[A/S] Malfunctioning electric jack

[Jack Canavera <jackcanavera@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have been following this thread since I have had
jack problems although not on the same vintage level
trailer.  

I had my Safari equipped with a power jack at order
time.  Since the trailer was being built (and Safari's
are normally not equipped with power jacks), the
factory included the jack rather than the dealer
making the switch at delivery.  The jack provided was
the dark grey unit that matches the frame color rather
the the silver/chrome jacks of the past.

There was so much to see and do at delivery that I
didn't realize that I hadn't gotten a book or manual
crank handle.  About a week after delivery I realized
this and called the dealer.  They pulled a crank
handle from another trailer but didn't get me a book.

About a month later on a trip I had the jack blow a
fuse while raising the coupled trailer and tow vehicle
(I raise when I install my spring bars).  I replaced
the fuse and all was well.  The next couple of trips
again it blew a fuse and again I replaced the fuse and
the jack continued to work.  I dealt with this since
my old trailer did the same thing until I changed to
non glass fuses (of the same amperage).  I figured
this was the same issue where I needed some type of
slo-blow fuse.

Bottom line the next trip out the jack raised to a
certain point and then just died.  This time it didn't
blow a fuse.  No problem I thought, just pull out the
crank, pop off the access plug and crank it down.  I
then realized that this jack is different and has no
access plug on top like my old jack.  And to make
matters worse I have no book.

Well I look at a sticker on the jack and it crudely
notes that the head of the jack must be removed to use
the crank.  Now what part of the head?  I see two ways
to do this.  I pulled the top portion of the head (the
part with the gears) off which is not the correct
part.  Apparently I was to use an Allen wrench (which
of course I didn't get) and pull the head off the
shaft.  

I was able though, to get the crank into the proper
place and I got the trailer on to the hitch ball.  I
cycled the head to the proper point (I thought) and
reinstalled the top portion of the head.  

I called the dealer and we scheduled an appointment. 
The dealer proceeded to diagnose the jack and called
me to tell me that I damaged the jack when I
reinstalled the head (apparently I did not
resynchronize the gears properly) and that Airstream
would not cover the repair.  I gently reminded that
the lack of book and Allen wrench was the reason why I
apparently didn't do things right.  I think the
service mgr. thought about it again and they covered
the repair.

I go back that weekend to pick up the trailer and in
the process of hitching up the jack starts blowing
fuses again and now its continuous.  After a half hour
of attempting to try to find the problem the dealer's
son drives by and sees the work going on.  He tells
the service guys don't worry about it and replace the
jack.  Since they don't carry the dark grey jack I get
the shiny silver one.

So I'm happy until I realize on the next trip that the
grey jacks contain a light to light the hitch area and
my new one doesn't.  Rather than go back again I leave
it alone and move on with my life.

I guess my biggest concern and one I would address in
replacing a jack is buying one that has the ability to
be cranked without pulling off the head.  I'm
surprised that A/S uses a model like this since the
jack on my old trailer was made by the same company
(but had a lifting limit of 2500 lbs vs the A/S 3500
limit) and had an easy access point for the crank.  

Maybe this model that A/S uses is more reliable, who
knows.  I tend to hold my breath every time I use this
thing since my confidence level is very low in my
ability to pull this thing apart to get out the crank
if necessary.

BTW, I carry lots of fuses and the dealer did call to
say they found a wire in the jack that was shorting
out that was the cause of the original problem.  They
apparently got so ingrained in fixing the problem I
made, that they didn't find the intermitant short.

Do any of you with jacks that require head removal in
order to use manual cranks have words of advice for me
either in your experience with these jacks or in the
area of if I am forced to use the manual crank?

Jack