50 Amp RV Power Cord Reel Not Working

[mdmarmd]

I was just packing up my Montana Montana 3720RL and the last thing to do was retract the 50 amp cord. Push rocker switch--nothing. I had to manually roll about 25 ft of the cord back on the reel--no small task in low 40 degree weather at 9PM. We had to leave and the RV that night and it will be towed to a storage site for the winter.

So I couldn't do any trouble shooting of the problem. But I am wondering if anyone has had this experience and what they did to remedy it. I assume there must be a fuse for this but it could be a bad rocker switch, motor, etc.

I believe it is a Shoreline® Low Profile Power Cord Reel, at least that is what the Montana 3720RL site says.

Any guidance will be helpful as I will need to attend to this first thing in the cold April weather next year.

Thanks,

Doug Mar

[beeje]

I know this will not help you, but I see an electric cord real as another totally unnecessary electronic thing to brake down and cause you grief.

[richfaa]

Originally Posted by beeje

I know this will not help you, but I see an electric cord real as another totally unnecessary electronic thing to brake down and cause you grief.

We have the manual cord reel which I think is the greatest invention since the wheel. We agree on the electric version . We had a choice and did not go for the electric version.

[Dave W]

Like any other electrical gadget - check voltage to the switch. If none, check the wiring and fuse. If wiring to the switch shows ~12VDC, then check the switch and connections to the motor. If they are good, then that motor has some sort of problem. Good luck and please report back what it was so others can understand where to look if they have a similar problem



That reel - nice gadget but takes up way more room then its functionability - but that's only my opinion. My cord plus 30' extension oly take up an 18-20" dia x 5-6" high moveable 'pile' on the basement floor that I can put other items on while traveling

[beeje]

Pretty soon you will be able to use your smart phone to remotely roll your cord up from the camp fire with the in-command. LOL

[Al & Sheila]

hopefully the dumbell who designed the location and how the reel is installed was fired. what a pain to access the reel

[gary s swenson]

Rich, where did you find a manual reel that fits in the compartment where the electric is located ? Thanks Gary

[auvilj]

My power cord will not retract,how do you get into fix this piece of junk?

[Mikendebbie]

I have not had any problems with my cord reel - but if you search the forum for "cord reel" you will find several threads about it.

Some have found that the switch is bad and needed replacing.
Some stated they could hear the motor moving but no cord reeling. If this is the case, apparently the drive chain has slipped off the sprocket. Rather than send you to the thread I saw - here is a description for how to access the cord reel to get the chain back on and running...
Also I attached a photo of the cord reel and I think the chain is under the black cover on the right. You should have a Shoreline flyer in your owner documents (I do) but it does not help with any secrets to gaining access. I can't figure out how the thing is mounted inside the compartment. I assume the sheetmetal skirt only houses and covers it up - it must be anchored to the frame somehow.

[watsonjones]

I just had this issue with my power reel this morning on our 2017 3721RL. Sounds from this thread that my issue is with the 'studs' coming out of the reel. A big thank you as always to all those that helped troubleshoot this in the past.
Just to add a little value myself I came across the YouTube video below showing the process to access the power reel. Hope this helps anyone with this issue in the future.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uw21xFC8ns

I haven't decided yet if I will try this repair myself or pay a professional.

[glendodom]

My spool pins someway come out of place thus the motor was running and the spool not turning. I had to pull the total assembly out and disassemble. One big pain. I got the pins back in place and re-assembled and the reel now works again, except it doesn't free spool? Not sure what I missed there? I just use the switch to unroll it for now.

[oldelmer1]

My rocker went bad and I replaced it with this one:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pull yours out first and check to see how many terminals are on the back, this one has 6.

[RMcNeal]

Gary, not Rich, but this is the one I put in our 2019 3791RD.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

[gary s swenson]

Thanks for the reply. Does this one from amazon fit into the small compartment where the electric one is located?

[Mikendebbie]

Originally Posted by gary s swenson

Thanks for the reply. Does this one from amazon fit into the small compartment where the electric one is located?

Gary - if you look into the compartment where the electric cord reel lives - there is no room to get your hand in there to operate a manual cord reel. I'm not saying it can't be done...maybe if you put a larger access door on it. I have not seen a thread where someone here has attempted this project. I think most folks that buy a manual cord reel mount them in the front basement compartment.

[RMcNeal]

Not sure where they put the electric cord reel. Our 3791 has compartments on both sides of the rear below the living room slides. Doors are about 12" high. I put mine on the ODS side to the front most part of that compartment. No problem reeling in the cord by hand, even in -5 degrees (below zero). I usually crank with my right hand and put a rag on the cord and guide with my left. Easy peasy.

[Mikendebbie]

The cord reel on my unit is on driver's side rear...see pic.
The second pic is a screen shot from a video of a guy replacing a defective cord reel...
Youtube video here...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uw21xFC8ns

[RMcNeal]

Yeah. That little cubby looks small for the manual reel I have. Not sure it would fit and be usable.