Selanoid question - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

Nelson1953 · 06-07-2019, 07:00 PM

Hope you can help, just bought a 1991 21' Fun lite trailer. Has bad lower g selinoide. I've found a party that's selling a 17' tow lite. Will the tow lite selinoide work on my Fun Lite. My pump doesn't have the option to pump manually the 2005 has that style pump.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thank,
Bruce

Treeclimber · 06-07-2019, 07:35 PM

Nelson, Welcome to the forum. Those solenoids can be purchased at any auto parts store. Tag each wire and/or take a picture, remove the solenoid and take it to the auto store for a match. If your unit has two such solenoids, replace them both, just to be safe.
Remember to take those pics.
Tree

Nelson1953 · 06-07-2019, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Treeclimber

Nelson, Welcome to the forum. Those solenoids can be purchased at any auto parts store. Tag each wire and/or take a picture, remove the solenoid and take it to the auto store for a match. If your unit has two such solenoids, replace them both, just to be safe.
Remember to take those pics.
Tree

Thanks, but I'm asking about the lowering selinoide that has the plunger to lower the trailer. E-bay has them listed for $500.00

JackandJanet · 06-08-2019, 12:09 AM

Nelson, I have a 2007 model and there's no "lowering solenoid" in it, just a valve that will release the fluid back to the reservoir. I'm sure that's what the 2005 models have too. The solenoid is just a kind of "relay" that is used to apply full battery power to the lift motor to RAISE the top.

See if you can do what Treeclimber has advised. I can't imagine buying a complete trailer for just the lift system, although you could probably make it work in yours.

- Jack

Treeclimber · 06-08-2019, 09:11 AM

Nelson, now I understand a bit better. I was confused when you said solenoid. These pics should help.
Pics should show up as 1) batt box, 2) solenoid and 3) lowering valve.
When lowering with NO power, of course we use the valve--but keep in mind that the safety cable must be pulled during the lowering process. Two people or a long string needed. While pulling the cable...open valve.
Sorry for my confusion,
Tree

RichR · 06-08-2019, 05:01 PM

That red thing with the yellow wire is the lowering valve that is operated by the lift switch. Test it to see if it is getting power to actuate it. Have you tried any shops that sell snowplows? The lift systems are virtually the same.

JIM L · 06-08-2019, 10:15 PM

A number of years ago I worked on a HiLo about your vintage year that he could not get to lower. Had not been lowered in several years. It had a different pump than HIlo put on later. The solenoid lowering valve was bad. It had voltage and I could never get it to work. The manual lowering valve was stuck so bad I had trouble getting the lever to move. Finally got it to work and the top lowered. I did a lot of research online and could not find that the solenoid valve was still made. I did finally find a couple of the valves and as Nelson stated they were upwards of $500.00 each. The owner was fine with raising the top back up and leaving it as he was not going to move it. Northern Tool has a pump that is like the newer pumps on HiLos. It can be gotten with the manual pump also. If anyone goes with a new pump check specs and dimentions of the pump to make sure it will fit in the space povided. If I remenber correctly the pressure on the new pumps could be adjucted. As Rich stated make sure you have 12vdc to the lowering valve before desiding it is bad. Hope this Helps.
r

78 hilo · 05-25-2020, 08:09 PM

I have a 1978 hilo and I cant get mine to lower.it has a brand new battery and all it does is makes a clicking sound.i raised it just fine yesterday and tried to lower it and it wont lower.i checked all the fuses and they are all good

RatsNest · 05-25-2020, 08:21 PM

Clicking sound usually indicates poor current to the solenoid. Usually caused by a bad connection at battery, or a poor charge.

Remove your cables at the battery, and clean them with a wire brush, and battery posts too.

JackandJanet · 05-26-2020, 12:52 AM

78 hilo, did you lift the top off of the safety bar before trying to release it to lower the top?

If the battery was strong enough to raise the top yesterday, I doubt it's gotten so weak that it can't open the lowering valve.

- Jack