Crank - uncranking ??

[fairweathercamper]

Not sure how to describe this so here goes.

When cranking up or down the pop-up (anywhere but full up or full down, which hold it's position) if I let go of the handle it goes in the down direction. It doesn't take much pressure to keep it from going and it doesn't slam down. Just a slow uncranking.

Now here's what I did to make this happen :

I took off the cover to the wiffle tree and cleaned it and regreased it and sprayed silicone spray on all the pulley wheels and the uprights. Normal maintance right ? Everything went back together smoothly as it came apart. I didn't put any more grease in the cover than what I clean out of the old grease.

Am I missing something here ?

Do I need to adjust something ?

[mike4947]

If you don't hear the normal click-click when cranking; this is a case of "if all else fails read the owner's manual"
It's such a "feature" on Coleman/Fleetwood trailers that they have put the "fix" in the owner's manual.
It's caused by over cranking when closing. This forces the small locking pawl that stops the winch gearing from moving out of position. The "fix" is to raise the top and "slightly" over crank the roof. This trips the pawl back into position and you will hear the familar click-click again.

[Jamiek]

Not sure how to describe this so here goes.

When cranking up or down the pop-up (anywhere but full up or full down, which hold it's position) if I let go of the handle it goes in the down direction. It doesn't take much pressure to keep it from going and it doesn't slam down. Just a slow uncranking.

Now here's what I did to make this happen :

I took off the cover to the wiffle tree and cleaned it and regreased it and sprayed silicone spray on all the pulley wheels and the uprights. Normal maintance right ? Everything went back together smoothly as it came apart. I didn't put any more grease in the cover than what I clean out of the old grease.

Am I missing something here ?

Do I need to adjust something ?

I think i have the same problem with my coleman.  When i start to crank it up i dont here the normal cranking sound and if i let go it starts to come down.  But once i get it more than 75% up i hear the cranking noise and everything is fine.  Kinda strange, dont know why???

[My3buicks]

I think i have the same problem with my coleman.  When i start to crank it up i dont here the normal cranking sound and if i let go it starts to come down.  But once i get it more than 75% up i hear the cranking noise and everything is fine.  Kinda strange, dont know why???

What cranking noise?  My 78 doesn't make noise, it has a handy hook that hooks and holds the top from coming back down.  Should I be hearing clicking or is that a modern gismo?

[Jamiek]

What cranking noise?  My 78 doesn't make noise, it has a handy hook that hooks and holds the top from coming back down.  Should I be hearing clicking or is that a modern gismo?

the noise is the click-click-click-click-click when cranking.  Not sure about your 78

[Morin]

What cranking noise?  My 78 doesn't make noise, it has a handy hook that hooks and holds the top from coming back down.  Should I be hearing clicking or is that a modern gismo?

Mine does not make that crank either and i too have a hook.  I have a 1989 Coleman.  i beleive this is only with certain types of lift systems?  I could be 100% wrong though....

[AustinBoston]

Many older lift systems did not have a ratchet mechanism.  When the roof was all the way up, a hook or other stop was used to prevent the roof coming down.  If you let go of the crank without engaging the hook, the roof could come down...fast.

Then came the ratchet systems.  Under normal operation, you cranked up, and the roof stayed up.  You cranked down, and it stayed down.  You could stop at any point in between, and it would stay.

Except...if over-cranked when cranking down, the pawl in the ratchet could get out-of-position, and the crank would then work like the old kind...if you loast your grip, the roof will come down...and fast.  The manufacturers included a mechanism to correct this (to prevent service visits over a displaced pawl).  If you just keep cranking, the pawl will eventually be put back in place and the roof will stay up.  In the meantime, don't let go of the crank...the roof will come down fast, and that crank can spin fast enough to break an arm (or at least deliver a good whack).

The best way to prevent "pawl displacement" is to crank to lower the roof only to where the crank goes loose.  Don't try to use the crank to force the roof down the last few inches.

Austin