Happijac trouble shooting

[svjim]

I have the remote control happijacs on my Adventure TC and one of them does not work. I suspect a possible short in the wiring from the controller to the jack. I have verified that if I switch another jack to the same port that the failing jack is on that the switched jack works. Also, the failing jack does not work on another controller port. So my conclusion is either the head is bad or there is a short or crimp in the wiring. I have a couple of questions for someone knowledge in the jack's functioning..

1. how can I test that there is actually current running through the wiring to the jack head. I think I should be able to do that at the external 'box' where the wiring exits the camper and is connected to wiring to the jack head. If so, what should I look for?

2. If there is current flowing at the box, how can I check that it is actually getting to the head. (i.e. flowing through the wiring from the box to the head. Is it possible to do that without removing the head itself?

3. OK, the camper is not in the Truck bed, so If I have to remove the head, can the jack itself be locked or am I going to have to manually raise the jack and put it in the truck bed?

Thanks

Jim

[svjim]

joerg68 wrote:
As far as I remember, you can remove the motor when the camper is on the jacks. In principle. But you may not be able to access both screws without removing the jack first.

These HJ motors often quit working due to corrosion (even after just a year or two). But then they usually blow the fuse every time you try to operate them.

There is a small (maybe 1" x 3") white plastic box next to each jack. It has a lid that is held on by 4 small screws. Take it off & you should then be able to unplug the jack wires. Take a multimeter to see if you get 12V at the plug when you try to operate the jack. With some luck, maybe there is just some corrosion in the plug...

OK, I know the box that you are talking about. I definitely see if there is 12 volts there.

Thanks,

Jim

[svjim]

I'll definitely try tapping the motor head. I just want to be sure it is the motor head before replacing it. This is the second time this has happened. It happened once when I was having the camper repaired and it appeared that it might have been caused by a crimped power wire. it could have just been intermittent. The particular jack was also always slower at raising or lowering than the other three jacks. I guess that could have indicated a problem also.

Thanks,

Jim

[joerg68]

As far as I remember, you can remove the motor when the camper is on the jacks. In principle. But you may not be able to access both screws without removing the jack first.

These HJ motors often quit working due to corrosion (even after just a year or two). But then they usually blow the fuse every time you try to operate them.

There is a small (maybe 1" x 3") white plastic box next to each jack. It has a lid that is held on by 4 small screws. Take it off & you should then be able to unplug the jack wires. Take a multimeter to see if you get 12V at the plug when you try to operate the jack. With some luck, maybe there is just some corrosion in the plug...

[Oregun]

Just replaced the motor heads on one of my Adventurer 910 happijac's.
Got it fast from this place. PantherRV

Try tapping the motor while it is energized. Mine was intermittent and would start working if I tapped the motor head.