'92 Flagstaff - difficulty cranking up

[terrond]

I did a lot of repair on my PUP last year but this never happened to me before - as I started cranking up it began to make a slipping noise and I got really worried - I tore into it and found that the smaller gear attached to the cranking rod was barely making contact with the larger gear that moves the roof up. the gears looked to be barely making contact on the sides. I think I solved the problem by adding a good size washer to it so the gears could line up correctly and make better contact.

Anyone experience the same thing? - it's the lift system using the chain and springs.  I've spent so much time sitting and staring at this lift mechanism I feel like an expert by now!

Dave in Austin