Another roof won't stay up thread

[slogan63]

Howdy all,

Brand new pop up owner. Just bought a used Coleman Destiny Cedar (1995) Needs a little work but is in good shape overall. I am having the classic "my ratchet don't ratchet" problem with my lift system. I have read the overcranking fix and tried it to no avail. My question is how do you specifically do it. I have read the following on the net:

• Raise the roof and then slightly overcrank
• Raise the roof until handle wont turn anymore and force it 1/4 turn more
• Raise the roof all the way then keep turning until you hear a pop
• It's in your owner's manual look it up

I don't see the proper procedure in my owner's manual.  I will admit that all I did was raise the roof until it seemed up all the way and I met resitance and pushed a little more.  This did not fix it. Did i do it wrong? How much is slightly? Should I push until I hear a pop ( I have visions of those pops being my cables spring free) Should I go 1/4 turn more and where the heck in the owners manual is the procedure?  

I know that this topic has been talked to death but i just don't get it.

Thanks,

Rick

[Mary Jo]

Hi Rick, we're having the same problem -- same question, same suggested answers, same unsuccessful results, same confusion -- with a "new" used 2001 Coleman Santa Fe. Our service tech said to remove the black box covering the ratchet area and spray with WD40 ("it's probably dirty or dry from lack of use") but in another thread a guy said the WD40 trick only left the lift system very loose. On another call to the service tech to ask about that, he said as long as the crank is "tight," it should be locked, click or no click. But I don't trust it without the click, and there on the curb sits our unused "new" camper.  :-(

If you find the answer, could you share it with me? I'd greatly appreciate it.

Mary Jo

[tlhdoc]

If you have tried over cranking the top and that doesn't fix the problem, then I would take it to a dealer.  I wouldn't risk the top coming down on my family or myself.  I recently had my PU to the dealer several times for a series of lift system problems.  The last one was that the ratchet was only engaging part of the time.  The gear had all of its teeth, but was being pulled out of place.  They lubed in the crank box and then said that the gear moved back into place and it now ratcheting normally.  I don't know if this could be the problem with your PUs, but it could be.  I wasn't comfortable taking care of this problem myself and had the dealer do it.  I have over cranked my lift system to fix the standard no clicking problem, and it is only a slight over crank, nothing close to 1/4 of a turn.

[Shawsee]

My 93 Coleman Roanoke doesn't ratchet either and NOWHERE in my owners manual does it give any method of fixing the problem. Is this a common thing with the Coleman's?

[slogan63]

I will take it in and have it looked at when I have the bearings serviced. I will post the solution once i get it fixed.

Rick

[Shawsee]

Finally!

I got an answer from Fleetwood today via phone call. Their number is 1-800-544-8193. My 93 Destiny Series Roanoke DOES NOT have the ratchet type clutch mechanism, so therefore it will never click when cranking up. Apparently the Destiny Series made from 1990 to 1993, the crank mechanisms were made differently those years. The Tech told me that Fleetwood changed back in 95 to the ratchet type clutch BUT,,, he also told me some newer models were made differently also, where they used a "clutch release" method, no ratchet.
Here is a link he gave me http://home.comcast.net/~jmcanzo1/liftman.pdf

So try this link for info and if you can't find the answer give Fleetwood a call. They were very helpful and great to talk with.