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Hydraulic levelers

Yahoo Message Number: 2217

I know there was a recent thread on the levelers, but I can't find it. My warning lights are on all the time, and this week I brought the coach home to do some spring cleaning. I extended the jacks to the max, wiped down the chrome shafts, then retracted them. I can't find the manual on the powergear levelers, and I wondered... can I simply use Dot 3 brake fluid, or do I need to buy some hydraulic fluid, and if so, what kind?

Thanks, Denny

Nothing says I love you like flowers! Find a florist near you now.

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2220
Denny,

I have Equalizer Systems leveler and hydraulic pump. I would have thought that all the Four Winds did. It takes Dexron III transmission fluid and I would expect most other hydraulic units do also. I know my log splitter does.

Anyhow, here is a link to Equalizer Systems http://equalizersystems.com/mh.asp

I can't help with the warning lights. Although mine usually like to be retracted even though I know that they already are.

David


Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2223
I feel your pain - Here is what I learned.  In my new - "overfill the frigging tank procedure" - jacks sometimes leave an inch or so of metal showing on one of the rear jacks, but I get no alarms.  On my Jayco HD 34 SS I have a horizontal fluid tank. (That is there is a weep hole.) 

I am willing to live with not quite fully retracted jacks because the alternative is an annoying alarm that does little to calm my lovely and supportive wife.

Short story, my solution was to forget the manual and minor overfill the tank with Mercon V - Automatic Transmission Fluid.  At least you can use it for the transmission if you need it! They say not to mix different hydraulic fluids. Oh well.  From the manual:

"In most applications,

• Type A automatic transmission fluid (ATF, Dexron III, etc.,) will work satisfactorily.

• Mercon V is also recommended as an alternative fluid for Power Gear leveling systems operating in environments with large temperature swings

Also remember to only add fluid when the jacks are retracted.  They suggest cleaning the electrical connections annually, and complete fluid change every 2 years. 

You can find more information at http://www.powergearus.com/  - they have lots of documentation and tips online.  Tip 140 is a must as it should be performed after any fluid change. They also have all their manuals on line. Just look for the one that matches up to your control box.  For my Jayco that was the 7th manual listed on their manuals page - HYDRAULIC LEVELING SYSTEMS OPERATION MANUAL FOR SYSTLEMS WITH TOUCH PAD PART NUMBERS 500675 & 140-1231
Long Story - Power Gear Jacks experience

Since I bought the Jayco the semi-automatic levelers have been an issue. From time to time the jacks do not fully retract. From time to time the "Jacks Down" sensor stays on when the Jacks are fully retracted.

The problem is annoying because the alarm can go off, and continue to go off while driving.

The first thing that seemed to help was lubricating the extended jacks. This can be done with silicon spray. That seemed to help the retracting of the jacks after they are deployed for a while. (I store the RV with the Jacks extended)

My latest issues started happening when it got cold in Utah . The jacks retracted, but the "Jacks Down" light never went off.

One thing I learned was
          Sensor Continuity = Jacks are down (Jacks Down light on)
          Sensor Not Continuity = Jacks are up (Jacks Down light off)

So if I get a false "Jack's down" indication and do not want to live with the alarm, a simple remedy is to just disconnect the fluid sensor!

What I did:

The manual said that the most probable problem was fluid level was low. The second most probable cause was that the fluid sensor was broken.

I opened the weep hole and fluid came out of the tank. Well, so much for the fluid level being low.

I worked on the fluid sensor, cleaned the connection, loosened the sensor, re-seated it into the tank based on the tip (#81) from the power gear web site. Holding the sensor steady with one wrench, I tightened the hold bolt about 1 ½ turns. I then cycled the front and rear jacks (raise the front, retract fully, raise the rear, retract fully. No change. Sigh.

Then I just felt that the whole weep hole thing was flakey. I know the sensor works - at least some times. So I went and just put the weep hole screw back in, and filled the tank to the top with Mercon V (what powergear recommends, but not what was in the tank clearly - not the same color).

I raised the front jacks fully then retracted (Jacks down light went on and off)
I raised the rear jacks fully then retracted (Jacks down light went on and off)

I then repeated this process (front and rear). The "jacks down" light working perfectly.

So ignoring the weep hole instructions appeared to do the trick. Fill the tank to the brim, and we shall see how it goes. The next step is to drive it and then to check again.

Update - 4,000 miles later I am a happy camper with an overfilled hydraulic fluid tank, a bit of non full retraction, but no alarm!

Hope that helps

Kevin

center
From: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com [mailto: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of Dmyhre943@...
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 6:08 PM
To: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KodiakChassisClassC] Hydraulic levelers

left

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2224
Here is another one to try... if you like destroying your jacks -
put the jack down. Fill the reservoir to the top. Start up the
motor home and drive away. Duh, the jack are (were) down but...
but... but the alarm never went off and now my jacks are torn off.

If the jacks are not fully retracted when you fill the reservoir, the
control panel will think that the jacks are fully retracted when the
jacks are in the position they were in when the reservoir was
filled. That and you will have a mess when the jacks are retracted
and the excess fluid runs out of the reservoir vent.

, "Kevin \(Real\) McCoy"
wrote:
Quote
I feel your pain - Here is what I learned. In my new – "overfill
the frigging tank procedure" - jacks sometimes leave an inch or so of
metal showing on one of the rear jacks, but I get no alarms. On my Jayco
HD 34 SS

Quote
I have a horizontal fluid tank. (That is there is a weep hole.)

I am willing to live with not quite fully retracted jacks because
the alternative is an annoying alarm that does little to calm my lovely
and supportive wife.

Short story, my solution was to forget the manual and minor
overfill the

Quote
tank with Mercon V – Automatic Transmission Fluid. At least you
can use it

Quote
for the transmission if you need it! They say not to mix different
hydraulic fluids. Oh well. From the manual:

"In most applications,

• Type A automatic transmission fluid (ATF, Dexron III, etc.,) will
work satisfactorily.

• Mercon V is also recommended as an alternative fluid for Power
Gear leveling systems operating in environments with large temperature
swings

Also remember to only add fluid when the jacks are retracted. They
suggest cleaning the electrical connections annually, and complete fluid
change every 2 years.

You can find more information at http://www.powergearus.com/>
http://www.powergearus.com/ - they have lots of documentation and
tips online. Tip 140 is a must as it should be performed after any
fluid change.

Quote
They also have all their manuals on line. Just look for the one
that matches up to your control box. For my Jayco that was the 7th
manual listed

Quote
on their manuals page - http://www.powergearus.com/DATA/82-l0140-
00.pdf>

Quote
HYDRAULIC LEVELING SYSTEMS OPERATION MANUAL FOR SYSTLEMS WITH TOUCH
PAD PART

Quote
NUMBERS 500675 & 140-1231

Long Story - Power Gear Jacks experience

Since I bought the Jayco the semi-automatic levelers have been an
issue.

Quote
From time to time the jacks do not fully retract. From time to
time the

Quote
"Jacks Down" sensor stays on when the Jacks are fully retracted.

The problem is annoying because the alarm can go off, and continue
to go off

Quote
while driving.

The first thing that seemed to help was lubricating the extended
jacks.

Quote
This can be done with silicon spray. That seemed to help the
retracting of

Quote
the jacks after they are deployed for a while. (I store the RV
with the

Quote
Jacks extended)

My latest issues started happening when it got cold in Utah. The
jacks retracted, but the "Jacks Down" light never went off.

One thing I learned was

Sensor Continuity = Jacks are down (Jacks Down light on)

Sensor Not Continuity = Jacks are up (Jacks Down light
off)
Quote
So if I get a false "Jack's down" indication and do not want to
live with

Quote
the alarm, a simple remedy is to just disconnect the fluid sensor!

What I did:

The manual said that the most probable problem was fluid level was
low. The

Quote
second most probable cause was that the fluid sensor was broken.

I opened the weep hole and fluid came out of the tank. Well, so
much for

Quote
the fluid level being low.

I worked on the fluid sensor, cleaned the connection, loosened the
sensor,

Quote
re-seated it into the tank based on the tip (#81) from the power
gear web

Quote
site. Holding the sensor steady with one wrench, I tightened the
hold bolt

Quote
about 1 ½ turns. I then cycled the front and rear jacks (raise the
front,

Quote
retract fully, raise the rear, retract fully. No change. Sigh.

Then I just felt that the whole weep hole thing was flakey. I know
the sensor works – at least some times. So I went and just put the
weep hole

Quote
screw back in, and filled the tank to the top with Mercon V (what
powergear recommends, but not what was in the tank clearly – not the same
color).
Quote
I raised the front jacks fully then retracted (Jacks down light
went on and

Quote
off)

I raised the rear jacks fully then retracted (Jacks down light went
on and

Quote
off)

I then repeated this process (front and rear). The "jacks down"
light working perfectly.

So ignoring the weep hole instructions appeared to do the trick.
Fill the

Quote
tank to the brim, and we shall see how it goes. The next step is
to drive

Quote
it and then to check again.

Update - 4,000 miles later I am a happy camper with an overfilled
hydraulic fluid tank, a bit of non full retraction, but no alarm!

Hope that helps

Kevin


_____

From: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
Dmyhre943@...

Quote
Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 6:08 PM
To: KodiakChassisClassC@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [KodiakChassisClassC] Hydraulic levelers

I know there was a recent thread on the levelers, but I can't find
it. My

Quote
warning lights are on all the time, and this week I brought the
coach home

Quote
to do some spring cleaning. I extended the jacks to the max, wiped
down the

Quote
chrome shafts, then retracted them. I can't find the manual on the
powergear levelers, and I wondered... can I simply use Dot 3 brake
fluid, or

Quote
do I need to buy some hydraulic fluid, and if so, what kind?

Thanks, Denny

_____

Nothing says I love you like flowers!
http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?
query=florist&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000001>

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2225

David,

You're right, it IS Equalizer. I've had too many Fleetwood motorhomes....my goof, and thanks for the mental refresher.

Denny

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2226
Quote
David,

You're right, it IS Equalizer. I've had too many Fleetwood motorhomes....my
goof, and thanks for the mental refresher.

Denny

In a message dated 2/7/2009 6:19:52 A.M. Central Standard Time,
steinman@... writes:

Denny,

I have Equalizer Systems leveler and hydraulic pump. I would have thought
that all the Four Winds did. It takes Dexron III transmission fluid and I
would expect most other hydraulic units do also. I know my log splitter does.

Nothing says I love you like flowers! Find a florist near you
now. (http://yellowpages.aol.com/search?query=florist&ncid=emlcntusyelp00000001)
I don't know if this happens to anyone else, but after the jacks have been retracted and
we've hit the road, the warning chime and lights on the hydraulic console turn on usually
within a half hour of driving. I know the jacks are retracted because I never leave the
campsite without getting outside and visually confirming that all jacks are fully retracted.
It's just something I have to do. I'd hate to think what would happen if I didn't check them
the one time the system malfunctions. Anyway, when the warning lights and chime start,
I have to press the power on button, press the auto retract button, then press the system
off button. This stops the warning lights and the annoying chime until we reach our next
destination. I don't know why it does this. I have checked the hydralic reservoir level and
it appears to be at the proper level. The jacks are always fully retracted. We've always
had to deal with this little quirk but I don't mind it. The auto level system is so cool. I just
enjoy pulling into camp, pushing the auto level button, start camping all within 2 minutes.

Eric

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2227

Eric,

This is exactly what my system does, only it only stops the warning system for a few minutes. I am adding more fluid... will let you know if it helps.

Denny

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #7 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2228
We had the same problem with our Ambassador. We were getting set to leave for Florida in late October a couple of years ago and had two problems. The generator worked but no power to the MH. And the darn warning light and sound came on for the levelers - which we checked and were retracted.

I jumped on a Monaco forum and RV.net and asked for some quick advice. The generator was easy and someone suggested we look at the breakers. We'd just had it serviced and they threw the breakers. Flicked the switches and that problem was gone. The warning for the levelers came on during that day -BUT as we got farther south and it go warmer, it stopped. I think it was the cold weather and contraction of the fluid. A guess anyway. It never happened again - but we didn't have it in cold weather again as it was swapped for the Greyhawk when we returned.

Don


On 8-Feb-09, at 4:06 PM,

Re: Hydraulic levelers

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 2229

Don,

Now that you mention it, we owned a 1997 Southwind years ago. While driving it across Wyoming in the cold and snow of winter, the alarm for the levelers stayed on. Drove me nuts, so I disconnected the audio alarm, but left the alarm light on. I bet you're right. smart guy!!

Denny