Forum Discussion

WAM's avatar
WAM
Explorer
Apr 13, 2014

Dead jack motor

These Atwood camper jacks must be 9 years old now. One refused to budge today and using the manual crank was nearly impossible. I removed the motor off the head and the jack screw now works fine, so I can ratchet it up/down. But that means my motor is seized. And to confirm, I disconnected the wires and get plus/minus 12V when I hit the remote.

Do you suppose retrofit motors are available? Couldn't find any with Google. It's Sunday, so I can't call Atwood. Anyone had any experience replacing or even repairing those motors? Maybe know of a service outfit I can send it to? I need the plastic cover too. Mine got broken by a trailer and my local RV parts house tried but never was able to get one. Probably unrelated to the motor problem though as there were no scuff marks or scratches indicating the motor had ever been hit. And I had it taped up to keep out the weather.
Truck Campers
  • mlts22's avatar
    mlts22
    Explorer
    May 27, 2014
    Glad to read you are back on the road, and having a spare can't hurt.
  • WAM's avatar
    WAM
    Explorer
    May 27, 2014
    Okay, topic wrap up. The replacement motor worked fine. And then I tore down the seized motor and it was just a rust issue. After cleaning, it's a good spare.
  • WAM's avatar
    WAM
    Explorer
    Apr 14, 2014
    Yeah but the motor's seized, not necessarily dead. Don't know the condition of the windings. Actually don't know anything until I take it apart.
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Apr 14, 2014
    I can't imagine that having a motor re-wound would be cheaper than buying a new one. Not many people do that work anymore to begin with, and they charge an exorbitant hourly rate when they do.

    Just a couple of weeks ago I got my 10KW tractor-powered generator back from the electric shop. Bad windings. It was going to cost more than a new one to have it re-wound. It's scrap.
  • WAM's avatar
    WAM
    Explorer
    Apr 14, 2014
    Good info. The motor is actually marked 75721 but Atwood told me the number had been superseded by 75625. And the cover is available as 87663.

    I think I'll just buy a new motor and tear mine down for repair as a spare. Or if anyone can recommend an electric motor shop known to have experience with these, please fwd.

    thanks all.

    edit -- done. Both ordered off EBAY.
  • BTPO1's avatar
    BTPO1
    Explorer
    Apr 14, 2014
    You should be able to get it rebuilt at an electric motor rewind shop. It would be cheaper than a new motor. I had a 12V trim motor repaired for my boat a few years ago and was several hundred dollars cheaper than a new one. JMO
  • Butch50's avatar
    Butch50
    Explorer
    Apr 14, 2014
    WAM wrote:
    SAR Tracker wrote:
    Like this one?


    Looks to be close, but not quite. The new one has legs at the four corners. Look to be what, 1/2" long maybe? Mine just has little 1/8" stubs in those corners. The outputs look similar.

    Worse come to worse, I might be able to cut down the legs to make it fit if everything else lines up.


    That one is for 5th wheel landing gear. The front jacks on a 5er.
  • WAM's avatar
    WAM
    Explorer
    Apr 14, 2014
    SAR Tracker wrote:
    Like this one?


    Looks to be close, but not quite. The new one has legs at the four corners. Look to be what, 1/2" long maybe? Mine just has little 1/8" stubs in those corners. The outputs look similar.

    Worse come to worse, I might be able to cut down the legs to make it fit if everything else lines up.
  • Joe417's avatar
    Joe417
    Explorer
    Apr 14, 2014
    I'm not familiar with Atwood electric jacks but I would suspect that the power head SAR Tracker linked in is for a 5th wheel.

    I'm currently getting 2 HappiJac's re-built at a reasonable price, $60 each.

    Check with Atwood tomorrow, they may have a re-build process that's as reasonable.

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