78 Royale NC/OR
>
> On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 8:16 PM, Ray Erspamer wrote:
>
>> I agree, I think the bag was old, lucky it went in the driveway and
>> not on the road.
>>
>> On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 6:55 PM, Emery Stora wrote:
>>> I also don’t see how your jacking it up would have caused the air bag to
>> blow. You said you had jack stands under that side so the load would have
>> been less on the bag.
>>>
>>> You are jacking it up exactly as I have for many years.
>>>
>>> I suspect that you just had an old bag give up.
>>>
>>> Emery Stora
>>> 77 Kingsley
>>> Frederick, CO
>>>
>>>> On Mar 9, 2015, at 5:50 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 16:17
>>>> > So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on
>> stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with
>>>> > nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I
>> started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand.
>> No
>>>> > problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags
>> slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower
>> on
>>>> > the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger
>> side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go
>> ass out
>>>> > towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to
>> level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag
>>>> > exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with
>> the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and
>>>> > without damage.
>>>> >
>>>> > Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that
>> bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it
>>>> > possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had
>> the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with
>> the
>>>> > bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.
>>>> >
>>>> > Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it,
>> as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked
>>>> > it?
>>>> >
>>>> > I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.
>>>> >
>>>> > Dan
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Ray Erspamer
>> 78 Royale - "The Great Lakes Eagle"
>> Center Kitchen TZE368V101144
>> Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226
>> Email: 78GMCRoyale@gmail.com
>> 414-484-9431
>> Web Site: http://ray-lisa.page.tl/
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist

_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273413 is a reply to message #273407] Mon, 09 March 2015 19:54 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Matt Colie is currently offline  Matt Colie   United States
Messages: 8547
Registered: March 2007
Location: S.E. Michigan
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Dan,

I think you know know why we are all so paranoid about working around airbags under load.
One recent rally, people were sitting under the awning when the left side let go and blew the T-skirt off.
Important Note!! With the rear at zero, there is not room under the black tank for a 2x4. Think about that.......

Second note about jacking.
Before I had a good trailer hitch, I could not effective jack the rear on center. So I would set the suspension high, start at the back and jacking and blocking. First a little on one side and then the other until I had a height under the bogie casting that I liked. Then I use a 3 ton Hazard Fright floor jack to pick up the center of the front cross member and shove in jack stands as soon as I can.

What you don't want to do is have the coach blocked at one end and try to lift one corner. This can cause the coach frame and body to flex (enough to crack a windshield - I have been told). So, when you are jacking someplace off center, have as much of the coach on its suspension as you can.

I case you have not heard the story, I worked at Thetford in 1973. Frank Sargent (the owner and president) was ex-GM. He got one of the first. It had to go to a local dealership for some reason. They picked the coach up on some kind of truck hoist and broke it. Not real badly, but the door wouldn't close any more. They gave him a new one.

Matt



Ray Erspamer wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 20:16
I agree, I think the bag was old, lucky it went in the driveway and
not on the road.

On Mon, Mar 9, 2015 at 6:55 PM, Emery Stora wrote:
> I also don't see how your jacking it up would have caused the air bag to blow. You said you had jack stands under that side so the load would have been less on the bag.
>
> You are jacking it up exactly as I have for many years.
>
> I suspect that you just had an old bag give up.
>
> Emery Stora
> 77 Kingsley
> Frederick, CO
>
>> On Mar 9, 2015, at 5:50 PM, Carl Stouffer wrote:
>>
>> Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 16:17
>>> So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with
>>> nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand. No
>>> problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower on
>>> the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go ass out
>>> towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag
>>> exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and
>>> without damage.
>>>
>>> Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it
>>> possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with the
>>> bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.
>>>
>>> Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it, as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked
>>> it?
>>>
>>> I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.
>>>
>>> Dan
--
Ray Erspamer
78 Royale - "The Great Lakes Eagle"
Center Kitchen TZE368V101144
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin 53226t



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] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273429 is a reply to message #273401] Mon, 09 March 2015 21:39 Go to previous messageGo to next message
kerry pinkerton is currently offline  kerry pinkerton   United States
Messages: 2565
Registered: July 2012
Location: Harvest, Al
Karma: 15
Senior Member
I also don't think it was anything you did.

I put a new suspension system on my coach when I was at Ken's last month. I've been perfectly happy with my stock system but it was getting old and I figured it was time. Turns out it was DEFINITELY time. One of the bags had started to de-laminate on the back side. It might have blown that day or it might have lasted for years. Who knows? I'm glad it's not on my coach any more though.


Kerry Pinkerton - North Alabama Had 5 over the years. Currently have a '06 Fleetwood Discovery 39L
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273432 is a reply to message #273401] Mon, 09 March 2015 22:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Bob de Kruyff   United States
Messages: 4260
Registered: January 2004
Location: Chandler, AZ
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Daniel DeLuca wrote on Mon, 09 March 2015 17:17
So with the first warm day in a while I decided to put the coach up on stands so I could do a little maintenance for the warmer weather, with nearly disastrous results. With the front of the coach up securely I started on the rear. I put the driver side up on a three ton jack stand. No problems. Then I started on the passenger side. I pumped up the bags slipped my stubby jack under the boggie, gave a pump or two then hit lower on the dash switch. Waited maybe 5 minutes. Jacked up the passenger side, put it on a stand. At this point I noticed the coach wanted to go ass out towards the driver side. I went over to the driver side to try to level her out and give it firm footing. This is when the passenger side bag exploded. The whole thing went even further down hill from there with the coach eventually coming down off her rear stands, somewhat gently and without damage.

Now lets forget my piss poor blocking job for a second. Why did that bag blow. Did I not wait long enough for the pressure to let out or is it possible that the valve would not release the pressure. I have had the coach up on stands many time before and never had too much trouble with the bags. The bag that went looked in rough shape; I have a spare.

Secondly is it possible that the coaches frame had some torque in it, as in the rear wheel had not gotten directly behind the fronts when I parked it?

I'll get her back up soon, but man do I hate jacking this thing up.

Dan
Central Jersey
78 Eleganza
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist


That's the way they blow--many go just sitting still.


Bob de Kruyff
78 Eleganza
Chandler, AZ
Re: [GMCnet] Where did I go wrong, jacking and blocking [message #273433 is a reply to message #273401] Mon, 09 March 2015 22:27 Go to previous message
Tilerpep is currently offline  Tilerpep   United States
Messages: 404
Registered: June 2013
Location: Raleigh, NC
Karma: 7
Senior Member
Be sure to check the cones at the ends of the airbag. I had an airbag blow when holding the upper end of what should be normal pressure because I still had the plastic composite type cone. One cone broke and punctured the airbag. I now have four aluminum cones.

1975 Glenbrook, 1978 Royale rear bath Raleigh, NC
Previous Topic: [GMCnet] Sad news
Next Topic: [GMCnet] Steering Wheel with Air Bag
Goto Forum:
  


Current Time: Tue Nov 19 10:12:40 CST 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.00916 seconds