Hydraulic Help

[Dougiefresh]

So we bought the camper from a friend. Fixed it up over a course of 3 months. When we finished it would not lower, friends son came over and banged underneath to get it to come down. Lift Would not lift to help disengage. Now it will make noise when I try to make it go up but will not go up. Can anyone recommend someone in the Sarasota FL/Tampa who knows hydraulics or what I can do to test it? Tried pumping manually to take it up but that didn't do anything after 200 pumps. (i counted)
Thanks.

 

[JackandJanet]

If the manual lift didn't do the trick, it's possible the manual lowering valve is open. This would have also prevented it from lifting off the safety bar. The valve is near where you placed the handle for manual pumping.

If that is not the situation, then it sounds like you have a hydraulic leak. Is there hydraulic fluid under the trailer on the ground? If there's a leak, the fluid has to go somewhere.

Check the manual lowering valve first.

- Jack

 

[Dougiefresh]

Thanks for the help!

 

[ROUGH RIDER 3]

As JackandJanet said, also check fluid in hyd. pump reservoir. If fluid and so sign of a leak then the lift cylinder needs rebuilding as fluid is by-passing the seals inside the cylinder.

 

[Treeclimber]

If it is by-passing internally, then that plastic static hose will have fluid in it. Possibly FULL of fluid! I'm sure you can find a hydraulic shop in an industrial park. Fort Myers has several. Rebuilt mine for about $200, pressure checked and painted, 2 days.
Treeclimber

 

[ROUGH RIDER 3]

Treeclimber--The plastic static hose (return hose) may or may not have fluid in it depending on the routing of the hose. If hose dips down below the hydraulic unit it will hold fluid like p-trap under a sink.

 

[Treeclimber]

Ah yes,but if an internal leak at the piston head is severe enough as to not raise the top, then that static hose becomes the return line back to the reservoir. Each time a Hi Lo owner and myself has had to repack the cylinder, the hose has been full of fluid. It is a time consuming job with a little ingenuity, but not really hard.
Tree

 

[Usagi5678]

Just a thought.

Wonderful tips have been given. DH told me to throw this out for consideration. Your lifting switch could be bad. DH had to replace ours on our former 1990 25ft..Classic HiLo.