Lubing the lift on Coleman Carmel

darkstar · Mar 30, 2006, 09:35 PM

Anyone have any info at all about how to lubricate the lift system of a Coleman Carmel? I read in another post that this should be done on a regular basis, although I'm not sure exactly what that means...Thanks

abbear · Mar 31, 2006, 12:27 AM

The wiffle tree I lube when I feel the crank starting to drag. This is the part of the lift system that attaches the crank to the cables. Under the trailer at the crank end is a flat pan. Remove this and the tree is exposed. Grease it up well. The pulleys I lube at least once a year.

tlhdoc · Mar 31, 2006, 09:39 PM

Quote from: darkstarAnyone have any info at all about how to lubricate the lift system of a Coleman Carmel? I read in another post that this should be done on a regular basis, although I'm not sure exactly what that means...Thanks

Hi darkstar,

Your Carmel is lubed the way the other Coleman/Fleetwood trailers get lubed. The normal maintenance that should be done several times a year is to spray silicone spray on the cables and all of the pulleys. If you start under the PU it is easy to see the cables and pulleys. The 4 lift arms have pulleys at the bottom (which you lube from under the PU), but there are also pulleys in the lift arms. The easiest way to get to them is to crank the roof up a foot or two and then look in the side of the lifter arm that faces the tenting on the PU. You will see a couple more pulleys in the lift arms. I put a piece of cardboard between the tenting and the lift arms before spraying the silicone on the pulleys and cables. That way you don't get any spray on the tenting.

dthurk · Apr 01, 2006, 05:55 AM

Quote from: tlhdocHi darkstar,

Your Carmel is lubed the way the other Coleman/Fleetwood trailers get lubed. The normal maintenance that should be done several times a year is to spray silicone spray on the cables and all of the pulleys. If you start under the PU it is easy to see the cables and pulleys. The 4 lift arms have pulleys at the bottom (which you lube from under the PU), but there are also pulleys in the lift arms. The easiest way to get to them is to crank the roof up a foot or two and then look in the side of the lifter arm that faces the tenting on the PU. You will see a couple more pulleys in the lift arms. I put a piece of cardboard between the tenting and the lift arms before spraying the silicone on the pulleys and cables. That way you don't get any spray on the tenting.

Have you ever done any lubing of the wiffle tree?

tlhdoc · Apr 01, 2006, 09:58 AM

Quote from: dthurkHave you ever done any lubing of the wiffle tree?

2 years ago I had a lift cable break on my birthday camping trip. The dealer lubed the wiffle tree when then replaced the broken cable. Lubing the wiffle tree is not regular maintance. If you are going to do it you need to take the tension off of the cables first, by cranking up part way, pulling the bunkends out a small amount and then lowering the roof down onto the bunkends. Unless you are having problems I wouldn't mess with it. DO NOT CRANK YOUR PU UP OR DOWN WITH THE COVER OF THE WIFFLE TREE OFF.

dthurk · Apr 01, 2006, 02:08 PM

Quote from: tlhdoc2 years ago I had a lift cable break on my birthday camping trip. The dealer lubed the wiffle tree when then replaced the broken cable. Lubing the wiffle tree is not regular maintance. If you are going to do it you need to take the tension off of the cables first, by cranking up part way, pulling the bunkends out a small amount and then lowering the roof down onto the bunkends. Unless you are having problems I wouldn't mess with it. DO NOT CRANK YOUR PU UP OR DOWN WITH THE COVER OF THE WIFFLE TREE OFF.

Guess I'll leave well enough alone. I do lube the lift arms, with silicone spray. Also the bunk end tracks and the window zippers. Don't remember if I got the later from the manual or the dealer, but it was one or the other.

tlhdoc · Apr 01, 2006, 06:41 PM

I use zipper lube on the zippers and also lube the bed slides, the threads on the crank down stabilizing jacks (white lithium grease spray), and the threads on my BAL Leveler (hitch lube). I was working on the PU tonight and need to get more silicone spray.

abbear · Apr 01, 2006, 10:21 PM

Quote from: tlhdocLubing the wiffle tree is not regular maintance. If you are going to do it you need to take the tension off of the cables first, by cranking up part way, pulling the bunkends out a small amount and then lowering the roof down onto the bunkends.

I have never heard this and have never done this. With the camper closed tension is already off of the cables. You are just removing the screws from the pan covering the wiffle tree and applying grease to the mechanism.

Quote from: tlhdocUnless you are having problems I wouldn't mess with it. DO NOT CRANK YOUR PU UP OR DOWN WITH THE COVER OF THE WIFFLE TREE OFF.

Exactly - as I said I have only done this when I feel the force needed to crank the top up increasing. That has been about every two years. It is a simple job with the hardest part being the removal and replacement of the pan covering the tree.

wavery · Apr 01, 2006, 11:10 PM

I really appreciate this thread. I was wondering about the best method of lubricating the pulleys.

Being that my trailer is 4 years old and I don't know if the wiffle-tree has ever been lubricated. I think that I will do it.

The silicone on the pulleys makes sense to me. Do you know if I should use white-lithium grease on the wiffle-tree or a heavier lube? I still have some winch grease from my sailing days. It is a light weight, clear grease, sorta like a silicone grease. Do you think that would be good?

Old Goat · Apr 02, 2006, 06:55 AM

Wayne, I have lubed the tree on my Niagara several times using wheel bearing grease with lithium and it works great. I also adjust the cables when I lube it..Wench grease should work very well too....

dthurk · Apr 02, 2006, 09:14 AM

Quote from: Old GoatWayne, I have lubed the tree on my Niagara several times using wheel bearing grease with lithium and it works great. I also adjust the cables when I lube it..Wench grease should work very well too....

Wench grease?

?

Old Goat · Apr 02, 2006, 08:44 PM

Quote from: dthurkWench grease??

I am not a spelling expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, honest,I did........

wavery · Apr 03, 2006, 12:41 AM

Quote from: Old GoatI am not a spelling expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, honest,I did........

Did that "wench grease" come in handy? :p

dthurk · Apr 03, 2006, 05:22 AM

Quote from: Old GoatI am not a spelling expert, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, honest,I did........

Maybe that was Haladey In Xpress.

kwatson51 · Apr 06, 2006, 01:39 PM

Quote from: abbearThe wiffle tree I lube when I feel the crank starting to drag. This is the part of the lift system that attaches the crank to the cables. Under the trailer at the crank end is a flat pan. Remove this and the tree is exposed. Grease it up well. The pulleys I lube at least once a year.

Pardon my ignorance...what is a "wiffle tree"?

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Lubing the lift on Coleman Carmel

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