Community Forums

McKTX · 09-16-2015, 06:58 PM

We are on our maiden trip on our "new" 2001 Allegro Bus. Up on the top of a mountain in AR at Queen Wilhamina lodge and put the jacks down to level the coach but needed to move it back about 4 feet for the hose to reach the faucet. We tried to put the jacks back up and only three went up and the fourth just oozed it's way up to about 4" off the ground and there it is. 'Course the alarm was going off driving us crazy telling us there was an issue with that jack. So not using the jacks now and my husband is trying to figure out if we can get it home to be worked on or if we need to try and get someone up to the top of the mountain from Mena, AR to see if it is just a fluid problem in the strut.

Any suggestions from folks more in the know? This is our first RV and our first road trip, BUT this is a great place to spend some time!!!!

Skymark · 09-16-2015, 07:35 PM

I am not an expert but were I in your position I would try to extend all the struts as far as is safe and again try to retract to see if they will synchronize. If you don't feel comfortable with that I would get a lever of sorts to gain a mechanical advantage to try and move the strut back up. If you just want to get off the mountain I would try and fold it up by hand and strap it in the up position. Depending on your abilities and what tools you have available you can loosen the fitting on the strut and allow the pressure to bleed off allowing the springs to force the piston back up. If you do that be sure and wrap a rag around the fitting as you loosen it to minimize the mess because the fluid will escape as long as it is loose.
you only need to keep it open until the strut retracts.
Keep us posted as to whats happening.

Skymark · 09-16-2015, 07:39 PM

BTW We are heading out on our maiden voyage this weekend with our newly purchased used Class A Damon Challenger 34'. I had a strut problem when I got mine home and had to bone up on the system to get my wayward strut to behave. I am of course assuming your's is like mine but you may have a different system.

89sandman · 09-16-2015, 07:43 PM

Spray the extended cylinder with wd/40 and take a jack and jack it up. I've had several MH's that have had the same problem. Usually after doing this a few times it begins to fully retract on its own.

TLGPE · 09-17-2015, 07:23 AM

If you have straight, cylindrical, such as HWH, leave the control panel in the store position and use a lever to push the jack back up.

I always carry a ten foot 2x4 for this purpose. Just slide the board under the jack far enough to get some leverage and lift your end of the board until the jack is home.

Everybody has an experience with this and a preferred cure. Nothing seems to work for long, so just carry a board. I always go around to each jack and pry it up, even if it's already up.

Tom

ga traveler · 09-17-2015, 07:40 AM

Your jacks are HWH. HWH has a problem with sticking seal packs. (I have begged Bob Tiffin for years to switch to Big Foot jacks, but Jack Elliott loves HWH and when I have him almost talked into Big Foot, Jack talks him into staying with HWH.) To be honest HWH is excellent in their service to Tiffin. As others say, Get a board and push the jack back up. You MUST have the jack pad in retract for it to go up.

Cooperhawk · 09-17-2015, 07:51 AM

I carry a square bladed long handled shovel just for this. I can usually wedge the shovel under a sticking jack pad to start it up, then reverse the head and use it as a lever.

Just yesterday picked up a jack that had been sticking. New seals, o-rings, and the shaft was polished. $155.00. Had it done locally.

Gerryl · 09-17-2015, 08:16 AM

As others are telling you, you have to find something to put under the jack and pry it up. Have someone in the coach keep hitting the 'retract all jacks' button. I had the same problem with one of mine and we had a bigger problem with my friend's jacks (two of them).

He was trying to pry his up without success,

until someone went in and kept hitting the retract button. Then it went up a little at a time.

I had my fluid (ATF) drained and changed. When they drained the old ATF it was milky on the bottom indicating there was some moisture that had collected over the years. Have had no problems since.

Mine are Power Gear and I was told to also lubricate the cylinder shaft with 'heavy duty silicone spray' on a regular basis.

McKTX · 09-17-2015, 10:50 AM

This morning my husband got under the coach and released the pressure on the strut and up she/he went. On the way home now. Thank you far all the help. This learning curve would be awful without all the knowledge of this board.

twier · 09-17-2015, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cooperhawk

I carry a square bladed long handled shovel just for this. I can usually wedge the shovel under a sticking jack pad to start it up, then reverse the head and use it as a lever.

Just yesterday picked up a jack that had been sticking. New seals, o-rings, and the shaft was polished. $155.00. Had it done locally.

CooperHawk,

Can you tell me where you got the jack refurbished? I am in the Twin Cities as well.

Terry