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09-23-2007, 04:44 AM
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#1
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Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 46
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Deos anyone know what to check when the coach won't stay level on the jacks? It levels out perfectly, but then, after several days, one side drops and I have to re level it.
My coach is a 1999 36 FDS
Thanks,
__________________
Charles Harris
1999 36FDS
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09-23-2007, 04:44 AM
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#2
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Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 46
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Deos anyone know what to check when the coach won't stay level on the jacks? It levels out perfectly, but then, after several days, one side drops and I have to re level it.
My coach is a 1999 36 FDS
Thanks,
__________________
Charles Harris
1999 36FDS
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09-23-2007, 04:56 AM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 85
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Charles ~
Assuming you are on solid ground and the shoe plates are not sinking into the ground as does happen from time to time at some campgrounds.
Then you might look close at the area around the jack where it is touching the ground to see if you see any hydraulic fluid droppings. If so, then it could be the cause of your jack slowly loosing hold of the original stopped position and the weight of the coach pushing down will cause your level to eventually be lost. If you do not see the fluid drops there, you might check inside along any of the compartments that the hydraulic lines run and check to see if you spot any leaks there.
I am sure there might be a few other suggestions coming soon too...but this might be a good start for you.
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09-23-2007, 05:11 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Abington, PA
Posts: 1,103
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With all of the above suggestions which are excellent keep in mind that hydraulic jacks will over a period of time begin to close. I don't know what you mean by several days. I would think after a weeks time that the jacks could change somewhat but not substantially. It is the nature of the beast in hydraulics.
__________________
Ted & Carol Ulmer
2005 Alpine 34', 34FDDS
2006 PT Turbo pusher
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09-23-2007, 05:17 AM
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#5
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Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 46
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Thanks for the quick replies. The motorhome is on my driveway - concrete, so is not sinking. I will check to see if I can find where it leaks. That is a great suggestion.
As for time, it really has been only several (two or three) days. That is why I am concerned.
If I find a leak near or at the jack, are the jack seals replaceable?
__________________
Charles Harris
1999 36FDS
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09-23-2007, 05:31 AM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,948
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More than likely you have a control valve leaking back and letting the coach settle. The solution is to replace the control valve assembly....not a cheap fix I am sorry to say.
Ken
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Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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09-23-2007, 05:35 AM
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#7
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Member
Alpine Owners Club
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: El Cajon, CA
Posts: 46
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Are control valve assemblies serviceable, or do I have to replace the whole unit? And, do you have any idea of price range to replace?
Thanks.
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Charles Harris
1999 36FDS
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09-23-2007, 09:34 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Newcastle, CA
Posts: 307
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When a slide hose fails the manual has you open the bleader valve on top of the one control valve for the slide in question to manually push the slide back in (I know, we all done that). I would look in your manual, find the valve for the jacks and make sure the bleeder is closed tight. I can't remember for sure but I think it was the hydraulic oil fill cap that has a socket cast into it for opening and closing the bleeder. I could be sending you on a wild goose chase but there might be four valves for the jacks plus one for all jacks at one time. (?) also look for a leak at the pump.
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Dan and Patty
"04" Alpine 34' FDDS 2018 Jeep Grand Cherokee
Newcastle, CA
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09-23-2007, 11:11 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Camarillo, CA
Posts: 466
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Charles - If there is no leakage at the jacks, the control valves are the most likely suspect. Yes the jack seals can be replaced but you would probably need to send them in to HWH for rebuild...they charge about $70 per jack to rebuild if they are out of warranty. I don't remember for sure but that figure may include shipping. Regarding the control valves, there should be a map in your hydraulics compartment indicating which valves effect the jacks. There could be internal leakage in the valves or perhaps the pressure release is not tight. Check the end caps of the valves and make sure the release valves are tight.
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Steve
'19 Renegade Verona VSB
'05 Jeep Liberty
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06-06-2010, 06:26 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,170
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I don't know if this helps or confuses the issue. This is the answer that I got from Winnebago when I asked about the coach "settling":
You have no air dump switch, but your suspension
has an auto dump that works in conjunction with your
jack system. It is not imperative to dump the air bags
for storage or parking because the coach will settle
on its own. On the other hand, If you feel that you
want to dump it you can always manually lower the
jacks “just enough” to activate the bags to dump.
That is what we do when manual leveling. Joe
__________________
2008 Itasca Latitude 39W. Cummins ISB 6.7 Turbo 340HP. Allison 6 Speed. Freightliner XCS. Michelin XRV 255/80R 22.5 LRG. SuperSteer MCU. Safe-T-Plus.
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06-06-2010, 09:27 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,957
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Mule Skinner,
The socket built into the oil cap is for the hex nuts on the room slide control valves. (And it is easily stripped. Don't ask how I know that.) The jack control valves have the T handles on them. At least that is what I have on my '04. There are four valves for the jacks, and four more for the two room slides all in the same general area.
I can't address the original problem, but checking the release valves for tightness is a good place to start. Anything you can eliminate quickly and easily (and cheaply) from being a possibility narrows the search for the true cause.
__________________
Jim A
'04 Alpine Coach 36' MDDS
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06-07-2010, 02:15 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 161
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Charles: You might locate the proper valve for your jack, and then open the T-handle with the jack down to see if you can flush a piece of dirt or debris from the valve. This did not work in my case and I have had two of the valves replaced. Both times I replaced with new valves from HWH and they immediately failed and I had to replace them with rebuilt valves which have held. The new valves don't have T handles anymore but a nut on the end.
__________________
HAX
2003 ALPINE 40FDTS
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