86 starcraft sle 17 cable length

[rwh7296]

i have a 86 starcraft sle 17 and the rear lift cables were broke ,so i bought the parts and made some the exact length of the originals. problem is i believe the previous owner di the same but messed up the lengths. so does anyone know where i can find the original rear lift cable lengths?
any info would be great!!
            thanks
                  ryan

[austinado16]

Probably best to call StarcraftRV and talk to the guys in the technical support dept.

Otherwise, you may have to reverse engineer it by raising the roof fully, supporting the cable-less ends with 2x4's and make sure the roof is level all the way around, and then run your cable down to the "spool" and make your connections there.

[rwh7296]

Probably best to call StarcraftRV and talk to the guys in the technical support dept.

Otherwise, you may have to reverse engineer it by raising the roof fully, supporting the cable-less ends with 2x4's and make sure the roof is level all the way around, and then run your cable down to the "spool" and make your connections there.

   thanks i will call today

[ScouterMom]

I made my own cables for my 1973 Starcraft and ran in into a similar issue - mine were all cut or shredded and had been dragging under the camper, so the previous owners just cut them off!  

 I also have a a lift system instruction booklet from that era on my Webshots site.  

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2351064590100639314GscUyH

Feel free to copy it if it helps.

I did call Starcraft, and they sent me a manual -- But I never could find a 'measurement' from anyone.

If you lift system is like mine (and I don't think they really changed them that much in those years) What I found is that there are TWO cables for each corner.  One shorter one to lift up the poles and with their ends attached TO the posts on the inside.  

These are a fixed legnth, and the longest they have to be is when the camper is folded.  they have to be long enough to go from the nut on the floor, over the pulley in the center of the telescope ing post system, and attach to the nut at the base of the pole that is anchored to the roof.  

Words are  not adequate to describe it - but if you look at the many diagrams in the above manual, it's much clearer & you will understand.

Then you need a longer cable to go from the base of the center section post, over the pully on the base post, and thru the frame pulleys to the eyebolt frame.

These cables can be made in  an estimated length, and can be adjusted longer or shorter later.  Use the screw in type clips and then you can adjust the length a bit until you get it right.  

Since I used cable from the hardware store, and had very little guidelines for length, I left about a foot or two more than I thought I would need,  made the 'fixed' ends to attach inside the camper body, and left the ends that came out under the camper unattached until Ihad everything else wired up.

then with one person under the camper and another outside, we could adjust the length as needed.  Once we thought we had it 'set' we didn't cut off the extra until the camper had set up with the weight on the cables for a day or so.  This let the weight of the roof kinda straighten out any kinks in the wire, or let the wire stretch a bit.  

I did find that for the main cable, it was better to use a solid, closed-circle cast eyebolt, rather than the bent one, because every bent one we used came uncurled after a few trips.  So we also made additional post covers - just in case the cable ever fails, the roof won't come crashing down on anyone.

Check out my first albums -
http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/558726051yVrnUj
I tried to take alot of photos of all my work - because other people's photos of their  projects helped me tremendously in trying to figure out how all these things were supposed to work.

If I can help with any other info - please drop me a note.  

Laura

[flyfisherman]

Just in case you cannot get all your questions answered from the tech folks at Starcraft, you can contact Goshen who have always made the lift systems for Starcraft (including Starcraft's own patented top of the line lift system). I've found these folks very helpful and easy to work with.

http://www.goshenstamping.com/index.htm



Fly

[rwh7296]

I made my own cables for my 1973 Starcraft and ran in into a similar issue - mine were all cut or shredded and had been dragging under the camper, so the previous owners just cut them off!  

 I also have a a lift system instruction booklet from that era on my Webshots site.  

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2351064590100639314GscUyH

Feel free to copy it if it helps.

I did call Starcraft, and they sent me a manual -- But I never could find a 'measurement' from anyone.

If you lift system is like mine (and I don't think they really changed them that much in those years) What I found is that there are TWO cables for each corner.  One shorter one to lift up the poles and with their ends attached TO the posts on the inside.  

These are a fixed legnth, and the longest they have to be is when the camper is folded.  they have to be long enough to go from the nut on the floor, over the pulley in the center of the telescope ing post system, and attach to the nut at the base of the pole that is anchored to the roof.  

Words are  not adequate to describe it - but if you look at the many diagrams in the above manual, it's much clearer & you will understand.

Then you need a longer cable to go from the base of the center section post, over the pully on the base post, and thru the frame pulleys to the eyebolt frame.

These cables can be made in  an estimated length, and can be adjusted longer or shorter later.  Use the screw in type clips and then you can adjust the length a bit until you get it right.  

Since I used cable from the hardware store, and had very little guidelines for length, I left about a foot or two more than I thought I would need,  made the 'fixed' ends to attach inside the camper body, and left the ends that came out under the camper unattached until Ihad everything else wired up.

then with one person under the camper and another outside, we could adjust the length as needed.  Once we thought we had it 'set' we didn't cut off the extra until the camper had set up with the weight on the cables for a day or so.  This let the weight of the roof kinda straighten out any kinks in the wire, or let the wire stretch a bit.  

I did find that for the main cable, it was better to use a solid, closed-circle cast eyebolt, rather than the bent one, because every bent one we used came uncurled after a few trips.  So we also made additional post covers - just in case the cable ever fails, the roof won't come crashing down on anyone.

Check out my first albums -
http://entertainment.webshots.com/album/558726051yVrnUj
I tried to take alot of photos of all my work - because other people's photos of their  projects helped me tremendously in trying to figure out how all these things were supposed to work.

If I can help with any other info - please drop me a note.  

Laura

thank you for the info . i called starcraft and they wre able to give me the exact lengths. i also ordered one just for a template . it was only 45 bucks. thanks again. this forumis great.

[austinado16]

Glad it worked out!

I've had nothing but excellent service and very fair parts prices every time I've called StarcraftRV.  Initially, I thought with a 1987 model, I'd just get the big blow off, and get told no one knew anything about a camper that old, and no parts would be available.  Instead, I've been treated like a customer who just bought a new model at the dealer.  If I need something, no matter what it is, I don't hesitate to call.

[ScouterMom]

Starcraft IS awesome when it comes to customer service - no matter who the original owner was or how old your camper is.  They are simply phenominal.

That kind of help is one of the main reasons that I bought my 1973 camper, even knowing that it might need more work than I expected, because I had previously gotten help from them on working on my first Starcraft - a smaller 1976.  

I know other people love their brands just as much, but I've never been treated so well by any manufacturer of any product, ever. I think that if I ever COULD afford a new (or newer) camper, I'd stay with Starcraft just because of the service they have given on their 'vintage' units.  

Laura