HWH Jack won't retract

I don't know anything about HWH jacks, I assume they are hydraulic.
On our Southwind one of the Power Gear jacks would not retract, the right rear. I had to break loose the hydraulic line where it goes into the jack. When I relieved the pressure, the jack retracted.

Obviously, this is only an emergency fix to get you home or to a repair shop.

www.hwh.com/m137634.pdf
Good luck

1. Will the jack retract at all?
2. If it does retract a little, does it then stop once it clears the ground?
3. If it does NOT retract at all, you have a solenoid for that jack not opening. If you have the HWH operators manual, it will show you how to open the solenoids manually to allow retraction IF it is an electrical malfunction.
4. There are 4 hoses at the pump. The outer 2 hoses go to the rear jacks. then inner 2 go to the front. Open up BOTH the outer solenoids with the spring release if you have the new style solenoid. If you have the old, then unscrew the 1/4 inch nut instead. If the jack will still not retract but does move a little, and you can get a lever bar under it, pry/lever the jack up all the way, then close the solenoids. If you have the lever it up, then the jack needs replaced. Doug
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I went out this morning and hit the auto level button putting the jacks down and then hit auto retract. All the jacks retracted including the one that would not retract yesterday.

I have since put all the jacks down and retracted them using both the auto level function and the manual function without any issues.

Kahunna wrote:
All the jacks retracted including the one that would not retract yesterday.

Welcome to the real world of hydraulic jacks. They have a mind of their own.

The HWH systems, both levelers and slides, as far as I know, all have a written procedure for manual retraction in the case of true stubborn-ness. Similar to what was posted above.

do not over fill
check fluid when jacks are 'Retracted'

if you can each them , usually locate at pump, the valves can be activated manually by pushing in on the 'end' of the valve
do this with the 'pump' off ... one end of each valve is for extend, the opposite end is for retract , a kick down jacks use spring return, releasing the pressure will let the jack retract

Don't do this from 'underneath' the RV

this should be accessible from the front hatch or side compartment door

my HWH jack on my 1999 winnie chieftain also stuck down. for a while I would put it down on a 2x4 that I could use as a lever to get it started going up and that worked just fine until it didn't. totally froze down and had a mechanic remove it and put a new cylinder on later. when they start chattering, etc. it is time to replace it.
I think you can somehow turn the small valve and force it up against no pressure?
bumpy

Kahunna wrote:
I went out this morning and hit the auto level button putting the jacks down and then hit auto retract. All the jacks retracted including the one that would not retract yesterday.

I have since put all the jacks down and retracted them using both the auto level function and the manual function without any issues.

Then you have a loose intermittent electrical connection for THAT jack solenoid. Doug

Thanks to all for your input.

While prepping for the upcoming Labor Day trip today I again exercised the jacks and again the same jack as last week will not retract.

I think I will take a look at all the electrical connections as Doug suggested, any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Kahunna

Kahunna wrote:
Thanks to all for your input.

While prepping for the upcoming Labor Day trip today I again exercised the jacks and again the same jack as last week will not retract.

I think I will take a look at all the electrical connections as Doug suggested, any other suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Kahunna

The test for a sticking internal jack seal is this----You extend the jacks and let sit extended for 24 hours. Then retract, If any jack sticks then it has bad internal seals. The problem with doing a extension and then retraction within a few minutes or hours is--the extension may temporarily get that bad internal seal pliable for awhile and then it will let the cylinder retract. Whenever I get a customer with this type complaint, I do the 24 hour test. Doug