Jimalberta Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Hi everyone. We spent our second night at Dillon MT , heading south for the winter?. Anyhow we woke up this morning to our MH tilting...seems like the drivers side hydraulic leg at the back is not holding. Any thoughts as to what to look for? <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barbaraok Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 What type of levelers do you have? Was it all the way up or was it still touching the ground? It is not unusual to have to adjust level after sitting for a while. If the jack comes all the way up and you have HWH levelers, then I think you're going to need a new jack. Barb Barb & Dave O'Keeffe 2002 Alpine 36 MDDS (Figment II), 2018 Ford C-Max HYBRID Blog: http://www.barbanddave.net SPK# 90761 FMCA #F337834 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjstough Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 What type of levelers do you have? Was it all the way up or was it still touching the ground? It is not unusual to have to adjust level after sitting for a while. If the jack comes all the way up and you have HWH levelers, then I think you're going to need a new jack. Barb Or just maybe a new solenoid. We had this happen on our right front jack on our HWH system. The solenoid for that jack would not close all the way, and even though the jack would go down, it would slowly come back up. Paul 2005 Winnebago Voyage 38J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rif Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Although I don't have a Class A, like many with large 5'ers I have hydraulic levelers. If you'll permit one of us "trailer trash" folks to post in your Class A forum, I had a similar experience with my HWH levelers and it turned out to be a solenoid. 2000 Volvo 770, 500HP/1650FP Cummins N14 and 10 Speed Autoshift 3.58 Rear 202" WB, 2002 Teton Aspen Royal 43 Foot, Burgman 650 Scooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted October 9, 2014 Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 It would seem from what you say that you have a three point system, with two rear and one front jack. That then would indicate that one jack has begun to leak. I would check first to make sure that no leakage was to the outside of the jack, leaving fluid all about it and the pad. The next thing to check is the valve that releases the fluid from the jack to return back to the reservoir. If yours are power down with spring return, there may be only one valve with two positions for supply and release. As part of the testing, I would check to see if the jack will level back or must you retract it and then put it down? The make and model of leveling system would help to give more specific information. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted October 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2014 Its a Power Gear system, 3 legs. I just checked the reservoir with legs retracted and seems a bit low. Going to add a little fluid and try it again as we go down the road. I did notice one time some fluid on the ground under that leg but it hasnt leaked since. Wiped off the leg as it looked like there was some grit on it. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ray,IN Posted October 10, 2014 Report Share Posted October 10, 2014 It could be more than "a bit low". The leaked fluid/oil may have been enough to allow air to enter the system. Since air compresses, the jack will respond to the pump, but over time the air allows the jack to respond to the return springs.Top-off the resevoir, operate the system several times, recheck oil level. That of course will not resolve the leak, for that the cylinder must be rebuilt. Any good hydraulics shop should do that, or have Power Gear replace with a rebuilt one. That said, Paul may be right. 2000 Winnebago Ultimate Freedom USQ40JD, ISC 8.3 Cummins 350, Spartan MM Chassis. USA IN 1SG retired;Good Sam Life member,FMCA ." And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy 20 Jan 1961 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted October 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 Well the saga continues......went to retract the legs today and they retracted but the indicator light shows " legs down" and alarms if I try to move. Checked fluid level and even tried adding some but its full. Checked the float switch for continuity as per troubleshooting instructions and everything is checking out as normal. So I made sure the legs were indeed up , double checked , and pulled the fuse to disable the system and continued on our way. I need to download a comprehensive troubleshooting guide so I can figure this out. Starting to wonder if it is air in the system. These Power Gears are not spring return or at least not with external springs. Drove to our next destination and went to dump the air to settle the coach for the evening and the dumpswitch decided to not work. So I had to reinstall the fuse for the power gear system and dump the air that way. They must be connected. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted October 11, 2014 Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 It may help if you use this Power Gear info to compare to what you have. It tells us that Power Gear jacks that are powered both ways will have a hydraulic line at both the top and the bottom, while spring returned ones have only one line at the top. You may also be able to get more technical data from this website. I would inspect the jacks to see if there may be some sort of sensor on each jack to indicate that the jack is up. If there is a sensor there should be wires to it also and you may be able to test for a failure there. Good travelin !...............KirkFull-time 11+ years...... Now seasonal travelers.Kirk & Pam's Great RV Adventure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StarDreamers.us Posted October 11, 2014 Report Share Posted October 11, 2014 Just reading the suggestions made on the forum, makes me feel good about the forum as a resource. Thanks Escapees! Safe Travels! SKP #89742 - Lifetime membership - Member of the SKP Class of 2007Good Sam Club - Lifetime MemberDataStorm #5423Passport America - Lifetime MemberSons Of The American Revolution (SAR) - Lifetime MemberAmerican Legion - USAF - Lifetime MemberRotary Club Member - 30 years Escapee CARE Supporter National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted October 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Well.....huge learning curve here......feel kinda dumb but I was looking at the wrong reservoir. LOL. I thought the little reservoir up front was for the legs...nope....its for the hydraulic ram that pushes out the front of the MH for getting at the gen. The actual Power Gear reservoir is at the rear of the coach by the air cleaner. It was down on fluid....ended up adding a quart and a half of ATF and then the light went out on the dash. This system works with a float in the reservoir so when the fluid goes out for jacks down the float switch closes. Then when the legs are retracted the fluid returns to the reservoir and the float rises and opens the switch. The dump switch is also working again so all is good. I do have a hydraulic leak on a rear leg so will have to address that along the way somewhere but I rarely need to use the legs as I can usually park on a fairly level spot so I dump the airbags and settle the coach on the frame and call it a day. I am hoping that these hydraulic rams are normal rams that can be rebuilt. If so I will do it myself when the opportunity arrises. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimalberta Posted October 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Thanks everyone for the suggestions.....Rif....you sound bitter. <p>....JIM and LINDA......2001 American Eagle 40 '.towing a GMC Sierra 1500 4X4 with RZR in the rear. 1999 JEEP Cherokee that we tow as well. IT IS A CONTENTED MAN WHO CAN APPRECIATE THE SCENERY ALONG A DETOUR. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rif Posted October 12, 2014 Report Share Posted October 12, 2014 Not bitter at all. Just pointing out what several people who campaigned against separate forums for different types of vehicles felt; that most of the systems are the same. This question would probably have been better asked in the general forum or in the technical forum. This kind of issue is not unique to Class A's. 2000 Volvo 770, 500HP/1650FP Cummins N14 and 10 Speed Autoshift 3.58 Rear 202" WB, 2002 Teton Aspen Royal 43 Foot, Burgman 650 Scooter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronbo Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 The proper way to check fluid level is with all slides in and all jacks retracted. All fluid will return to reservoir and the level will be at its highest. Ron C. 2013 Dynamax Trilogy 3850 D3 2000 Kenworth T2000 Optimus Prime Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Medico Posted October 13, 2014 Report Share Posted October 13, 2014 It's good you posted in the Class A forum because many of us do not read the other type forums in many cases. Glad you were able to solve your problem without a huge repair expense. GS Lifetime #822128658, FMCA #F431170 2012 Airstream Mercedes Interstate Extended Class B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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