Help--Rear Stabilizer Jacks

[ChiefJohn]

We've at the lake and one of my rear stabilizer jacks will not retract. Appears to be a bad switch and/or popped fuse. I can't find the fuse location? Removed the access panel under the frame on the driver's side rear corner, beneath the 50amp receptacle. Easy access to the two switches, but unable to find a fuse.

[ChiefJohn]

We've at the lake and one of my rear stabilizer jacks will not retract. Appears to be a bad switch and/or popped fuse. I can't find the fuse location? Removed the access panel under the frame on the driver's side rear corner, beneath the 50amp receptacle. Easy access to the two switches, but unable to find a fuse.

[Highgturn]

John,

There should be some way to manually raise the strut. If yours is the Atwood 4 motor leveling system there is a place to turn with a drill motor. It will both extend and retract. You mention a switch so I assume yours is different from ours; however, I bet there is a manual way to raise it. It should be somewhere near the top around the motor/gearbox.

[ChiefJohn]

Thanks Bob, unfortunately there is no manual retraction that I can find and the stabilizer instructions don't include a manual method. I've got several days to ponder the problem over my breakfast coffee -- may lower the front to take any weight off the rear jacks and then remove the faulty jack. I've had repeated problems with this stabilizer and the dealer has fixed it twice.

I did notice a potential problem while I was poking around inside the area where the 50amp connection and stabilizer switches are located. The wiring harness for the stabilizer jacks was laying on the access panel door and several of the wires were showing signs of abrasion. I tied the wiring harness up so it would not rub against the panel door.

[ChiefJohn]

I would like to publicly thank Bob Steele, "Highgturn", for getting through to Barker Manufacturing and obtaining the manual raising instructions. Following is a PM Bob sent me.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">John,
Just got off the phone with Bob at Barker. Bob says you can manually raise the strut by removing the power head. He says two 1/8" allen screws and one 5/16" bolt. With the power head is removed it will expose a coupler with a slot in it. I think he said turn counter clockwise with a screw driver to raise it. At any rate, you can e-mail him at the following address:

Boba@barkermfg.com

Hope this helps..............

All the best,

Bob
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

This is an example of the benefits of Excel owners networking their issues on a forum such as ours.

Recommend that PI identify the location of the fuses for the stabilizer jacks and landing gear; and, Barker Manufacturing include an easier method of retracting the stabilizer jacks in the event of a malfunction.

Thanks again "Highgturn"!
John

Called Jack at PI and he answered my question. I remember someone at the dealer or PI telling me in the past that the fuses for the stabilizer jack were located in the front (generator) compartment. There are two large fuse holders wrapped with the bundle of wires located on the upper left side--near the landing gear strut. These are 32amp/32v fuses and I recommend folks with the Barker electric stabilizer jacks add a couple to their spare parts.

Unfortunately, the fuse blew for a reason and I've not found the short--replacement fuse blew as soon as I installed it in the holder.

[ChiefJohn]

We've decided to manually retract the jack and defer the repair until we visit the PI gurus on 20 June. We'll remain at the lake until 15 May and then head home to prepare for our extended trip to the Black Hills and Badlands after a touch-and-go at Smith Center.

[ChiefJohn]

Update. We decided to return home yesterday and one of the front landing gear did not work. This gave me an opportunity to test lifting the Excel with one front jack -- no problem. Performed as advertised! I was surprised that there was no noticeable lean to the unsupported side.