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Socaltoolguy · 09-25-2014, 03:00 PM

Today, I decided to crawl under the motor home and lube the hydraulic jack shafts. I have been having problems with the right front one retracting. Anyway, I worked my way around from the right front to the rears and up to the left front jack. When I crawled under I realized that the left front jack is much smaller in diameter. The shaft is maybe a good 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch smaller than all the rest. Is this supposed to be this way or is this maybe my problem. It seems to me that if the left front is smaller/weaker than the right it may come down too fast and put the right front one in a bind. It has been happening to us for the last 3 weeks and the only way I have been able to get the right front down is to raise the left rear. I bought this thing used. Did someone put the wrong jack on it just to get it sold? Anybody?

Ray

chuckftboy · 09-25-2014, 08:09 PM

Sometimes the front are smaler than the rear but its not normal for them to be different left to right. Probably not a problem with how fast the travel of if it moves up and down but more like how much weight it can support.

Sounds like you may be a little low on hydrolic fluid causing the problem you discribe

Socaltoolguy · 09-25-2014, 08:19 PM

Thanks Chuckftboy, I'd love to check the fluid level if only I knew where it was. I've looked all over the rig and can't find it. Any suggestions?

Mentor · 09-26-2014, 03:54 PM

My jack system and reservoir on my Southwind is below the deck about under the passenger side seat. Somewhat awkward to refill but doable if you have a filler spout and tube that fits the oil bottle and then just squeeze the bottle.

Gary RVRoamer · 09-26-2014, 06:15 PM

I'm guessing this is a Power Gear jack system - that was what Southwinds typically have. If so, no worries about one front jack outpacing the other - the two fronts share a single hydraulic line and are always at equal pressure.

I've never heard of two different size rams on the front, though. My guess is that one was replaced at some point and they didn't have the right size but went ahead and used it anyway. Hopefully it has adequate strength rating (lbs of pressure) for your coach. A 32V is relatively light compared with the longer models, so maybe OK. A call to Fleetwood customer service should get you info on what jack it is supposed to have.

c_oneil · 09-26-2014, 06:16 PM

Hello Socaltoolguy,
We likely have the same leveler system. Mine are power gear with springs on them to retract. Looked at my fronts and they are both the same size. If someone replaced one of your fronts they may have used a slightly different size but I don't see how that could cause your retracting problem. When mine are a little slow retracting I clean the shafts and spray them with silicone and it takes care of it. The springs are the only force pulling the jacks back in and in their golden years they can get a bit weaker. If you want to check the reservoir it is under the coach behind the passenger front wheel. You fill it to the level of the pipe plug threaded into the side of the reservoir with the jacks retracted.