Stabilizer jacks slowly dropping

[DaleandKarla]

Lately I've noticed that after getting my 39 foot 2008 Itasca Latitude diesel pusher level, the rear driver's side corner drops over about one week's time. I don't have it over-extended with the wheels off the ground or anything like that. I can re-level it, but then a week later, the same corner drops. I can't see any obvious leaks. It's not a major hassle right now, but I'm assuming it will get worse if I don't address it.

Is hydraulic fluid "leaking" internally past some kind of seal that needs to be replaced? Maybe just low fluid?

Where to start troubleshooting this?

Thanks in advance!
Dale and Karla

 

[Boat Bum]

I'd start with the fluid level and get a baseline and then watch to see if you're using any.

 

[Onyrlef]

Leaking seal

 

[Laura & Charles]

Does it retract hydraulically? Or by spring?

 

[DaleandKarla]

Does it retract hydraulically? Or by spring?

hydraulically - no springs involved.

 

[Laura & Charles]

hydraulically - no springs involved.

Then, if you don’t see oil on the ground, any leakage will remain in the system. Checking fluid level still a good idea, but I suspect you’ll find it’s fine.
When we had the same problem you describe, it turned out to be the ram seal within the jack. We had an extended service agreement at that time and they opted to replace the jack assembly… said that’d be cheaper than having it rebuilt.
With no evidence of leaking oil, it’s likely that seal.

 

[DaleandKarla]

Then, if you don’t see oil on the ground, any leakage will remain in the system. Checking fluid level still a good idea, but I suspect you’ll find it’s fine.
When we had the same problem you describe, it turned out to be the ram seal within the jack. We had an extended service agreement at that time and they opted to replace the jack assembly… said that’d be cheaper than having it rebuilt.
With no evidence of leaking oil, it’s likely that seal.

Thank you so much - this sounds like what I'm likely dealing with.

 

[Onyrlef]

Thank you so much - this sounds like what I'm likely dealing with.

Sometimes finding someone competent to replace seals can be a challenge. Many today just want to replace instead of repair. If you're in the vicinity of a paper mill, they ordinarily have someone local they use to do their hydraulic system repairs. These guys can repair most anything to do with hydraulics.

 

[DaleandKarla]

Sometimes finding someone competent to replace seals can be a challenge. Many today just want to replace instead of repair. If you're in the vicinity of a paper mill, they ordinarily have someone local they use to do their hydraulic system repairs. These guys can repair most anything to do with hydraulics.

Thank you so much - good advice!

 

[Gary RV_Wizard]

If not the ram seal in the jack, it's the valve that feeds hydraulic pressure to the extend side of the ram. The valve is closed to maintain the pressure on the ram. If the valve leaks internally, the pressure bleeds off and allows the ram retract a bit, but the fluid remains inside the system (no dribbles to the ground). The valving is a little more complicated in a double-acting system like yours, but the basics are the same: must maintain hydraulic pressure to keep the ram where you want it. There's a good chance the leaking valve is the one that feeds pump pressure to the line for that jack.

 

[John Stephens]

As Gary said above, it can be the solenoid valve for that particular jack that is leaking and must be replaced. I have had that happen on all four jacks at one time or another.