I am having trouble with my exhaust brake either not turning on or coming on very slowly and not engaging all the way. Since the temperature has dropped here in Colorado is when I noticed the problems. It does not have the braking power it did when it was new. I have check for air leaks in the lines from the pressure switch to the brake cylinder and all seems fine. I even took the brass air filter off of the brake cylinder and put my finger over the hole to see if it is leaking and found nothing. What do you guys think, bad compressor, pressure switch or what? I have already contacted Pacbrake and asked them and was told to do the above mention things. Just thought I would check to see if you guys had any ideas or had a similar problem.

Thanks

 

Water in the airlines that is freezing ? (try some airline de-icer).. ice on the linkage ?

 

Their is no ice buildup in the lines or any signs of moisture in them. I oiled the oil points and that did not help. This brake has lee than a year of service and is used everyday. What gives?

 

I can tell you this, if you contact Harold at Pacbrake he WILL hook you up. I was sent to him via Lary here at DTR, he replaced my bad compressor within 2 days of me calling.

Can you verify that you have pressure at the pump, plug in an air hose, pump sounds okay, not overly noisy or anything?

Have you ever lubed the cylinder?

 

(sorry, just saw the part where you oiled it).


Would be nice to have a someone activate it (while cold) while you watch to see if it's making a full stroke to close the butterfly.

 

Had the same thing on mine last winter.

Is your pressure switch on the tank?

The reason I ask is Harold at PacBrake had the boys send me out everything required to move the pressure switch to the top of the engine off the compressor - it was the pressure switch itself that was freezing up - known issue.

 

I can tell its not getting a full stroke to close the butterfly based on previous observation.

 

Yes the pressure switch is on the top of the 1/2 gallon tank thats mounted behind the front bumper. Did not have this problem last winter though, wonder why it is doing it now?

 

Same with mine.......installed it 2nd half of winter the first year it was on the truck and no issue. The next winter it did nearly every time while driving (got enough heat while idling up to temp. - maybe??). However, I didn't drive mine much last winter because I have a co. supplied truck, but contacted Harold for a fix anyway. This winter will tell the tail for sure.

However, as soon as you mentioned cold temp.'s, I'm nearly certain this is it as mine did exactly the same - 1/4 to 1/2 butterfly closer.

 

Thanks Festus,

I will contact Herald on Monday and talks with him about it. I will keep everyone posted if it works or not.

 

Spoke to TJ at Pacbrake yesterday (Herald had the day off) and he did not think it was a pressure switch problem based on that only happens when you drive in wet conditions and it freezes. He suggested that I check the pressure at the compressor chuck, which should kick on at 110 psi and kick off at 130 psi. I have to get a gauge to do this. We are leaning towards a cylinder problem but have to rule all others first. I will continue to post my findings.

 

Narrowed it down to a pressure switch problem. Herald is sending one now and should have it fixed in the next couple days or so. He is a great guy to work with and so is the Pacbrake company.

 

Yep............we were leaning toward the cylinder on mine as well until I performed some of the trouble shooting steps like they had you do.

And yes, great bunch of guys to work with.

 

I am just wondering how sensitive theses pressure switched are and could it be failing due to moisture from inside the tank. When I re-install the new pressure switch I will pu in a pitcock on the bottom of the tank to release moisture if any. Maybe that will prolong it.

 

Thundercloud,

May I suggesting you relocating the new switch even to the top of the engine.

All you have to do is (reroute wires of course) out a 'T' on the top of the compressor and just have the one line direct to the tank.

I have a drain (pitcock) on the 2.5 gal tank I put on my truck. I've never seen a stitch of fluid and it still did it until I relocated the sensor.