Servicing Jayco Lift System

[paxsman]

I have a 2004 Jayco Eagle 14SO.  When I Lift my roof at about one foot I have a popping noise and it becomes slightly difficult to crank.  Once it pops cranking is normal.  i would like to service or grease the lift system.  I have searched the threads and haven't found any good directions.  Does anyone have any advice or can you point me to a site that covers this.  Thanks in advance

[flyfisherman]

I have a 2004 Jayco Eagle 14SO.  When I Lift my roof at about one foot I have a popping noise and it becomes slightly difficult to crank.  Once it pops cranking is normal.  i would like to service or grease the lift system.  I have searched the threads and haven't found any good directions.  Does anyone have any advice or can you point me to a site that covers this.  Thanks in advance

You might try contacting these folks about that popping sound. In the past they have been a great source of information.


http://www.customcylindersintinc.com/camper_trailer_roof_lift_system.htm




Fly

[coach]

There are a couple of PDFs at the bottom of the following link. General Maintenance & Jayco Lift
Miscellaneous Manuals

Does you '04 manual suggest grease?
Coachman has a similar lift that is difficult to access!

[TheHomelessGuy]

Just did this on my Jayco. Basically, there are three points on the winch that need lube. Jayco recommends a light oil. I used machine oil as would be used for sewing machines, but I imagine any light oil would work.

Two points are the "sliding shaft" on the pulley -  the main shaft through the pulley. There is a metal frame that holds the pulley in place. Lubricate the shaft ends on the inside of this frame. The other point is the spring shim washer on the crank shaft - Again, this is above and inside the metal frame holding the pulley. Kinda hard to see and get to - just put a few drops of oil behind the small gear that engages the main pulley gear.

The other thing is to give the lifting posts a light spray of silicone lubricant - not WD40 or other oily sprays.

Hardest part is pulling the access panels and reaching in there.

HTH

[btot6]

Actually, I believe this is normal for this lift system.  I have a 2001 14S0 that does the same thing. It almost feels as if the cable is going to release.  Another person I spoke to about this owns an older model (1994-1207).  He has the same issue, and said it is not an issue at all.  The lift system, when cranking it up, allows for that "pop" and continues in a normal fashion.  When we camped together, I noticed this on his camper as well.  So, I don't believe you have a problem at all.  You can lube, and I have have done so in the past when I thought this was a problem as well.  But it makes no difference in the popping noise.

[erich0521]

It might be normal.  Ours goes about 1/2 way up and you feel a slight tightening, then a pop and it goes normal.

When I had my DW crank while I climbed inside to look it seems to be where the main cable on the winch kinda overlaps then then plops back into it's groove.  If you can picture a fishing reel in which the line spools and occasionally gets over lapped and then rights itself.

[Kelly]

It might be normal.  Ours goes about 1/2 way up and you feel a slight tightening, then a pop and it goes normal.

When I had my DW crank while I climbed inside to look it seems to be where the main cable on the winch kinda overlaps then then plops back into it's groove.  If you can picture a fishing reel in which the line spools and occasionally gets over lapped and then rights itself.

that's what I was going to say ~ only erich said it better.  I have a '95 Jayco that does the exact same thing on the 37th revolution of the crank ....

[paxsman]

This is what I found.  I went to the front of the camper and pulled the cover off at the floor to expose the wench and adjustment system.  I found that the square harness block was catching the left side spring track.   The spring track had been ripped up by the harness block.  This is what was catching and surely would have caused failure.  I also found all the eyebolts bent.  I was able to bend the eyebolts back to normal and adjust the harness block past the weak spot created by the bent eyebolts.  I then re-fastened the spring track and found a thin piece of metal to cover the spring track so the harness block would never have a chance to catch the spring track again.  I then greased the system and adjusted the roof to within

[A2SuperCrew]

Wow, reading this thread I was going to pipe in that my Jayco pops too early in the lifting process.  It's good to hear others have this noise too, but now with what Paxsman has found it sounds like I better do a little more checking.

It'll have to wait until next Spring though.

[wavery]

This is what I found.    I also found all the eyebolts bent.  I was able to bend the eyebolts back to normal and adjust the harness block past the weak spot created by the bent eyebolts.  

paxsman

I think if it were mine, I would replace those eye-bolts. Bent bolts stretch and cause metal fatigue. When you bend the bolts back, that seriously increases the likely-hood of failure. If they bent when they were new, the chance of the bending again and possibly breaking (after being straightened) are probably 10 fold.

If the bolts are being bent because they are too long, it would be a good idea to purchase shorter bolts. If they are bending due to weakness, you may want to buy bigger or harder bolts.

[fleagalbaum]

my 94 jayco 1207 does the same thing and what I found was the main lifting cable was winding on the  drum level then it would wrap a few times in the same location and bunch up, then it would slide off the side of the few wraps and make a snapping noise.  I would not come off the drum but it would make a snap.  I fixed it by unwinding the drum all the way and re-wrapping it so it does not bunch up in one spot like it did before.  I hope this helps.

[spicyville1]

I would certainly change the eye bolts if they were bent then bent back. I would not take any chances with one of them breaking and down comes the roof! . Of course I have the 1406 and the roof on that thing is very heavy. I had all of mine, the cables and 2 lifts replaced ablut 6 months ago. I have slept comfortable since then. Be sure an use 2 safety braces on 2 of the corners of your camper at all times!

[paxsman]

Just to clarify.  The eye bolts were bent at the end of the bolt.  I was able to straighten the bolts out.  After the bolts were straightened out I was able to adjust all the bolts past the point they were bent at.  I believe I have adjusted past the point of weakened metal.  However replacing the eye bolts is in my future.  While we are talking about replacement, how do you go about that?  Removing the old ones is easy.  How do you put the new ones on?  Do I cut and re-crimp the existing cables or do I bend and braze the new bolts around the existing cable eyes?  If I cut the existing cable I

[spicyville1]

Just to clarify.  The eye bolts were bent at the end of the bolt.  I was able to straighten the bolts out.  After the bolts were straightened out I was able to adjust all the bolts past the point they were bent at.  I believe I have adjusted past the point of weakened metal.  However replacing the eye bolts is in my future.  While we are talking about replacement, how do you go about that?  Removing the old ones is easy.  How do you put the new ones on?  Do I cut and re-crimp the existing cables or do I bend and braze the new bolts around the existing cable eyes?  If I cut the existing cable I

[greatdane]

I just went through a very similar exercise with my cables on our Jayco.  This was initiated by one cable snapping as we popped up in the garage to unload. Whew.
Now the new cable from the dealer had the end of the eyelet brazed closed to hold the cable on the eye bolt, but all the existing eyes are just bent closed.  When replacing the existing eye bolts that were bent, I was able to bend the new eyebolts with two pairs of pliers open just enough to slip the cable in, then bend closed with a pair of channel locks. I think the eye bolt not brazed acts like just enough of a "fuse" that if something is not right with the lift system, the eye will bend open before you rip something else apart.
Ends up, the new cable from the dealer was @ 1/2" too short to adjust the roof within tolerances, so I plan to cut the braze and replace with a 1" longer eye bolt.
Hope this helps.