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]

https://www.makitatools.com/products/details/XFD10R

You read it on the internet, how could you go wrong?

I have never hand cranked our 4,000 lb camper in the 22 years we have owned it. But I do own that 1/2" drill and it will about take your arm off when it hangs up.

Most of the ads for those drill adapters recommend a 3/8" drill.

[Harleybullet]

Brad ... just so before I buy you know that the drill will lift an AF1150 about 4500#s off the truck............right? Dave

[BradW]

Harleybullet wrote:
Sorry to ask again but, did anyone ever come up with a name and number of a battery operated drill that would lift an 11' full size camper one jack at a time as you walk around and around.... I would rather do that then buy 4 new jacks.....Dave

Makita 18V 2-spd 1/2" drill and you are good to go.

Bradw

[Harleybullet]

Sorry to ask again but, did anyone ever come up with a name and number of a battery operated drill that would lift an 11' full size camper one jack at a time as you walk around and around.... I would rather do that then buy 4 new jacks.....Dave

[BradW]

LannyV wrote:
Wonder if these new vertical motors will be available for the old style jacks. That may solve a lot of the problems.

Good question. If they thought it through, they should be a direct bolt-on replacement for the old style motor/drive unit.

[LannyV]

Wonder if these new vertical motors will be available for the old style jacks. That may solve a lot of the problems.

[BradW]

covered wagon wrote:
White may hold up better.

Yep. Me thinks the Lance version will be white.

Brad

[covered_wagon]

I hope the plastic being black does not distort or fail in some way from summer heat. White may hold up better. I do like the protection from moisture with the motor inverted like that.

You get the older style motor cups/ covers off to lube the lower bearing by blowing air into the bottom hole. Just 15 psi air with a rubber tip nozzle will allow the motor cover to come off. Then 3 in one oil squirt into the motor housing at the bottom weep hole gets it done.

Over time eventually you'll need to put a clamp around the cup/ cover to keep it in place. Hot days lets it expand and fall off after several years of removal.

[stevenal]

Looks like a better motor position. Less likely to collect water at the end bearing.

[sonuvabug]

BradW wrote:

Sprintcar wrote:
Take a look at the article on the Truck Camper Magazine website on the Adventurer 50th Anniversary Edition. They talk about the new version of the jacks and have a picture.

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/tcm-exclusive-2019-adventurer-901sb-50th-anniversary/

Thanks! Yes, I bet that's it.

Bradw

We love our 2007 Adventurer 90FWS and have always believed it is as close to perfect a design as you can wish for ... at least for our needs. When I saw the 901SB's floor plan, I thought ... hey we have one of those. Then I read the article and it was confirmed ...

"We wanted to pay tribute to non-slide floor plans of past Adventurer models. Specifically, the 901SB floor plan is similar to the Adventurer 90FWS from years ago. The 901SB floor plan is actually reversed from the 90FWS, and tweaked with numerous design improvements."

The new one is definitely updated from ours but the great, practical layout, remains largely the same. I guess if the car manufacturers can bring back their retro designs (Beetle, Mustang, Camaro & Chargers etc.), then why not the RV industry?

[BradW]

Sprintcar wrote:
Take a look at the article on the Truck Camper Magazine website on the Adventurer 50th Anniversary Edition. They talk about the new version of the jacks and have a picture.

https://www.truckcampermagazine.com/news/tcm-exclusive-2019-adventurer-901sb-50th-anniversary/



Thanks! Yes, I bet that's it.

Bradw

[Sprintcar]

Take a look at the article on the Truck Camper Magazine website on the Adventurer 50th Anniversary Edition. They talk about the new version of the jacks and have a picture.

[BradW]

I have read that Lippert now owns Happijac and the Atwood jack division and new happijac jacks that will come on new Lance campers will look like the happijac 4800 legs with an Atwood head. I assume that is true, but I believe it when I see it.

[LannyV]

BradW wrote:

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

If you are referring to the 4800's they use the same motor and one of mine (22 months old) has failed.