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01-18-2013, 02:43 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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Your Inner MacGyver?
Three days from home the Up/Down switch on our power jack went to smoke. And, it also burnt out the 30A inline fuse. Well, that's a fine fix! First, I thought I'd tackle finding the fuse, so I could bypass the switch. Nope. Went to RadioShack, car parts etc. No 30A Type 3AG fuses. "Honey, cut me a piece of tin foil, please - 2" square."
Wrapped the blown fuse in tin foil and that seemed to work. Then I had to take the cover off the jack control, remove the switch, get two screwdrivers and hold one each across the DOWN contacts. Voila. That worked. The UP contacts were still ok.
I don't carry tons of tools, but I focus on MacGyver'ish things like "vice grips" and tape, and knives and glue, and well, you get the idea.
It's funny, but you get a good feeling when you can rig something up and make it work to get home on.
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01-18-2013, 02:54 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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Quote:
Originally Posted by mstephens
Wrapped the blown fuse in tin foil and that seemed to work. Then I had to take the cover off the jack control, remove the switch, get two screwdrivers and hold one each across the DOWN contacts. Voila. That worked. The UP contacts were still ok.
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Seems overly complicated to me. If you carry a circuit tester, you can use the tester to bypass the fuse temporarily, without having to make anything.
But, having said that, it's hard to argue with success. Go, you!
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
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01-18-2013, 03:45 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
2007 Interstate
Normal
, Illinois
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 18,089
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We once retrieved a contact lens that had fallen to the floor behind one of the benches----with a spatula with chewed gum on the end.
Don't laugh, it worked.
Maggie
__________________
🏡 🚐 Cherish and appreciate those you love. This moment could be your last.🌹🐚
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01-18-2013, 04:04 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1971 25' Tradewind
1993 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Estancia
, New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,743
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What kind of jack do you have? Earlier Barkers had 2 plug in cheap internal relay switches that acted similar to your description. The Barker also had a hand crank in the event of an electrical jack failure.
__________________
Sail on silver girl. Sail on by. Your time has come to shine.
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01-18-2013, 04:45 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
2013 25' Flying Cloud
Cat City
, California
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 854
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lumatic
What kind of jack do you have? Earlier Barkers had 2 plug in cheap internal relay switches that acted similar to your description. The Barker also had a hand crank in the event of an electrical jack failure.
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It's not a Barker, it's an ACME. Bought it last year when we got the trailer. They call it a "Heavy Duty" jack and I paid a heavy duty price. I was a bit ticked off that the SW burned out in 12 months.
Ok, yes there is a hand crank. However, to use this crank efficiently, I would have to remove the propane cover and the tanks in order to swing the crank through 360 degrees. That would be fine if I had to do it once. But not so fine to do 6 times - 3 landings and 3 takeoffs. It was fairly easy to jimmy the switch with two screwdrivers.
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01-19-2013, 01:22 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2005 19' Safari
GLENDALE
, AZ
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,453
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The manual crank handle mounts on the front of Atwood jacks, where there are no obstructions. Also, we have had no problems with ours since purchasing it about 5 years ago. However, we keep it covered with an old boat fender (bumper) to protect it from the sun, weather, dirt and road hazards.
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01-19-2013, 04:08 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1981 27' Excella II
mays landing
, South Jersey
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by doug&maggie
We once retrieved a contact lens that had fallen to the floor behind one of the benches----with a spatula with chewed gum on the end.
Don't laugh, it worked.
Maggie
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I remember getting coins through the porch planks that way. But not lately. Sal
__________________
Sal & Nora
Let us live so that when we die even the undertaker will be sorry. Mark Twain
AIR 42483
TAC N.J. 17
WBCCI 24740
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