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

[BradW]

covered wagon wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
Unfortunately the Happijac motors are junk. The issue is poor sealing against water intrusion. I have tried various methods for sealing the motors but still have had two fail.

I also remove the white plastic cups to the electric motor and squirt oil in the electric motor bearing. The bottom bearing gets the water build up, corrodes, slows down the motor, eventually seizing.

That is an obvious design issue. Has Happijac fixed this on the newer jacks? The have to know they have a designed in flaw.

Thanks,
BradW

[covered_wagon]

JimK-NY wrote:
Unfortunately the Happijac motors are junk. The issue is poor sealing against water intrusion. I have tried various methods for sealing the motors but still have had two fail.

You are correct. If your camper sits outside you should cover the jack heads while in storage. I always use freezer bags cut in the right place to allow the bag to slide down and then use packaging foam stuffed around the jack to hold the plastic covers.

My jacks are all working since 2003 except the one that showed the problem of water intrusion years ago. Since then they have been covered ea. winter.

I also remove the white plastic cups to the electric motor and squirt oil in the electric motor bearing. The bottom bearing gets the water build up, corrodes, slows down the motor, eventually seizing.

[billyray50]

svjim wrote:

billyray50 wrote:


Jim, It was both when raising and lowering. 2 AAs replaced in remote and Still working great. I was trying to figure it out too and forgot to apply the KISS principle when my DW asked innocently about batteries in remote. All credit to her.

I received a reply from Happijac and they say that there is no relay cutoff in the controller board and pleaded ignorance on the observed functioning of the remote and battery replacement. Their take on it was that maybe adventurer had a relay cutoff. I'll contact them, but don't expect much. I've replaced batteries a number of times in the remote, so like you say keep it simple. Could be the transmitter isn't very strong or maybe the antenna on the controller board has a problem, who knows. Just have to keep a cache of batteries and small screw driver around for changing them.

Jim

Thanks for info Jim. Just returned from a 1300 mile plus trip and raised and lowered Happi jacs for stability at a few campgrounds. Working good. Will see if any issues when taking TC off to get my truck serviced.

[svjim]

billyray50 wrote:


Jim, It was both when raising and lowering. 2 AAs replaced in remote and Still working great. I was trying to figure it out too and forgot to apply the KISS principle when my DW asked innocently about batteries in remote. All credit to her.

I received a reply from Happijac and they say that there is no relay cutoff in the controller board and pleaded ignorance on the observed functioning of the remote and battery replacement. Their take on it was that maybe adventurer had a relay cutoff. I'll contact them, but don't expect much. I've replaced batteries a number of times in the remote, so like you say keep it simple. Could be the transmitter isn't very strong or maybe the antenna on the controller board has a problem, who knows. Just have to keep a cache of batteries and small screw driver around for changing them.

Jim

[billyray50]

svjim wrote:

billyray50 wrote:


I will keep an eye on it Jim but so far jacks are working fine since I replaced the remote batteries.

Sorry to bug you again on this issue with the batteries in the controller. Do you recall if the intermittent working of the jacks was only when raising the camper or if it was both raising and lowering of the camper.

I have replaced the offending jack head with a new one, but the stalling when raising continues and I can't seem to come to a rational explanation of why replacing batteries in the remote controller would resolve the problem. Like you, it definitely seems to have an effect, but I can't make any sense of it. I have a question into happijac about replacing the batteries in the remote controller. I am also asking them if there is any sort of thermal or electrical overload in the controller board itself.

So if you have anymore information or thoughts on the remote, I would appreciate it. When I get an answer from happijac on my questions, I'll post them here.

Again thanks,

Jim

Jim, It was both when raising and lowering. 2 AAs replaced in remote and Still working great. I was trying to figure it out too and forgot to apply the KISS principle when my DW asked innocently about batteries in remote. All credit to her.

[Harleybullet]

I have an AF 1150 and one by one my jacks stopped working over the last year. I use a Makita battery drill and it will raise and lower the jack legs on the truck but when it hits the full weight as it leaves the springs of the truck it does not have enough juice to raise it. I use a 1/2" ratchet with a 1/2" hex socket to continue the raising or lowering while I flip the lever for manual on the jack.......I have 2 questions.
1) How long will the plastic socket last doing it this way?
2) Is there a battery operated drill that would lift the weight?
I do not want to use an impact drill because I think that would damage the fitting. This method takes about 30 minutes as I move around the TC.

Dave

[svjim]

billyray50 wrote:


I will keep an eye on it Jim but so far jacks are working fine since I replaced the remote batteries.

Sorry to bug you again on this issue with the batteries in the controller. Do you recall if the intermittent working of the jacks was only when raising the camper or if it was both raising and lowering of the camper.

I have replaced the offending jack head with a new one, but the stalling when raising continues and I can't seem to come to a rational explanation of why replacing batteries in the remote controller would resolve the problem. Like you, it definitely seems to have an effect, but I can't make any sense of it. I have a question into happijac about replacing the batteries in the remote controller. I am also asking them if there is any sort of thermal or electrical overload in the controller board itself.

So if you have anymore information or thoughts on the remote, I would appreciate it. When I get an answer from happijac on my questions, I'll post them here.

Again thanks,

Jim

[billyray50]

svjim wrote:

billyray50 wrote:

My Adventurer 910 DB happi jacs were intermittent too and I replaced the 2 AA batteries in remote. That was what was causing the intermittence. Been fortunate with the jacks so far. I perform regular maitanance on them twice a year.

That is interesting. I have noticed when raising the camper on the jacks that it stalls quite frequently. I have replaced batteries and the stalling seemed to diminish. What is confusing about this is that there should be no difference in stalling whether raising or lowering the camper. However the stalling does not occur when lowering the camper. That has led me to believe that the issue is with my camper batteries but again as far as I can tell the camper batteries are fully charged and as I said the issue appears only when raising the camper.




I did notice somewhere in the instructions for the remote that it was stated that if the voltage was not sufficient that the led would turn red I believe. In my case there has never been a change in the LED indication.

I had my RV guy working on the issue yesterday and the jack suddenly started to work. He couldn't find any short in the wiring. When he started to raise the camper things went fine for a bit, but then the stalling started. I've ordered a new head, as this was the second time the offending jack had failed to engage. The first time was resolved in the same manner, it just started to work again. At the time it was believe that was probably because of a short in the wiring. I doubt that is the cause now. Once the new Jack is installed, I told my RV guide we could go ahead and open the motor casing to see what shape the motor is in. There was a small amount of rust around the two screws that home the motor casing to the gear case with the heads.

Jim

I will keep an eye on it Jim but so far jacks are working fine since I replaced the remote batteries.

[svjim]

billyray50 wrote:

My Adventurer 910 DB happi jacs were intermittent too and I replaced the 2 AA batteries in remote. That was what was causing the intermittence. Been fortunate with the jacks so far. I perform regular maitanance on them twice a year.

That is interesting. I have noticed when raising the camper on the jacks that it stalls quite frequently. I have replaced batteries and the stalling seemed to diminish. What is confusing about this is that there should be no difference in stalling whether raising or lowering the camper. However the stalling does not occur when lowering the camper. That has led me to believe that the issue is with my camper batteries but again as far as I can tell the camper batteries are fully charged and as I said the issue appears only when raising the camper.

I did notice somewhere in the instructions for the remote that it was stated that if the voltage was not sufficient that the led would turn red I believe. In my case there has never been a change in the LED indication.

I had my RV guy working on the issue yesterday and the jack suddenly started to work. He couldn't find any short in the wiring. When he started to raise the camper things went fine for a bit, but then the stalling started. I've ordered a new head, as this was the second time the offending jack had failed to engage. The first time was resolved in the same manner, it just started to work again. At the time it was believe that was probably because of a short in the wiring. I doubt that is the cause now. Once the new Jack is installed, I told my RV guide we could go ahead and open the motor casing to see what shape the motor is in. There was a small amount of rust around the two screws that home the motor casing to the gear case with the heads.

Jim

[billyray50]

Oregun wrote:
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.

My Adventurer 910 DB happi jacs were intermittent too and I replaced the 2 AA batteries in remote. That was what was causing the intermittence. Been fortunate with the jacks so far. I perform regular maitanance on them twice a year.

[Glacier_D]

I think that is his name. He cut me some decent deals on replacement jacks, motors and control board, but the last time I dealt with him was 3 or 4 years ago.

[wnjj]

Gary’s the guy at Happijac to talk to if he’s still there.

[Glacier_D]

I'm working on my 3rd set in 9&1/2 years of ownership, that is jacks and motors. I do use mine in the winter and the roads are salted so that doesn't help.

Put the camper back on the truck and then trouble shoot from there, most likely the motorhead, I think Panther RV has the best prices, I ordered 2 this spring. HJ used to sell rebuilt motors, but apparently they don't anymore since the full intregation into Lippert Industries. To tell you the truth Happijacs are pretty much junk, even their supposed new and improved models. Just my 2 Cents.

I am presently (maybe just wishing) looking at new campers and I refuse to buy any camper that uses Happijacs or is that crappijacs. That has been the number 1 constant problem with my camper. They used to have very good customer service through a guy whos name I forget (3Tons might remember), but since the full takeover by Lippert that is no-more.

[JimK-NY]

Unfortunately the Happijac motors are junk. The issue is poor sealing against water intrusion. I have tried various methods for sealing the motors but still have had two fail.

[Oregun]

svjim wrote:
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

Sounds similar to how mine was behaving. I did have to remove the entire jack to change the head but it is not difficult.