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Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335133] Sat, 14 July 2018 16:21 Go to next message
Mike Teets is currently offline  Mike Teets   United States
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
Karma: 0
Senior Member
My GMC has been sitting cozy in it's garage since last year since I have been spending my free time Caribbean sailing instead of land yachting. Unfortunately, the drivers side bag completely deflated as I have a slow leak somewhere. The pump wouldn't raise it. Of course that side is right against the garage wall. Only way I could get there is crawling along the floor as I didn't fit between the wall and the beltline of the coach.

I first thought it was a bad valve or switch on the system, so I removed the line from the bag and put a schrader valve on with one hand and not being able to see under the fender... Still no luck. 120 lbs of compressor wouldn't budge it. Slid a floor jack in and got a jack hook under the bogie and was able to raise it 3-4 inches. At that point, the bag would take air.

My battery is also dead, charging now so I can pull it out and get a better look at what went wrong. I am hoping that there isn't bag damage from the full deflation.

Thought I would tell the group in case anyone else has this problem. I have dash gauges on each bag. The symptom was that the pressure on that bag would go up to 100 lbs as soon as the pump turned on but the bag would not inflate.

Will keep you all posted.


Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
Re: Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335134 is a reply to message #335133] Sat, 14 July 2018 16:27 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Mike,

I have a version of the sully bag, and experienced similar issue. The bag seemed to seal itself on itself and not allow air in when deflated and the stars and moons are lined up.





Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
Re: Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335136 is a reply to message #335133] Sat, 14 July 2018 16:59 Go to previous messageGo to next message
lqqkatjon is currently offline  lqqkatjon   United States
Messages: 2324
Registered: October 2010
Location: St. Cloud, MN
Karma: 5
Senior Member
Here are some photos. Not sure if that makes any sense on what happened.

http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/2018/07/air-bag-issue.html?m=1


Jon Roche 75 palm beach EBL EFI, manny headers, Micro Level, rebuilt most of coach now. St. Cloud, MN http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
Re: Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335140 is a reply to message #335136] Sat, 14 July 2018 17:53 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Teets is currently offline  Mike Teets   United States
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
Karma: 0
Senior Member
Ahhh, mine was a bit different. The bag had folded as it collapsed, and the loose bag was pressed against the interior side of the air inlet. Essentially, the weight of the coach was pressing directly against the inside of the air fill tube with a nice rubber seal.

Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335142 is a reply to message #335133] Sat, 14 July 2018 17:50 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Ken Henderson is currently offline  Ken Henderson   United States
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
My 4-bag system has no such tendency, and the system's pretty tight. But,
just in case, I always install my 2 - 8"x8"xHeight-of-Bogie-Bottom blocks
(with cabinet pulls for handles) for long term storage. Sounds like an
especially good idea for those with Sully Bags.

Ken H.

On Sat, Jul 14, 2018 at 5:42 PM Mike Teets wrote:

> My GMC has been sitting cozy in it's garage since last year since I have
> been spending my free time Caribbean sailing instead of land yachting.
> Unfortunately, the drivers side bag completely deflated as I have a slow
> leak somewhere. The pump wouldn't raise it. Of course that side is right
> against the garage wall. Only way I could get there is crawling along the
> floor as I didn't fit between the wall and the beltline of the coach.
>
> I first thought it was a bad valve or switch on the system, so I removed
> the line from the bag and put a schrader valve on with one hand and not
> being
> able to see under the fender... Still no luck. 120 lbs of compressor
> wouldn't budge it. Slid a floor jack in and got a jack hook under the bogie
> and
> was able to raise it 3-4 inches. At that point, the bag would take air.
>
> My battery is also dead, charging now so I can pull it out and get a
> better look at what went wrong. I am hoping that there isn't bag damage
> from the
> full deflation.
>
> Thought I would tell the group in case anyone else has this problem. I
> have dash gauges on each bag. The symptom was that the pressure on that bag
> would go up to 100 lbs as soon as the pump turned on but the bag would not
> inflate.
>
> Will keep you all posted.
> --
> Mike
> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
> Dublin, OH
>
> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335144 is a reply to message #335142] Sat, 14 July 2018 19:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
JShot is currently offline  JShot   United States
Messages: 485
Registered: October 2006
Location: NW Ohio
Karma: 0
Senior Member
And / or shut off the valves we all should have near the Shrader valves to isolate the bags when leaving the coach for any length of time. That's what we do, as I don't really trust our air system no matter how sealed we may think it is.
Shot


John Shotwell
Ridgeville Corners, OH
78 Royale Center Kitchen
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335177 is a reply to message #335144] Sun, 15 July 2018 11:16 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Jack it up a bit on that side and then inflate

Sully
Bellevue.

On Sat, Jul 14, 2018 at 5:18 PM John Shotwell wrote:

> And / or shut off the valves we all should have near the Shrader valves to
> isolate the bags when leaving the coach for any length of time. That's what
> we do, as I don't really trust our air system no matter how sealed we may
> think it is.
> Shot
> --
> John Shotwell
> Ridgeville Corners, OH
> 78 Royale Center Kitchen
> Web Site: GMCmhRegistry.com
> Email: john at gmcmhregistry dot com
>
> _______________________________________________
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335182 is a reply to message #335177] Sun, 15 July 2018 13:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Mike Teets is currently offline  Mike Teets   United States
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design. Just an odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after running them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like the day they arrived.

Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335184 is a reply to message #335182] Sun, 15 July 2018 13:45 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
We supply the same design using the same Firestone air bags on our MONO Bag
Kit.
I will request Nick to call and see the feasibility of making a mod. to the
inside to allow for injection of air when two ends meet.
We are by far the largest GMC MH with Firestone, so when we make a request
they do respond.
Let's see how quickly they will address.

On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:25 AM, Mike Teets wrote:

> I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design. Just an
> odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after running
> them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like the
> day they arrived.
> --
> Mike
> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
> Dublin, OH
>
> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>



--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335185 is a reply to message #335182] Sun, 15 July 2018 13:46 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
Senior Member
The problem you describe is not uncommon. I have had several folks call me
about it. I’ve never had it happen to me when I was playing around with
them so conditions must have to just right for it to happen. I suspect that
if there is any twist across the bag between the mounts it would exacerbate
the problem as the bag will not stack uniformly upon deflation.

Thanks Mike.

Sully
Bellevue wa

On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:26 AM Mike Teets wrote:

> I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design. Just an
> odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after running
> them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like the
> day they arrived.
> --
> Mike
> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
> Dublin, OH
>
> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335187 is a reply to message #335185] Sun, 15 July 2018 13:57 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
Gee Todd, the war pig is still sitting in my carport with fully inflated
Sullybags. I don't understand why these other coaches with your bags are
sitting on their haunches fully deflated. Must be sumthin other than your
bags causing the air loss. Just sayin.
Jim Hupy

On Sun, Jul 15, 2018, 11:47 AM Todd Sullivan wrote:

> The problem you describe is not uncommon. I have had several folks call me
> about it. I’ve never had it happen to me when I was playing around with
> them so conditions must have to just right for it to happen. I suspect that
> if there is any twist across the bag between the mounts it would exacerbate
> the problem as the bag will not stack uniformly upon deflation.
>
> Thanks Mike.
>
> Sully
> Bellevue wa
>
> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:26 AM Mike Teets wrote:
>
>> I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design. Just an
>> odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after running
>> them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like the
>> day they arrived.
>> --
>> Mike
>> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
>> Dublin, OH
>>
>> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
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Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335189 is a reply to message #335187] Sun, 15 July 2018 14:18 Go to previous messageGo to next message
jimk is currently offline  jimk   United States
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
Senior Member
Jim,
We need to address these things for common situations.
Based on what we see in our shop, lot do not have air bag isolators and new
DOT rated brass fittings.
They rather spend time and money on apperance to show off to people.

On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:57 AM, James Hupy wrote:

> Gee Todd, the war pig is still sitting in my carport with fully inflated
> Sullybags. I don't understand why these other coaches with your bags are
> sitting on their haunches fully deflated. Must be sumthin other than your
> bags causing the air loss. Just sayin.
> Jim Hupy
>
> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018, 11:47 AM Todd Sullivan wrote:
>
>> The problem you describe is not uncommon. I have had several folks call
> me
>> about it. I’ve never had it happen to me when I was playing around with
>> them so conditions must have to just right for it to happen. I suspect
> that
>> if there is any twist across the bag between the mounts it would
> exacerbate
>> the problem as the bag will not stack uniformly upon deflation.
>>
>> Thanks Mike.
>>
>> Sully
>> Bellevue wa
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:26 AM Mike Teets wrote:
>>
>>> I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design. Just
> an
>>> odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after
> running
>>> them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like the
>>> day they arrived.
>>> --
>>> Mike
>>> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
>>> Dublin, OH
>>>
>>> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
> _______________________________________________
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--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335193 is a reply to message #335187] Sun, 15 July 2018 14:56 Go to previous messageGo to next message
sgltrac is currently offline  sgltrac   United States
Messages: 2797
Registered: April 2011
Karma: 1
Senior Member
Has he put the new nose on it yet?

Sully
Bellevue

On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:57 AM James Hupy wrote:

> Gee Todd, the war pig is still sitting in my carport with fully inflated
> Sullybags. I don't understand why these other coaches with your bags are
> sitting on their haunches fully deflated. Must be sumthin other than your
> bags causing the air loss. Just sayin.
> Jim Hupy
>
> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018, 11:47 AM Todd Sullivan wrote:
>
>> The problem you describe is not uncommon. I have had several folks call
> me
>> about it. I’ve never had it happen to me when I was playing around with
>> them so conditions must have to just right for it to happen. I suspect
> that
>> if there is any twist across the bag between the mounts it would
> exacerbate
>> the problem as the bag will not stack uniformly upon deflation.
>>
>> Thanks Mike.
>>
>> Sully
>> Bellevue wa
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:26 AM Mike Teets wrote:
>>
>>> I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design. Just
> an
>>> odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after
> running
>>> them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like the
>>> day they arrived.
>>> --
>>> Mike
>>> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
>>> Dublin, OH
>>>
>>> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
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Sully 77 Royale basket case. Future motorhome land speed record holder(bucket list) Seattle, Wa.
Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335195 is a reply to message #335193] Sun, 15 July 2018 15:08 Go to previous messageGo to next message
James Hupy is currently offline  James Hupy   United States
Messages: 6806
Registered: May 2010
Karma: -62
Senior Member
No, but we went and salvaged one. A full nose below the windshield, and
passenger side to the toll booth window back to the seam behind the wheel
well. Good shape, and we got it off with no breaks or cracks. Grill, too,
with the escutcheon below the grill as well. Good headlight buckets, too.
Don't know what he paid.
I think he has collected most of the pieces.
Jim Hupy

On Sun, Jul 15, 2018, 12:57 PM Todd Sullivan wrote:

> Has he put the new nose on it yet?
>
> Sully
> Bellevue
>
> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:57 AM James Hupy wrote:
>
>> Gee Todd, the war pig is still sitting in my carport with fully inflated
>> Sullybags. I don't understand why these other coaches with your bags are
>> sitting on their haunches fully deflated. Must be sumthin other than your
>> bags causing the air loss. Just sayin.
>> Jim Hupy
>>
>> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018, 11:47 AM Todd Sullivan wrote:
>>
>>> The problem you describe is not uncommon. I have had several folks call
>> me
>>> about it. I’ve never had it happen to me when I was playing around with
>>> them so conditions must have to just right for it to happen. I suspect
>> that
>>> if there is any twist across the bag between the mounts it would
>> exacerbate
>>> the problem as the bag will not stack uniformly upon deflation.
>>>
>>> Thanks Mike.
>>>
>>> Sully
>>> Bellevue wa
>>>
>>> On Sun, Jul 15, 2018 at 11:26 AM Mike Teets
> wrote:
>>>
>>>> I should clarify that this is not a criticism of the bad design.
> Just
>> an
>>>> odd quirk of the firestone bag. I am very happy with them after
>> running
>>>> them since 2012. After 6 years, the galvanized set looks just like
> the
>>>> day they arrived.
>>>> --
>>>> Mike
>>>> 77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
>>>> Dublin, OH
>>>>
>>>> http://teamteets.com/gmc/
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>>>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> GMCnet mailing list
>>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
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>>>
>> _______________________________________________
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Re: [GMCnet] Sully bag full deflation, wouldn't take air [message #335221 is a reply to message #335189] Sun, 15 July 2018 20:23 Go to previous message
Mike Teets is currently offline  Mike Teets   United States
Messages: 299
Registered: January 2004
Location: Dublin, OH
Karma: 0
Senior Member
I think my system would be considered very reliable normally... especially for all original switches and valves but with all new lines with brass fittings. My system took 11 months to leak down on this one side. The other side held fine. I believe my leak is actually in the dash gauge. We put shut-off valves on my father's 74 coach as his system resembles Swiss cheese.

Mike, GMCing since 2002
77 Palm Beach, 260, 403
Dublin, OH
http://teamteets.com/gmc/
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