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newrvlady · 04-23-2012, 09:59 PM

Hi,
We just purchased a 1997 pace arrow with power gear hydraulic jacks three weeks ago from an older couple.
We are new to this whole rv thing. We got all packed up tonight and the kids were all excited to go camping and we had put our jacks down earlier in the day so we could test the slide. When we put them down only the two front ones came down. the back ones would not. When we were all ready to go we tried to put the front ones up. No go. We spent hours trying everything we could read about. We can hear a clicking noise when we try to put them down. When we push retract all nothing happens, no noise. We have tried to spray silicone spray on the the jacks, replaced a spark plug, we were going the fill the hydraulic oil but realized that unless the jacks are up we can't really know how much to fill it.
Does anyone have a clue. I don't even know how to get it to a mechanic because we can't move it.
Thanks so much for any help.
Hopefully we can get it fixed and be on our way tomorrow.

Mr_D · 04-23-2012, 10:06 PM

Need more info such as year and model of the RV as well as brand of the jacks!

newrvlady · 04-23-2012, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr_D

Need more info such as year and model of the RV as well as brand of the jacks!

1997 pace arrow . power gear hydraulic jacks

sgtstriker · 04-23-2012, 10:40 PM

Hate that!!!! This may be obvious, but is your parking brake set? It has to be to operate the system. And here is a link to various troubleshooting tips on Power Gear.
support.powergearus.com/techdocs/TipSheet0213.pdf

Good luck... I hope you guys can get going....

sgtstriker · 04-23-2012, 11:02 PM

Does this apply?

13. The control for my Level Best jacks is not responding. What do I do?

The jack control needs to be re-booted. Disconnect the control from the wire harness for about a minute. Then, reconnect it to the harness, set the parking brake and start the engine. It should now function correctly.

Wayne M · 04-23-2012, 11:16 PM

Get out the old turkey baster. Get some Dexron III transmission fluid, clear stuff if you can find it. Put in a half cup of fluid. Try to retract. If not, put in another half cup and try. You can repeat this process and if the jacks start to come up, use the baster to suck out any excess. Since the back jacks did not go down I am "suspecting" low fluid. However, it easily could be the pump also.

Good luck.

Bagger97 · 04-23-2012, 11:16 PM

Batteries dead? Engine should be running when using jacks or slides. Hydraulics use lots of power when in operation.

sdennislee · 04-23-2012, 11:27 PM

AS Wayne points out add a little at time until they begin working, if you fill the system while the jacks are down and they begin working you may not have enough room in the reservoir for the fluid in the lines. Can lead to a bit of a mess with the over flow.

shoreco · 04-24-2012, 04:50 AM

In my rig the jacks stay down if the parking brake is engaged...

1. Make sure parking brake is off

2. Start engine

3. Jacks should retract automatic

Thats my rig...

Good luck, let us know how you make out...

JimM68 · 04-24-2012, 05:30 AM

Powergear hydraulic is a one way system. pressure pushes the jacks down. Hitting the release button opens the hydraulic system into the reservoir, and the springs on the jack rams push the fluid back and the jacks up.

Pry em up. Have someone hold the button, get some pry bars under em and pry em up. Gotta do both, they are connected together, run by a single line.

You could, as a last resort, loosen the hydraulic hose. The fluid will come out, and the jacks will come up. Here's the devil you are dealing with, it is very simple really, a reservior, a pump, and 3 electric valves to allow or not allow fluid to flow to/from the front, left rear, and right rear rams, and a fourth "dump" valve to raise the jacks.

newrvlady · 04-24-2012, 07:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtstriker

Does this apply?

13. The control for my Level Best jacks is not responding. What do I do?

The jack control needs to be re-booted. Disconnect the control from the wire harness for about a minute. Then, reconnect it to the harness, set the parking brake and start the engine. It should now function correctly.

Where is the control and wire harness. Are they behind the control panel on touch pad? kind of clueless. I do have my power gear manual here.

newrvlady · 04-24-2012, 07:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bagger97

Batteries dead? Engine should be running when using jacks or slides. Hydraulics use lots of power when in operation.

The slide goes in and out fine. We have it hooked up to power. We have tried running the engine while retracting. There is only a click when we try to lower and nothing when we push the retract all. Also the jacks down light goes off after pushing the retract all even though those front jacks are sitll down.

newrvlady · 04-24-2012, 07:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shoreco

In my rig the jacks stay down if the parking brake is engaged...

1. Make sure parking brake is off

2. Start engine

3. Jacks should retract automatic

Thats my rig...

Good luck, let us know how you make out...

We just tried that but the contol pannel will not even go on unless the emergency brake is engaged.

azpete · 04-24-2012, 08:35 AM

take the touch panel out and unplug it. this is the control panel for power gear jacks. leave it unplugged for 10 seconds + -, and re install it. this reboots the panel. note, that the rooms are separate from the jacks.
if all the jacks wont retract, compared to just one that wont, it is a control panel problem. you can loosen the hoses and allow the jacks to retract.
go on your trip and use boards to level. dont let this ruin or delay your trip. there are thousands of coachs out there with no leveling system. you will survive.