Problem with ONE BIg Foot Jack

My last 2 trips have presented a problem with my Big Foot system.  I have not yet called BF for their input but thought I’d go ahead and post for the benefit of others.  I will post the solution once I have one, as well.

When I “auto level” the system does its thing as usual.  The front will level a bit fore/aft and side to side.  Then the left rear jack goes down, raising the rig a bit, movement stops but the pump continues to run.

I press the power button to off and get “aborted” message on the panel.  I repower the panel, press “auto level” again, and the system continues the process as usual EVEN adjusting the left rear jack with issue.

The fluid level looks to be fine and retracting is perfectly fine.

If anyone else has had this issue, please post along with the fix.  Thanks, Phil

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I was traveling last September and started to experience problems with my Bigfoot system.  I was having problems with a rear jack.  Sometimes it would work ok and others it would not.  When I returned home I sprayed the cylinders with silicon then removed the sensors on the side of the cylinder and cleaned, sprayed with silicon and replaced.  That did it.  Hope this helps.

I was going through a lot of rain, for days.

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UPDATE:  System is working fine for now!

Back to my original post, our BF system has worked prefect every time after the installation of the complete “power-off” switch.  When the issue started last month, it was after a steep uphill road to Cloudland Canyon.  When we parked and used “auto level” the problem started and has happed every time since.

Today, I called Mike at Quadra.  His solution was a new $430 brain/module.  Ouch!

So I went out to the RV and unplugged the 3 wiring harnesses from the brain.  I waited about 10 minutes and plugged them back in.  I power-up the panel and pressed “lift to connect”, raised the nose a bit more and then pressed “auto level”.  The system performed as it should INCLUDING the left rear jack!  I thought maybe a fluke.  So I did nit all a second time.  Perfect again.  Note:  It was NOT necessary to recalibrate the system after unplugging the wiring.

So for now all is good.  Honestly, I was not optimistic but for some reason it working now.  I’m happy, but its unfortunate that Quadra did not even suggest something so simple.

If you have issue with your system maybe unplugging it for a bit helps some how.  If I continue to have issues, I will update.  Thanks, Phil

 

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Just an FYI, I installed a power on /off switch on my BigFoot system 3 years ago and knock on wood, I have not had any issues with it’s operation since. The power switch is always off unless I am using it… Rich

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Same here!  I do exactly that, too. Makes me wonder if I forgot to turn it off?  Anyway, I will update this post at the beginning of January when I’ve traveled to see if its still ok.

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I’ve had this problem off & on for a couple of years. BF suggested I flush the unit/replace the fluid. Did that & it worked fine for awhile, but then started acting up again. Once it failed to work during Auto Level I sometimes could get it to operate using manual mode. I’ve leveled the trailer several times. Another thing that would get it going again is to exercise it up & down the try Auto Level again. Nothing has worked permanently. I called a guy that used to work for BF that I met when we were in Indiana a couple years ago. His take is that the pump check valve for the extend circuit is leaking by & the pump needs to be replaced. Haven’t done anything with that yet. I do have the toggle sw. installed to de-energize the ‘brain’ unless I’m actually using the  BF panel. Hope yours is fixed for good.

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I installed the system power switch shortly after taking delivery of the LS.  That solved the nose dive and any leveling problems.

The rig was six years old in March and I have already had to get a new key pad.  Now Quadra says the issue with the one jack is the brain.  That’s over $200.  Its odd as it only does it intermittently.

I changed the fluid in all the jacks last month.  It was pretty easy.  I used a $7 hand pump from Harbor Freight that worked great to pull out the old fluid AND reinstall the new.  Super easy.

Once our rains stop, I’m going to remove and clean and reinstall the limit switches.  They don’t always turn off each jack pump when retracting the jacks. I had an issue with one of those on my Cameo and got a new switch sent to me.  Never installed it as I just cleaned and lubricated the ball with dielectric grease which fixed the issue at the time.

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