Checking the hydraulic fluid
- Thread starter Neal and Bev
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- hilo
Rachie713
New Member
Does anyone know how to fix a hydraulic leak on a 1982 Funchaser?
I think you're going to have to be a bit more "forthcoming". Where is the leak? Is it in the cylinder? At any of the fittings? In the reservoir? At the pump?
There are people here who have fixed leaks in their HiLos, and they can probably help you, but they need more information than you've provided.
- Jack
Rachie713
New Member
Sorry for the lack of information. I'm a new travel trailer owner. I just bought this old trailer yesterday. Got it cheap. I don't know much about it but that it has a leak. I drove it home with the top lifted. I am going to pick up some dexron and see if I can spot the leak.
Look around the reservoir, you might see dust accumulated where the leak is located.
Or, lay some cardboard under the hydraulic pump and lines. Wipe everything down well and top off the reservoir and cycle the system a few times and let it set overnight. You should be a bit closer to solving the mystery after that.
Or, lay some cardboard under the hydraulic pump and lines. Wipe everything down well and top off the reservoir and cycle the system a few times and let it set overnight. You should be a bit closer to solving the mystery after that.
And Rachie - You're going to need battery power to "cycle" the top up and down. If you don't buy one and install it, you could connect jumper cables from your Tow Vehicle battery to the battery cables in the trailer (be careful of the polarity) and power the lift motor that way.
The lift motor will NOT raise the top using "shore power" (120V AC power). The converter in the trailer will not supply the needed Amperage. You MIGHT get the top to lower using shore power, but then you'd have to manually lift it back up to get access to the battery compartment.
Install a battery or use jumper cables before you try to move the top. Hopefully, nothing was damaged by towing it with the top up. That's a big NO-NO for HiLos.
- Jack
The lift motor will NOT raise the top using "shore power" (120V AC power). The converter in the trailer will not supply the needed Amperage. You MIGHT get the top to lower using shore power, but then you'd have to manually lift it back up to get access to the battery compartment.
Install a battery or use jumper cables before you try to move the top. Hopefully, nothing was damaged by towing it with the top up. That's a big NO-NO for HiLos.
- Jack
sam-HILO
Senior Member
Purchasing a battery.
You will want to purchase a deep cycle battery.Many back posts on the size and cranking requirements.
You will want to purchase a deep cycle battery.Many back posts on the size and cranking requirements.
JIM L-HILO
Senior Member
There should only be aprox 1" of fluid in the bottom of the reservoir when the top is up and aprox 1" of fluid below the filler neck when the top is down. Do not fill the reservoir with fluid with the top up as you will have a major mess when you lower the top.
Bravada
Senior Member
I ran into a problem this winter. On several occasions when I needed to get something inside the camper the top would go up to about 95% of what it did in the summer. The pump sounded that it was running dry. I notice that as the temps are going up the so does the height. This is going to be helpful checking fluid levels. I may just calibrate it to tell the outdoor temps and call it good.
sam-HILO
Senior Member
raising HiLo in the winter.
Our HiLo is grumpy when we raise it up in the cold weather of March. Our battery is stored in our house all winter. We take the HiLo out of storage to get it inspected and to get any work done at our HiLo dealer. Think about it!! If you sat out in the cold all the time you would be slugggish.
Our HiLo is grumpy when we raise it up in the cold weather of March. Our battery is stored in our house all winter. We take the HiLo out of storage to get it inspected and to get any work done at our HiLo dealer. Think about it!! If you sat out in the cold all the time you would be slugggish.
JIM L-HILO
Senior Member
Sam is right about a cold battery that may be low on its charge. Take the battery or both if you have two into a warm area, give it a good charge and then take it to a good auto parts store and have them put it on a load test. This will tell you if it is still good. Next check the guide rod on the hydraulic ram to make sure it is very clean and lubed. The guide rod may be coated with very old grease and road crud. If so the combination of very cold grease and the road crud/grime may be causing an increased load on the Hyd pump causing the pressure releaf valve to open as it does when the top is fully up. The clearance between the guide rod and the hole in the ram end plate is so small that the end plate has been known to jam up on the guide rod causing the ram to bend the guide rod and it would have to be replaced. A note to all owners, keep that guide rod cleaned and lubed. The guide rod and the safety bar have been known to bend so much that they went thru the floor above. Let us know what you find.
Bravada
Senior Member
Good point. Oil will probably be thicker. One thing is that I keep the battery on a smart battery trickle charger
Bravada
Senior Member
Feed back: once the temps warmed up the top went up to the same height it did last summer. I was thinking something broke. It must be a function of cold oil.
Hydraulic tank
I have only had this 1971 Hi-Lo camper for 5 years. It is great but we had to store it for 18 months and now when I try to raise it I only get a noise. I assume there was a slow leak and it needs fluid. Can someone tell (or show) me where the cap to fill the fluid is located and what fluid is best to use? Feeling a little lost here.
I have only had this 1971 Hi-Lo camper for 5 years. It is great but we had to store it for 18 months and now when I try to raise it I only get a noise. I assume there was a slow leak and it needs fluid. Can someone tell (or show) me where the cap to fill the fluid is located and what fluid is best to use? Feeling a little lost here.
RCREYES
Senior Member
Welcome to the forum. Your reservoir should be in the battery box on the tongue. Check out the link below.
https://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f22/checking-the-hydraulic-fluid-53/
Tom - Dexron II was the original fluid that was put in HiLos. There HAVE been newer formulations of Dexron since then and you can add either Dexron II, III or IV (2, 3, or 4). But, DO NOT add Dexron V (5)! This has a completely different formulation that will not work in our trailers (I think it damages the seals).
I've put Dexron III in my trailer, and it works fine.
- Jack
I've put Dexron III in my trailer, and it works fine.
- Jack
Thanks Jack. I had a problem with the compression fitting on the pump not holding the plastic hydraulic hose again and have to remove the black nut and check things out. Check the o ring, metal clip washer, and thick black washer.
Have you ever taken those off and on?
Have you ever taken those off and on?
No Tom - The only service I've had to do on the actual hydraulic system has been to add a small amount of fluid. And, I did that because the level seemed low with the top down (a bit over an inch below the top of the reservoir).
- Jack
- Jack
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