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BuffaloIndian's avatar
BuffaloIndian
Explorer
Sep 28, 2013

Electric Landing Legs (front jacks) Intermittent Failure

I've searched around the forum and haven't seen anything that quite matches my problem. Unit is a 2007 K-Z fifth-wheel, and the landing legs work and sometimes they don't. Has occurred twice in the last month, while extending the legs to hook up. I work the jacks, and then go to back the truck up, and when I get back to do some more adjustment, there is no power...no moan, no groan (except from me), just no go. Battery is fully charged and connections are good. First time it happened I waited awhile and then it started working again. A couple of weeks ago the same thing took place and I had to get out the manual crank. It was several days went by and I tried it and it was working again! Don't know where to start or what to think about it. Doesn't sound like a fuse or a breaker, and the motor works fine when it has power. Just don't want to get out and get stuck with having to manually crank the thing again.
  • Bruce3404's avatar
    Bruce3404
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    Had a similar problem. I thought the battery connections were good, but they weren't perfect. Replaced both clamps and problem resolved.
  • BuffaloIndian's avatar
    BuffaloIndian
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    Bruce, I think you have the answer. I checked the connections more closely, and while they were hand-tight on a wing-nut "snug," they weren't "tight," especially on the negative pole. Considering that the landing gear motor is wired directly to the battery, this would account for the intermittent nature of the failure, and why the motor would start to work again after "resting" for a while. Thanks
  • BuffaloIndian's avatar
    BuffaloIndian
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    UPDATE: Thought the battery connection was the problem, but apparently not so. Legs work consistently in the RETRACT position. Dead as a wedge in the EXTEND position. Do I assume it is a defective switch? Or some gremlin in the motor works?
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Sep 28, 2013
    Connect a volt meter next time it quits. If it is a switch you will see zero voltage at the motor. If it is the motor you will see 12VDC across the motor. It could be either. It could also be a dead battery or a resettable circuit breaker.
  • john_bet's avatar
    john_bet
    Explorer II
    Sep 28, 2013
    BuffaloIndian wrote:
    UPDATE: Thought the battery connection was the problem, but apparently not so. Legs work consistently in the RETRACT position. Dead as a wedge in the EXTEND position. Do I assume it is a defective switch? Or some gremlin in the motor works?
    I would bet on the switch being bad. Contact points in switch are probably welded together. New switch called for.
  • bbeezzz's avatar
    bbeezzz
    Explorer
    Sep 29, 2013
    I would take a good look at the switch. Same issue with our 2008 Challenger, and it turned out to be a loose wire on the landing gear switch. One of the slip on connections had pulled away from the terminal.

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