Hydraulic landing gear drifting

[mudmaker]

I have our camper parked where the front is relatively high off the ground and the landing legs in front have been drifting slightly. Every so often you will hear a pop or thump and the camp wiggles a bit. Been lying here in bed for about 30 minutes now and haven't witnessed it yet (DW said it happened again) but I did experience it last night before bed. I lowered the gear myself some thinking I could have overextended the legs but it apparently didn't help.
Lippert landing gear.
Wondering if a relief got weakened and won't hold the pressure.
Thoughts?
TIA

[laknox]

TXiceman wrote:
BO, it is a known fact that Lippert is having issues with the cylinders sticking and making noise. One thing they have done is to put a viscosity modifier and lubricant in the hydraulic fluid to make them quieter.

But if the coach is settling any appreciable amount, the solenoid is leaking by. If the jack was leaking, it there should be hydraulic fluid on the jack.

Ken

Not necessarily. As I said before, the cylinder itself can leak internally, from the pressure side to the unpressurized side, right past the o-rings around the piston. Hell, the cylinder could be scored from trash left in it and it's leaking through the scoring. I've dealt with too many of these things in my years farming.

Lyle

[TXiceman]

BO, it is a known fact that Lippert is having issues with the cylinders sticking and making noise. One thing they have done is to put a viscosity modifier and lubricant in the hydraulic fluid to make them quieter.

But if the coach is settling any appreciable amount, the solenoid is leaking by. If the jack was leaking, it there should be hydraulic fluid on the jack.

Ken

[mudmaker]

Thanks for the replies.
I haven't witnessed it again personally and that makes it hard to diagnose. (And how do you tell DW that she is just hearing things in her head?)
It is just the front jacks, not a level up system. One of the options this unit didn't come with. I'll have to look into it more when home. From what I've gathered it's not a show stopper problem so I'll just monitor the situation for now.

[B_O__Plenty]

It's not a solenoid valve. It's a problem with the ram itself. The Level up is different from the Bigfoot. The Lippert std. hydraulic front jacks will make the popping noise also. Lippert has changed a lot of parts and hasn't been able to completely cure this. Their best cure so far is to put some motorcycle fork oil into the system or one of several other types of oil. Contact Lippert, they know all about this.

B.O.

[TXiceman]

Our two BiG Foot systems have not had this issue. It sounds like a solenoid valve in leaking back since you see no fluid loss.

The hydraulic fluid is basically an incompressible fluid and over the temperature ranges your RV will see, the amount of expansion or contraction will not be measurable.

How old is the RV? If is under warranty, insist that the dealer change the solenoid valves.

Ken

[B_O__Plenty]

avvidclif1 wrote:

allen8106 wrote:

golf_bears wrote:
OP, you list two problms in your post. One, the front landing cylinders are drifting. Two, a popping noise. Which is it or is it both? The correct solution is dependent on describing the problem correctly.

It's one and the same. The fluid is leaking off (drifting) which allows the coach to drop a bit which produces the popping sound.

Why re-invent the wheel? It's a Lippert Level-Up system. They do that, some of them anyway, mine hasn't yet. There is a service bulletin out about it. Follow it and post back the results.

Very common problem. More noticeable with temperature changes.

B.O.

[avvidclif1]

allen8106 wrote:

golf_bears wrote:
OP, you list two problms in your post. One, the front landing cylinders are drifting. Two, a popping noise. Which is it or is it both? The correct solution is dependent on describing the problem correctly.

It's one and the same. The fluid is leaking off (drifting) which allows the coach to drop a bit which produces the popping sound.

Why re-invent the wheel? It's a Lippert Level-Up system. They do that, some of them anyway, mine hasn't yet. There is a service bulletin out about it. Follow it and post back the results.

[kennethwooster]

Will take some searching to isolate the leak. Yes its internal unless you are seeing oil leaking to the outside.

[allen8106]

golf_bears wrote:
OP, you list two problms in your post. One, the front landing cylinders are drifting. Two, a popping noise. Which is it or is it both? The correct solution is dependent on describing the problem correctly.

It's one and the same. The fluid is leaking off (drifting) which allows the coach to drop a bit which produces the popping sound.

[golf_bears]

OP, you list two problms in your post. One, the front landing cylinders are drifting. Two, a popping noise. Which is it or is it both? The correct solution is dependent on describing the problem correctly.

[Carl_n_Susan]

This is a common complaint with the Level-Up system and Lippert has a solution. The answer is to add some anti-stiction oil (aka fork oil or ?) to the reservoir. The complete description is here: Lip Sheet-0295

Here is part of the writeup describing the recommended oils:

If there is a popping noise in a Lippert Leveling system, Lippert has approved adding a quart of anti-stiction fluid. Approved fluids are listed by brand name and fluid characteristics below:
1. Torco RFF Grade 15 (Fig. 1)
2. Maxima Fork Oil Grade 15 (Fig. 2)
3. Caterpillar Hydraulic Oil Additive 1U-9891 (Fig. 3)

I used 1 quart of the CAT fluid (not-cheap) and it solved the problem for me.

[laknox]

Not only the valves, but the cylinders can leak internally past the piston and o-rings.

Lyle

[donn0128]

Valves usually leak internally. Sometimes you can take then apart and install new "O" rings sometimes the valve body has a scratch and nothing short or replacing it will help.

[jwakeman]

It is FORK oil like used in motorcycles. It took 2 quarts to get mine to settle down.
Go to Lipitor web site for detail instructions.