Power Gear - Buttons do not make sense.

[johnandcaren]

Our Gulf Stream 39 ft Sun Voyager has a manual, hydraulic Power Gear jack system using the 140-1179 contnrol pad. It seems to work, but the buttons, and therefore ability to control it is confusing. I know this should be first grade stuff -- but anyway:

It has 4 jack buttons. F (front), R (rear), RR (assume right rear) and LR (assume LR).

Thing is, that is what they control, so front to back is easy to level using the F and R buttons. When pressed, both front or both rear jacks go down together.

The RR extends ONLY the right rear which torques, or twist the coach chassis. Ditto on LR. Why would they not allow me to raise the entire left side (LF and LR) after getting the front to rear level??? Or, just the right front or left front.

What in the heck am I missing? Of course, the manual for the jacks has a broken link on their website, so I cannot get any answers there.

Any ideas?

[DriVer]

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnandcaren What in the heck am I missing? Of course, the manual for the jacks has a broken link on their website, so I cannot get any answers there.

johnandcaren, Try this: info@powergearus.com

[InfinityJim]

You are right with what's going on. It is a 4 jack system with only 3 valves, meaning the front jacks are tied together and the only operation for them is the front button on the control pad. The rear button control's the two rear valve's & left or right controls the corresponding rear left or right. The only reason I've come up with as to why they do this is to not torque the front and pop the windshields out.

[Richard S.]

This is why Powergear says to raise front jacks first, at least 3 inches. As the rear comes up the front jacks act as a pivot. When you level side to side with the rear jacks the front jacks that are tide togather will float to level and not put a heavy strain on the chassis.

All the information is in the Powergear owners manual.

[johnandcaren]

Driver and RichardS:
Thanks, But:::
I went to Power Gear before making this post.
The link to my manual was broken so I emailed them.
The did reply promptly, with the manual but sent a repair manual, not a user manual. Great if I need to troubleshoot but useless for the proper procedure for leveling. And of course it covered 3 systems, 2 of them automatic which took up the majority of the manual.

However RichardS, if you have a manual that explains this is it possible to get a copy? A PDF? Or a link?

So - if I need to raise the left side, do people simply raise the left rear and just leave the left front low? This makes no sense to me. And it twist the chassis which is clearly a bad idea.

[wa8yxm]

Well.. as it happens I have the same system... So I can answer you.

They do allow you to level the entire system.. Yes they do.. Here is how

As you may know 3 points determine a plane, so if you have a 3-point system, where you have one jack in the center front and one on each side in the rear.. Then you drop the front jack to take some load off the suspension and when you extend the rear jacks it will "Rock" on the front jack.

And that is exactly what you have.. Yes, I know you have 4 jacks, so do I, but the two front Jacks are connected with a "T" fitting, so if you were to put say a 4x3 on the ground under one of them and drop jacks. you would see both jacks come down till it hit the block of wood, then the other jack would continue down at 2x the speed.

Now, when you extend say just the RIGHT rear jack to level side to side (or when I do) then what happens it the front "Rocks" around the center point of the two jacks, with the left jack retracting and the right one extending... Simple physics.

No torque on the frame unless one or the other jack maxes out (Either bottoms out or max extension)

So, just maker sure you extend front jacks, EVEN IF The front is high already

I do carry both 2x and 4x lumber for blocking up the rear wheels a bit though.

[Richard S.]

The link below will get you the manual, the key pad number is not the same as yours but it functions the same way.

http://powergearus.com/documents/PG_..._Touch_Pad.pdf

[johnandcaren]

Thanks Richard for your time and help.

With your comments and the manual it now makes sense. I missed the "float" or equalize idea initially.

Take care

[Richard S.]

Glad that it helps, have a good day

[speed racer]

If you had seperate control of all four corners you could seriously twist the frame and damage the MH. With the old manual controled ones I have seen people pop their windsheilds out and then stand back and scratch their head and blaim the MH manufacture.

[jfbd]

I purchased our 2006 Endura used in April and I also have been scratching my head as to how this system works and do not have the operaters manual. Thanks to wa8yxm and Richard S. I (new member)have a new understanding of how to use it effectively.

[johnandcaren]

All,

1. Thanks to all for valuabale and accurate information. I will be sure to answer others where my knowledge can contribute productively.

2. It took a few emails, but Power Gear did go to the trouble to find the exact users manual for my system and email it to me. Yes they first sent the repair manual, but they did not give up and in the end provided good support to me.

Thanks fellow RVers
Thanks Power Gear

Best of luck to you all