Show air brakes not perfect says experienced driver in answer to several questions about handling heavy trucks on j long hills frank instruct I 1 i or of gas transport drivers in oregon answers his father in part the automatic part of an air brake system is the triple valve mounted on the trailer which also carries an air reserve tank of its own if the from the truck is suddenly broken the triple valve automatically checks the air reserve from escaping back through the break and instantly throws the full force of the air reserve into the trailer brakes the way aney are designed signed to operate in emergencies and it all sounds beautiful fu 1 but in actual use they dont always I 1 work after the air compressor gets worn it pumps a little oil which works through the airlines air lines and gums up the delicate working of the triple valve frost will also stick the triple valve in extreme weather in six years I 1 have had nine air brake failures and only once did the automatic air take hold and stop the rig auto automatic matic valves are all right for a train on a track but they are not always an advantage on a truck to have the brakes set suddenly on a slippery hill might mean more certain disaster than to just ride it out it is generally agreed that air brakes are the best in the world if properly maintained but when they fail ya aint got euthin 21 if ever I 1 own a transport im going to equip it with mechanical manually operated emergency brakes on the trailer I 1 have the design all figured out t 0 j |