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11-19-2017, 01:46 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master 
2017 19' International
Tallahassee
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 938
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Taking care of 7-way plug
What can I do to keep the 7-way plug in good health?
Should I give it a shot of WD-40 every now and then?
Should I use dielectric grease?
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11-19-2017, 01:51 PM
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#2
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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I bought a rubber cover that fits over the end of the plug to keep it clean. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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11-19-2017, 01:53 PM
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#3
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.-. -...
2017 25' International
Niagara-on-the-Lake
, ON Canada
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,837
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__________________
Ray B.
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11-19-2017, 02:45 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member 
Chelsea
, Maine
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 380
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist
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I bought that same cover.
If you hang the umbilical over the back of your tongue jack the cover will be on the bottom, and rain will fill the cover with water. The water will stay in the cover and cause problems. In my case the right turn signal light comes on.
Open the cover, shake off the water, and the light goes out.
__________________
2023 Entegra Odyssey 26M
2017 FC 27FB
2017 F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.2L
Equal-I-Zer 10K/1000
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11-19-2017, 02:55 PM
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#5
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Figment of My Imagination
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over
, More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JMynes
If you hang the umbilical over the back of your tongue jack the cover will be on the bottom, and rain will fill the cover with water. The water will stay in the cover and cause problems. In my case the right turn signal light comes on.
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Then don't hang the umbilical over the tongue jack! (Like that old joke, "Doc, it hurts when I do that." "Then don't do that!"  )
Just use a big Velcro cable tie to fasten the umbilical to the tongue jack, with the plug (and cover) facing up. Then no rain enters the plug with the cover on. Problem solved.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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11-19-2017, 02:59 PM
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#6
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4 Rivet Member
Chelsea
, Maine
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 380
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Protagonist
Then don't hang the umbilical over the tongue jack! (Like that old joke, "Doc, it hurts when I do that." "Then don't do that!" )
Just use a big Velcro cable tie to fasten the umbilical to the tongue jack, with the plug (and cover) facing up. Then no rain enters the plug with the cover on. Problem solved. |
I no longer “do that”. At least not with the cover on.
__________________
2023 Entegra Odyssey 26M
2017 FC 27FB
2017 F250 Lariat Crew Cab 6.2L
Equal-I-Zer 10K/1000
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11-19-2017, 04:13 PM
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#7
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2 Rivet Member 
2010 20' Flying Cloud
Surry
, Virginia
Join Date: Oct 2010
Posts: 45
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I dangle a bungee cord down inside the propane cover, hook the umbilical cord plug and pull it up into the cover protection and hook the other end of the bungee to hold the cord inside the cover.
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11-19-2017, 05:47 PM
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#8
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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^
X2
It lives inside with the LP tanks covered with dielectric grease, open end down. 
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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11-19-2017, 06:32 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2016 30' International
redondo beach
, California
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 772
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I use a 7-way plug extension chord.
__________________
Randy and Beth 15 F250, 16 30' International, ProPride, Dexter 3" lift, Michelin 16, Dill TPMS, Centramatics, Battleborn x4, Victron BMV and 1.2KW inverter, Orion DC/DC, BlueSolar MPPT, 300W solar, Alpine iLX, Polk MM1, Samsung smart 42"
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11-19-2017, 06:34 PM
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#10
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Rivet Master
Kensington
, Maryland
Join Date: Jan 2016
Posts: 554
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Keep a coat of di-electric grease on the metal bits and there is not much else to do!
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11-19-2017, 08:27 PM
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#11
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Rivet Master
1995 25' Excella
xxxxx
, xxxxxx
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,351
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I rinse it out with brake cleaner about once a year and put dielectric grease on it afterwards. I just drape it over the frame...no cover.
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11-19-2017, 09:05 PM
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#12
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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I took care of mine by replacing it with something better.
After much procrastination, I finally got around to replacing the RV style connector with a 7 pin round connector that is used in heavy truck service. They are simply a lot better.....
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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11-20-2017, 07:34 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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i clean it with crc electronic cleaner spray before each use. works great and easily found at hd or lowes
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11-20-2017, 07:56 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,653
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALANSD
i clean it with crc electronic cleaner spray before each use. works great and easily found at hd or lowes
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This.
Products like WD-40 attract dirt. Bagging or sealing the plug encourage condensation when the temp changes.
I hang mine over where the tongue jack and propane cover meet. With the plug facing down and it's molded, no stuff gets in.
I do like the "Hood" that's available with Husky jacks.
In transit, I pass the cable through the "safety pin" that prevents the coupler from opening. That way the cable is centered, so left and right turns don't tug on it.
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11-20-2017, 08:07 AM
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#15
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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^
+
I have replaced the zip-tie in the photo with a velcro cable tie. It won't matter how you 'protect' it if you grind it down to nothingness.
Ask me how I know... 
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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11-20-2017, 10:32 AM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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My response to having the wires pulled out of the plug in turns was to replace the solid wire with a pig tail...... problem solved...
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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11-20-2017, 10:47 AM
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#17
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,653
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Just curious. Do many of you have a problem with the plug falling out of the tow vehicle while driving? I see numerous people use a rubber band or Velcro over the locking cap.
Last time I plugged mine in, the brake controller said, "No trailer connected". I gave it a wiggle and it was fine, but I didn't seem to push it in far. I started wondering if the prongs on the truck got pushed in, and the connection is fragile.
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11-20-2017, 10:49 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
2004 30' Classic Slideout
2021 33FB Classic
Colleyville
, TX
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1,540
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Quote:
Originally Posted by WhereStream
What can I do to keep the 7-way plug in good health?
Should I give it a shot of WD-40 every now and then?
Should I use dielectric grease?
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We've had the same problem over the years and here's what I've learned. Using a small file or a Dremel grind off some of the corrosion on the female side then squeeze Dielectric Grease into the openings, no forgetting the center post as well. Short of replacement of the seven way plug we've found this simple maintenance works very well. Happy trails.
__________________
In dog years, I'm dead!
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11-20-2017, 10:55 AM
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#19
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"Cloudsplitter"
2003 25' Classic
Houstatlantavegas
, Malebolgia
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 20,000
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollysdad
Just curious. Do many of you have a problem with the plug falling out of the tow vehicle while driving? I see numerous people use a rubber band or Velcro over the locking cap.
Last time I plugged mine in, the brake controller said, "No trailer connected". I gave it a wiggle and it was fine, but I didn't seem to push it in far. I started wondering if the prongs on the truck got pushed in, and the connection is fragile.
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Well... ours fell out once....on the way home from the delivery.
Now>> the old Safari never fell out at all, male & female all metal with a very secure lock retainer.
FWIW....I secure the boat cord the same way.
Bob
__________________
I’m done with ‘adulting’…Let’s go find Bigfoot.
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11-20-2017, 10:56 AM
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#20
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Rivet Master
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton
, Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
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Taking care of 7-way plug
If the spring loaded cover is in place and functional, no other devise should be required so long as the plug isn’t pulled in turns.
As I mentioned above, I dislike the RV style plugs with the flat blades, so I changed to the heavy duty round pin style.
This style plug will not eliminate the problems with poor connections, but it will greatly reduce their frequency. They are just better.
FWIW, when I was running the RV style plug, and having trouble with the cable getting pulled tight, the plug stayed in, but the wires were getting pulled out of the plug end... that was most uncool, it put me in a bad mood to have to rewire the plug on the side of the road... 
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......
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