Barker Jack blowing fuses

[gaylejoe]

I have the 5th Barker jacking on my 07 25'FB and right now I am waiting to have the switch replaced. You talk about headaches. That fuse cannot be purchased anywhere. I had Barker send my some spare fuse's. In 2014 the 3rd jack went out in Oregon. Had it replaced drove 150 miles to the next campground and when I went to unhook and raise the trailer the shaft of the jack shot out and jammed. I had to call for someone to come to raise the trailer so the shaft could be pulled out. Drove back the 150 miles to the rv repair to have the jack replaced. We now have the 5 jack with the bad toggle switch waiting to be repaired. Barker has been great in dealing with my issues. Everything has been replaced at no cost to me. Right now I do not trust my jack.

I was glad to see this thread. I thought I was the only one with this problem.

[Rocket53]

I just bought some 30A slow-blow fuses on the internet. hope they're the right kind. 3AG 30A 32V 1/4 X 1-1/4"

[Ted S.]

Originally Posted by Rocket53

I just bought some 30A slow-blow fuses on the internet. hope they're the right kind. 3AG 30A 32V 1/4 X 1-1/4"

I bought some off Amazon and they did not fit. Do you have a link? I need to fix me the correct ones.

[AWCHIEF]

NAPA has slow blow 30 amp glass fuses.

[Rocket53]

Here's the link:

www.digikey.com

Part #

283-2199-ND

FUSE GLASS 30A 32VAC 3AB 3AG

They arrived yesterday and appear correct.

Mike

[m.hony]

I tried the 30A 32VAC fuses.
They blow fairly quickly.
They are widely available at auto parts places.
I wonder if I should order some of the 30A 250VAC fuses like the original fuse.
I wonder if they will last longer than the 30A 32VAC fuses I've been using.
I wonder what brand of jack my Classic has. It doesn't look like any of the Barker models.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by m.hony

I tried the 30A 32VAC fuses.
They blow fairly quickly.
They are widely available at auto parts places.
I wonder if I should order some of the 30A 250VAC fuses like the original fuse.
I wonder if they will last longer than the 30A 32VAC fuses I've been using.
I wonder what brand of jack my Classic has. It doesn't look like any of the Barker models.

Are the fuses a "slow blow" variety, per earlier posts? Your owners manual, or the instruction pamphlets for your jack included in your AS briefcase, should tell you exactly which jack you have.

Your owners manual does not state the jack brand, but does call it a "Super Jack" [PDF p. 47/146] :

https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...lassic2013.pdf

Is this it?

http://www.vintagetrailersupply.com/...-p/vts-350.htm

No longer made? See also:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f457...ck-123310.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f457...er-139798.html
http://airstreamsupply.com/Jacks-and...w-light-511544

Also -- have you lubricated the jack per the instructions? It may be that you have an OK fuse, but it keeps blowing because the jack is not lubricated correctly, and is therefore drawing too many amps,

[m.hony]

I have figured out through the power of the interweb that the Super Jack by H & H Engineering is a division of Barker.
So, I called Barker.
They are sending me (3) 30A 250VAC slow blow glass fuses at no cost!
How awesome is that?
Woohoo!
Score!
Certainly hope this helps lots of folks out there-
If I was at home with the trailer I could have answered all questions faster, but I am at work.
I looked through photos on my phone to determine that it is a Super Jack.
Persistence pays off!
Funny as I was searching the web I came across that exact same Vintage Trailer Supply ad for the super jack used since 1977... That is the one...
The whole fuse blowing thing started when the truck 'n' trailer were stuck in the mud and I was trying to use the jack to lift the entire rig to place boards under the truck tires.
The ground was so squishy and soft that nothing I did worked. All the wood blocks and cement blocks just squished down into the soft muddy ground. That stuff is still down in the ground...
Uneven pressure on the jack caused the shaft that goes up and down to bend. Not sure if a sledge hammer will make it better or worse, but have had success with a sledgehammer on some other bent trailer jacks...
Even still, it doesn't seem to be in a bind. I thought getting the exact same 30A 250VAC rather than the Advance Auto Parts 30A 32VAC might help. We'll see...

[m.hony]

How/where to lube?
I took it all apart before I discovered the blown fuse and it seemed all slippery/greasy in there.
Unrelated question, but grease/lube brought it to the forefront of my mind:
Where/how do I "lubricate gears twice a year" on my Winegard TV antenna?
I don't see any way to do that from inside the trailer.
Looks like I will have to go up on the roof to do that.

[OTRA15]

Originally Posted by m.hony

How/where to lube?
I took it all apart before I discovered the blown fuse and it seemed all slippery/greasy in there.
. . .

Your owners manual, linked in Post # 27, says:

"1. Every two years remove screws and cover and check grease condition. Use HMP grease similar to lubricate 630AA and spread on gear teeth, Grease is not required on the nylon timing gears. No internal lubrication of the post is required, but an occasional external application of a silicone or WD-40 spray lubricant on the inner tube of the post when extended is permissible."

[p. 48 of the PDF]


Additional instructions go on at that location . . .

[GCinSC2]

How about hitching up to support the trailer and the remove the head if req'd and manually extend and retract the post? If it's bent or damaged the manual operation should let you feel the binding. If binding, requires more current due to heavier load.

I think not bumping hard into the hitch while hooking up is a great to NOT bend the post.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by WaLee

I was blowing fuses and discovered the power line was pinched by my pro pride yoke. Fixed that and no more blown fuses. I have Learned though that if the post is stressed as in the trailer moving at all once it's down then binding and stripped gears become a significant problem.


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

Another cause for blowing the jack fuse...wiring worn thru where it runs under the tank cover...replaced wire and covered with split loom.

Bob

[Caffeinated]

It would be great if someone could post video of how to lube the Barker jack.

Mike

[m.hony]

Ditto for a video showing how to "lube gears twice a year" on the Winegard TV antenna.
I think I got the concept of lubing my Super Jack.

[m.hony]

Got my package of (3) 30A 250VAC fuses from Barker today.
Will put them in the trailer-
Heading out on a trip Friday-


Sent from my iPad using Airstream Forums

[m.hony]

I just ordered a new Super Jack by H & H Engineering a division of Barker tongue jack from Barker for $339.
It is $379.99 from Vintage Trailer Supply.
They will send a cover for the jack, too.
The guy told me that Airstream no longer uses Barker jacks, but uses Atwood jacks on all trailers.
I wonder if there is an Atwood jack painted to match the trailer frame.

[Rocinante]

Just put a new black 3000 pound Barker VIP jack on our trailer, as the original seemed to be leaning a bit. Probably from that time we backed up at Joshua Tree with the jack down. (sigh). Still worked, but groaned a lot and as we raised the trailer on the jack the foot would slide forward more than it should.

We figured out after the fact that the exact match Barker these days is probably the Deluxe High Power 3500. We ordered the 3000 because the Barker jack already on our trailer said it was a 3000. So, if/when we wear out this jack we'll go with the fancier one. Apparently the higher rated jack has a 2.25" post while the 3000 has a 2" post. Fortunately, it mounted nicely anyway and seems to work just fine, as 3000 pounds is 3000 pounds so it's not overloaded.

BTW, the black jack looks just fine, don't care that it's not battleship grey. Oh, and we finally rotated the power head 90 degrees so now we can open the tailgate without issues. That's nice.