My Lippert Stabilization system

[Occupant5143]

Two days ago when I was getting ready to pull out from the RV park I noticed that the rear stabilizer jack's motor was turning but the jackpads weren't coming up. It looked like the acme screw wasn't being turned by the motor. I spent today troubleshooting the problem and discovered that the gear feeding the output shaft was slipping on the shaft. I could actually turn the shaft without feeling the gears backdriving. Upon opening the motor gear housing I discovered that while the gear has a key the shaft is not broached with a keyway so there was no way to positively prevent the shaft from slipping. What kind of engineering is this? Anyway I looked up the price of a new gear motor from Lippert. $295.00 . I guess I'll get used to using the manual crank from here on out.

[thompwil]

Maybe take it to a machine shop and have a key way put in.

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by thompwil

Maybe take it to a machine shop and have a key way put in.

Heck yeah! Or even a set screw threaded in or drilled through for a roll pin.

[wahoonc]

Sounds like a QC/warranty issue to me. I would check the others, then contact Lippert with the results and see what they say. Now if they claim a friction fit is what they spec'ed then you have bad engineering.

Aaron

[Occupant5143]

Originally Posted by thompwil

Maybe take it to a machine shop and have a key way put in.

Sounds like a good idea. I'll talk to some of the shops here to see what they suggest.

[Occupant5143]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

Heck yeah! Or even a set screw threaded in or drilled through for a roll pin.

Unfortunately the output gear does not have a collar to drill through. I like the idea of having a machine shop pull the gear and broaching a keyway in the shaft.

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by Occupant5143

Unfortunately the output gear does not have a collar to drill through. I like the idea of having a machine shop pull the gear and broaching a keyway in the shaft.

Good luck, anything is better than hand cranking

[Occupant5143]

Update:
I took the motor to the machine shop. After examining it the machinist said that there's more wrong than just a slipping shaft. A gear shaft bushing is also worn out and it would take 4-5 hours labor to fix the motor. Not economical to repair it. Eat the $295 and spring for a new one.
Well, I'm having a hard time with spending that kind of money when there are other things I'd rather spend the money on. I guess I'll just use the manual crank for the time being or until I get tired of cranking.

[thompwil]

Being a “tinkerer” and since it is already “broken” I would attempt the following.
Grind a small flat spot on the shaft.
Drill a hole between two of the gear teeth.
Tap the hole for a short set screw to seat on the shaft flat spot.
Assemble using Loctite 609 or 648
Make myself angry about something that went wrong.
Then buy a new one….

[sundancer 87]

What went wrong is you forgot to cast a new bronze bushing. Hence, an increase in shaft revolution resistance caused the Allen screw to roll over the flat indexing spot.

I'd give it a good go before I gave it up too, thing is already broken so what can go wrong?

These days no one wants to repair anything. It's easier to buy another than to sit down and lay out a strategy for a repair

[thompwil]

Originally Posted by sundancer 87

What went wrong is you forgot to cast a new bronze bushing. Hence, an increase in shaft revolution resistance caused the Allen screw to roll over the flat indexing spot.

I'd give it a good go before I gave it up too, thing is already broken so what can go wrong?

These days no one wants to repair anything. It's easier to buy another than to sit down and lay out a strategy for a repair

Always get bit by the details

I always try to fix things first, Like you said, it's already broken,, the worst thing that can happen at that point is you throw it away anyhow. Or you just may end up fixing it...

Edit: Our local farm and home store does sell bushing stock, so there is still hope !

[sundancer 87]

Originally Posted by thompwil

Always get bit by the details

I always try to fix things first, Like you said, it's already broken,, the worst thing that can happen at that point is you throw it away anyhow. Or you just may end up fixing it...

Edit: Our local farm and home store does sell bushing stock, so there is still hope !

Aha, good save!
I have no idea what the gear and shaft looks like but I can imagine perhaps a collar tacked to the gear and then the flat and Allen screw idea applied.