LCI electric tongue jack - fix that worked for me - some oil

[eb145]

I have had lots of frustration with the LCI Electric Tongue Jack that came with my 2 year old trailer. It looks like this:



It was so unreliable. I found if I banged on the outer tube with a steel pipe it would usually work. Recently it has been getting worse and totally failing me.

I laid down to look at the bottom part when it was last stuck - I saw the inner tube that moved up and down was slightly corroded/chalky and it was binding against the outer tube it moved through because the angle the trailer was at. Hmmm.... so I sprayed the inner tube with WD-40 and life is good - at least the jack is now 100% reliable for me (for now).

For good measure I extended the jack and put a coating of motor oil on the outside of the whole inner tube.

I guess I'll hold off on my Barker upgrade for now.

Ed

[beemerphile1]

I see this is an old thread but you have updated it. Are you chocking the wheels well before using the jack? If the trailer moves even a tiny bit after putting the jack down it will put a huge bind on the jack.

[Clarkston]

I have the barker 24 also It has worked with no problems for a year now

[eb145]

Update four months later.

The LCI jack worked for my labor day camping trip but was unreliable on my October trip. By November it stopped working at all. New Years Day I performed some invasive surgery but to no avail - my LCI power tongue jack has died. Motor won't work at all any more. Even when bypassing the switch.

The LCI was a 2500 lb. jack which is probably too light weight for my trailer and weight distribution hitch setup. That could be why the motor works no more. It lasted 2 years - one year with the original owner of the trailer and one year that I owned it. And it was never reliable (except for my Labor day weekend trip in 2012).

I ordered the Barker 3500 with 24" extension New Years Day and got it today (2 days later). I installed it tonight and all is fixed.

Based on rv forum reviews I should be good for many years now. I'll probably even invest in the cover for it to help keep moisture out.

Ed

[eb145]

An update on Labor Day Weekend use of my LCI electric tongue jack.

I left the oil on the outside of the inner tube for this past weekend's trip. It was much more reliable. I did still have some binding a couple times - but not nearly as bad as before I lubed the tube.

I found I could relieve the binding by pushing the trailer tongue with my hand or knee if the binding wasn't bad. In one bad case of binding, the trailer was attached to the truck and I had to move the truck forward a quarter inch or so to relieve the binding and allow the jack to work.

Based on my experience with my jack, a better lube might solve most of my problems. I will try some type of dry lube or chain wax as suggested earlier and see how that works on my next trip.

Thanks for the suggestions on better lubes to try.

Ed

[christopherglen]

I would yse "chain wax", it comes in a spray can like wd40, and is used on motercycle chains to lube the joints, and doesn't collect much dirt.

[no2tracks]

Maybe one could make a weatherproof 'sock' that would attach to the outer tube and extend with the inner tube. It would allow any lube to be used and keep dirt and road grime out.

[Playtime_II]

Patience works for my LCI. If I have a large distance to raise, I have to expect it to slow down and then stop working. So I go do other tasks and come back to finish raising it after a few minutes. It isn't the battery as I am hooked to shore power at the time.

[eb145]

Dry lube does sound better. I just googled "dry lube" - Thanks.

The inner tube is all the way up when driving so it won't be directly exposed to road grime. But at least part of the tube will be exposed when set up.

Dry lube it is.

Ed

[4x4Bob]

Ed;
Not to rain on your parade, but, that coating of Motor Oil will collect dirt as you travel. Then will really gum up the works.

I would recommend that you clean it off really good and then apply a dry lube that will not collect dirt.

Bob

[spadoctor]

This jack has had a problem with corrosion as the top does not seal well. My dealer suggested keeping it covered. I found a waterproof nylon small "duffel bag" type bag that fits great and has a drawstring. I had one on my last camper as a replacement for a year with no problem...luck. I like the smooth movement of this jack so with a little extra care hopefully no problem

[youroo]

Buy the Barker NOW,it is a LCI trick,it is only waiting for a Worse time to fail! PS,I have a LCI spaceman looking jack laying in my shop,we could mate them and have little LCI retards! Youroo!!:)