Tuesday, September 12, 2017

CDL Air Brake Tests - CA Class A - Manual Transmission - Combination [2017]

“I would like to perform the Air Brake Tests."

CDL Class A - Air Brake

Manual Transmission



Air Brake Test Names and Numbers at a Glance:

1. APPLIED LEAKAGE TEST: No more than 4 psi in 60 seconds.

2. LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING DEVICE TEST: No lower than 55 to 75 psi.

3. SPRING BRAKE TEST: Between 20 and 45 psi.

4. AIR COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR CUT-OUT TEST: No higher than 140 psi.

5. AIR COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR CUT-IN TEST: No lower than 100 psi.

6. PARKING BRAKE TEST: Pass/ Fail.

7. SERVICE BRAKE TEST: Pass/ Fail.

 

*** TEST BEGINS ***

PUT SEAT BELT ON.

When the examiner comes to your truck, inform him/her that you would like to start the test inside the truck. But first,

“Will you help me check my lights?"

If they say, “Yes,"

TURN ON KEY.

Speaking out of the window, say,

“From the front of the truck, can you see my left flasher... right flasher... head lights... high beams... 4 way flashers... and [5] amber running lights... and marker lights on the side of the hood working?"

“If you would go to the back of the cab, can you see my left flasher.. right flasher... and both brake lights working?"

“Along the left side of the trailer, can you see the amber and red marker light working?"

“At the back of the trailer, can you see the left flasher… right flasher… 4 way flashers... and both brake lights working?"

“Along the right side of the trailer, can you see the amber and red marker light working?"

 AFTER THE EXAMINER GETS INTO THE TRUCK,

Say, “I am now performing a Safe Start."

1- Push in (to release) the red trailer brake knob.

2- Make sure the yellow parking brake knob is applied or set (pulled out).

3- Depress the clutch.

4- Place the gearshift lever in neutral

5- Start the engine and release the clutch slowly.

6- Tell the examiner, “ABS light is working,” pointing to it on the dash.

7- After the Primary Air Tank is fully charged, turn off the engine and begin the Air Brake Tests (7).

 

 “I will now perform the seven AIR BRAKE TESTS."


 1 - APPLIED LEAKAGE TEST

With a fully charged air system (125 psi), your key turned to the “on” position (so the gauges will function), and stopwatch. 

"My first test is the Applied Leakage Test. [With the engine off and key “on”], I will put the rig in [1st] gear and release the parking brake [yellow knob]. I will apply the service brake [hard] and wait for the gauges to stabilize. My primary and secondary gauges are presently at _____ psi. I should not lose more than 4 psi in 60 seconds. Starting now..."

Have your watch ready to time 60 seconds. Carefully hold 50-60 psi on the service brake pedal for 60 seconds. You should not lose any air pressure. At the end of 60 seconds, you should be able to tell the examiner… "The primary and secondary gauges are at _____ psi. I have not lost more than 4 psi. It was a successful test.” [Take foot off service brake.]

 2 - LOW AIR PRESSURE WARNING DEVICE TEST

The engine is off, and the transmission is in first gear. But, make sure the key is still turned to the “on” position (so the low pressure warning light will work).

"My next test is the Low Air Pressure Warning Device Test. A light or buzzer must come on no lower than 55 to 75 psi."

Pump the service brake pedal slowly enough to be able to tell if the warning device sounds [usually at 74 psi]. When it does, tell the examiner…

"The light and buzzer came on at _____ psi. It was a successful test.”

Again, both primary and secondary gauges should closely agree.

3 - SPRING BRAKE TEST

The [yellow] parking brake knob was already released in the Applied Leakage Test and the [red] trailer brake knob was already released with the Safe Start. The engine is off, and the transmission is in first gear.

“The next test is the Spring Brake Test. I will reduce the air tank pressure by stepping on and off the brake pedal. The trailer brake knob and the parking brake knob should pop out between 20 and 45 psi, causing the spring brakes to come on.”

When the trailer brake knob and the parking brake knob pops out [usually at 21 psi], announce to the examiner,

“The trailer brake knob popped out at _____ psi, and the parking brake knob popped out at ______ psi. It was a successful test.”

Put truck gear in neutral and start engine. Begin next test.

4 - AIR COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR CUT-OUT TEST

Parking and Trailer Brakes are on. Engine is running. Transmission is in neutral.

"My next test is the Air Compressor Governor Cut-Out Test. At fast idle (1,500 RPMs), the governor must cut-out no higher than 140 psi."

Build up air pressure by accelerating the engine to about 1,500 RPMs. You will know that the governor has cut-out, when the needle stops rising (usually at 125 psi). When the governor cuts-out, tell the examiner…

“Cut-out occurred at _____ psi. It was a successful test.”

The primary and secondary gauges will read about the same.

5 - AIR COMPRESSOR GOVERNOR CUT-IN TEST

Parking and Trailer Brakes are still on.

With the transmission still in neutral and the engine idling, give the brake pedal one easy pump and give the the reading of the primary air gauge. Accelerate the engine to 1,500 RPMs. Count to 15 seconds slowly. If needle does not rise, repeat the process. You could do this up to 4 times. Pump the brake pedal again and give gas. Wait another 15 seconds. When the needle on the primary gauge begins to rise, the governor has cut-in. Watch the air pressure gauge between pumps to identify when the compressor cuts-in (needle starts to rise). This should occur no lower than 100 psi.

"My next test is the Air Compressor Governor Cut-In Test. Cut-in must occur no lower than 100 psi. [Pump the brake pedal once.] My primary and secondary gauges are presently at _____ psi." [Accelerate to 1,500 RPMs, counting to 15 seconds slowly. And, repeat: "pump, 1,500 RPMs for 15 seconds" - up to 4 times, until cut-in occurs.]

When the cut-in occurs, tell the examiner…

“Cut-in occurred at _____ psi. It was a successful test.”

Again, the primary and secondary gauges will read about the same.

6 - PARKING BRAKE TEST

"My next test is the Parking Brake Test. With the engine still running and the yellow parking brake on [popped out], [push in on the clutch] I will put the transmission in [1st] gear, push in [release] the red trailer brake knob, then slowly release the clutch until the parking brake is preventing the truck from moving. [Slowly release the clutch.] There is no movement, so the parking brake is in good working order. [Push in on the clutch, again.] I will now repeat the process on the trailer brake. With the engine running, the transmission still in [1st] gear, and the red trailer brake on [popped out], I will push in [release] the yellow parking brake knob and slowly release the clutch until the trailer brake is preventing the truck from moving. [Again, slowly release the clutch.] There is no movement, so the trailer brake is in good working order."

[Push in on clutch, in preparation for the next test.]

7 - SERVICE BRAKE TEST

Engine is still running. Transmission is still in [1st] gear.

Tell the examiner…

“My last test is the Service Brake Test. I will release [push in] the parking brakes (yellow and red) and let the clutch out slowly. [Keep your hands off the steering wheel, but beside it for safety.] As the vehicle moves forward slowly [at 5 MPH or 15 ft, if you have room], I will apply the brake pedal."

Release the parking brakes, release the clutch, move forward slowly [5 mph], and apply the service brake, then tell the examiner…

"With no unusual pulling to the right, left, or delay, it was a successful test.”

“That completes the Air Brake Tests.”

[Put the gear shift in neutral, reset the parking brakes, and keep the engine running in preparation for the In-Cab Pre-Trip Inspection.]

CDL Air Brake Tests [2017]

https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv/?1dmy&urile=wcm:path:/dmv_content_en/dmv/pubs/cdl_htm/sec5

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