Front landing legs wont work - advice

[austinjenna]

So my front landing legs wont retract or extend. Here is what I checked so far but still unsure of the issue.

Battery is connected and showing 13.x V
All lights inside/outside etc.. all work fine.
I checked the fuse going to the landing gear switch and its good.
The wires on the extend/retract switch are all connected (its a 6 pin switch). Tracing the positive wire from the battery to the switch, its showing 13.x v at the positive pin on the switch. It has a little jumper on the switch from the positive to another pin - that is also showing 13.x v

I disconnected the wires going to the landing leg motor from the switch and used jumper cables directly to the motor - the motor works.

I then hooked up the positive wire from the landing leg motor going to the switch. For the negative on the motor wire I hooked it directly to the negative side of the battery, pressed the switch and it worked. But only one way which is understandable.

Reattached the neg wire on the motor and nothing happens when using the switch. On the multi meter the positive wire on the motor shows 13.xV when pressing the button on the switch even though it doesn't turn the motor.

I checked the ground wire and it looks good.

So I was thinking it might be the switch itself. What are your guys thoughts?

[laknox]

Glad it was simple! Thanks for the update.

Lyle

[austinjenna]

To all who commented it ended up being a bad switch. I replaced it and life is good, thanks for the suggestions

[fj12ryder]

Please let us know how it shakes out. TIA

[austinjenna]

I have ordered a new switch that should come sometime today so hopefully that will solve the issue

[JRscooby]

If somebody wanted to upgrade the switch, or switch/relay setup look to place that sells/installs tarp systems for trucks. Motor likely similar, and need to run long wires and be dependable

[tommyznr]

I probably could. Just finding the replacement was a challenge and then matching form and fit of a different switch was more than I was willing to do. I make what I have work and it doesn't bother me.

[laknox]

Can you not find a heavier rated switch? Maybe run heavier wire, too.

Lyle

[tommyznr]

I have had the same problem with the same switch. What happens with mine is that it heats up enough internally to melt the plastic mounting posts for the rocker. I have replaced the switch several times and rebuilt with the remaining parts of the failed switches. If I remember correctly my switch is rated for 30 amps, I find that hard to believe.

My switch fails when I need to run the gear up or down a long distance. I try to limit running the gear for no more than 30 seconds at a time and then allow about 30 seconds to cool. I have not blown a switch since I started that method.

[fj12ryder]

Yup, sounds like the switch has bit the big one. Should be easy to find a new one, or resign yourself to having to jumper the motor every time. 🙂

[CA_Traveler]

Sounds like you are describing a DPDT center off switch. ie 6 connectors. As such it has + and - wires from the battery/fuse and + and - wires to the motor. In one switch position you have + and - voltage to the motor and it turns in one direction and reverse polarity in the other direction causing the motor to turn in the opposise direction. Or the switches operate relays to control the motor.

This is a very common arrangement for DC motors.

[JRscooby]

To reverse a DC motor, you must reverse (neg) and (pos). I that is not happening at motor, find out why.
And how heavy duty is the switch? Most times the switch does not control the full draw of motor, but activates relays.

[opnspaces]

If you jumper the positive and negative wires to bypass the switch and the motor works I would replace the switch. One bad thing about a digital meter is it can fool you by showing voltage. But the switch could be so bad that there is no actual current going through.