One jack sticking

When one of mine wouldn't retract, the procedure in the manual said to open the hydraulic valve handling that jack. Once I found it (major job) and cracked the valve open releasing the pressure, the jack retracted.

Strangely, it never happened again.

OK.
Did you use silicone spray or WD40?
Bob

msmith1199 wrote:

bmwbob wrote:
Our jacks each have two springs on them.
As for lubricating the shafts, seems to me I remember reading a thread some time back where the opinions were all over the map on whether or not to lube the shafts, and what to use to do it.
I have WD40, and can get some silicone spray if that is what I need.
I also have a floor jack with me I can use to push the jack up if it comes to that.
So, is there any concensus about lubing the shafts?
Bob

You don't need the floor jack to push it up. At least you shouldn't. I've had mine do the same. I just got a 2x4 8 foot stud and stuck it under and lifted up on the jack foot and it came right up. You just need to make sure the control panel is in retract mode otherwise even the floor jack won't lift it. It's just the springs pulling it back up and sometimes they need some help. I spray lubed mine and that fixed the problem.

msmith1199 wrote:


You just need to make sure the control panel is in retract mode otherwise even the floor jack won't lift it.

Good stuff right here!!! If you try really hard with the floor jack you'll be spending money when you didn't need too!

bmwbob wrote:
Our jacks each have two springs on them.
As for lubricating the shafts, seems to me I remember reading a thread some time back where the opinions were all over the map on whether or not to lube the shafts, and what to use to do it.
I have WD40, and can get some silicone spray if that is what I need.
I also have a floor jack with me I can use to push the jack up if it comes to that.
So, is there any concensus about lubing the shafts?
Bob

You don't need the floor jack to push it up. At least you shouldn't. I've had mine do the same. I just got a 2x4 8 foot stud and stuck it under and lifted up on the jack foot and it came right up. You just need to make sure the control panel is in retract mode otherwise even the floor jack won't lift it. It's just the springs pulling it back up and sometimes they need some help. I spray lubed mine and that fixed the problem.

bmwbob wrote:
Our jacks each have two springs on them.
As for lubricating the shafts, seems to me I remember reading a thread some time back where the opinions were all over the map on whether or not to lube the shafts, and what to use to do it.
I have WD40, and can get some silicone spray if that is what I need.
I also have a floor jack with me I can use to push the jack up if it comes to that.
So, is there any concensus about lubing the shafts?
Bob

Look at it this way, it's not working now, so what do you have to loose?

Bill

Our jacks each have two springs on them.
As for lubricating the shafts, seems to me I remember reading a thread some time back where the opinions were all over the map on whether or not to lube the shafts, and what to use to do it.
I have WD40, and can get some silicone spray if that is what I need.
I also have a floor jack with me I can use to push the jack up if it comes to that.
So, is there any concensus about lubing the shafts?
Bob

We had a similar problem - a liberal application of WD-40 (per HWH) with the jack fully extended would keep it happy for a few weeks. Finally tired of the need to repeat the treatment and just had the jack replaced.

But first, if there are springs on the jacks, make sure both springs are still there. A replacement spring is a heck of lot cheaper than a new jack. Almost any decent RV service shop can order and install a new jack. We had one replaced in Texas a few years back and the tab was almost $800 dollars. The second one was replaced last spring by the shop that does most of our work, and the tab was under $600, including expedited shipping, so get a few estimates if you can. The replacement process is about a 40 minute project.

al

When the leveler is down, have you ever cleaned / lubed the shaft with silicone spray? Also some jacks have a grease fitting in the collar where the shaft goes into the cylinder - if yours has it, has it ever been greased? I wouldn't put more than one or maybe two shots of grease in it.

Bill

i had this recently. i replaced the fluid and it is now ok. it was dextron v transmission oil. mh is 2003 so oil was old

If they use springs to retract you most likely need a new spring. In some cases the cylinder needs to be replaced also.

You can get under there and pry them back up pretty easily so that you can drive the MH. I had a sticky one on a previous MH and used a piece of pipe and a few 2 X 6's to get it all the way back up.

Call HWH, they have excellent CS and will help you diagnose the issues.