Wanderlodge Gurus - The Member Funded Wanderlodge Forum

During our recent cross-country trip we had problems with our jack motor or pump
that at this point is not precisely diagnosed, and I'm hoping someone has
experienced similar issues.

When the motor is first started, either in automatic mode, or by manually
extending a jack, it runs slow and appears to be laboring. It also osciallates
somewhat in speed. It is drawing 60-70 amps at that point.

Generally, after it has run awhile, it will "kick-in" to high speed, drawing
about 80 amps and will run fine to completion. Not uncommonly, but not always,
it will do that after it has stopped and restarted, either manually, or because
the low jack has completed and it is running the remainder down. Sometimes the
speed never increases, and in those cases the run-time will usually expire
before the jacks are all extended, and another run will be required.

Coincidentally, this behavior started the day after we passed through Moscow, IA


While over Randy's pit in Florida we ran the jacks several times while he
checked for loose ground or hot wire, and nothing was detected. He tried calling
HWH support, but did not get a callback.

Fluid levels are fine; I had checked, and Randy re-checked.

Towards the end of our trip the problem got worse. The new symptom was that the
relays would kick, but the motor would not start. Repeated clicking of a manual
lever would eventually result in the motor starting. It did this for three
consecutive uses, then for the last two including when we arrived home it did
operate on first switching. When the relays kicked and the motor failed to
start, power draw was under 20 amps, around what would be expected for solenoids
and valves - the motor was not apparently drawing any current.

What are your thoughts?

Don Bradner
90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
Home in Eureka, CA
My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1

Hi Don: I'd try speaking with a tech at HWH...nice folks. Last
summer on our trip home from Glacier NP & Ernie's Park County
Fairgrounds, HWH installed a new fitting in my RR leveling jack and
covered it under warrenty! I even explained that the leak was due to
operator error (me). The job took about 45 minutes and when I went
to pay for the fitting and labor, the office manager said, no, your
banace is 'zero' you are good to go! Good people and they know how
to deal with customers.

Dick Gideon
1989 35FC
Freedom Bird
Rolla, MO -2F this AM

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> During our recent cross-country trip we had problems with our jack
motor or pump that at this point is not precisely diagnosed, and I'm
hoping someone has experienced similar issues.
>
> When the motor is first started, either in automatic mode, or by
manually extending a jack, it runs slow and appears to be laboring.
It also osciallates somewhat in speed. It is drawing 60-70 amps at
that point.
>
> Generally, after it has run awhile, it will "kick-in" to high
speed, drawing about 80 amps and will run fine to completion. Not
uncommonly, but not always, it will do that after it has stopped and
restarted, either manually, or because the low jack has completed and
it is running the remainder down. Sometimes the speed never
increases, and in those cases the run-time will usually expire before
the jacks are all extended, and another run will be required.
>
> Coincidentally, this behavior started the day after we passed
through Moscow, IA
>
> While over Randy's pit in Florida we ran the jacks several times
while he checked for loose ground or hot wire, and nothing was
detected. He tried calling HWH support, but did not get a callback.
>
> Fluid levels are fine; I had checked, and Randy re-checked.
>
> Towards the end of our trip the problem got worse. The new symptom
was that the relays would kick, but the motor would not start.
Repeated clicking of a manual lever would eventually result in the
motor starting. It did this for three consecutive uses, then for the
last two including when we arrived home it did operate on first
switching. When the relays kicked and the motor failed to start,
power draw was under 20 amps, around what would be expected for
solenoids and valves - the motor was not apparently drawing any
current.
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Home in Eureka, CA
> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1
>

Don: If I remember correctly, there are two solenoids on that pump.
I would check the connections good. The pump motor is built in Europe
and is almost bullet proof, but a few years back, a wire broke loose
inside the motor and it quit. My starter/alternator shop repaired it.
Brushes were still perfect.

R.E. (Ron) Marabito, Dallas, TX 92WB40

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "Don Bradner"
wrote:
>
> During our recent cross-country trip we had problems with our jack
motor or pump that at this point is not precisely diagnosed, and I'm
hoping someone has experienced similar issues.
>
> When the motor is first started, either in automatic mode, or by
manually extending a jack, it runs slow and appears to be laboring. It
also osciallates somewhat in speed. It is drawing 60-70 amps at that
point.
>
> Generally, after it has run awhile, it will "kick-in" to high speed,
drawing about 80 amps and will run fine to completion. Not uncommonly,
but not always, it will do that after it has stopped and restarted,
either manually, or because the low jack has completed and it is
running the remainder down. Sometimes the speed never increases, and
in those cases the run-time will usually expire before the jacks are
all extended, and another run will be required.
>
> Coincidentally, this behavior started the day after we passed
through Moscow, IA
>
> While over Randy's pit in Florida we ran the jacks several times
while he checked for loose ground or hot wire, and nothing was
detected. He tried calling HWH support, but did not get a callback.
>
> Fluid levels are fine; I had checked, and Randy re-checked.
>
> Towards the end of our trip the problem got worse. The new symptom
was that the relays would kick, but the motor would not start.
Repeated clicking of a manual lever would eventually result in the
motor starting. It did this for three consecutive uses, then for the
last two including when we arrived home it did operate on first
switching. When the relays kicked and the motor failed to start, power
draw was under 20 amps, around what would be expected for solenoids
and valves - the motor was not apparently drawing any current.
>
> What are your thoughts?
>
> Don Bradner
> 90 PT40 "Blue Thunder"
> Home in Eureka, CA
> My location: http://www.bbirdmaps.com/user2.cfm?user=1
>

Sounds like the motor is screwed but that is usuly a result of other
issues. even if it is now the motor, something caused it like low
battery or bad connections + and - or over pressure running.

it could also be the bypass valve set too high or locked up. Even if
the bypass works, it needs a return path for fluid. when it reaches
bypass psi the valve has to open to let fluid back at the reservoir
and that path could be blocked. screwed hose ply interior give
intermitting probs
I would run the pump output to a gauge and control valve that would
pass back at the reservoir. there you could test the pump and motor.
if it is a hose, best thing to do is start replacing the shortes ones
first. A hose from a valve to the jacks would show up with only issue
using that jack. since it is at startup if it is a hose, probably one
between the pump and valves and just as important in the return to the
reservoir.

GregoryO'Connor ofTim&Greg
94ptCa