Levelrite 3000 issue

[IanPoulin]

I am going to have to tinker with my levelrite on an issue I am having, but thought I would pass it by the forums for your thoughts or input if anyone else has seen this as well in the past.

I have a 2011 28' International with a levelrite powerjack 3000 installed that seems to be giving up the ghost in terms of lifting ability. The light works find and the motor joyously works perfectly when lowering the airstream. When attempting to lift the airstream however, it powers the shaft down to the ground but once it encounters the weight of the trailer, it ceases to function and I need to manually jack up the trailer at that point.

Since the motor works fine in reverse and the light works, I am going to double check the reccommended annual maintenance functions before I decide the motor to be burning out -- any other ideas and anyone know how easy it will be for me to replace the motor (if that is what it is) without uninstalling the full assembly?

Thanks,

Ian

[Airrogant]

That is a bummer. I bet that cranking that sucker up isn't much fun. I don't know if you've got this manual or not, but thought it might help you with the maintenance requirements:

http://www.barkermfg.com/vip3000.pdf

Good luck!

[Foiled Again]

Hey Ian, How are you doing - other than the jack that is?

OK first test. Plug in your trailer to 30 amp. Did the jack just get strong? If so, it's your trailer batteries that are weak. If it's not possible to plug in to 30 amp, plug in the tow vehicle's umbilical cord so the truck battery can operate the jack.

If neither of these things work, Check the water level (distilled only).
I know you bought used and it could just be that the batteries are more than 3 years old and are dying. Or of course, your converter may not be charging the batteries... and I don't mess with electrical stuff. Got a voltage meter?

Paula

[IanPoulin]

Paula -

Yes, the batteries are already suspect; given dry camping in Loft Mountain required me to generator charge them every morning and night when my principle load was only the refrigerator and a single ceiling vent fan.

However, the jack exhibited the same behaviors when the genset (a honda eu3000is) was active and charging the batteries.

Now, given the jack location, I guess I could ask or work out if the jack operates through the paralax converter/charger - or given it has it's own independent fuse, does it connect directly to the batteries introducing the possibility that even when charging off a genset, the battery bank, if dead or bad, isn't providing the power to the jack.

I'm heading to the storage this weekend with a hydrometer. Does anyone know the wiring method into the jack itself?

Ian


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[HowieE]

Remove the ground wire on your batteries and test the voltage on them. They should be within 1/10 volt of each other.

If one is low you have to replace BOTH.

If one is low reconnect the higher battery, charge it for a few hours and try the jack. That may get you through till you get to Wal Mart.