Jayco lift

[Nick]

Last time we went camping, while poping up the trailer there was a loud snap. The roof cranked up the rest of the way but was just an inch or less from fully poped. When we left the roof can down just fine. Well I figured I would tear into things this moring to see what the snap was all about. The pictures below are what I found. Luckly it was the front right side next to the winch so it was not difficult to remove. Anyway, just now have to decide if I'm going to try and replace it with a new one or if I can bend it back in shape and have some extra reinforcement welded on. I'll probabley do the fix and see if it holds and if not replace it. BTW the last picture is my DW sweeping the patio in her PJ's.
http://home.comcast.net/~mnikoley/lift1.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~mnikoley/lift2.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~mnikoley/lift3.JPG
http://home.comcast.net/~mnikoley/michele.JPG

[HottFamily4]

As long as it is reinforced it should be ok. Besides, since it is easy to get to why spend the big bucks if you don't have to.

[tlhdoc]

Does she know that you posted the pic on the internet? :eyecrazy:

[brainpause]

Do a good inspection of the cable in the area of the pulley. Since it bent crooked, it might have forced the cable against the metal guard or something else, and might have become frayed.

Larry

[Nick]

Does she know that you posted the pic on the internet? :eyecrazy:

Yes and she swears revenge.

[Nick]

Do a good inspection of the cable in the area of the pulley. Since it bent crooked, it might have forced the cable against the metal guard or something else, and might have become frayed.
 
Larry

I thought about that too.  Yesterday I got the thing fixed and reinforced.  I don't think I'll have the same problem again.  I'll post some pic's this evening.  I got some new cable just in case and now just need to buy or find someone who has a crimping tool.  I think its called a swagger or something like that.

[MommaMia]

Does she know that you posted the pic on the internet? :eyecrazy:

Yeah... If it was my picture in my pjs posted for all to see I'd beat the tar outta you!!!

[MommaMia]

I got some new cable just in case and now just need to buy or find someone who has a crimping tool.  I think its called a swagger or something like that.

Bearbait posted about buying this tool in this thread... http://www.arveeclub.com/showpost.php?p=72189&postcount=6

[bearbait]

It's called a swagging tool and if you search aircraft supply places,  they carry them,  mine is made by nicopress.  Get the bigger of the two sizes they make because it will crimp any cable you would ever need to repair in the pop up.

 
btw,  you have to use a copper sleeve to crimp these stainless steel cables,  don't even think about using something else,  it won't work,  the roof will just collapse.

[brainpause]

bearbait,

Is this what they should be looking for? (Trying to learn something myself, even though I don't need one right now)

http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/NICROPRESS.htm

Larry

[bearbait]

bearbait,
 
Is this what they should be looking for? (Trying to learn something myself, even though I don't need one right now)
 
http://www.foreandaftmarine.com/NICROPRESS.htm
 
Larry

Thank you Larry,  yes,  that is exactly the tool I have. Fleetwood uses 1/8 and 1/4 inch cable,  so the larger of the two covers both of those. (added note,  those things sure have gotten expensive)
 
Also look down just a little bit on that link and you will see the zinc coated copper furls.  Those are the exact ones you need for this application,  you can get steel ones at Home Depot or Lowes,  don't use those,  you will be sorry.  Also use stainless steel cable,  you can get a universal kit from an RV dealer and one end will already have the loop in it and the furl for the other. All you have to do is "string" it through the pully system and cut and swag it.
 
Anyone doing this,  something I found usefull was to swag the end of the cable in the gearbox after I pulled the cable as tight as I could get it with the roof raised and level.  I then locked a pair of vice grips on the cable and measured where the loop needed to be. Then put the eye bolt on and swagged the furl...THEN cut the excess cable away,  it sure was a lot easier.

[Nick]

It's called a swagging tool and if you search aircraft supply places, they carry them, mine is made by nicopress. Get the bigger of the two sizes they make because it will crimp any cable you would ever need to repair in the pop up.
 
 
btw, you have to use a copper sleeve to crimp these stainless steel cables, don't even think about using something else, it won't work, the roof will just collapse.

Actually I just spoke to a metallurgist friend of mine and he said while copper is more malleable and easier to crimp it does not have near the strength of a steel collar. The ones that are on mine now are definitely not copper.

[bearbait]

I used a steel collar the first time I did it, it slipped and failed as soon as I put it under load. The way it was explained to me was that copper has to be used because it is soft,  the copper will actually "grab" at the strains of stainless steel and make it a permanent bond.  Steel is too hard and won't fill in between the strands and ends up just slipping off once it is under load.

 
Are you sure yours are not copper?  It may look like steel from the outside,  but I would guess it is zinc plated,  the zinc acts as a buffer so that the two different metals don't react in a negative way against each other.  And that's definitely too hard to explain here!
I would contact the manufacturer and ask them to be sure,  but all Fleetwoods are copper furls,  or at least are supposed to be.

[Nick]

I used a steel collar the first time I did it, it slipped and failed as soon as I put it under load. The way it was explained to me was that copper has to be used because it is soft, the copper will actually "grab" at the strains of stainless steel and make it a permanent bond. Steel is too hard and won't fill in between the strands and ends up just slipping off once it is under load.
 
 
Are you sure yours are not copper? It may look like steel from the outside, but I would guess it is zinc plated, the zinc acts as a buffer so that the two different metals don't react in a negative way against each other. And that's definitely too hard to explain here!
I would contact the manufacturer and ask them to be sure, but all Fleetwoods are copper furls, or at least are supposed to be.

That makes sense since my friend told me the copper would react with the steel cable.  The zinc plating of coarse would prevent that.  I hope I can find some place local that has copper furals cause I don't have time to order them.

[PhilipTiderman]

Did you find the crimping tool (Swage)?? If so where and made by which manufacturer? They are not easy to locate and then there's the cost.....


Thanks for any info,     Phil T.