Community Forums

melvonnar · 08-10-2012, 06:46 PM

Has anyone added extra springs to their hwh jacks? I read some where that they added extra springs to their jacks to make them come up faster but I didn;t see how they did it and what springs they used.

ahicks · 08-10-2012, 07:18 PM

If you have an older system, they did come out with some new springs that are stronger, especially if the ones you have now are rusted pretty good. I haven't seen a set with more than 2 springs.

RSchleder · 08-10-2012, 07:21 PM

A couple of questions:
!) how old is your RV? If it's several years old, the jack springs may very well need replacing.
2) Do you clean the jack "tubes" to be sure they are clean? Some folks also use a small amount of lubrication on them to allow a quicker/smoother retraction. Using any lubrication on your jacks should only be done in concert with the manufacturer's recommendation.

Personally, adding extra springs seems like a bad idea as your jacks should retract within a two or three minutes unless they are in need of some repair or maintenance. Cold weather, of course, can extend this time considerably.

melvonnar · 08-10-2012, 07:29 PM

I have put the new tapered springs on the jacks;(last year) but I still have one thats slow.
have tried different lubs but haven;t found one that helps.
I:ve replaced three jacks in the last three years, O me O my. must be something out there that will make these jacks last longer.

cb1000rider · 08-10-2012, 09:56 PM

Anyone found a non HWH shop to rebuild these?

Mr_D · 08-10-2012, 10:17 PM

Guess we've been lucky. Still have everything as installed in 2002, no new springs, no new/rebuilt rams, and have never cleaned the rams at all.

paz · 08-11-2012, 06:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cb1000rider

Anyone found a non HWH shop to rebuild these?

HWH jacks are essentially hydraulic cylinders. Most shops that work on hydraulic cylinders for farm and construction equipment should also be able to rebuild HWH jacks.

cb1000rider · 08-11-2012, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paz

HWH jacks are essentially hydraulic cylinders. Most shops that work on hydraulic cylinders for farm and construction equipment should also be able to rebuild HWH jacks.

That's what I thought too, but I've read many posts about being unable to service these and having to cut them to access them...

Brigadoon · 08-11-2012, 08:47 AM

I solved my retraction problem 3 yrs ago when I started spraying the rams with transmission fluid. Has worked great. One application works for numerous retractions unlike silicon which only worked a couple of times per use.

S2kskibum · 08-11-2012, 05:05 PM

New springs on mine (94 Bounder 34J) - jacks are up in a couple seconds. Simple replacement, and HWH was great!

ahicks · 08-11-2012, 08:08 PM

I was pretty frustrated with the retraction time on ours too. Our last coach had power up, no springs. (our next one will too!) So anyway, any more I raise ours first thing when breaking camp. By time I'm ready to fire up the engine maybe 15 minutes later, they're always up. No more waiting for them, end of that frustration....

Perry White · 08-11-2012, 08:13 PM

Cut a couple of rings out the springs ,Take a torch and form a hook. Reinstall. Of course, new springs aren't that much.

melvonnar · 08-12-2012, 07:57 AM

There is one thing that few have mentioned; when spraying shafts with (whatever you use) take a paper towel and work it up into the crack thats around the shaft that goes up in the jack; work it real good till you get all the crap thats been collecting in there, you would be suprised how much junk you get out. after that wipe the shafts with a clean paper towel; then retrack.