Solenoid on 1993 31'

RE

Reefmom

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Joined
Sep 23, 2014
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11
We recently purchased a 31' hi lo and can not get it to come down. There is no manual for it and what we have found online looks nothing like the one we have. We can not find a manual release valve. Does anyone know if a 93 31' is equipped with a manual release valve? We've hooked up a new battery and we can get the safety to release but then it will not lower. We think it may be the solenoid but we are having a very hard time finding a replacement. We called a local RV dealer and he said he couldn't find one either. Any ideas would be very appreciated! We need to bring it to our home (less than 10 miles away) to do maintenance.
 
Reefmom said:
We recently purchased a 31' hi lo and can not get it to come down. There is no manual for it and what we have found online looks nothing like the one we have. We can not find a manual release valve. Does anyone know if a 93 31' is equipped with a manual release valve? We've hooked up a new battery and we can get the safety to release but then it will not lower. We think it may be the solenoid but we are having a very hard time finding a replacement. We called a local RV dealer and he said he couldn't find one either. Any ideas would be very appreciated! We need to bring it to our home (less than 10 miles away) to do maintenance.
Click to expand...

Try raising it and then lowering it. Make sure the three way switch is in the correct position. This manual should be close.

http://www.hilotrailerforum.com/f49/owners-manual-95-96-towlight-621/
 
Thank you, Reuben, for the manual. We did try to raise it to unlock the safety then lower it. It would raise just a little and we could hear the safety disengage but it wouldn't go down. We believe it is the solenoid but the problem is the lift system does not look like anything we've seen in manuals. It appears that the original pump was replaced.
Unfortunately I haven't been able to find anyone in florida that knows much about hi lo campers. But I did find (on this forum) a place in New York that is doing some looking for me...keeping fingers crossed:)
 
Could you post a couple photos of the pump? That may help us determine what pump you have. There was a change made at some point in time.
 
Reefmom said:
We recently purchased a 31' hi lo and can not get it to come down. There is no manual for it and what we have found online looks nothing like the one we have. We can not find a manual release valve. Does anyone know if a 93 31' is equipped with a manual release valve? We've hooked up a new battery and we can get the safety to release but then it will not lower. We think it may be the solenoid but we are having a very hard time finding a replacement. We called a local RV dealer and he said he couldn't find one either. Any ideas would be very appreciated! We need to bring it to our home (less than 10 miles away) to do maintenance.
Click to expand...

Where in FL are you located? We will be in FL for the month of Jan till Feb 5 if I can help
 
RichR said:
Could you post a couple photos of the pump? That may help us determine what pump you have. There was a change made at some point in time.
Click to expand...

Yes I can! I will post them this weekend. Thank you!
 
Take a look on page 22 of this 2008 manual and see if it looks like what you have. If the pump was replaced it quite likely this one unless someone put together their own arraignment. Take note that there are two solenoids on the system. The one mounted on the motor which is for lifting the top only, and the solenoid that is part of the electric release valve for lowering only. Directly above the release valve is the manual lowering knob.

Read through Section 7. Hydraulic Lifting System to get an understanding of what does what.
 
Thanks Rich:) We do have a pic of the pump but it's a little blurry. I'll get a better one this week.
 

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If that round item on the pump is the lowering solenoid, it looks like it has ID info printed on it. Give us that info and any info on the pump and let us see if we can find any info on it. I also sent you a private message.
 
Manual lowering

Hello, I have a 1992 classic with the same system. I also had the same problem you're dealing with. 1st the manual release lever is that rusty 1/4" rod just behind the solenoid in the photo, pull the safety release and then pull that rod toward you ( it hinges inside the valve body ). 2nd the reason mine would not lower as it should was because two terminals on the relay had loosened and shorted together. The relay I'm referring to is located under the front driver side of the camper. You can pick one up at any auto parts store. Hope this helps. I can take a couple photos if that would help, let us know how it turns out.
 
JIM L said:
If that round item on the pump is the lowering solenoid, it looks like it has ID info printed on it. Give us that info and any info on the pump and let us see if we can find any info on it. I also sent you a private message.
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim:) Here's a better pic of (what I believe is) the solenoid
 

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rooster said:
Hello, I have a 1992 classic with the same system. I also had the same problem you're dealing with. 1st the manual release lever is that rusty 1/4" rod just behind the solenoid in the photo, pull the safety release and then pull that rod toward you ( it hinges inside the valve body ). 2nd the reason mine would not lower as it should was because two terminals on the relay had loosened and shorted together. The relay I'm referring to is located under the front driver side of the camper. You can pick one up at any auto parts store. Hope this helps. I can take a couple photos if that would help, let us know how it turns out.
Click to expand...

Wow! Thanks Rooster:) That sounds promising:) We will give that a try and will report back!
 
Remember, that actuating the manual release will not release the safety bar. The top needs to go up a bit, the safety bar cable pulled and held as the manual release is actuated. It is a two person job. Once the top moves down a few inches it will be past the safety bar and the cable can be released.

Be very careful when manually lowering in case it comes down all at once.

There are a couple of ways to check the lowering solenoid:

1- Have somebody listen to it carefully as somebody else actuates the lowering switch. They should hear a click.

2- Unbolt the solenoid and observe it while actuating the lowering switch. You should see the plunger move. If it doesn't move you have a bad solenoid, or no power to the solenoid.

You can check power by disconnecting the solenoid and using a volt meter or test light on the wires while actuating the lowering switch. If you have no power the problem is a fuse, the battery, the switch, or the wiring. If there is power the problem is the solenoid.

If there's no power and you just want to put the top down for the season you may be able to run power from a battery directly to the solenoid. You may also be able to push or turn where the solenoid shaft enters the valve body and manually lower it this way.
 
Raul, I see where you're coming from. Now when I click on the link it is a completely different page than it was originally. I guess it is one of those "now you see it, now you don't" deals.
 
Thank you everyone for your responses. Ok quick answer is we got it working:) Here's the long version. I contacted the company that bought out Cliftronics (maker of the solenoid). They don't sell them individually..well they would but it was $450. The company, GW Lisk, told me that they sell to the valve assembler and maybe they could help me. I contacted them and they don't make that valve anymore. I know, shocking;) They did send me a schematic. Also the rod we couldn't get to move is the manual release.
So we decided to pull the camper over while it was still up. We shored up all four corners with 2x4s and slowly pulled it over. No problems whatsoever. We took the solenoid apart and is not wired the same as the schematic and there are loose wires that don't appear to attach to anything. After much trial and error the manual lever started working and we could lower it down! We could then get it to go back up but the solenoid will not work to lower it.
I don't think we are going to spend the money for a new solenoid since the manual release works.
Thank you again for all of your help! Now on to the next project(s):)
 
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