Atwood Levelers Sticking

Yes, I have taken my rear Atwood electric jack apart after the shear pin went and the center jack pad dropped to the ground. Did not take the motor/gears apart, just the jack screw and shaft, which was busted.

Had to drill out the 7/32 shear pin hole to 1/4 inch, and drive a new molly steel shear pin into the top of the jack screw. Re-installed the jack, plugged it back up and reset the entire system.

Caution, if you disconnect the plug from the back of the dash control panel, make sure you are careful and don't pull the entire pin off the board. I did and ended up having to get a computer shop to reattach the pin and run a continuity check on the board...$69 well spent since that control panel is obsolete and I couldn't find anyone with a spare one.

Those Atwood electric jack are also mostly obsolete, and most RV salvage yards no longer have any spares in stock. I don't think many were used after the 2006 models.

I'll let everyone know how my attempt goes once I get back home and remove the jack. It was mentioned that the jack units are quite heavy so I'm thinking I'll manually extend it until it just touches the ground so when I unbolt it, I can simply tip it over and drag it out from under the coach to take it apart...

After looking at the Atwood installation manual, I see that there are only two wires that go to the jack. Obviously this means there are no limit switches in the unit and the controller only monitors motor current and that is how it determines if the jack is fully retracted (or extended). The clicking the jack makes for a few moments is no doubt the clutch that will slip in an overload situation (also with the jack at full extend/retract). This makes me even more convinced that my problem is poor brush contact in my leveler. Still looking for someone who has opened one up. Hate to have to be the first one....

Has anyone attempted to disassemble one yet? As I mentioned, mine appears to be an electrical problem with the motor. Have been a motor guy all my life, my expectation is that a brush is hanging up in the motor as I can correct the problem by just turning the motor back and forth a time or two. It's obvious when I do this there is no binding in the assembly, just a motor that does not run. Generally, cleaning the dirt from the brush rigging and cleaning up the commutator with some fine sandpaper will cure this sort of problem. Apparently the control processor will set the fault if it doesn't see the jack coming off the retract limit in a certain amount of time. It looks to me that all the 'magic' happens in the control assembly and that the jack assemblies are just a 'dumb' motor/jack screw with a limit switch at each end of travel. I would expect that the controller also monitors motor current to be sure the jack screw isn't binding up. I haven't given it a good look-see yet..it's up between the frame and storage bins. Was hoping someone else has had one off and examined it to determine if it can be opened up. Since it's over 10 years old now, I'd also like to clean and re-lubricate the jack screw and nut. I wouldn't think spraying any lubricant on would be of any value as the jack screw is inside where spray won't reach..

You're right Lincoln4....I had to do the first procedure (3 separate times) this past winter but only after non use for a period of time....The Atwood tech said not to worry and just spray some lubricant on the jack...I hope he's right...I have extended warranty through April 2016..... $50 deductable.

This is the reset procedure, I believe...

Reset

I had a couple of mine stop about half way retracted. I found a "reset procedure" somewhere on the net (not sure if here). I followed the instructions and everything retracted. No problems since.

You'll have to replace the whole unit. They do not sell parts. Mine was bent just a small amount and it failed eventually. Same issues as yours. About $500 for a new jack online. If you are at all handy you can replace it in about 15 mins. It is heavy so get a friend to help.

Gary I originally posted on this topic...so far this summer the leveler that seems to hesitate during cold weather and after setting awhile is working 9kay....I don't know if I have a real issue but I had to troubleshoot it a couple times during cold weather months.

Has anyone gotten into the atwood electric jacks? I have one that occasionally fails...if I crawl under and turn the motor with the power off (there is a hex head that is for manually working the jack) it will start working again. I attribute this failure to the brushes sticking in the motor which should be easy to fix if it can be disassembled. I also think that the unit should get re-lubricated on occasion. Of course, Atwood's paperwork say nothing is serviceable and it must be replaced if it fails. Has anyone done this yet?