SWharton Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 We have now been parked for 3 months with our jacks extended. Should we spray them with anything prior to bringing them up? If so, what is recommended? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 IIRC, silicon spray lube is good. Your owner's manual might have specific recommendations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wildmandmc Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 i was always told to use (extend/retract) atleast once a month along with running generator once a month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 As mentioned, check the owner's manual first if you have one. You do want the rams and the seals to be clean and free of any sort of grit, since that can cause damage. Most jacks recommend some lubricant and all that I have used called for use of a silicone spray. I have also seen several leveler manuals that state not to use petroleum lubricants and mine specifically said not to use WD-40 or similar products on them. My Big Foot jacks also said to spray the sensors for showing the jack retracted with brake cleaner when preparing to travel after and extended stop. My manual did not call for cycling them when parked at all and I never did so. But the owner's manual should be the rule if you have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
richfaa Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Ours set for 6 months during the winter. We do not retract them as they are on a 5th wheel and that would require hooking up the truck We do keep them clean during the winter months by wiping them down with a silicone spray.We do inspect them and wipe them down before retracting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontrump Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 We have not been parked for 3 months with our jacks extended. Should we spray them with anything prior to bringing them up? If so, what is recommended? Thanks I assume you mean we have NOW been parked? If U have HWH jacks all u need to do is take some ATF on a clean rag and wipe the cylinders down and around the seal area Leaving them extended for 3-6 months is fine no need to so called exercise them at all. Not to say doing that is a waste of time just not a requirement NOTE: don't just wipe the shafts down and leave them extended!!!!! Only do it at time of retraction otherwise they just collect dirt on the oily surface Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin H Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I have Lippert. I do not exercise them but I do have to to re-level about once a month. Ours settle a bit but that's another thread. Whenever I am going to retract them I extend them an inch or so to expose clean tubing, Then I wipe them down with a clean rag, spray silicon on them and lightly wipe again. Wiping after spraying may not be necessary, just the way I do it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted February 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 We will see if we have that manual with us, we should(have about 10" of manuals supplied by mfg). Having to semi-pack up to bring in our jacks once a month we would never do, too lazy. We had also read not to use silicone on them, someplace. ATF sounds like a winner. We feel they should be wiped down and something should be put on them. Thanks for the help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin H Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 We will see if we have that manual with us, we should(have about 10" of manuals supplied by mfg). Having to semi-pack up to bring in our jacks once a month we would never do, too lazy. We had also read not to use silicone on them, someplace. ATF sounds like a winner. We feel they should be wiped down and something should be put on them. Thanks for the help. What brand is your rig? That will tell us about your levelers. Manuals are online if you do not have the hard copy. With the preponderance of Lippert systems, that could be what you have. If so, Lippert advises to use silicon. I have not read anything about ATF on their levelers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SWharton Posted February 10, 2016 Author Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I think they are Lippert. LCI is Lippert???? Winnebago Gas 2015 I wish mfgs. would give us al the manuals on a cd in searchable pdf form. Save them lots of printing, easy to update etc. Easier for all of us to find information. It would save them money also, they should be interested in that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin H Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 LCI is Lippert Components. I did not look up your Winnebago but I have a '13 Montana with the Lippert system. My manual says to use silicon. Again, I have not read anywhere in my manuals to use ATF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KodiakJack Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 WD-40 now makes a silicon spray product and that is what I use on our level up system. Good tip to extend the rams a bit before spraying and wiping down. Thanks Kevin. Later, J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontrump Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I have used WD40many times but HWH people told me they suggest ATF if its good enough fro HWH its good for all as there the #1 in Rv hydralics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
remoandiris Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 Snippet from the Lippert Level Up owners manual; Maintenance 1. Each month, check that the fluid level is within 1/4" of the fill spout lip while jacks and slide-outs are fully retracted. Note: Always fill the reservoir with the jacks and slide-outs in the fully retracted position. Filling reservoir when jacks and slide-outs are extended will cause reservoir to overflow into its compartment when jacks and slide-outs are retracted. 2. Inspect and clean all power unit electrical connections prior to the first use of the unit of the season and prior to storing the unit. If corrosion is evident, clean all corrosion with a wire brush and apply dielectric grease to the connections. 3. Remove dirt and road debris from jacks as needed. 4. If jacks are down for extended periods, it is recommended to spray exposed leveling jack rods with a silicone lubricant every three months for protection. If the unit is located in a salty air environment, it is recommended to spray the rods every 4 to 6 weeks. Now you have the definitive answer from the manufacturer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk W Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I have used WD40many times but HWH people told me they suggest ATF if its good enough fro HWH its good for all as there the #1 in Rv hydralics I think that I would still follow the instructions in the operations manual for the manufacturer. And who decreed that HWH is #1? Mind sharing the source of that information? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontrump Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 everyone in the RV business knows HWH is the premier supplier of RV hydraulics in general we have found ATF is the best agent to clean jack shafts before retraction I have been in the auto repair/RV repair+ sales industry for 40+ years Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AFchap Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 HWH Tech at a seminar I want to several years ago said they don't need anything unless there is some kind pf problem. I have never lubed my rams or wiped them down. I keep the jacks down whenever parked/stored/etc. After 13 years & over 100k miles they still work fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontrump Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 HWH Tech at a seminar I want to several years ago said they don't need anything unless there is some kind pf problem. I have never lubed my rams or wiped them down. I keep the jacks down whenever parked/stored/etc. After 13 years & over 100k miles they still work fine. you are 100% correct. I only brought up ATF because HWH said in certain situations where cleaning may be absolute needed situation use ATF but they did say not to worry about any of these so called 3 or 6 month maintenance issues Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-n-Dennis Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I have some silicone spray made by the same folks that make WD40, Comes with a really nice spray tube so I don't have to crawl all the way under the rig. As for spraying, I've done it twice - both while in Oregon. First time was in Coos Bay after a month up on the jacks at the beach. Lots of salt in the air. 2nd time was near Brookings where jacks were down for about a week and we caught salt spray daily where we were at. Both times I was using the spray as a cleaner and a dispersal agent for the salt rather than for lubrication. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dontrump Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 I have some silicone spray made by the same folks that make WD40, Comes with a really nice spray tube so I don't have to crawl all the way under the rig. As for spraying, I've done it twice - both while in Oregon. First time was in Coos Bay after a month up on the jacks at the beach. Lots of salt in the air. 2nd time was near Brookings where jacks were down for about a week and we caught salt spray daily where we were at. Both times I was using the spray as a cleaner and a dispersal agent for the salt rather than for lubrication. that's makes sense for sure and a great example of one of the few times a person may need this deal. There is no call to ever do this for lubrication that iam aware of Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orca Posted February 10, 2016 Report Share Posted February 10, 2016 The reason for keeping the chrome legs clean is not for lubrication but to prevent rust and to ensure that any dirt on the legs is not drawn into the seals of the hydraulic ram. The seals are only rubber and can be damaged by dragging a rough corrosion spot across the surface. With a hairline scratch on the seal and a coupla thousand PSI the fluid will find its way out and you will mark your spot with a puddle of oil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KodiakJack Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 We are currently in the Yuma Foothills and last week there were high winds that turned the air brown with wind blown dust. Everything became covered with this fine gritty sandy dust. If you are in Yuma check your landing gear as I could feel it on ours. I used my WD-40 silicone and sprayed off the landing gear. Did this help? I don't know but the legs were shiner afterwards than before I did it. Later, J Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbh Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 HWH Maintenance: http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml47149.pdf To cut to the chase, WD-40. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pjstough Posted February 11, 2016 Report Share Posted February 11, 2016 HWH Maintenance: http://www.hwhcorp.com/ml47149.pdf To cut to the chase, WD-40. X 2 It has been my observation with our HWH jacks that the biggest concern is not necessarily keeping the jack rams clean, but keeping the leading edge of the seal soft and pliable. With only spring tension to retract the jacks a dry seal can slow retraction times, and thus the solenoid is open longer, and that leads to shorter solenoid life. So every two or three months with the jacks deployed, I spray the seal liberally with WD-40, and wipe of the excess. My jacks retract in two minutes or less, and I havent had to replace a solenoid since I started this procedure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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