Landing gear failure

[Johnnyfry]

Well, I went to unhook yesterday and when I went to lower the landing gear there was a big "clunk" and only the port (drivers) side gear moved. Since it was late and wanted to get on with it I pulled out the trusty bottle jack and put it under that side.

Next morning I investigated further and found the 1/4x20 bolt connecting the shaft to the gear on that side had sheared and the connecting shafi was spinning free. Further, the non-functioning side seemed to be locked up.I put my 1/4 inch drift pin through the hole and after a few hard pulls it released.
A new bolt and problem solved.

My neighbor added that ha had experienced a similar Problem and he thought that it was caused by running the gear up tight when retracting.

I guess that it proves once again that problem solvers make the happiest R/Vers.

Hint: don't run your landing gear up tight when retracting.

John

[JerJan10]

I've blown fuses when retracting the landing gear but haven't sheared the bolt (yet). I mostly solved my problem by retracting the gear up to just before where it blows the fuse and marked the landing gear leg with a Sharpie marker. Now I just watch the mark when retracting and stop just as the mark nears the outer leg. JT

[Johnnyfry]

I think that is the ticket, I blew the fuse once too.

John

[smiller]

I had the same thing happen but unfortunately could not budge it, had to remove the jack and totally disassemble it (a nasty and messy job) in order to free it up. What happens is if you run it too far the screw portion of the jackscrew wedges in and locks up... and if it really jams disassembly is the only fix (which can be done even though the dealer will no doubt tell you that the entire unit has to be replaced.)

Best way to avoid the whole hassle is to (as recommended above) observe the paint mark and avoid running the jack up that far, always leave 1/4" or so headroom.

[BobM]

Kind of related: When you blow the fuse on the outside switch (which I have twice since April), you can still operate the landing gear with your remote. Strange but true.

[rev114]

BobM - I see we are both from the same part of Ohio

Check out these posts on your observations about the remote

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1594

http://www.keystonerv.org/forums/showthread.php?t=2240

[dave-g]

I blew the fuse on mine- my son ran it up too far. The outside switch and the remote are wired in parallel. So either one and power the motor. They both have their own power source and fuse.

The wiring is not very neat. After I blew the fuse I spent some time cleaning up the wiring.

I also now have a mark on the leg to stop about 1" before it bottoms out.

[andyrad]

Sort of embarrasing here on this one as I blew about 5 fuses one day trying to raise the front landing gear enough to hook up. Turns out I forgot to raise the rear jacks. DOH!