Bad Boy air solenoids

[Anonymous]

[color=darkred:75g9c3xv][i:75g9c3xv]Hi
I finally finished installing a bad boy airlift kit onto my 58 Impala convertible - which I purchased from Iain at Max hydraulics'some 4 years ago.

It is very fast, I only used half the kit to give front and rear lift as opposed to a 4 way set up but its very good. I wired it up for three height rides plus the manual overide - shed load of wiring and relays but it is worth it (three solid weeks work)

I have a question which I hope Iain or someone else can answer - if I drain the main air supply tank while the suspension is inflated, I lose all the air from the bags as well !

I find this strange as the air solenoid valves for inflate and deflate are contolled by 12 volts independantly and are also meant to be one way only. They maintain their retrospective pressures of say 50 and 90 psi for rear and front while there is 150psi in the tank, so why would the inflate solenoids let air back through if the pressure is released from the tank ? vica versa if I inflate say the rear bags via the emergency inflate valve (schrader fitting) I'm filling the air supply tank as well as the front bags !! I'm pretty sure this is not supposed to happen.

I'll be gratefull for any suggestions as to what could be causing this and what I may need to do to remedy this.

Regards
Paul [/i:75g9c3xv][/color:75g9c3xv]

[fatdaddy]

the valves are pilot operated so they need some pressure on the diaphram to work.... there is no remedy, they will always open if the presure drops below about 15psi.

when you say you used half the system.. if you have no split of the system across the axles you will get a lot of roll as you corner...............

[Anonymous]

[color=darkred:1884u5pv][i:1884u5pv]Hi
Thanks for the reply.
So, for say an emergency situation I lose all the supply side to my system, I'll have to isolate the supply hoses in order to fill the bags directly and hold air. Shame, I was hoping there was maybe a little more scope for getting home in the event of something going wrong.
Hmmm trying to figure the point of the emergency inflate valves if thats the case.
As for the roll situation, I'm hoping I've covered it with very heavy duty roll bars front and rear, it remains to be seen if this works and if need be I would split the front if the roll was excessive.
Regards
Paul [/i:1884u5pv][/color:1884u5pv]

[ant]

you got a any install/build pics paul... sounds like an interesting project?

[fatdaddy]

depending on how its installed................ a couple of inflation points with lengths of 1/2" and f/f adaptors that will reach to the pipes coming out of the feed valves from the tank pipe that will. Means swapping pipes but........

[Anonymous]

[color=darkred:2qjm1ymn][i:2qjm1ymn]Hey Fatdaddy
I just may have fathomed this out  
By pilot pressue do you mean pressure ratio ? or difference ? for example the deflate sol has a differential pressue of 100psi on the front as it is holding back 100psi front bag pressure against the other side which is atmospheric. On the inflate sol I have a differential pressure of 50 psi initially as there is 150psi in the supply tank and 100psi on the front bag side. Now if I deflate the supply tank as if it were a fast leak the pressure drops  to give a  pressure diferential of zero (100psi tank and 100psi bag side) when the tank pressure falls below the pressure on the bag side it is at this point the sol opens regardless of sol activation and allows air out of the bag side.
Is this what is happening ? are there any big fast one way check valves out there ? I'm looking to increase saftey margins here.
Thanks and regards
Paul

ps ant I have a few build photos of the car under my user name in 'webshots' your more than welcome to browse. I hope to get some of the air control module photos and others on pretty soon   [/i:2qjm1ymn][/color:2qjm1ymn]

[funbags]

I would've suggested fitting checks between the fill valves and the tank. I would also echo what fatdaddy said about having plenty of body roll....she's gonna wallow even with a heavy duty anti-roll bar

[Anonymous]

depending on how its installed................ a couple of inflation points with lengths of 1/2" and f/f adaptors that will reach to the pipes coming out of the feed valves from the tank pipe that will. Means swapping pipes but........

[color=darkred:18rlwc0a][i:18rlwc0a]Hey Fatdaddy
Crossed replies there ! and not sure what you mean here above. I followed the Airlift Bad boy system diagram to the letter and included the supplied emergency fill valves.
I thought there was little point installing them, but now I've thought about this a bit more (see last post) I'm beguinning to see the light. As once I have lost all the air from the supply side I should be able to use the emergency inflate valves to fill the bags up and limp home.
Please say I'm right or nearly right, I need to bury this and move on  
Thanks and regards
Paul[/i:18rlwc0a][/color:18rlwc0a]

[fatdaddy]

you've got it there............

[i read your bit wrong about the emegency valves. i thought you had not put them in]

for the extra work i would add the other valves to seperate the corners even if you still use just front/back swithcess............

[Anonymous]

...for the extra work i would add the other valves to seperate the corners even if you still use just front/back swithcess............

[color=darkred:2it4twhp][i:2it4twhp]Hokay
I fit all the valves and use front rear switching only - somehow I've got to prevent air transfer thru the switching dont I ? the 'aps' valves I've fitted use 1/4" pipe so any connection between two front or rear bags will give me air transfer ! Unless.. I go down to maybe 1/8" or 1/16" bore hose.

Back to one valve per axle - there was an Airlift package I was going to buy prior to the 4 path coming out, called... you quessed it ... the 2 path big bore system... used for ... front and rear or side to side control - running 3/8"od pipe. How did this work or maybe it didn't  

I'm still hoping there is a differential valve or something out there I can use to prevent this cursed air transfer  

Regards
Paul[/i:2it4twhp][/color:2it4twhp]

[fatdaddy]

the line from tank to front goes from tank to a velve, to a tee then to the axle at the moment?

change it to tank, tee, valve in each branch, then each branch to a corner. Both valves of one switch so whatever pressure youput in each corner has to stay there.

[Anonymous]

[color=darkred:20iu64hz][i:20iu64hz]Sorry Fatdaddy
I get what you are saying about the valves.. pretty straight forward... but a pain to put into practice from where I am right now, I'll just have to get on with it.
Cant see the aps situation at the mo - if it ends up in one branch it only senses one branch ! if I place it between both the branches to sense both bag pressures won't I get air transfer through the aps? even though its 1/4" pipe.
Maybe if I sketch it..

regards
Paul[/i:20iu64hz][/color:20iu64hz]

[fatdaddy]

"aps"         ?

[air-one]

Air path sensor???

[Anonymous]

[color=darkred:1kzcf8c6][i:1kzcf8c6]Guys
APS = Adjustable Pressure Switch - I have two of these front and rear to give me two ride heights on top of manual adjust and slam on the deck.
That is why I'm fretting over fitting valves for all four corners - I'll need to fit those switches as well due to the air transfer. They determine the ride height via the pressure in the bags.
Regards
Paul[/i:1kzcf8c6][/color:1kzcf8c6]