Forum Discussion

RoyF's avatar
RoyF
Explorer
Jul 13, 2017

Front jacks make loud clicking noise

When I extend my front jacks to a certain point (about an inch above what's needed to unhitch), I begin hearing a loud clicking noise, about one click per second. It sounds as if something might be slipping, but the jacks continue to go up. Last week on an unlevel site, I was afraid of continuing to bring the front up because of the fear of doing some damage.

I asked my dealer about it; they said nothing to worry about. (Surely they would not pass an the opportunity to sell an expensive replacement if it was needed.)

My fiver is a 2008 Hitchhiker II, now in its tenth season of use.

What is clicking, and it is anything to worry about?
  • cummins2014's avatar
    cummins2014
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2017
    Old-Biscuit wrote:
    YES....
    You have 'over-extended' the driving leg and it is causing slipping between the 2 bevel gears (1 driven by motor/gear box and 1 that drives the screw shaft)

    Stop before you wear teeth or break teeth on bevel gears (flip sheet metal cover off to see them)






    With truck hitched up...
    Leave inner leg fully retracted
    Run outer leg to full retract...click noise
    Then use RED paint and mark a stripe 1 inch lower so when you extend leg and see red STOP


    When unhitching you may need to drop inner leg more so you can raise pin box high enough to unhitch W/O over-extending outer driven leg


    Although you may be right ,in my experience if over extended they start to slow and then just bind up if not stopped . At least on mine that has been the case . Never noticed any clicking. You would thing at that point you would lose some teeth
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Jul 13, 2017
    YES....
    You have 'over-extended' the driving leg and it is causing slipping between the 2 bevel gears (1 driven by motor/gear box and 1 that drives the screw shaft)

    Stop before you wear teeth or break teeth on bevel gears (flip sheet metal cover off to see them)






    With truck hitched up...
    Leave inner leg fully retracted
    Run outer leg to full retract...click noise
    Then use RED paint and mark a stripe 1 inch lower so when you extend leg and see red STOP


    When unhitching you may need to drop inner leg more so you can raise pin box high enough to unhitch W/O over-extending outer driven leg
  • cummins2014's avatar
    cummins2014
    Explorer
    Jul 13, 2017
    MFL wrote:
    I had this noise myself, when under load. I discovered the nut on the motor end of shaft had come off the bolt, and the loose bolt was hitting the landing gear motor. New bolt, new nut, easy fix, in my case.

    Jerry



    Bingo, yup same problem with mine. I think its the torque on the motor ,and shaft. The bolt on the shaft is just long enough for a nut ,and lock washer, but still hits the motor on occasion , actually now has a little groove in the motor housing. Depends on how high I raise the landing gear. Been doing this for nearly 10 years. Its of no concern to me anymore.

    To the OP see if that bolt ,and nut is making contact, you will see on the motor where it does, as said not a big deal for me.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Jul 13, 2017
    I had this noise myself, when under load. I discovered the nut on the motor end of shaft had come off the bolt, and the loose bolt was hitting the landing gear motor. New bolt, new nut, easy fix, in my case.

    Jerry

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