Leveling jack lowers on its own

[MRHicks]

Our Damon Daybreak 35BD (2011) has been in storage the last couple weeks since our last outing. When we went to pick it up, I noticed that the right front jack was down about four inches. I know it was retracted all the way the day we put it into storage, because I do a walk-around every time before we leave it and always check the jacks, among other things.

I was able to raise the jack with no problem (the leveling system seems to work fine), but after bringing it home and letting it sit overnight, it came down maybe an inch. The other jacks seem fine, and there appeared to be plenty of fluid in the reservoir (above the black line). It's a hydraulic system, but I don't know the exact make/model.

Any ideas on things I can check before I haul it off to the dealer? We're planning to head down to Williamsburg VA on Wednesday for the weekend, and I want to make sure the crazy thing isn't going to decide to lower on us while we're on our way there! D'oh!

[OneRVer]

I believe on my jacks they lower with hyd and raise with a spring when there is no hyd pressure being applied against the spring. Between the spring and the oil is a diaphram that keeps the oil and the spring separated. If that diaphram is tore or broken the spring will lose it tension. What happen when you try to lower the jacks? Will the jack hold the weight of the motor home.

[MRHicks]

As far as I can tell the "problem" jack seems to be fine in the down position, at least it was a couple weekends ago when we were out camping. It also seems to extend fine under power and take up the load of the RV, although I haven't had a chance to see if it'll hold the load since I pulled it out of storage.

[OneRVer]

I have been trying to find a break down of the internals of these jacks. Not having much luck. Have you noticed any oil leaks around the problem jack?

http://www.rvtechlibrary.com/chassis/leveling.htm

Hydraulic Jack Retraction Times

Might look here and see if this helps at all.

[AFChap]

My hydraulic jacks are HWH. The springs are on the outside of the cylinder. Mine are automatic. Part of the instructions for automatic hydraulic jacks are that when you hit the retract button, let the system go until it turns itself off. If you turn it off manually, it likely has not finished the cycle ...the most common result is a jack creeping down, likely the one that is the most distance from the pump/reservoir.

[MRHicks]

I'm pretty sure the jack was fully retracted - I'm pretty anal about checking them! LOL! The retraction system flashes a couple of lights when the jacks are all the way up, so I just hold the retract button until those start blinking at me. I checked the jack and didn't find any fluid on the pad, piston, or the lines going to the jack, although I need to check the pump/reservoir more closely - I looked at it before I started this thread, but the light wasn't good and I might've missed something.

I put the jacks down to level it up to get the refrigerator going, and it seems to be doing okay so far. I don't know, maybe it's just a jack gremlin!

[trpwire]

http://powergearus.com/documents/Ops_Mhttp://powergearus.com/documents/Man_Hyd_Level_Sys_500675_500629_500731.pdfan_500089_500105_500210_500456_500535.pdf

[gg]

Can you post the manufacture on the jacks, Leveling system. Most new jacks don't have springs for return. Check for leaks near valves and motor asm. Check level in the tank.

[Gary RVRoamer]

Sounds to me like a simply leaky valve on that jack. It's not a complex mechanism - just an electrically operated valve to allow/shut off hydraulic pressure.