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EMD_Driver · 04-08-2015, 05:38 PM

So I pulled the 35LKE from Tulsa, to Ladson, SC, so I could visit the DW for a few days. (She got a big promotion at work and had to relocate..) After unhooking from the 35LKE, I went and got the 30RKE from storage. Had both Excels side-by-side in the CG..

When I went to hook-up the 30RKE, I backed the truck under the nose of it and got the pin close to the hitch. Went to raise the nose a bit and when I hit the extend button, the nose dropped onto the bedrails of the truck. I thought that was quite odd, but luckily, it didn't do any damage. It was then, that my DW informed me that the curb-side slide had extended out about halfway.

I went inside and extended it completely. Figuring the if there was a solenoid issue, the fluid was leaking into that slide's extend hose. Turns out, I was right. When I tried extending the landing gear, it worked perfectly.

Unfortunately, when I went to extend the landing gear to unhook, it put that slide out again. Once the slide was out, the landing gear worked as it should.

Would one of you gurus happen to know where my problem resides, or should I let someone troubleshoot it under the extended service plan??

Ray,IN · 04-08-2015, 05:48 PM

Most extended service plans do not cover diagnostic work, call your provider first. I suspect a poor ground somewhere. Electricity always follows the path of least resistance, which is this case may be the slide circuit instead of the jacks.

EMD_Driver · 04-08-2015, 06:11 PM

Thanks for the reply!

Since all my solenoids and wiring are basically in the same place, I'm not sure it's a ground issue. Here's a picture from one of the PI PDF documents:

If mine is the same as this, when I try to power the #2 solenoid, fluid under pressure, goes through the #5 solenoid valve. I'll have to troubleshoot a bit further, but that Excel is 600 miles away right now...

rockintom · 04-08-2015, 06:28 PM

Solenoid issue. Early solenoids or dirt/debris in fluid an issue on early Lippert systems. Known product concern. rockin'

Rob17 · 04-09-2015, 09:54 AM

I agree with Tom. It sounds to me that you have a bad bedroom solenoid. If you have two or more solenoid open at the same time, the lightest load will move first. That could explain why the land gears lost pressure.

rockintom · 04-09-2015, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob17

I agree with Tom. It sounds to me that you have a bad bedroom solenoid. If you have two or more solenoid open at the same time, the lightest load will move first. That could explain why the land gears lost pressure.

Yeah Rob, but theoretically, to have a front jack drop, I'd think the hydraulic system has to have a failure of some sort in prior to that jack. As you may know, built in by design, there's a safety system to prevent the front jack(s) from dropping. The safety is the solenoids for the front jacks are incorporated in the jack and not at the pump or hoses. If the front jacks' drop unexpectedly the results could be catastrophic (crush someone under the rig). If the rear jacks or slides lost pressure it wouldn't be so bad (provided the wheels were installed). Those solenoids are located on the pump. Just FYI. In Gary's situation, while we didn't mention it. The problem could be a very low oil level in the reservoir creating air in the system, and if so, where is the oil leaking? Just FYI and things to think about in diagnostics. rockin'

Rob17 · 04-09-2015, 11:42 AM

I agree Tom. My theory, and that's all it is, is that when he tried to extend the jacks the trailer fell on to the bed rails due to low pressure. I believe the low pressure was due to fluid leaking past the bedroom solenoid thus extending the bedroom. Once the bedroom was fully extended, pressure increased to the jacks. Just a thought.

rockintom · 04-09-2015, 12:26 PM

I agree with you Rob. That could cause the issue. I guess my point of mentioning the solenoids in the front jacks just so folk would understand the operation and safety that was built in. rockin'