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johandp53 · 09-30-2020, 02:57 PM

Hi Everyone (I don't want to say Guys, because I realize there are many female owners out there :-),
I have a 1998 Fleetwood Discovery 36ft MH, and being new to Texas I got my driver side jack embedded so deep in this wet Black Texas mud that it's not retracting :-(
It seems it could be a variety of issues, but I cannot find the Hydraulic main tank with solenoids, the fuse box for fuse XF3, and I do not see a retracting spring (although it may be hidden from view).
Any suggestions for getting the jack back up would be appreciated. All the other jacks are working fine.

Thanks,
Johan

fletch460 · 09-30-2020, 03:27 PM

Dont know which jacks you have, most with spring returns have 2 springs. Could be part of problem. Is the mud over the foot of jack? If so two springs may not pull it up. Will probably have to dig mud out from around foot. Dont think finding resevoir will help.

**Lt Dan** · 09-30-2020, 03:32 PM

Some of the hydraulic systems do not use springs to retract. If you have a hose going into both the top and bottom of the cylinder, then yours uses hydraulic pressure to retract. As posted, you may have to dig out around the footer as the hydraulic pump may not have enough pressure on retract to pull it out. There is less available surface area on the piston for retract than for extend.

Gary RVRoamer · 09-30-2020, 04:30 PM

I'm pretty sure the system in a '98 Discovery is single acting, i.e. power down and spring return. It doesn't take much extra resistance to defeat the spring action. Either dig the mud away or use a lever to pry it up out of the mud.

Fast E · 09-30-2020, 04:52 PM

Hydraulic reservoir is behind right rear wheel.

johandp53 · 10-01-2020, 08:19 AM

Thanks for all the input Guys! I found the cylinder behind the right rear wheel, further back behind the onboard propane tank, and seems easy to get to. The thing I cannot understand is that there is no return spring on the jack, and only one hose to the top of the cylinder, so how does it retract?

docj · 10-01-2020, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johandp53

Thanks for all the input Guys! I found the cylinder behind the right rear wheel, further back behind the onboard propane tank, and seems easy to get to. The thing I cannot understand is that there is no return spring on the jack, and only one hose to the top of the cylinder, so how does it retract?

Are you sure that your springs didn't pop off when you got stuck? The springs on one of my jacks broke off last year. I had to use my car jack to force the piston back up until I could get new springs.

azpete · 10-01-2020, 08:37 AM

if they are hwh, they would be missing the springs and foot. those are readily available.
power gear made some jacks with an internal retract spring. it sounds like thats what he has.
if they are hwh, i believe i have talked to you before. if not, please call me at 602 549 3638. maybe i can help.
paul maddox
i work full time for hwh corp. i do not solicit part sales or service work on any forum.

johandp53 · 10-01-2020, 08:40 AM

OK, I just found a Power Gear manual online, and it seems they also used a jack with an internal spring, so that is probably the case here. The cylinder seems large enough to accommodate one.

Gary RVRoamer · 10-01-2020, 10:36 AM

Most Fleetwood-designed coaches of that era had Power Gear jacks, so that's likely it.

johandp53 · 10-02-2020, 07:58 AM

Thanks to all who responded. I am going to be trying to dig out and lift the jack tomorrow, so stay tuned. Luckily I have plenty of time. I'll let you all know the outcome :-) Johan

johandp53 · 10-07-2020, 08:20 AM

Good morning! Here's my Feedback on this issue. I had to dig a large hole coming in from the side of the RV, to the bottom of the hole the Jack was stuck in, and cleared all the mud away. That did it! The Jack retracted fine using it's internal spring. We then filled the hole with gravel and put the jack down and up a few times, each time filling with more gravel, until the jack actually lifted the rear wheels so we could get some gravel in under the wheels. After that I drove the RV out fine. I have subsequently covered the the whole area with gravel and compacted it! Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated! Johan